paris tour virtual

The Best of Virtual Paris

Live Virtual Tours of Paris

Culture online, eating & drinking french, 360° virtual city tours & videos, museums & monuments, best films set in paris, interesting shorts, sounds of paris, watching french content from outside france: get a vpn.

#ExploreParis is one of my current favorite tour organizers for discovering unique places off the tourist track. They’ve been hosting virtual tours since the pandemic, and although most are in French, keep an eye out for English ones that occasionally come onto their schedule.

Vivre Paris Virtual Tours (only in French): There are several themed live tours available each week as a live Facebook event that you pay €4.49 to access, following along with your guide for an hour (you can ask questions or just enjoy the scenery). If you miss it, the recording is available afterwards for those who paid.

Paris Virtual Tours by The French Travel : I’ve only just discovered this tour company, but they are a locally-based company registered with tourism office and other “serious” travel organizations, and they offer private, virtual tours of Paris (or Versailles) in English, French or Spanish at reasonable prices.

Evenings with an Author : The American Library of Paris’s popular evenings with authors from all over the world are now live on Zoom for free (but for a limited number of participants, register in advance), every Tuesday and Wednesday evening. There are also virtual events for kids and online writers workshops.

Opéra de Paris : in order to keep their productions going during the pandemic, the Paris Opera has started showing their performances online, “L’Opéra Chez Soi”. Some are shown free on Arté (French TV), but you can also pay to watch them on demand for a limited time. Right now “The Magic Flute Live” is being rebroadcast until February 22 nd for €11.90 (French or English subtitles), and Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”, Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” and “The Barber of Seville” are €7.90 to “rent”. There are also many free shows in the “ Carrousel ”, including concerts and the Gala Opening of the Ballet.

La Comédie Française : One of the oldest theatre troupe’s in France is now doing FREE live performances as part of their “Théâtre à la table” where they spend one week rehearsing a show, then perform a first reading of it live on their YouTube channel Saturday at 8:30pm. Some examples have been “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov and “In Search of Lost Time” by Marcel Proust.

Collège de France: Ready to geek out? The famous Collège de France was founded (near the Sorbonne) in 1530 to offer secular, free education to anyone who wished to sit in on their lectures from prominent scholars and researchers from around the world. Now they’ve put their entire catalogue of over 10,000 university lectures online, many available in English. You can search by subject, including literature, linguistics, history, archeology, humanities and social science, mathematics, natural sciences, etc, and follow their entire cursus. Look around and you may find something surprising like “War Turned Love Upside Down” about literature during WWI.

Bilingual Acting Workshop (BAW) : Normally these classes are in person in Paris, but there are currently masterclasses, weekly courses, and weekend workshops taking place online. The website isn’t always updated, so get on their mailing list: “We will be organising masterclasses over Zoom with casting directors from New York and LA over the summer months. We’ll also be organising workshops on Zoom with Amy Werba and Peter Meagher, based on techniques from their new book “ Be your own coach “.

Opsis TV: This French platform is dedicated to streaming performing arts videos live or on-demand for €5.99/month or €59/year after a 7-day free trial (and you can cancel any time). You’ll find mostly theatre prodictions (classical, modern, comedies, kids, etc), but also danse, operas and musicals, the Festival d’Avignon, and theatre masterclasses. It’s available worldwide, but only in French.

IGTV with David Lebovitz : Chef and cookbook author David Lebovitz has been doing live Instagram videos several times a week sharing recipes from his new Drinking French book, but also tips on cooking, cheese and wine, and other French foodie stuff, with his usual joie de vivre (and cameos from his adorable French partner, Romain). If you miss them live you can peruse his IGTV archives.

La Cuisine Cooking Classes : La Cuisine now offers a selection of live classes on Zoom, their French Cuisine Camp, “Focusing on classic French ‘Maison’ (home) recipes to understanding the world of French Wine and Cheese.” They also have pre-recorded video classes here .

Cook’n with Class : Private or small group live online cooking classes via Zoom. “When you can’t make it to France, we’re bringing the flavors of France to you.”

Wine Tasting in Paris : Live wine-tasting classes via Zoom, either for private groups or with others, where you learn about French wines, how to read labels, and have all your questions answered. You can bring your own French wine or find one locally from the list you’ll be provided when signing up.

These are a lot of fun because you can look at painted ceilings in the Louvre, spin around to see stained-glass windows in Sainte Chapelle, see what the crowds really look like at in Versailles (at least pre-pandemic), and basically turn your attention towards what YOU want to look at. Sometimes there are specific controls on the dashboard, sometimes you just “grab” the screen with your mouse and dragging the camera angle to where you want it to point. Just pause the video if you want to keep looking around a specific spot.

Don’t forget you can use Google Street View to explore the city street by street, just type in the address or monument name.

Paris is Yours! 10 Locations to Visit Paris Virtually : A partnership between the City of Paris and Google Culture (thus available in English), these excellent 360° virtual tours let you explore: the Roman Arènes de Lutèce (go up and around the gardens as well), the decorated tunnels of the Palais de Tokyo (slightly claustrophobic but great if you like contemporary art), the Philippe Chatrier tennis court at Roland Garros (you have to click at all the exits before you figure out how to see inside and outside the stadium, too), the “Petite Ceinture” (although this section is locally known as the Promenade Plantée, going from Bastille to the Jardin de Reuilly), the Office of the Mayor of Paris (you can even se ethe views from her window and go out her office door to the marble mezzanine; check out the famous ballroom here ), the “Underground Lake” of the Opera Garnier (again, you’ll have to click around to figure out which passages you can go down), interior of the Opéra Comique, a cruise on the Seine (click in the water to make the boat go forward), climb to the top of Paris 13 Tower (which was finally torn down, so this is the only chance to see the street artist works, although this is a much more complete view ), and the Grand Palais’s nave.

Montmartre to Sacré-Coeur : A first-person perspective Paris walk through the streets of Montmartre, from Abbesses Metro to Sacré-Cœur Basilica. You’ll see closeups of cafes, restaurants and gift-shops, and you can pause and get closer looks at popular sights Le Moulin Radet, Le Passe-Muraille and Place du Tertre with its artists on a sunny summer day in Paris!

360 Cities is a website that collects VR videos and panoramic images of cities all over the world. This page shows the almost 100 videos shot from around the city. They’re not super exciting, no commentary, but if you’re looking to just stand in a specific street or near a specific monument in Paris as the people and traffic pass by, you may find it here (also works with VR viewers). Here’s the Champs-Elysées on a “car free day.”

Paris 360° Experience “Escape Now” by Captivision is a 5-minute teaser for their longer series (which you have to pay to download, but which is viewable with VR viewers). The videographer visits all of the major Paris sights (including up on the tower of Notre Dame before the fire) and Versailles. The voiceover is a bit basic, so if you already know Paris just mute it.

One day in Paris: 360° Virtual Tour : a similar 5-minute virtual tour of the “best of Paris” (which might make you cringe when you see everyone packed in for the Mona Lisa selfies). The funniest part about these videos is that unlike Google Streetview they make no effort to blur faces. Maybe you’ll see someone you know….or yourself! 

Must Visit Bucket List in France : a 9-minute video with by-far the most annoying commentary (delivered in a monotonous voice), but she gets you up and close to the Louvre Pyramid, Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Elysées, and the Opéra Garnier (including an excellent view of the inside).

Paris Virtual Run : Okay, this isn’t actually 360° because you can’t see anything she doesn’t point the camera at, but she goes all over Paris from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame and – I could be wrong – I think she may be on a scooter not running, because there’s zero bounce, she’s going really fast, and cuts each time there are steps or a curb (I think I hear the rolling on the gravel, too). But it’s so beautiful, I feel like I could watch this on a loop as “background video” of Paris scenery.

Webcams were really big when the internet first really got going in the late 90s, where you could see a “real-time” snapshot of places around the world, usually updated every hour. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like they’ve evolved much, and webcam sites often a lot of annoying ads and pop-ups to wade through, but it’s still one of the best ways to see immediately whether it’s sunny or raining, whether the scaffolding has come off of a big monument being renovated, or just catch a nice sunset. Here are a few with decent images:

Panoramic View from Montparnasse Tower: This is the only good panoramic view I found where you can scroll and zoom on the image, which you’ll want to do because the default image is mostly blocked by a big red metal pillar. First toggle to full screen using the double-arrow button on the bottom right, then “grab” the screen to move around, and zoom with your mouse scroll bar or use the “+/-“ buttons on the bottom left. Go left and you have the Eiffel Tower. In the center is the Louvre (with a green billboard at the moment covering a section under renovations), the Tuileries, Sacré Coeur in the background, and scrolling right you see Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens, the Pantheon, and on a clear day waaaaaay on the right my neighborhood in the 13 th with all of the modern towers (you can see the red and blue mural by Shepherd Fairey on one of them). They update every hour, just clock on the “refresh” icon in the footer on the left to see the list of times from the past 24 hours.

Eiffel Tower and Place de la Concorde from the Westin Paris Hotel: this is a nice sharp image and you can see the Grand Palais and a bit of the Tuileries Gardens, but they only update once per day (click on the little arrow on the upper right of the screen to see all of the available dates, and along the bottom to see multiple shots from that same day).

Eiffel Tower with Trocadéro and La Défense : a close-up view of the Eiffel Tower, one minute video clip taken every hour, with two days archived along the bottom you can scroll through (you may have to repeatedly close the pop-up window on the footer). 

Eiffel Tower with Sacré Coeur: This is yet another angle from a weather website, and the image is sharp but there’s an ugly apartment tower in the foreground. Sacré Coeur Basilica looks great when backlit at sunset.

View from the Eiffel Tower : This virtual experience from Google Arts & Culture allows you to “walk” all the way around the first level of the Eiffel Tower and look out over Paris. A shame they made it on an overcast day, but the image is fairly crisp.

