The Best Bus Tours in Paris


 

Paris by bus is one of the best ways to see the city without walking your feet to a pulp in the process. Tour companies are thriving in the French capital, so there are a myriad of bus trip operations to choose from, depending on what it is you want to see while in town (and your budget, of course!). 

Here are the bus tours that I would personally recommend (tried and tested), I consider them all value for money, in their own right. My only advice is to book well in advance to avoid disappointment, no matter the season!

The Big Bus in Paris

From: €35.10
Book here

The Big Bus of Paris is a tour company that you’ll see throughout the streets as the double deckers come and go. They have a hop-on-hop-off system which is attractive to tourists who don’t necessity want to be bound to a rigid schedule. 

by BigBusTours – Website

Their tours include all of the top landmarks across Paris, and they have different packages available depending on how much time you want to spend touring. 

The packages are as follows:

  • Classic: 1 day hop on hop off 
  • Premium: 2 day hop on hop off 
  • Deluxe: 2 day hop on hop off plus Seine river cruise
  • Classic + River Cruise: 1 day hop on hop off plus Seine river cruise 

You’ll save 10% if you book online. Because of the reputation of this brand they tend to sell out fast, so don’t sleep on it!

The Big Bus Paris: What to Expect

The Bustronome in Paris

From: €65.00
Book here

The Bustronome is a double decker bus made entirely out of glass sides and ceilings. Riders on the bus enjoy full views of the world of Paris on the outside while enjoying the comfort and warmth on the inside.

The Bustronome Paris – by Bustronome – Sourced from their website

The bus departs twice daily and the route ventures past most of the main Parisian landmarks and attractions. What makes this experience so interesting is that instead of your typical bus interior, it is actually a fine dining restaurant on the inside. 

The Bustronome Paris: What to Expect

It’s marketed as gourmet travel, and its a fabulous way to enjoy city sightseeing without feeling the brunt of a full day of excursions. The packages are as follows:

  • Brunch: Offered on Saturdays and Sundays only
  • Lunch: 4 course lunch with one service daily
  • Dinner: 6 course dinner with two services daily 

Bus 42 in Paris

From: €25.25 for a day pass

This is technically not a bus tour managed by an independent company, but rather just a route on Paris’ public bus network that happens to be one of the best ways to sightsee on a budget. 

Bus 42 Paris – by PR180.2 – Wikimedia Commons

Known as the route 42, this bus route runs from the Gare du Nord train station all the way to the Eiffel Tower. There are stops along the way that allow you to get on and off as needed, but because this isn’t a commercial tour option, you’ll technically be purchasing a new ticket every time you get on and off. 

How to Use the Bus in Paris

Lucky for you, Paris has a day pass for their pubic transport, which gets you access to all transport for a full day without having to bother with individual tickets each time. The landmark route of Bus 42 is as follows:

  • Gare du Nord Train Station 
  • Place de la Opéra
  • Opera Garnier
  • Place de la Madeleine 
  • Église Madeleine 
  • Place de la Concorde 
  • Champs-Élysées
  • The Seine
  • Pont de l’Alma Bridge
  • The Left Bank 
  • Champs de Mars
  • Eiffel Tower

Buy individual tickets on board, or get yourself a day pass from the nearest metro station. 

Toot Bus in Paris

From: €35.10 for a day pass
Book here

Toot Bus is another competitive hop-on-hop-off bus tour experience with a range of package options to suit different travelers. What I love about them is that they have a Paris by night tour, as well as a Paris for kids tour that is hours of fun for little ones. 

This is another tour package that books out well in advance, due to the overall quality and competitive price point. The package options are as follows:

  • Paris Discovery: Valid 24 hours, busses every 20 – 30 minutes
  • Paris Express: A 2 hour sightseeing experience 
  • Must See Paris: Valid 24 hours, plus a Seine river cruise
  • Kids’ Tour: 90 minutes in duration
  • Paris by Night: A majestic 2 hour night time tour
  • Vintage Paris: 90 minute tour on a vintage Parisian bus

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


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Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

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  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
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Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.