Top 6 bike tours in Paris
Paris is a city that has so much to offer, biking through it is a great way to get to know the city at your own pace. Get your legs ready because you're going to pedal through Paris with me!
Bicycling in Paris | ©Anna Urlapova
The variety of 20 Best Things To Do in Paris is so great that you will have to optimize your time to the maximum. If you are one of those who like to ride a bike , you can make the most of your hobby by taking a bike tour of Paris seeing the main sights of the city in less time.
Paris, despite its huge size, is a very friendly city for cyclists thanks to its infrastructure and for this reason, touring the city by bike is a very pleasant activity. The bicycle is even the means of transport used by more and more Parisians to get around. There are tours to do during the day and there are also night tours. I will tell you which are the 7 best tours to do by bike in Paris and Versailles.
1. City tour by bike
If you want to tour Paris do it like the locals do, by bike. On this tour you will pass through the main attractions of the city, stopping at each of them to take pictures. Entrance fees to the different museums and monuments are not included in the price. After finishing this tour you can choose which of the best Paris museums or monuments to visit with more time.
You will see the Musée d'Orsay from the outside and continue to the Eiffel Tower. You can have an unforgettable visit by following these tipsto visit the Eiffel Tower where you can stop and take pictures. If you want to know how to visit the Musée d'Orsay here you have all the information. The tour continues to the Louvre Museum where you will stop again to listen to the explanations of your guide. The tour continues through the Concorde, the Tuileries gardens and other sites of interest to finish at Rue de Cler.
The total tour lasts approximately 4 hours and the price is around 40 euros per person. Included in the price are helmet rental, bike and child seats (you must let us know in advance that you will need child seats).
Interesting details about this experience
- Price: around 40 euros per person.
- Duration: 4 hours.
- Means of transport: bicycle.
- Advantages of this option: touring the main sights of the city.
- Disadvantages of this option: not available in Spanish.
2. Night bike tour of Paris
On this tour you will cycle through Paris at night. Paris is rightly called the city of light, you will love to see the most emblematic places illuminated. The points of interest that you will see from the outside with time to take pictures, are among others, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Conciergerie. You will have time to have an ice cream at the famous Berthillon ice cream parlor (the cost of ice cream is not included in the tour price) or order water or juice along the tour (included in the price).
You will pass along the Seine River and you will cross it by boat, the boat entrance fee is included in the tour price. The price of the tour is approximately 50 euros per person and includes bike and helmet rental, insurance, entrance to the boat on the Seine and water or juice. There is the possibility to request child seats, but you must advise at the time of booking. Bike tours in Paris are a great activity to share with kids and there are many other kid-friendly activities in Paris that you can enjoy with your family.
Interesting details about this experience
- Price: around 50 euros per person.
- Duration: 4 hours.
- Means of transport: bicycle.
- Advantages of this option: insurance included.
- Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not in Spanish.
3. Unknown Paris: One day bicycle tour
This tour has a regular route quite different from the others. The meeting point is at the guide's café, where you will meet the guide and taste some of his specialties. From there you will go to the Hôtel de Ville, current seat of the Paris City Hall, where the bicycles are kept, which means you will have the privilege to enter and see this magnificent building. From there, already mounted on your bike you will go to the historic district of La Merais where you will ride through its narrow streets while the guide tells you the history that surrounds the area. You will also pass through the Latin Quarter among other places of interest.
The tour has a cost of approximately 40 euros and lasts 4 hours, the price includes child seats if requested at the time of booking, bike rental and helmet, drinks and meals are not included in the value.
Details of interest about this experience
- Price: from 40 euros.
- Duration: 4 hours.
- Means of transport: bicycle.
- Advantages of this option: it goes through places that are not visited in other tours of this type.
- Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in Spanish.
4. 3 hours electric bike tour in Paris
In this tour you will discover hidden places in Paris, you will not only pass by the most famous monuments. It is the ideal tour for those who already know the city and want to discover new places and for those who prefer to avoid the big crowds.
You will visit the bohemian cafes and you will also be dazzled by the exclusive jewelers of the Place Vendome.
The tour is done on the latest generation of electric bicycles. The price is around 57 euros per person, including bike rental and helmet. You will need 3 to 4 hours for this tour.
Interesting details about this experience
- Price: 51 euros per person approximately.
- Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
- Means of transport: bicycle.
- Advantages of this option: you will see places that are not very well known.
- Disadvantages of this option: there are no seats for children and it is not available in Spanish.