Tuileries Gardens and Musée d’Orsay from the Hotel Meurice: This webcam must be exposed to the elements, because snow and rain sometimes muck up the lens, but it’s a nice view over the gardens (you can see the February 10 th snowfall) and at night you see the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse Tower lit up.

Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower from the Hyatt Regency Hotel: This shows Paris from the Porte Maillot, the far western edge of the city. If you click on the heart icon in the upper right (above the arrow icon with the latest dates), you’ll see a collection of “favorites” over the years, including some cool Bastille Day fireworks shots.

Notre Dame Cathedral: It’s a bit of a distant view with an antenna in the foreground, but this is the best way to see hourly photos of the cathedral as the reconstruction progresses. When it’s windy you’ll see a bit of shale in the image.

Basilique du Sacré Coeur : It’s not the sharpest image (especially at night; maybe someone needs to wipe off the lens?) but you’ll get a nice view of the iconic white domes throughout day on the hour.

Place de la Concorde and the Hotel Crillon : This is one the “liveliest” videos I found because you’re close enough to the square to see the cars, busses, and scooters zipping around. To the left of the Crillon Hotel is the US Embassy (surrounded by a ring of white anti-vehicle pillars).

The Louvre : The biggest museum in Paris has several virtual tours listed on their website, except as of January 2021 “Flash Player” was discontinued by Adobe, so three of the tours don’t work, bummer. There are four additional 360° virtual tours of recent exhibits in the Petite Galerie, but the text is only in French. A bit disappointing, but perhaps they’ll update it soon. One of the most exciting updates is that their entire collection is now viewable free online in their searchable Collections Database (also includes the collections of the Eugène-Delacroix Museum). And if you’re in the mood to download an app to your smartphone you can check out Mona Lisa: Beyond the Glass VR experience from the 2019 Leonardo Da Vinci exposition. If you want to feel less bad about not being able to be at the Louvre in person, you can watch these two hour-long Youtube videos ( part 2 here ) walking through the entire museum on a typically crowded day (pre-Covid), with no music or commentary (nice for a change).

Museum of Decorative Arts : You can visit each room of the Decorative Arts Museum – from Middle Ages and the Renaissance through Art Deco and Art Nouveau and up to Modern and Contemporary furnishings. Each room starts with a photo and description (only in French, alas, but Google translate helps) and on the right links to listen to audio clips and “”Découvrez cette salle en panoramique 360°) for about two dozen of them to see them from every angle and zoom in or out.  Jeanne Lanvin’s purple bedroom , boudoir and bathroom are worth a peek! Use the “hamburger” list of rooms on the right to switch rooms once in panoramic mode, or come back to the index page to get the full list.

Musée d’Orsay: this Google Art & Culture view gives you a basic look at the ground level of the museum and toggle to some of the well-know artworks, but it’s pretty restricted where you can go, so this is just a small glimpse.

Le Grand Palais : While the Grand Palais is under renovation works through 2025 we can all see what it used to look like through these virtual tours from Google Arts & Culture. There are 37 slideshow “stories” and one that caught my eye was “Preparing for the Future” , a reminder that the Grand Palais and its stunning glass and steel nave already went through a massive restoration from 1993-2005. Seems to be closed more often than it’s open, but maybe they’ll figure out a way to heat the nave in winter! Scroll down past all the google photos to see the four “museum views” for virtual views of the nave from every angle.

Musée Jacquemart-André : They don’t have virtual tours, but in-depth looks at their “must-see” works of art in English, with great explanations about what makes them worthy of your attention, so you can get your art fix (or prepare your self for when you can see it in person). 

Rodin Museum : a small nod to their garden sculptures, you can see virtual close ups of The Thinker and – more impressive for learning purposes — the Gates of Hell (click open the menu on the left to highlight the different sections).

Monet’s Water Lilies at L’Orangerie : This is a fairly basic way to get a close up of the famous water lily paintings from any angle, but I’m not sure it’s any better than just looking at a good high-res image.

Opéra de Paris : This Google Arts & Culture page has three “stories” which are slideshows with some video clips (the text is only in French), my favorite being the “ Birth of an Opera ” showing what the Place de la Bastille looked like before and during the construction of the Opéra Bastille between 1984-1989. Scroll down past a bunch of photos, and there are four “museum views” which are the virtual visits of the Palais Garnier, the rooftop, the “lake” basement, and the library (all in Palais Garnier).

Notre Dame de Paris in More Than 100 Works is a virtual exhibition of the cathedral depicted in 126 artworks throughout the centuries.

Panoramic virtual tour of Montmatre Sacré-Cœur basilica : This is one of the best virtual 360° tours of a monument, and honestly some of the best information about the basilica I’ve seen anywhere. I also love that you can go up to the domes on the exterior and really get a look at the intricate carvings and statues. The controls take some getting used to (sometimes I lose track of which way is “up”) but after a bit of practice you get used to it. Double-click on the white circles to get in-depth information.

Sainte Chapelle : A great 360° function to see the entire lower and upper floors of the chapel and its famous stained-glass windows. The text descriptions are only in French, though. Click on the four squares on the upper right to “afficher les panoramas” showing all four panorama options to toggle between. The zoom function works really well for close ups of the individual stained-glass panels. For a historic perspective, here’s a video of a historic 3D reconstitution of what the chapel and the royal palace looked like in the 14 th century.

Eglise St-Etienne-du-Mont : This church next to the Panthéon is one of my favorite in Paris. Click on the white arrow to go inside, where you’ll see one of the only remaining jube screens in France (looks like a marble “bridge”).

Mémorial de la Shoah: This 360° virtual visit to the monument to the Holocaust in the Marais includes the Wall of Names (Mur des Noms), the Crypt, and the Wall of the Righteous (Mur des Justes). It’s only available on the French version of the website at the moment. Click on the white box symbol to make it full screen before you start clicking to move around. The blue arrows open up short videos (although it’s usually either text or photos). All of the signs on the walls of the memorial are in French and English, so you can easily zoom in to read.

Paris Catacombes : There are five rooms available to look around (click on the four white boxes on the lower left to see the selection).

Arc de Triomphe : There are nine different viewpoints with 360° views from each one so you can see it from every angle, from afar, from underneath, etc.

Château de Versailles : Allergic to the massive crowds, I’ve avoided Versailles for many years now, but these virtual exhibits actually make me want to go back (for each one, a mix of text, static images and 360° videos you can move around). Their moody 2015 Versailles exposition, The King is Dead , is also still online. If you want to try the immersive VR experience, you can download their “Vivez Versailles” on Steam and attend a ball or see Siam visitors to the court.

Fondation Louis Vuitton : For a virtual visit “from home” you can download their app to visit the collections, or discover the stunning architecture of Frank Gehry’s iceberg-sail-cloud structure in 360° , and in bold colors for the Buren exhibit here .

La Tour St-Jacques : This Gothic tower right in the center of Paris has great views over the city (it’s a pretty cloudy day, but you can see the Centre Pompidou and Notre Dame Cathedral before the fire). You can also click to go down the stairs and find yourself in different little “rooms” in the tower.

The Medici Fountain in Luxembourg Gardens : you can look around 360° and if you see white arrows they’ll take you to other sections of the park (don’t click on the blue arrows, which go to different cities!)

The History of Paris Library : This specialized library is housed in one of the 17 th -century Hôtel Lamoignon, one of the historic hôtel particulier in the Marais district. This virtual tour lets you go from room to room to see the different spaces, including the chapel, the garden, the courtyard, the special books collection, and the exterior tower (click on the flag on bottom right to change to English before you start navigating with the buttons on the left). Click on the different icons to see descriptive text and old photographs. In the stacks they highlight a few of the most valuable books in their collection.

Victor Hugo’s Hauteville House in Guernsey : a 360° virtual tour of the novelist’s house, only in French but you can look around and see it has a very similar style to his apartment on the Place des Vosges in Paris.

Sounds Like Kandinsky at Centre Pompidou : a massive virtual multimedia exhibition through Google Arts & Culture that will please anyone who’s interested in learning everything about this artist, with images, videos, augmented reality, sound experiments…there are a lot of rabbit holes to go down here, so pull up a chair and a cup of tea!

Zone Franche (Free Zone): a 360° virtual exposition at the Institut des Cultures d’Islam that tackles the question of the movement of travelers and goods, but also what’s imagined beyond concrete or abstract borders. The text in the exhibits is in French as well as English (beneath the French when scrolling down). You can also enjoy a free guided tour of the exhibit (virtual for now) every Saturday afternoon through #ExploreParis (in French only). Through August 1st, 2021.

Miro Exposition at Centre Pompidou : If you’re really into Miro, you can see the Pompidou Center’s first Virtual Reality exhibit of the three Blues . Apparently it also works if you have VR goggles, but the site allows you a close up look at the pieces. Not really sure it adds any extra value beyond what you’d see on the regular website …aside from obviously feeling like you’re “there”.

Institut Pasteur : Wait! Before you think, “boring”, just have a click through, if only to see the crypt where one of the greatest scientists of all time is buried. Upstairs in his bedroom you’l see oil pastel portraits he made of his family members….when he was just 13! If you can Google translate, you’ll get a better understanding of how we owe this French genius our respect, if not just for our French wine and beer fermentation! 😉

French TV & Films

With streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, it’s not exactly that hard to find almost any current series or films somewhere online (although the free JustWatch app can make it easier to find out where). But there are also a few virtual cinema screenings of current films while cinemas are closed. Note that for all of these, you may have to be in France to be able to access the service. Sometimes you can subscribe to a VPN service (see below) to get past these by redirecting your computer’s IP address, but it’s not foolproof so buyer beware!

Netflix Note: In case you missed it, there are usually quite a few French films and shows available on Netflix at any given time ( here’s a great list for February ), depending on what country you’re in (US and Canada often have different selections). What some of you might NOT know is that there’s usually the option to hear it in the original French and choose either French or English subtitles. A lot of Americans and Australians watched Lupin dubbed over in English because they didn’t realize that was just the default setting that could be changed ( read article here ).

