Cultural & Theme Tours in France

Head back in time with this 1920s-themed small-group walking tour. You'll start your tour by drawing a "character card," which will assign you a 1920s character role to take on. You'll then get to spend time in Montparnasse, learning about the lives and times of great artists of the era, including Hemmingway, Modigliani, and Picasso. Your tour ends with a drink at La Rotonde Cafe in Montparnasse, made famous in Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises."

What better way to experience the Eiffel Tower than by dining right inside the monument? With this tour, you not only get a delicious three-course lunch at the Eifel Tower's Restaurant 58, but also a skip-the-line ticket to the tower's second floor. As an extra bonus, you'll get a pass for a boat cruise along the River Seine - just board at your leisure!

Flip through the pages of Paris' literary lore on this private, 3-hour walking tour that takes you to the famous former haunts of intellectual celebrities like Balzac, Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Picasso. Follow in the footsteps of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway as you stroll through the Latin Quarter with a guide, see where Oscar Wilde died, and pass some of the city's most iconic literary caf es in the Saint-Germain-des-Pr es district. Drink up the modern Parisian caf e scene with an included coffee break, and browse the stacks at the legendary Shakespeare and Company bookstore.

Designed specifically for visitors from New Zealand, this World War I tour from Arras to the Somme takes you to sites from the Western Front related to New Zealander soldiers. You'll see trenches, memorials, and battlefields, and end back in Arras to see the underground tunnels created by the New Zealand tunnelers during the war. You might also be able to visit a cemetery; contact the guide in advance to find out more.

Explore the Mus ee du Louvre in Paris in a unique way with a murder and mystery tour, which introduces you to the museum's collection of artwork through the secrets and sometimes-gruesome stories of the paintings and sculptures. From the ancient world to the Renaissance, you'll hear about magic, rituals, and horrors depicted in various pieces of art. Plus, dive into the history of the Louvre itself, once a fortress and palace and the setting of scandal and murder. Tour is limited to six participants for a small-group experience.

Discover the delights of the Marais district of Paris on a small-group tour limited to eight people. You'll walk along the winding streets of the neighborhood, following in the aristocratic footsteps of the characters who once lived here - perhaps you'll draw the card of a mad king, a plotting marchioness, or a jousting knight. As you explore squares and secluded courtyards, listen to commentary from a guide who specializes in Paris history.

Take a private peek inside one of Paris's most distinctive landmarks on a 2.5-hour tour of the gold-domed Invalides complex, including the Cathedral of Saint-Louis and the Dôme des Invalides  -  site of Napoleon's tomb. Trace the military history of France, from the armies of King Louis XIV to Napoleon's rise to Emperor, all the way to the French Resistance and D-Day Normandy landings. See original military artifacts and hear fascinating tales of combat and conquest from your private guide.

Explore the world's most important collection of Impressionist painting on a skip-the-line tour of the Mus ee d'Orsay. Learn the background behind the gorgeous former railway station that now houses the museum, and hear stories of life in 19th-century Paris to add context to masterpieces by Degas, Monet, Rodin, C ezanne, Van Gogh, and other pioneers of Impressionism. Group size is limited to just four people, so you can ask the guide all the questions you like.

Don't wait in long lines in front of the Louvre with this skip-the-line tour of Paris's best-known museum. You'll get the chance to explore the Louvre with your own private guide, an art historian who will be able to talk to you in detail about how European art evolved from Antiquity clear up through the Renaissance and beyond.

Celebrated for its artsy history, Montmartre has long been a hotspot for visitors to Paris. But this guided walking tour, led by an art historian guide, gives the bohemian neighborhood a new spin, focusing instead on life in the area as experienced by the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso.

Once you've ticked off all of Paris' conventional sights, opt to explore a less-known part of the city on a small-group walking tour of the Jewish Quarter in Le Marais. In an intimate group limited to eight, you'll learn about Paris' Jewish history, listen to tales of Holocaust survivors, and visit the Memorial de la Shoah (Shoah Memorial). Plus, you'll be taken to a famous Kosher restaurant for lunch (own expense).

Meet your local guide and take a beautiful walk through the key locations of the film Amélie to see a more secret and endearing side of the Montmartre quarter.

Explore the highlights of the vast Louvre Museum collection with a 2-hour small-group skip-the-line tour. Admire all the must-see pieces in the museum, including the 'Venus de Milo,' 'Nike of Samothrace' and the famous 'Mona Lisa.' Learn about art history from your expert guide, and continue touring the museum on your own if you like after the tour.

Take a jaunt through fascinating French military history on a guided tour of Les Invalides in Paris, where Napoleon is buried. Inside the striking gold-domed complex, trace the story of combat and conflict, from the Sun King's armies to the Napoleonic conquests and the French Resistance during Nazi occupation. Tour the exhibits and armories with a guide and small group of no more than 20.

Immerse yourself in French history with this tour of Château de Malmaison, the former country home of Napoleon Bonaparte. As you tour the mansion and its lovely gardens, your guide will share stories about the balls, game nights, and political meetings that took place within the château's walls. Return to Paris and skip the line to visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe, built to celebrate Napoleon's many victories.

Visit some of Paris' top historical sites and enjoy an in-depth experience at Notre Dame Cathedral on this half-day Paris sightseeing tour that's great for history buffs. With a knowledgeable guide, you'll travel to city landmarks like the Louvre, Palais Garnier, Bastille Square, the Latin Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens. Then head to Ile de la Cit e either by bus or Seine River cruise to visit Notre Dame, Paris' iconic masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Learn about its history and significance from your guide.

Explore Montmartre without the hassle of navigating on a tour of the area's highlights, including Sacr e-Coeur Basilica, Moulin Rouge, and Van Gogh's house. As you stroll through the historic streets with the small group, your guide offers up Montmartre's secrets and little-known anecdotes about the area's history. This tour is free for children under 12.

Get to know a side of the Louvre that many visitors overlook when you embark on this quirky, small-group tour of the world-famous art museum. Your guide is a former Louvre employee, and also a stand-up comedian; as you explore the Louvre's many masterpieces, you'll also get to discover humorous stories, funny details, and amusing anecdotes about the works. At the tour's end, venture to a nearby caf e, where you can unwind (and even walk away with a small gift).

Experience the glory of Versailles by night with this tour of the palace and its grounds. After being transported from Paris to Versailles, you'll get to tour the gargantuan landscaped gardens that surround the palace. You'll then enter the palace, where your guide will show you some of the most important rooms, including the stunning Hall of Mirrors. You'll then ride back to Paris just in time for dinner.

Journey back to prehistoric times on this full-day small-group tour of the Dordogne's historic highlights from Sarlat. Start with a visit to the National Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies de Tayac to marvel over the world's largest collection of Paleolithic artifacts. Next, enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Lascaux IV cave, a remarkable reconstruction of the original Lascaux cave, famed for its prehistoric reliefs. Finally, view the original drawings adorning the UNESCO-listed Rouffignac Cave, which date back over 15,000 years.