There are so many tours to choose from in Paris… Whether you want to be whisked off on your adventure by bike, boat, balloon, Segway or foot (I have yet to find a horseback tour, but I’m sure someone, somewhere is cooking one up), a tour exists to help make that dream come true.

Having that many options at your fingertips can be overwhelming. That’s why we make it our duty here at Haven in Paris to scour the city tirelessly for the very best tours to recommend to our clients. I’ve been lucky enough to meet more than my fair share and have compiled a list of four of my favorites, chosen because they are so original, in depth and because the people behind them are amazing characters themselves!

Musée D’Orsay (Manolo Blanco)

Time Travelers Tours

Sara Towle’s “Time Travelers Tour” StoryApp (downloadable to the iPhone) is one of the most original Paris tours I’ve experienced. This labor of love started out as a book geared towards children and has evolved into an fully interactive, fact-filled, historical adventure through Paris. The first tour in the series, “Beware of Madame la Guillotine”, reveals the stories behind the landmarks and personalities associated with the French Revolution. It’s perfect for adults and children alike (I had a great day out following the tour with my husband)!

You can download the Time Travelers Tour App for your iPhone here or here.

French perfume and a lovely hotel particulier - Bee.girl; Meredith Tucker

Chris Lomon – Secret Paris Shopping and Walking Tours

Chris specializes in bespoke walking and shopping tours of Paris. His love for the city and natural curiosity for everything it has to offer is evident. He’s practically an encyclopedia of addresses and historical facts and has a special knack for uncovering hidden gems and unlocking closed doors. During our tour, I mentioned my passion for architecture, and Chris promptly sweet-talked his way into a 17^th century Hotel Particulier nearby, which now houses government offices so I could take a peek at the amazing courtyard and marvel at a special floating stone staircase (he also filled me in on the sordid history of the hotel’s original owner, most intriguing!)

Contact Chris directly here

Gwenael Piaser

Context Travel

The wonderful people at Context Travel are the experts when it comes to in-depth tours in almost any category. Their guides are often graduate students or experts in their field, and their tours are distillations that will inform and expand your knowledge of art, history, architecture, food and wine. An evening spent on their “Musee D’Orsay and Paris in the 19^th Century” tour has forever changed the way I look at the art and artists of that era. Not only did I learn about the life and times of the epoch, I was also taught how to examine the works and give context to their creation. Now I walk through the museum with a smile on my face and the satisfaction that I know so much about the masterpieces housed in those hallowed galleries.

Contact Context Travel directly here

Juliette Satidi

Progressio – French Niche Fragrances Perfume Testing

Ok, this is more of a lesson than a tour, but since you get to visit some of the most exclusive perfume houses in Paris (and because it so darn fun), I thought I’d add it to my list of favorites. Progressio’s resident expert, Teresa, gives you a full history of the French perfume industry and the basics of scent construction before putting your nose to the test through a heavenly perfume “sampling.” There is also a short language lesson, which teaches you the French phrases and words that will have you shopping for perfume like a local.  My favorite parts though, were the visits to the specialty perfume houses of Paris. These beautiful little boutiques are filled with formulas so well crafted, they are like liquid works of art, and because many of the fragrances are only sold in these boutiques (you can’t find them anywhere else), they’re almost as rare!

Contact Progressio directly here

What about you? Do you know of any great tour services, or original ways to experience everything Paris has to offer?

Related Links

• For more recommended Paris service providers (tours, chauffeurs, concierge, massage, yoga…) check out Haven in Paris’ recommendations here
• Looking for a personal shopper, we love Linda Harrad and Lilye (Shopping by Lilye)
• For friendly Paris bike and segway tours with English-speaking guides, check out Fat Tire Bike Tours

Written by Ariel for the Hip Paris Blog. All photos by Michael Tucker. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

Boat ride on the Seine; photo by Maggie Battista

I’m dreaming of Paris. Again. This happens when I’m in the States.

I just returned from a month-long trip to France. I traveled up and down the south of France, exploring most of Provence while fighting the devious Mistral winds. I spent a fabulous girls weekend in Normandy, sipping cidre and finally visiting Mont Saint Michel. And I drank small cups of espressos and not-so-small glasses of red wine all over our favorite city, Paris. I’m home in cold, rainy New England, missing out on too many fun November events across the pond. Here’s a peek into what I’m missing:

1. I really wanted to learn how to make macarons in Paris, and La Cuisine Paris offers a wonderful class on the subject. I’m living through their wonderful posts on their Facebook page.