Tubi : a free, ad-supported video-on-demand platform available in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand that has a nice selection of “Foreign Language Films” but you’d have to recognize the French ones, since the titles are all in English   This article will help you identify the best selection of French ones with links to Tubi (I recommend “Paris, Je T’Aime, “All Together” a French film with Jane Fonda, the classic “Germinal”, the drama “Number One Fan”, the adorable “Romantics Anonymous”, “Priceless” with Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh, “Django” about the famous Gypsy swing guitarist, the comedy “The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe”, and “Hunting & Gathering” because my elbow makes a cameo in the Harry’s Bar scene).

MHz Choice : Canadian and American viewers can subscribe to this streaming service  specializing in French and other “international films and series”, available in monthly or annual subscriptions from $7.99/month.

Criterion Collection: An independent streaming service with an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary films from around the world (including many French ones. It’s only available for US and Canadian subscribers from $10.99/month.

Lost in Frenchlation : They specialize in French cinema (both classics and current hits) with English subtitles, and since the pandemic they have started screening them live online for just €6, but you have to be able to geo-localize yourself in France for access.

Molotov.tv : This is a free streaming app you can use on your smartphone or computer to watch French TV. The regular 36 free TV channels are free on the app (TF1, France 2, France 3, Arté, TMC, BFM TV, L’Equipe, FranceInfo, etc.), handy if you want to watch French news in real time. You can also “rewind” and watch programs that have already aired. Some of the shows and films are available in their original language, but the French ones are not usually subtitled since they’re for a French audience (you’ll need a VPN to use Molotov.tv). You can also pay a month-to-month subscription for access to the paid channels. 

Madelen : France’s National Audiovisual Institute (L’Ina) has over 70 years of French television archives stored in their server, called Madelen. You can try it free for 30 days (after that it’s only €2.99/month). It’s only in French, of course, but it is absolutely amazing and fun to browse the carefully curated 13,000 TV shows, films, documentaries, news programs, theatre productions and concerts broadcast on French TV.

My French Film Festival : This is one to book for next year if you just missed it (get on their email list), to be able to watch and vote for the winners of 10 French feature films and 10 shorts during the month-long competition for free. Some of them are still available if you have Apple TV.

Since there are so many different platforms for viewing films and it’s different by country, sometimes it’s easiest to start with the film itself. Here are a few “Best Films Set in Paris” lists that might inspire you to go hunting: Time Out Magazine’s 25 Top Films Set in Paris (by time period, with descriptions), Culture Trip’s Top 10 Films Set in Paris (a nice list with some lesser-known films), and 39 Movies That Will Transport You to Paris (a mix of classics and modern films…although the scenes in Les Miserables were not filmed in Paris!).

Mourir Auprès de Toi : This whimsical little Spike Jones film set in Shakespeare & Co Bookstore in Paris was made with handbag designer Olympia Le Tan (famous for her “purse books”). Here’s a “making of” video for it.

The Charismatic Characters of Montmartre : This is just for fun…discover the voice of Montmartre with a stroll through the not-so-distant history and the people who live there, with images, text translated by Google (including French street names, lol) and documentary video clips (only in French). It’s interesting because normally we only see 19 th century or early 20 th century history, but this is recent enough some of you may recognize “old Montmartre”.

A Trip Through Paris, France in late 1890s : This is a delightful collection of footage taken from late 1800s Paris (heavily edited for color and sound and sharpness, as mentioned in the notes) includes scenes from the Parvis de Notre Dame, the Champs Elysées before it was paved, the Place de la Concord, the moving sidewalk at the Paris Universal Expo, and kids pushing their toy boats in Luxembourg Gardens. Don’t miss the horse-drawn firefighter carriages (3:35)!

Paris 3D – Through the Ages : Travel through Paris in a virtual 3D video of the city from Roman times through the construction of the Eiffel Tower. It appears that the web app is no longer available, but this little 12-minute video is still fun to watch.

RATP’s Historical Collections : 360° virtual tours of historic public transport vehicles of Paris and Ile-de-France, including vintage buses, metro cars, trams and RER trains. Only in French, but there easy to follow pictures to guide you tot eh models you can choose to look at (like the “Sprague-Thomson”) and just click the “Lancer le diaporama” button to launch the 360° images or browse the slideshow images and audio clips if you understand French. You can also do the “right click” on your mouse anywhere on the screen for English translation if you’re using a PC.

The Henry Miller Odyssey : This 1969 documentary is mostly just the author reminiscing about his younger days, but there are some cool old clips of Paris starting at 42 minutes, including the Rue de Buci, and Le Wepler Brasserie at Place de Clichy.

First World War Virtual Archives : This site was created in multiple languages for the WWI centennial. There are all sorts of documents and images to peruse, including the database of every single soldier’s final resting place.

Paris Soundscapes : “You sit on a Parisian green bench in a busy narrow pavé street and just let the street walk past you. You will hear fabulous sounds,” says Sound Recordist Des Coulam, who has been capturing the urban soundscape of Paris for almost ten years. It’s actually quite a fascinating blog because his writing is also descriptive of all the places (usually not touristy) that he visits, while listening to what it sounds like. So you can put your headphones in and play the sounds of a Parisian street the next time you’re walking down your own street, and let the sounds transport you like magic…

Cities and Memory : A bit more on the conceptual artsy side, this site describes itself as “a global, collaborative sound art and mapping project that remixes the world, one sound at a time. Every field recording in the project has been recomposed and reimagined by artists around the world to create a new, alternative world of sound.”

Improbable Walks : A podcast series where Canadian writer and long-time Parisienne Lisa Pasold takes you through the streets of Paris. “Every episode, we discover a new street in the City of Light, strolling into the hidden history and stories of Paris, block by block.” I’m the interviewee on the “Marketing on Rue Mouffetard” episode! 😊  

Disneyland Paris : We’ve already established that I’m a bit of a Disney fan , and I know a few of you are, too. So if you’re missing “The Happiest Place on Earth” (or at least the French version), check out their YouTube playlists to get your fix. You can go on the virtual rides, learn about Disneyland Paris history (turn on the English captions if needed), or just chill out with the ambient sounds of Advetureland, Frontierland, or Fantasyland in their Zen Playlist .

It can be pretty annoying to click on a link to watch a video only to see “This content isn’t available in your country”. However you can bypass this by using a VPN that masks your computer’s IP address with a French one. Note that VPN’s are primarily used to protect your laptop when using a public wifi network, so they’re totally legit. I use ZenMate VPN, which is about €3/month for multiple countries including the UK, US and France, but there are many others out there if you want to shop around: https://zenmate.com .

This is an evolving list, so don’t hesitate to suggest a link!

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A virtual tour of the Eiffel Tower 

Tuesday 14 April 2020

Modified the 22/02/24

With a first-person perspective, panoramas, and an interactive historical journey, we have brought together the very best virtual tours of the Iron Lady to offer our readers an extraordinary immersive experience.

A full, virtual reality tour of the Eiffel Tower 

On the occasion of the Eiffel Tower’s 130th anniversary, TV5 Monde created a 360° virtual reality tour that reveals every aspect of the Tower in 3 minutes, featuring sunrise from the Champ-de-Mars and a panoramic ascent to the top, both inside and out. See the Eiffel Tower as if you were there, and much more! TV5 Monde takes you beyond the summit and behind the scenes to discover an unrivaled view of the French capital.   

Panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower on the mobile tour guide 

Our new mobile tour guide has the best panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower, both day and night. So even if you’re not at the Eiffel Tower, don’t wait to discover it! The guide let’s you admire Paris as if you were on the 2nd floor, or at the Tower’s summit. 

Use the arrows on the edges of your screen to navigate from the esplanade to the summit in the Tower’s mobile guide. You can choose "panorama" mode for views from the 2nd floor and the summit. Scan the horizon to the right or left, activate night mode, and zoom in to see Notre-Dame cathedral, Place de la Concorde, the Hôtel des Invalides, and many other Parisian monuments.

Don’t miss this comprehensive, high-definition experience that is sure to amaze you!

Tip: click on the icon at the bottom of your screen and easily identify the points of interest visible from the different floors of the Eiffel Tower. They are accompanied by a brief description to learn more about what surrounds you!

The Eiffel Tower explained by Google Arts and Culture 

Google Arts and Culture is a free service that allows you to visit museums and monuments online, making art and culture more accessible than ever! In partnership with Google Arts and Culture, the Eiffel Tower offers interactive historical journeys to discover the hidden secrets of this world-renowned monument steeped in history. 

The different exhibits on various themes will transport you to the heart of Paris in the 1900s, with breathtaking images that showcase the know-how of the time.  

Explore the monument

After enjoying the panoramic views from the Tower and the historical exhibits, complete your virtual tour directly on our website, under the Discover and Monument tabs, that allow you to explore all there is to know about the Tower. -    The “ E xplore ” section presents the particularities of the gardens and each floor of the Tower. -    The “ T he Tower ” section tells the complete history of the Eiffel Tower, in all its aspects, from its birth to its elevators, lighting, scientific research, and much more.  

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Online tours - Enjoy the Louvre at home!

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Virtual tours Enjoy the Louvre at home! Online tours

Virtual tours, louvre at home.

Visit the museum rooms and galeries, admire the palace architecture and enjoy the views!

From afar. Travelling Materials and Objects

Through materials and objects, this exhibition describes exchanges between distant worlds – exchanges often far more ancient than the explorations of the 16th century.   From deepest antiquity, carnelian, lapis lazuli, ebony and ivory circulated along trade routes...

Launch virtual tour  

The Advent of the Artist

For its 5th edition, the Petite Galerie takes a closer look at the transition from the typically anonymous craftsman of the classical period to the artist of the Renaissance, featuring works by Delacroix, Rembrandt, Tintoret and more.