5. One-day bike tour of Versailles from Paris
This tour is not in Paris but in Versailles, but it is yet another option for cycling lovers. Versailles is very close to Paris and is a great day trip. There is a lot to see in Versailles so you should make the most of your time. A good way to tour the Gardens is by bicycle, otherwise it is impossible to do it because they are huge. Many travelers are a bit disoriented when visiting the Palace but if you follow these tips to visit Versailles it will be much easier.
The meeting point for this tour is at a metro station to be coordinated with the guide in Paris, to board the suburban train (tickets are not included) and depart to Versailles. You will have tickets included to: Palace of Versailles, Le Petit Trianon, The Royal Chapel, Le Grand Trianon, Queen's Village and the Hall of Mirrors.
Interesting details about this experience
- Price: from 100 euros.
- Duration: 9 hours.
- Means of transport: train and bicycle.
- Advantages of this option: includes all entrances to Versailles and insurance.
- Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in English but they offer audio guides in English for the visits.
6. Bicycle tour of Versailles with skip the line entrance to the palace
This tour is also in Versailles. Included in the price are all entrances to the different attractions of the Palace without queues, which is very useful because the queues at Versailles can take hours. Tickets to and from Paris are also included in the price.
The duration of this tour is 7 to 8 hours and gives tourists plenty of time to explore on their own and find a place toeat in Versailles. Bicycles and helmets are included and there is also the possibility to rent seats for children.
Interesting details about this experience
- Price: from 100 euros.
- Duration: 7 to 8 hours.
- Means of transport: train and bicycle.
- Advantages of this option: includes all entrances to Versailles without queues, also includes tickets to and from Paris by train.
- Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in English but they offer audio guides in English for the visits.
How to book a bike tour in Paris
The best way to book a bike tour in Paris is through companies specialized in online tourist services. Many people wait until they arrive at their destination to start looking for tours, usually through hotel recommendations. This is not a good idea at all, for several reasons. At the hotel desk you will not have as many options as in online sites. The prices at the hotel will almost always be more expensive than if you hire online, because the hotel companies generally charge a commission.
Another advantage of hiring online tours is the security in the payment, which is done through credit or debit cards, an option that many times the company or person who organizes the tour does not give to their customers.
As if these reasons were not enough, there is also the security of the online reservation on the availability of the chosen date, a certainty that you will not have if you wait until you arrive in Paris to look for a bicycle tour operator. If you book online in advance, that date is yours, if you wait to book when you arrive at the destination you may not have available dates to do the tour.
Tips for a bike tour in Paris
If you are going to make a tour of Paris by bike you need to follow some safety rules to enjoy the experience with the greatest peace of mind. Here are some things that are important to keep in mind if you plan to do a bike tour in Paris.
The city of light is very friendly in terms of infrastructure for cyclists, there are special paths throughout the city, use them and avoid riding in places not allowed for this type of vehicles. Traffic is heavy in Paris and respecting the areas specially set aside for cyclists is the best way to protect yourself. Always use the special bike paths.
When booking your bike tour in Paris, if you plan to do the tour with children, make sure that you rent with the bike the special child seats required by French law to ensure the best safety conditions for your children. Require child seats that meet the requirements of French law.
If you are traveling with children, you will find that many tours offer child seats on request, ask for them in advance, at the time of booking is best, if you later desist from doing the tour with your children you can waive the special seats at no cost. Please let us know at the time of booking that you need special seats for children.
When you book your bike tour in Paris and ask for special seats for children, ask if they also include helmet rental for children. If they don't include it in the price ask for it anyway and pay the extra charge, if they don't have children's helmets available, buy one, they are not expensive. Make sure your children will have a protective helmet.
Before starting the tour, check and test the bike to make sure it is in good technical condition. Check the wheels, brakes, mirrors and lights. For night tours make sure to wear clothes that are easily visible and reflect the light.
Use appropriate clothing and footwear for biking, the tours are long and appropriate clothing is essential to have a good experience during the tour.
Bring water to keep you hydrated and if the tour is during the day put sunscreen.
Ask if the tour offers some kind of risk insurance, it is important to know before hiring the service.
Advantages of taking a guided bike tour in Paris
The city of Paris has traffic that can be crazy. As a general rule, in the busiest tourist areas, such as near monuments or museums, the traffic is even more complicated due to the presence of more large vehicles such as tour buses, for example. An experienced local guide will be able to guide you to the most interesting places through the safest bike paths, routes that you probably do not know if you are in Paris for the first time. Cycling in Paris is much safer in a group than alone, because, among other advantages, groups are more easily visible than isolated cyclists and tend to be more respected by drivers.
Risk insurance is also important when evaluating the convenience of taking a guided tour. Many companies offer along with their tours, insurance against possible risks during the tour, insurance that if you make the trip on your own, you will not have unless you hire it specifically.