Basquiat artwork; photos by mauidw and Eduardo Nasi

2. I adore the artist Basquiat, and spend tons of time in his old stomping grounds, downtown New York City. I was hoping to make it to the new exhibit at the Paris Musee de Art Moderne. The show is on through January 30, 2011, so perhaps you’ll be able to see it and report back?

3. I miss my lazy walks around Paris, the type where I walk and eat and walk and eat, and then eat some more. I have been dying to go on one of the cuisine-inspired walks hosted by the fabulous guides at Context Travel. I did get to hug Lily, Context’s Paris representative, at a meet-up in Paris, but never got to go on one of her walks. Ahh, next time… because that Bobo Palate class looks so fun!

Beaujolais Nouveau; photos by DH and Oncle Tom

4. The Beaujolais Nouveau arrives in a couple weeks. I’ve always celebrated this grand moment, on the third Thursday in November, in the States, but thought it would have been so special to celebrate it, and drink loads of red wine, in the city I so strongly correlate with red wine. I won’t skip the wine, but will miss the momentous moment in Paris.

5. I had hoped to make it up to London on this trip, but the weather (and silly strikes) simply weren’t in my favor. We have a great like-minded group of pals up in London renting some pretty special flats. I was totally hoping to stay with One Fine Stay.

Paris at sunset; photo by RavenFire

6. When I return from trips, I always cart back food and photos. Sometimes the photos are on my camera, sometimes they’re in little portrait books or photo books I gather from galleries or museums. It’s just my luck that the moment I’m back home, the annual photography fair, Paris Photo, is happening. If you go, pick up a photo book for me, please?

7. I love a good Monet exhibit and I’m missing the one at the Grand Palais right now. Make sure to book tickets in advance, as I hear it’s tougher to get into than Frenchie – which is also on my list for my next trip!

I’m a little bit sad about it all, but I have to look at the bright side. First, I got to spend a month in France. (So stop complaining, right?!) Second, perhaps you’re visiting soon and would love to update me on these chic events? Of course, if you need an apartment, you know where to look. (Haven in Paris is featuring some hot special offers with up to 35% off!) Make sure to report back to me on how fun all of this truly was… Perhaps I can live vicariously through YOU this season?

And if you can get into Frenchie, well, don’t tell me that. I’ll be way too jealous!

Frenchie restaurant; photo by Hotel Paris Rive Gauche

Related Links:

• Haven in Paris, for lovely Paris apartments for your visit, and great hot special offers
• La Cuisine Paris, for Paris food classes
• Musee de Art Moderne, for that cool Basquiat exhibit
• Context Travel, a link to all their cuisine classes
• One Fine Stay, our London pals who offer lovely flats up across the pond.
• Paris Photo, the annual photography fair in Paris
• Grand Palais, their website where you can see all current exhibits
• Frenchie, the link to the famed hard-to-get-into restaurant — but don’t go without me!

While Paris is the perfect city for aimless ambling, there is a time and a place for directed exploration. Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of taking Context Tours’ “Art and Architecture of Gothic Paris” walk, led by American architect and Paris resident Michael Herrman. While Context always keeps their tour groups small (usually 6 people max.), I was fortunate enough to have the tour all to myself, and—as is typical of Context tours—Michael was happy to customize the experience to my specific areas of interest.

As a PhD and practicing architect, Michael was able to share incredible insight into both the history of Parisian architecture and its evolution over time, emphasizing his belief that “when we study the architectural development of a city, we can understand the city itself.” This theme was quite evident as we strolled around the Ile de le Cité, where Michael outlined Paris’ Gaulois history and then peeled back the layers of the rise of gothic architecture.

Sainte Chapelle

The tour took us from Sainte Chapelle to the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was housed before her execution at the Place de la Concorde) to the nearby Place Dauphine and culminated at Paris’ towering Notre Dame cathedral. Michael’s ability to weave social history into our discussion brought much of the architecture to life. From the effect of the French Revolution on Paris’ gothic architecture to the layout of the city itself, Paris’ physical landscape reflects the incremental changes in the city’s social and political context over time.

As we gazed up at Notre Dame’s whimsical gargoyles and noted the morning light through the stained glass at Sainte Chapelle, it was quite evident that each and every corner of Paris contains a story.

While I am generally a huge proponent of aimless wandering, it certainly helps to have an expert on hand. The “Art & Architecture of Gothic Paris” tour lasts roughly 3 hours and takes place on the Ile de la Cité. The tour is €75 per person or  €270 for a private group tour.

Those seeking to deepen their knowledge on a variety of subjects would do well to browse through Context’s many Paris “walks” which cover themes such as art, archaeology, cuisine, shopping, and theology.

For more information, visit Context Tours.

Written by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Sainte Chapelle – sites.google.com