Power plays

This third Petite Galerie exhibition focused on the connection between art and political power, from antiquity to the present day.

The Body in Movement

In its second season, the Petite Galerie explored one of the performing arts: dance. How did artists use different materials and techniques to represent movement?

Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader

The very first Petite Galerie exhibition looked into how illustrators, sculptors, painters, puppeteers, filmmakers, and musicians around the world have drawn inspiration from myths, given them form, and brought them to life.

What activities does the Louvre offer that can be enjoyed from home?

Events at the auditorium (in French)  

Podcasts (in French)  

Louvre Kids  

“Mona Lisa Beyond the Glass” virtual reality experience  

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Overview and History

Welcome to Paris, the City Of Lights, La Ville-Lumiere! We're going to depart from the standard timeline here and just start looking at pictures. You can put the history together in your mind along the way, or live contentedly with an abstract expression of images, whichever you prefer.

For lessons in light from the expressionist masters, blur yourself directly to the Orsay Museum and find Monet, Renoir and Cezanne waiting. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The River Seine divides the city into two halves, called the Left Bank and Right Bank. The right bank is on the north side, left to the south. In general the right bank claims the sophistication and modern development in Paris, while the left bank has the universities, parks and historic areas.

There are two islands on the river in the middle of the city, Ile de la Cite and Ile de St. Louis . Here's a beautiful Flower Market on Ile de la City, which is the oldest section of the city. It's also home to Notre Dame cathedral

The Right Bank has a big hill called Montmartre , literally translating to "Mount Mars" or "Mountain of the Martyr", depending on which time period you take the story from. Its name dates back to at least 250A.D and it's home to the Sacre Coeur Basilica among many other things of note, such as the studios of Salvadore Dali, Picasso and Van Gogh.

And what else? The Champs-Elysees, of course! The Champs-Elysees is the most prestigious avenue in Paris. L'Arc de Triomph stands at the western end of the Champs-Elysees, at the star shaped intersection of twelve major avenues which is called Place d'Etoil. The Arch is a monument to all who fought for France, especially during the Napoleonic wars.

By the way, the sprint finish of the Tour de France -- the most prestigious bicycle race in the world -- comes down the Champs-Elysees. Catch it in the early summer.

You may have heard of a museum called Le Louvre . Before you attempt to visit it, go through some tour de france training to build up your stamina. This is a museum big enough to take your whole summer to walk through, and that's without even stopping to look at any of the art.

Situated right along the river is the Place de la Concord , the largest open square in the city. It's where Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and 2,798 of their closest friends met the guillotine during the French Revolution. The smell of blood was so strong, according to the tale, that a herd of cattle refused to cross the square.

Let's see what we have on the Left Bank. How about Les Invalides , a stately group of museums and monuments dedicated to military history, which also houses a hospital and residences for veterans.

The Left Bank has for decades been the center of academic life in Paris, which can be summed up in a word: La Sorbonne . La Sorbonne is the nickname for the University of Paris, founded in 1257. It sits in a historic scholarly sector called the Latin Quarter, which connects La Sorbonne to the Left Bank (Place Maubert). If Paris was a tropical island, this would be the coral reef.

Near La Sorbonne can be found Le Jardin de Luxembourg , where Marie d'Medici's chateau stands. It's a pleasant little country house in Florentine style. They used it for a prison during the French Revolution and for Luftwaffe headquarters during WWII. It now houses the French Senate.

Shakespeare and Co Library sits in the heart of the Latin Quarter and has earned an international reputation for being more than just a bookshop.

Getting There

Take a look at the Gare du Nord Paris North Station. One of six large train stations in Paris, it's the busiest one in Europe. If you're already on the continent, you very well may arrive here.

As for airports , there are two: Charles De Gualle and Orly. De Gaulle airport is about 25 minutes by train from Gare du Nord station, Orly is a bit closer. Here's the train information for connections to the city.

Transportation

Here's one of the 380 metro stations in Paris, the Palais-Royale at the Louvre . Looking good! This is Europe's second-largest metro system and it's connected with the buses the commuter rail network to get you around the city.

People and Culture

Beside the fact that Paris contains all walks of life, "people and culture" in Paris is synonymous with food and wine . Here we are smack in the middle of it, La Contrescarpe at Mouffetard Street.

Remember, champagne was perfected here during the Belle Epoque, and you need the proper setting in which to drink it.

And check out this fish shop !! This is what the zoom tool was made for!

In case you're wondering, there's a gritty side to Paris, too. Here's a little mobile graffiti .

In the same vein, by which I mean "cheap" or "free", stroll around Left Bank to the flea market at Place Maubert.

Street musicians are another great thing about Paris. Here are some drummers , some visual artists on the Quai de Conti , and there should be an organ grinder on the corner when you get there. Let me know if you see him.

Things to do & Recommendations

Street food -- get a croque monsieur or croque madam, it's a toasted cheese sandwich with or without ham. They're so good, it's the pizza slice of Paris! I can't for the life of me understand why nobody has shot a panorama of one.

Street food part 2, and I quote:

"the motherfucking best falafel in the world is there in the Marais. it's called La Du's and it's on the Rue de Rosiers. it's the 5th I think, right bank. If you flirt with the take out boys they'll give you more falafel too, I'm not kidding it's a fucking transcendant experience."

"there's also this bar in the 11th, called the baron rouge, where on sunday a friend of the owner drives in from normandy with a truck full of oysters and just parks it in front of the bar and sells oysters out the back and you just eat them on the street and drink Muscadet off the top of parked cars." (Thank you Allison O'Leary)

Spend a little time outdoors in the beautiful Botanical Garden , see if you can find the recycled dragon .

No trip to Paris would ever be complete without... well actually the reason Paris is Paris because you never finish seeing it all.

Move there, spend a lifetime there, walk everyplace you go and you still won't see it all. It's like New York, London or Tokyo; anyplace in such a state of constant change will remain eternally elusive.

I almost said, "no trip to Paris would be complete without going up the Eiffel Tower and seeing the view from the top ."

Text by Steve Smith.

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10 Parisian landmarks to check out on a virtual tour

Inspiration

Paris Cultural Heritage Cities

Reading time: 0 min Published on 11 March 2024, updated on 15 April 2024

Can't visit Paris at the moment? Let's bring Paris to you! The most famous monuments of the French capital can be explored just as easily on a virtual tour. No more excuses not to enjoy, from your smartphone or your computer, and from the comfort of your sofa, the City of Light. Paris is at your fingertips!

Secrets of the Paris Opera

Let's start our visit to Paris with a little surprise! The Paris Opera offers four virtual tours, including a secret one...going from the opera performance hall, to its library, as well as on its roof offering a panoramic view of the whole city. But above all, you can visit the mysterious underground lake! In actuality, it's a vast tank measuring 25 by 50 meters (82 by 164 feet). But why is it lying under the Opéra Garnier? Have we "wet" your appetite?

Virtual tours of the Paris Opera

Climbing the Eiffel Tower

If you want to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the capital, go to the Eiffel Tower. Take to the skies thanks to this virtual ride on the Iron Lady and enjoy a 360° panorama from the top of the most famous Parisian monument. What a view!

Virtual tour of the Eiffel Tower

Regardez cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Tour Eiffel (@toureiffelofficielle)

The glass roof of the Grand Palais

A symbol of architectural innovation in Paris, the Grand Palais usually hosts a large number of exhibitions. This virtual visit is therefore an opportunity to check out the building itself, a jewel of classical and Art Nouveau styles, and to enjoy its large glass dome, unique in Paris. Having this place to yourself is an opportunity not to be missed!

Virtual tour of the Grand Palais

The history of the Conciergerie

Royal residence, courthouse then revolutionary prison, this imposing Gothic palace opens its doors to you for a beautiful (and fun) visit. From the Guard Room to the huge Salle des Gens d'Armes, including the kitchens built under Jean le Bon, this building is positively full of French history. You just have to click to be transported to France's fascinating past!

Virtual tour of the Conciergerie

The works of Notre Dame

Since the fire of April 15, 2019 , the Notre-Dame de Paris has been closed to the public. While she gets a makeover, you can still enjoy the magic of this place thanks to an interactive map. Take the opportunity to discover the works positioned as they can typically be found in the cathedral: it's as if you were really in the building!

Interactive map of Notre Dame's works

The stained glass windows of the Sainte-Chapelle

To continue to enjoy what the Île de la Cité has to offer, you can explore the Sainte-Chapelle chapel, with its 15 magnificent stained-glass walls and 1,113 stained-glass windows. Thanks to a panoramic virtual tour, discover this luminous chapel in an interactive way. This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about its history, thanks to various explanatory capsules.

Visite tour of Sainte-Chapelle

The Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur of Montmartre

The emblematic white basilica of Montmartre awaits you with the help of eight vignettes that provide access to strategic points of view. With two interactive maps to choose, the interior and exterior of this monument will hold no secrets for you. In addition, the virtual walk is accompanied by an immersive sound element and videos. It's as if you were standing on the hill of Montmartre!

Virtual tour of Sacré-Coeur

Panthéon crypt

An iconic monument of the capital, which is inspired by the architecture of Rome and the Pantheon of Agrippa, is France's most famous crypt. Made up of four galleries, great national personalities are buried there. So if you want to mix history, architecture and a breathtaking view of Paris from the dome, click below!

Virtual tour of the Panthéon

View from the Arc de Triomphe

Discover the splendor of one of the most popular monuments in Paris and enjoy a 360° view around the Arc de Triomphe, as well as visual walk above the Champs-Élysées to appreciate the architectural beauty of the Haussmann buildings so typical of the French capital. You could almost feel dizzy from the view!

Virtual visit of the Arc de Triomphe

And explore the Hôtel de Ville

Did you know that the Salle des Fêtes at Paris City Hall was designed as a replica of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles? The interior as impressive as the exterior of this imposing monument. And in addition to the beauty of the place, you can also check out the office in which the Mayor of the city meets with his or her team.

Virtual tour of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris

Find out more: - Prepare your tour of Paris - Also read: 5 new must-see places in Paris and Explore French fashion in your living room

By Clemence Malaga

Editor France.fr

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If a tour is fully booked, or you are looking to book a *Group or Private Tour - please email us about Group & Private Tours options.

*Please note - Group & Private Tours are specifically organised for your group and therefore subject to a premium price. Flat fee rate applies for groups of 6 and under.

It takes a Parisien to talk about Paris, the city has three of its landmarks often on the Top Ten visited places with the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame and Louvres museum, yet, actually, very little is known about the streets and buildings, about the croissant aside from “c’est bon”. This is the mission our native guide has accepted, to share with you the changes of the city through this one hour time travel tour. Thus helping you understand better facts, food or building you saw through your journey while helping people who have never been to Paris before to already start feeling home.

• Follow the native guide through the narrow streets of medieval Paris the Grand Boulevards of the Haussmannian Period
• Hear about little known facts or habit of the Parisiens and get tips for your coming trip
• Learn the survival basics skills about bread, cheese and wine that will help you shine in society
• Listen as the guide reveals the fate of Marie Antoinette and André “Blue Beard”Landru one of the first French serial killer
• Join in conversation with others from around the world and get a unique chance to ask a native experts all your burning questions.
• Receive a $10 voucher for Secret Food Tours with every online tour you buy.

Jump back in time in three, two, one … Jump. Begin your journey through the narrow and dark streets of Medieval Paris, as the guide tells you about ramparts and old and new bridges see how Paris is changing in front of you from 3 floors timbered house to the 6 storey high Haussmannian majestic facade. Your guide will weave their in depth knowledge of the city and skilled storytelling to set the tone for this one hour tour. This tour is particularly wonderful for both young and old, addressing themes that are cross-generational, fun, and engaging.

Witness the birth of the Sacré Coeur on top of Montmartre and hear stories about the Eiffel Tower. Along the way, your guide will interject stories of their personal experiences as a local and paint a picture of modern life including wine, bread and cheese.

But as magnificent as Paris is it also has it’s dark memories, comfortably seated, preferably sipping a glass of wine enjoy the fateful story of Marie Antoinette or Landru the “Blue Beard of Gambais”.

As the guide will share with you some of his childhood memories you will learn the importance wine had in the French culture and you will learn how to say “Santé” and toast properly without offending your host.

Modern Paris is not just about timbered buildings and centuries old landmarks, as Hemmingway said “Paris is a moveable feast” so the guide will give you some tips on where and how to enjoy yourself while in Paris.

The icing on the cake will come at the end of the tour with a review of True/false French Stereotypes.

With any online tour, you'll also receive a $10 gift voucher which you can use to book any Secret Food Tour, valid for 2 years!

All times specified are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

NYC Met Museum

Paris Catacombs

Roman Colosseum

Pasta Making Class

Virtual Italian Wine Class

As soon as you book your tour, we’ll email you all the details including the date and time for your virtual experience. All tours are conducted using Zoom . The email will include a direct link to join the live experience at the speculated time and date.

Even though your camera doesn’t need to be on during the tour, our guides appreciate interacting with participants so feel free to switch it on and talk to our guides.

Please note you can join the tour at any point in time. If you are running late, you can join when you can but please note these tours are non-refundable.

All of the experiences are live and the guides will not be able to pause the tours if you need to leave for a few minutes

Please utilize the “Chat” section of your Zoom dashboard to ask the Coordinator a question and at the time-frame for Q&A with the Guide, the Coordinator will select questions sent in by guests to ask our Guide. 

You are unable to share your link past the number of passengers you have booked for. If you purchase multiple passengers for one tour you will be able to share your link with them by forwarding the booking confirmation email.

All of the tours are non-refundable. You may reschedule your tour provided you offer a 96 hours’ notice.

If the cancellation is our own fault, you will be offered to reschedule your tour, or a voucher for equal credit or alternative a refund.

All tours are conducted using Zoom . The email will include a direct link to join the live experience at the speculated time and date.

Before joining the tour, you will need to have installed Zoom on the device you will be using. To check your requirements you can go directly to this website .

If you joined a cooking lesson or any other experiences that may involve the preparation of food or drinks, you will receive an email with all the recipes discussed during your tour. You will also receive a link that links to our Trip Advisor page so you can review the experience.

For the Italian Cooking Classes, you will receive a PDF with recipes for the classes. Please note that the pasta and sauce selections will vary depending on ingredients available to our Chefs with unpredictable grocery availability during this time.

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Explore > Destinations > Paris > Virtual Tours of Paris: From the Louvre to the Catacombs

Virtual Tours of Paris: From the Louvre to the Catacombs

Longing to visit Paris but can’t travel right now? Then don a beret, get cozy on your couch, and take off on a virtual tour of Paris. Take in the City of Light from the top of the Eiffel Tower and admire masterpieces on a virtual tour of the Louvre.

Whether you’re in the mood to wander through the dark corridors of the Paris Catacombs over video chat with a local or zoom over to the Palace of Versailles, these virtual tours can bring the wonders of Paris to you. The City of Love is waiting for you—just one click away.

Louvre Virtual Tour with a Guide

It’s easy to get lost in the world’s largest art museum, even on a virtual visit. So, go on a live guided virtual tour of the Louvre to see all the highlights. Don’t miss the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. Plus, discover interesting artifacts that you might otherwise miss.

Over the live video call, hear the stories behind these famous works of art, find out Napoleon’s connection to the Louvre, and learn how a castle became home to these masterpieces in Paris.

Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower Virtual Tour

Explore the top sights of Paris on a virtual tour of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame . Over video chat, your guide takes you to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a gorgeous view of the City of Love. Then, head to Notre Dame to learn what makes this cathedral so special. Take in its iconic gargoyles, hear about the tragic fire in 2019 and the plans for restoration, and see more of it than you could if you were physically in Paris. Next, virtually stroll the romantic streets of the Latin Quarter and Montmartre where artists and writers have fallen in love with Paris for decades.

Catacombs of Paris Virtual Tour

Imagine the dank chilly air sending a shiver down your spine as you descend below the City of Light and into the Empire of the Dead. Artfully arranged human bones line the walls for 200 macabre miles. On a virtual tour of the Paris Catacombs led by a local guide, find out how these spooky tunnels came to be and why Paris would be in ruins without them. Are you brave enough to go on this creepy online adventure?

Versailles Online with an Expert Guide

Visiting the opulent Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. So, join a local historian guide for an interactive virtual tour of Versailles using video chat. See the historic Hall of Mirrors and the Grand Apartments where the King of France once slept. Then, take a relaxing stroll through Versailles’ manicured gardens, stopping to admire impressive fountains tucked among the topiaries. All the while, chat with your guide about King Louis XIV, Marie Antionette, and the French Revolution.

Virtual Walking Tour of Paris with an Interactive Guide

Connect with a local Parisian guide over video chat for a virtual walking tour of Paris . As your guide takes you to their favorite places in the city, meet fellow virtual travelers from around the world. Discover the proper way to order at a French bakery and how to have a true Parisian picnic. While learning about French language and culture, hear stories about the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. This interactive Paris virtual tour is as close as you can get to the City of Light without leaving your couch.

Virtual Tour of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur

This panoramic virtual tour of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur immerses you in 360-degree views of this beautiful Paris landmark. Before you enter the building, virtually climb the 270 steps up the hill of Montmarte and soak in the beautiful view of Paris. Listen to a recorded audio guide tell you about the Basilica from the magnificent mosaics decorating the Chancel to the top of the Campanile. As you click around the building, you can even hear the Grand Organ and Campanile bells.

Opéra National de Paris and Museum of Music

Take a virtual tour of the Paris opera house that inspired The Phantom of the Opera . Look up from your seat in the audience and admire the Chagall painted dome on this 360-degree virtual tour of the elegant Palais Garnier . Then, wander backstage and even down to the mysterious lake below the opera house. Expand your appreciation of music with a virtual trip to the Museum of Music in Paris . See instruments played by famous composers, such as a piano that belonged to Chopin, as well as over 1,000 other instruments.

Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie

After your virtual tour of the Louvre, continue your art education by exploring the Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie. Wander the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist artwork in the world on your virtual tour of Musée d’Orsay . Admire works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. Then, virtually stand in awe in front of Monet’s massive water lily paintings in the nearby Musée de l’Orangerie , which was purpose-built to display these masterpieces.

Army Museum and Les Invalides Virtual Tours in Paris

See the tomb of Napoleon, one of France’s greatest military leaders, and one of the finest collections of military history in the world at Les Invalides and the Army Museum. You can practically touch Napoleon Bonaparte’s red tomb with this 360-degree panoramic virtual tour of Les Invalides .

Explore the collection of the Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) online , which includes medieval suits of armor, Napoleon’s pistols, and an Enigma encryption machine from WWII. This is certainly a must-see for any history buff on a virtual tour of Paris.

After your virtual tours of Paris, continue your European adventure with a virtual trip to London or Rome . Why limit yourself? Explore these virtual tours and experiences around the world

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Virtual Paris Tours: Visit Paris from Your Couch via the Internet

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 22nd March 2022

Categories Paris

Last Updated on 22nd March 2022 by Sophie Nadeau

I don’t know about you, but I’m missing my favourite city right about now! From strolling along the Champs Elysées to admiring the dazzling Eiffel Tower illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights, there sure is nowhere in the world quite like Paris. And so, if you’re in search of a little Wanderlust inspiration and fancy seeing something new, here are the very best virtual Paris tours which you can enjoy at home, from the comfort of your couch!

Virtual Paris Catacombs Visit

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The Paris Catacombs are a network of disused limestone quarries, inspection tunnels, and storage spaces stretching out in a maze of somewhat unmapped space deep under the City of Light. Since 1814, the Paris Catacombs you can visit as a member of the public today has functioned as a Mausoleum.

Once owned by the Catholic Church, the area under the 14th arrondissement is now managed by the City of Paris. Visit today and some all of the inspection tunnels mark the names of Parisian street names no longer in use. The area open to the public stretches around a mile in length and can now be visited virtually via the internet (too cool)!

Check out the virtual Paris Catacombs visit here.

As the largest museum in the world, the Louvre is one of Paris’ crowning jewels and is set against the backdrop of a former Royal Residence. Well-known for its central glass pyramid and as being the home to the likes of the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, even if you’re ‘not a museum person’.

When it comes to Louvre Virtual tours, there’s no shortage of marvels to be enjoyed from your own home. So whether you wish to see Egyptian Antiquities, what’s left of the Louvre Moat, or get up close and personal with the ornate Galerie d’Apollon, there’s easily enough to keep you occupied over the space of an afternoon.

Check out the virtual Louvre Museum visits here.

Though not quite as immersive as some of the other virtual tours of Paris out there, truth be told, that you can still virtually enjoy the interior of the Invalides Dome, i.e. the final resting place of Napoleon, thanks to a fantastic series of detailed 360-degree photographs.

Check our the virtual Invalides visit here.

One of the most iconic attractions in the district of Montmartre, i.e. the 18th arrondissement is that of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Sitting in pride of place on the top of the Montmartre hill and overlooking the rest of the city, the Basilica is said to stand where 

One of the coolest aspects of the Sacré-Coeur tour is that you can also enjoy an audio guide description, complete with fascinating stories and little historical details you might never have found out (even if you were to visit the ecclesiastical building in person).

Including both interior and exterior shots so that you can fully explore the basilica, there’s also the opportunity to listen to the organ (a rare treat that you wouldn’t get if you were to visit during normal opening times)! 

Check our the virtual Sacré-Coeur visit here.

Even if many of us might not be able to physically see the Eiffel Tower for quite some time (even for many Parisians, all they can see is the Eiffel Tower beam from their apartments, which continues to be illuminated each night), there’s still the possibility to enjoy the Iron Lady thanks to virtual tours online.

Enjoy the view from the top, over the Champs de Mars, learn about the construction and history of the tower, and even take a peek inside the secret room which is hidden in plain sight, right at the top of the tower! You can also walk the streets surrounding the Eiffel Tower virtually thanks to Google Maps!

Check out the virtual Eiffel Tower visit here.

Many visitors to the city don’t know this, but there are actually four triumphal arches in Paris! As well as the Arc de Triomphe which we all know and love (and which offers breathtaking views onto the Eiffel Tower), there’s the Porte Saint Louis, Porte Saint Denis, and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel .

Though the Arc de Triomphe tour is not as interactive as some of the other Parisian virtual tours, you can still enjoy gorgeous 360-degree shots of the famous Parisian landmark.

Check out the virtual Arc de Triomphe visit here.

Situated in the very heart of the Jardin des Tuileries, the Musée de l’Orangerie is set over two levels and features a plethora of beautiful artworks. However, perhaps none are as famous as those of Monet’s waterlilies. Now, you can enjoy the beauty of these paintings while lying on your couch or cooking dinner!

Check out the virtual Musée de l’Orangerie visit here.

Though not technically in Paris proper, no visit to the French capital would indeed be complete without venturing out onto a day trip from Paris to the Château of Versailles. Bold and beautiful, what started out as a modest royal hunting lodge was transformed into one of the most sumptuous palaces in the world under the reign of Louis XIV, i.e. the Sun King.

Now, you can visit Versailles virtually (try saying that five times in a row really quickly!) Stroll through the Hall of Mirrors, be in awe of the art work created for Marie Antoinette, and marvel at over 20,000 pieces of artwork! The virtual tour is created in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture and also includes untold stories and quirky historical facts you would never have heard of otherwise.

Check out the virtual Versailles visit here.

One of the most iconic museums in Paris is that of Musée d’Orsay, a former train station turned art museum. Situated along the banks of the River Seine and home to many impressionist pieces of artwork, including Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ this must-see cultural institution can now be visited virtually! From learning about the history of the place to inspecting all of the stunning pieces of artwork up close, there’s enough information to keep you entertained for hours.

Check out the virtual Musée d’Orsay tour here.

Some of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval stained glass in the world can be found in Sainte Chapelle, in the heart of Île de la Cité and just streets away from the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Home to two equally stunning and ornate places of worship, the spaces amaze and awe visitors in equal measure.

Check out the virtual Sainte Chapelle Tour here.

One of the coolest things about wandering the streets of Paris, is the sheer number of street art pieces and installations, dotted all across the city. From intricate lifelike designs to jaw-dropping abstracts that fill the entire side of a building, there’s no shortage of incredible street art pieces to discover in Paris, all from the comfort of your armchair!

Check out Paris street art virtually here.

The Dame de Fer is perhaps the most iconic landmark of all, and is probably never quite as beautiful as when it twinkles with hundreds of thousands of lights on the hour, every hour during the evening for a full five minutes. Well, luckily for us, you can still enjoy the sparkling lights of the Tour Eiffel, even if you can’t make it to Paris right now!

Check out the virtual Eiffel Tower sparkles here.

Home to a large pond with little wooden toy sailboats that can be rented by kids and adults alike during the summer months, the Luxembourg Gardens lie on the fringes of the Latin Quarter of the city and are just a stone’s throw away from the church of Saint Sulpice.

Other highlights of the Luxembourg Gardens include plenty of beautiful blooms in the spring and summer months, and of course, the stunning Medici Fountain , a showstopper of a water feature. Thanks to the internet, you can virtually enjoy the beautiful Parisian park for yourself!

Check out the virtual Medici fountain tour here.

If you’re looking for one of the best-kept secrets of the Latin Quarter (an area so-called because the students of the Sorbonne University would converse with one another in Latin during the Middle Ages), then you need to look no further than the Église Saint Étienne du Mont.

Situated in the shadow of the Paris Panthéon, the little-known church was used to film one of the most iconic scenes from Midnight in Paris. Today, the Parisian ecclesiastical building has the last remaining rood screen in Paris and is the final resting place for the relics of Saint Genevieve, the Patron Saint of Paris.

Check out the virtual tour of Église Saint Etienne du Mont visit here.

Located on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, one of two ‘forests’ on the edges of Paris, the Château de Vincennes was constructed between the 14th and 17th centuries and has seen varying uses throughout its lifetime.

From its time as a royal residence to its stint as a dungeon, the Castle remains the only fortified château close to central Paris. Now, you can learn about the history of the former royal residence, as well as enjoy detailed images of the fFrench monument, all from the comfort of your couch. 

Check out the virtual tour of Vincennes here.

Paris Virtual guided tours

If you’re looking for a more interactive experience when it comes to your Paris virtual visit, then there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in this too. From learning about highlights of the Louvre with an expert to exploring Paris’ underbelly via the catacombs, here are our picks for the best guided virtual tours of Paris.

Taking place over the course of an hour with a qualified art historian, enjoy a virtual visit of the Louvre. Discover the secret history of the Mona Lisa, learn about the Winged Victory of Samothrace, all from the comfort of your own home. Book the virtual tour here.

If you want to learn even more about the Paris catacombs, then you might consider booking a virtual tour of the Paris Catacombs. This one hour Paris virtual tour is led by a French historian, who will reveal many of the unusual stories behind Paris’ underground spaces. The virtual visit will also include a peek into some spaces which are closed off to the public.  Book the virtual tour here.

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sami veloso

Monday 27th of July 2020

I popped over from Thyme for Tea - Paris in July. Great links for virtual tours, thanks for posting.

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How To Virtually Tour of Paris’ Louvre & See Every Masterpiece

If you’re an art enthusiast, the Louvre is probably at the top of your Paris or museum wish list.

As the world’s largest and most visited museum, it boasts an impressive collection of 35,000 artworks, ranging from the 6th century BC to the 19th century AD, all housed within a magnificent Renaissance palace.

However, as you might imagine, visiting the Louvre can be quite the experience.

It’s often packed with crowds, flashing cameras, selfie sticks, and people bustling around or trying to touch the art. This can make it feel a bit chaotic and overwhelming.

But there’s good news! You can now explore the Louvre from the comfort of your home, avoiding the hustle and bustle.

I’ll guide you through how to virtually visit this iconic museum and view all its must-see masterpieces. Get ready to enjoy your personal Leonardo or Michelangelo experience in peaceful solitude.

Layout of the Louvre

The Louvre is a U shape, divided into three wings: Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. Each of the wings has four floors.

The Denon Wing is home to the Louvre’s best known art work, including the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa .

The Sully Wing is known for its statuary and antiquities.

The Richelieu Wing houses the lavish apartments of Napoleon III and some famed Dutch art works.

Virtual Tour of Louvre Masterpieces

Let’s take an online virtual tour of the Louvre, wing by wing.

You can see all the must see masterpieces via 360 video tours, YouTube videos, or online tours on the Louvre Website itself. For a lengthy overall YouTube tour of the Louvre, click here .

The Denon Wing

The Denon Wing is the most visited part of the Louvre. It boasts the fabulously ornate Apollo Gallery, with high arches and frescoed ceilings.

It’s a shrine to Sun King Louis XIV. The paintings were begun by Charles Le Brun and completed by Eugene Delacroix.

1. French Paintings in the Denon Wing

The Denon Wing is most renowned for its iconic French paintings from the Neoclassical and Romantic periods of art history. The must see French masterpieces include:

• Eugene Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People
• Jacques-Louis David, The Coronation of Napoleon
• Theodore Gericault, Raft of the Medusa
• Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Grand Odalisque

You can take a virtual tour of the recently restored Apollo Gallery on the Louvre’s website here . You can learn about the Coronation of Napoleon from this Louvre YouTuber .

You can take a virtual video tour of the world’s most famous French painting, Liberty Leading the People here . And learn about the Grand Odalisque here .

Via my blog, you can also explore the Louvre’s underrated masterpieces in the Denon Wing.

I also have a guide to what I think is the best painting in the Louvre , Gericault’s Raft of the Medusa , a then-scandalous painting based on a true story.

2. Italian Paintings in the Denon Wing

The Denon Wing also boasts treasures from the Italian Renaissance.

This is where you’ll find works by Sandro Botticelli , Leonardo da Vinci , Raphael , and Titian. The must see masterpieces include:

• Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa
• Leonardo Da Vinci, The Virgin and Child With St. Anne
• Titian, Pastoral Concert
• Raphael, Portrait of Baldasarre Castiglione
• Paolo Veronese, The Wedding Feast at Cana

You can take a virtual 360 tour of the Grand Gallery, which houses much of the Louvre’s Italian art.

If you’re a Mona Lisa fan, the Louvre is offering the museum’s first virtual reality experience , which brings to life the story of the enigmatic portrait. You can also take a virtual tour of the Mona Lisa here , with Smarthistory, an artsy YouTube channel.

In the Louvre’s busiest room, the Mona Lisa stares across at Veronese’s massive Wedding Feast at Cana . You can take a virtual tour and get the full scoop on the Louvre’s largest painting here .

You can virtually tour Raphael’s paintings, including Baldasarre , on Google Arts & Culture . Learn about Titian’s Pastoral Concert , which inspired Edouard Monet’s groundbreaking painting Luncheon on the Grass , here .

READ : 3 Day Impressionism Tour of Paris

3. Sculptures in the Denon Wing

If you prefer sculpture to painting, the Denon Wing has one of the world’s most magnificent sculptures — the Winged Victory of Samothrac e.

It also has a room on the ground dedicated to Italian sculpture, the Michelangelo Gallery. It’s one of my favorites spots in the Louvre.

It’s home to Michelangelo’s Dying Slave and Rebellious Slave , from 1513-15. These sculptures seem to struggle to escape the marble.

They were originally intended for the Tomb of Pope Julius II in Rome. But Michelangelo got distracted with the ceiling of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and could never finish the tomb.

READ : Masterpieces of the Vatican

You can also find Antonio Canova’s incredibly romantic Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss . It’s considered Canova’s master work.

You can take a virtual tour of Michelangelo’s Slaves here , a virtual tour of Canova’s work on Google Arts & Culture , and a virtual tour of Canova’s Psyche here . You can take a virtual 360 tour of the Winged Victory here .

2. The Sully Wing

In the Sully Wing, you’ll find some of the world’s most beautiful sculptures, antiquities, and the remains of the Medieval Louvre.

One of the Louvre’s greatest ladies, a Hellenistic masterpiece, is here — the Venus de Milo . Even without arms, Venus de Milo is considered the classical epitome of female beauty.

You can also see another masterwork, Sleeping Hermaphrodite , a mythological merger of a male and female body. The ancient sculpture was discovered in Rome near the Baths of Diocletian.

Cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned the Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini to carve the mattress in 1619. He later sold the piece to the French when he was strapped for cash.

READ : The Bernini Trail in Rome

The Egyptian Antiquities are a well loved highlight of the Sully Wing. The collection features the 12 ton Great Sphinx of Tanis, model ships, ancient sculptures, a massive statue of Ramses II, and a sarcophagus room.

The medieval Louvre is also a fascinating place. Originally, the Louvre was a 12th century fortress built by King Philippe Auguste.

The lower levels are all that remain. Archeologists discovered and excavated the underground medieval remains during the construction of I.M. Pei’s pyramid in 1983-85.

You can take a virtual tour of all the Louvre’s Roman Antiquities here , the Venus de Milo here , and the Sleeping Hermaphrodite here . You can take a virtual tour of the famed Egyptian Antiquities here and walk around the Medieval Louvre here .

3. The Richelieu Wing

In Richelieu Wing, you can admire the Louvre’s Mesopotamian Antiquities, Napoleon III’s Second Empire rooms, sculptures, and some amazing Dutch masterpieces.

The Richelieu Wing boasts the spectacular Cour Marly, a spacious glass roofed courtyard.

It’s stuffed with 17th and 18th marble and white stone sculptures, many commissioned by Sun King Louis XIV and Louis XV. There’s also a magnificent Fountain of Diana, dating from 1550.

Perhaps the most famous part of the Richelieu Wing is the Napoleon III apartments. They were built between 1852-57 to accommodate visiting dignitaries. They’re sumptuous.

Crystal chandeliers glitter, gilded furniture gleams, and the ceilings sport beautiful frescos — all set amid red velvet and red drapery. The Rococo state dining room could seat almost 100 people.

You can virtually tour the Cour Puget here and the Cour Marly here . You can take a virtual tour of Napoleon’s Apartments here .

The Richelieu Wing is also home to some unmissable Dutch old master paintings, including:

• Johannes Vermeer, The Lacemaker
• Johannes Vermeer, The Astronomer
• Rembrandt, Bathsheba at Her Bath.
• Hieronymous Bosch, Ship of Fools
• Georges de la Tour, The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds

From the Louvre’s website, you can see and get an education on The Lacemaker here , Bathsheba here , Ship of Fools here , and The Cheat here .

If you’re a Beyonce fan, her recent music video featured pieces from the Louvre. Now, you can follow the Beyonce Louvre Trail on the Louvre website.

The Louvre is also featuring an Artwork of the Day . If you’re interested in the history of the Louvre, here’s my guide .

Tickets For The Louvre

Naturally, if you decide to visit the Louvre in person, it’s essential to p re-book a skip the line ticket . If you take your art seriously, you may want to  book a guided tour .

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to taking a virtual tour of the Louvre. You may enjoy these other Paris travel guides:

• 3 day itinerary for Paris
• 3 day art weekend in Paris
• 5 day itinerary for Paris
• Hidden gems in Paris
• Guide to the Latin Quarter
• Guide to Montmartre
• Best museums in Paris
• Monet guide to Paris
• Louvre survival Tips
• Tourist traps to skip in Paris
• Guide to the Musee d’Orsay

If you’d like to take a virtual tour of the Louvre from home, pin it or later.

1 thought on “How To Virtually Tour of Paris’ Louvre & See Every Masterpiece”

Good day. I was wondering if you would recommend the Louvre at night . Is there a significant difference in terms of avoiding crowds, the lighting for pics and access to different wings?

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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Leslie Livingston

Looking for a Good Virtual Tour of Paris? Start With These.

Last Updated on January 19, 2023

When the world was turned upside-down by a minuscule, spike-covered virus, in 2020, many of us who take joy in travel had to find creative ways to keep our wanderlust from imploding into gloom. Luckily, we can now tentatively say that we’re in the post-pandemic era. And with France lifting all travel restrictions in 2022 and more people feeling comfortable taking long-distance trips, the prospect of seeing Paris in person is looking far brighter these days.

While virtual experiences can’t begin to replace the invigorating, rich textures of physical travel, they can help to stimulate curiosity and give you a sense of what might interest you when you do manage to get there. If you’re looking for a decent virtual tour of Paris or another online experience that helps you feel re-connected to France, these suggestions may put you on the right track. Most are entirely free.

Paris 3D: Through the Ages, from the Gallo-Roman Period to 1889

Let’s start with a virtual tour of Paris that offers a bit of historical perspective. After all, you may as well go back in time if you’re traveling virtually.

While this 12-minute digital simulation of the city’s transformation from the Gallo-Roman period to the century dates to 2013, I continue to find it impressive.

It shows what Paris might have looked like when it was the Roman Empire-ruled city of Lutetia, then speeds us forward to the medieval period, convincingly simulating the construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral and the dramatic fortifications of the Louvre Palace.

{Related: Take A Self-Guided Tour of Roman Paris}

We then move to Revolutionary Paris and the storming of the Bastille, followed by the dawn of the city’s modernity with the Universal Exposition of 1889– and the unveiling of a *certain* monument that was initially reviled by almost everyone.

Virtual Tours of Leading Museums & Sites, From the Sainte-Chapelle to the Latin Quarter

In recent years, VR-based visits have become increasingly sophisticated and compelling. While you could formerly expect to dimly perceive a painting or street scene through a webcam that transmitted images in poor resolution, it’s now possible to take surprisingly clear, 360-degree “tours” of popular tourist sites, including several in Paris.

This free virtual itinerary from YouVisit offers brief guided commentary and stunning perspectives on 11 key sites in the capital, including the Louvre, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, Opera Palais Garnier (the facade is pictured above), the Pont Alexandre III bridge, and the Eiffel Tower.

{The 10 Best Things to Do in Paris on Your First Visit}

While they aren’t as extensive as we might wish they were (and let’s face it, you can use Google Street View to explore the city more widely ), they offer a nice initial glimpse of some beautiful places in the capital.

Plus, the guided commentary is a nice touch and added boon: ones that you don’t get by using Street View or other VR tools on your own.

Meanwhile, this list at the Paris Tourist Office directs you to additional free virtual visits of stunning monuments and places in the capital, including the rooftops of the Palais Garnier, the Grand Palais, and the Paris Decorative Arts Museum.

Visit Dozens of Free Online Exhibits from Parisian Museums

For so many of us, not getting to step foot into museums and galleries is a source of frustration and sadness at the moment. If you’ve had to delay a trip to Paris and are itching to get a preview of certain museums, Google Arts and Culture is one astounding resource.

Dozens of Parisian museums, monuments and cultural centers are currently showing exhibits for free on the platform.

You can notably take in a multimedia essay on “ The Fascinating Characters of Montmartre ” that explores the neighborhood’s people and history, see recent acquisitions from the Musée de la Musique at the Paris Philharmonic (Museum of Music), and take a peek at the current contemporary art exhibits and holdings at the Palais de Tokyo.

And for another glimpse of city life and streets, this virtual exhibit on street art in the capital is one way to feel immersed in contemporary Paris.

Elsewhere, the Musée du Louvre has made its VR experience of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa free to the general public. Simply install the app on your smartphone or other device.

The Louvre is also showing several other exhibits online at the moment , as are several other Parisian museums and galleries at their own websites.

{A Few of the Best Independent Art Galleries in Paris}

From the digital-native gallery Atelier des Lumières to the Paris Museum of Modern Art and the Centre Georges Pompidou, most of the city’s major museums have expanded their online exhibition offerings (or created online platforms for the first time). You can see a more complete list here , as well as here.

4. Guided Experiences & Tours From On-the-Ground Experts

We may be living through a moment that questions the value of expertise, but there’s something to be said for it nevertheless.

While all of the virtual tours and experiences I’ve recommended so far are free, it may just be worth paying a modest fee for a special guided tour or class from someone who can really enrich your knowledge and give you feedback.

Explore Paris offers regular virtual tours of Parisian monuments and places including the Basilique de Saint-Denis, as well as history-centric tours covering topics as eclectic as Parisian prisons through the ages.

David Lebovitz: Instagram IGTV Live Happy Hour (Themed Around French Cocktails)

( Editor’s Note: The IGTV Daily Happy Hour series seems to have concluded, but Lebovitz still posts several times a week from his Instagram account , sharing delightful videos in which he talks about and demonstrates his favorite French cheeses, wines, desserts, cocktails and more. Recent posts have also featured virtual wine tastings with noted French sommeliers.)

The affable, always-engaging pastry chef and food writer David Lebovitz had to cancel a book tour for his latest tome, Drinking French . In lieu of heading out on the road as planned, he’s launched a virtual “Apéro hour” on Instagram Live, where he and his partner Romain demonstrate how to make the Gallic cocktails, aperitifs and coffee drinks featured in the book.

They also share glimpses of their Paris kitchen and daily life– a good way to pretend you’re attending a friend’s early evening “apéro” for drinks at their place, Parisian-style.

So if you fancy learning how to whip up a kir royale, Montparnasse cocktail, May Daisy, and other Gallic tipples, head over to his page every day except Sundays at 6:00 pm CET (Paris time) to learn from the friendly master.

He sometimes also throws in generous demos on how to properly enjoy cheese and other French delights, and these are invariably wonderful.

If you miss an episode that particularly interests you, you can see the whole archive at Instagram under the IGTV tab.

Close Your Eyes & Listen to the Soundscapes of Paris

One thing about the past few months that has struck many people: how much the silence of the streets has reconfigured our sense of city life . The incredible lack of urban noise in places like Paris has served as a stark reminder of how much the hum of usual life has been disrupted by the present crisis.

But some “soundscape artists” have worked to arrestingly capture the aural textures of Paris, recording the bustle and vivacity of daily life in ways that can go a long way in reviving a sense of joy and hope.

Visit this page to explore the Parisian soundscapes of UK-based artist Des Coulam, who in an interview on the same page explains his attempt to “exhaust a place in Paris” through sounds.

The Parisian soundscapes of Michael Begg are also compelling. One I particularly like, “Midnight in Montmartre”, layers together various aural impressions captured from street level, chaotically but joyfully smashing together sounds of cars, passers-by in conversation, and an accordion riff.

Listen to the Paris Unlocked Playlist on Spotify- Then Build Your Own

Finally, music is an excellent way to feel carried somewhere else. With that in mind, I created a dedicated playlist of tunes designed to take you straight to Paris, whether from your couch or your kitchen .

Songs that arguably have the spooky capacity to bend how time and space work include Jeff Buckley’s inspired version of Edith Piaf’s “Je n’en connais pas la fin”, several tracks from Yann Tiersen (who co-wrote the Amelie soundtrack), and a sun-soaked, nostalgic croon from Francoise Hardy that might succeed in transporting you to the Promenade des Anglais in Nice , or somewhere else on the French Riviera.

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Note: This post contains some affiliate links. While booking tours and experiences through these comes at no additional cost to you, it helps to fund more free, in-depth features here at Paris Unlocked. Thank you.

Courtney Traub is the Founder and Editor of Paris Unlocked. She’s a longtime Paris resident who now divides her time (as well as she can manage) between the French capital and Norwich, UK. Co-author of the 2012 Michelin Green Guide to Northern France & the Paris Region, she has been interviewed as an expert on Paris and France by the BBC, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Le Figaro, Matador Network and other publications. Courtney has also written and reported stories for media outlets including Radio France Internationale, The Christian Science Monitor, Women’s Wear Daily and The Associated Press. In addition to going down various rabbit holes of curiosity when it comes to French culture, history, food and art, Courtney is a scholar of literature and cultural history whose essays and reviews have appeared in various forums.

One thought on “ Looking for a Good Virtual Tour of Paris? Start With These. ”

Excellent graphics and very informative!

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8 Virtual Tours of Paris: Explore Iconic Places in Paris Online

by Stephanie · Published April 3, 2020 · Updated August 26, 2022

Is travelling to Paris, France on your bucket list? Paris lures many people, whether for its iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or to see first-hand its wealth of art. But sadly many won’t get to travel to Paris. But, what if I told you that you can explore Paris virtually? It’s true! I’ve collected eight incredible virtual tours of Paris that will make you feel like you’re wandering the City of Lights in the comfort of your own home.

The following list of Paris virtual tours will have you wandering through some of its amazing buildings, including one that will be closed for a long while, into its top museums, and so much more. So, whether you’ve never been or want to keep reliving a magical trip you took there, let’s dive deep into Paris online.

Top Virtual Tours of Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris

After the 2019 fire in Notre-Dame, you can no longer visit. But don’t despair! You can still take a tour of Notre-Dame de Paris virtually! This is easily one of the top virtual tours of Paris, especially since we don’t know how long it will be closed. The tour takes you through the main hall, up close to the intricate wooden model of the cathedral, and even to the two rose windows. While I’ll always have my memories of Notre-Dame, this virtual tour is a fun reminder of its grandeur.

Catacombs of Paris

Have you always wanted to go beneath the streets of Paris and explore its incredible catacombs? Well, now you can from the comfort and safety of your own home. No need to be afraid. This virtual tour of Paris’s catacombs will let you wander and see some of the interesting sites within. But without the cool, damp, and eerie atmosphere that comes along with being there in person, unless you take the tour in the darkness of your basement.

Looking for other places you can travel virtually? Check out these +10 Toronto Virtual Tours to keep you exploring from home!

Sainte-Chapelle

If it’s stunning buildings you’re looking to virtually explore in Paris then take this 360-degree virtual tour of Sainte-Chapelle . Located in the heart of Paris, Sainte-Chapelle is home to 1,113 stained glass windows that even in the online experience will overwhelm and astound you. You can pan from the arched ceiling and all around to take in its glorious 13th-century stain glass windows and 15 th century rose window. I guarantee that once you see it virtually you’ll want to plan a trip to Paris !

Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is one of the top museums and attractions in not only Paris but the world. And for good reason! It’s the world’s largest museum of art and is a spectacular building itself, both inside and out. But if you can’t travel to Paris due to whatever reason you can still visit the Louvre Museum online here and take one of their four different virtual tours. I’m so glad that two of my favourites parts of the museum can be accessed by virtual tour, the Medieval Louvre, and the Egyptian Antiquities. You can also enjoy a 360-degree tour of the Louvre’s courtyard here .

Related Post: 4 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Paris Opera

If you’re looking for another awesome Paris virtual tour then check out this one . During this tour of the Paris Opera, you’ll be able to explore everything from the stage to the balconies and even the plush red seats. You can marvel at the beautiful painted ceiling and the incredibly detailed cornices and Corinthian pillars, as well as other architectural features. You can even sneak backstage! Shh, don’t tell!

D’Orsay Museum

Another of Paris’s top museums is available to explore online! The D’Orsay Museum is home to an array of mostly French art, including pieces from Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. The museum is set in a stunning Beaux-Arts style building that was once a railway station. But its incredible online experience is another of the top virtual tours of Paris. This virtual tour lets you wander through the museum and see many of the pieces up close, including the famous self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh.

Sacre Coeur Basilica

Another highlight of the City of Lights is Sacre Coeur Basilica. Set on the hilltop in Montmartre, Sacre Coeur is one of the most beautiful places in Paris to visit. Built of a brilliant white stone and in a mix of both Roman and Byzantine styles, it literally stands out from many views of Paris. And, in my opinion, it has the BEST virtual tour of Paris . The thorough tour of Sacre Coeur is both visual and audio. With over 400 informational windows the tour takes you from the steps to the top of Sacre Coeur, even gives you those epic panoramic views over the city.

Luxembourg Gardens

One of my favourite things to do in Paris is to explore its wonderful parks and gardens ! There are so many and each holds something special. And beyond all the iconic buildings of Paris, you can also explore the gorgeous Luxembourg Gardens virtually. From the large pond to the pretty flowers and up close to the Luxembourg Palace it’s like you’re wandering the gardens on a beautiful summer day.

Other Cool Virtual Paris Tours:

Arc de Triomphe

The Pantheon

Walking Tour of Paris

Explore Paris from Above

Paris through Books

Another great way to travel to Paris from home is through books. Included in my Best Books Set in Paris you’ll find an array of genres, from memoirs to mysteries and of course a few classics too. A few favourites are:

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway – Hemingway’s memoir about his time in Paris as a struggling writer in the 1920s. It digs into his love affair with Paris, writing in cafes, and the intriguing lot of characters he calls friends, like James Joyce, Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and other now-famous artists.

Paris The Nove l by Edward Rutherfurd – An epic saga of historical fiction set in Paris, in which the story follows one family from medieval times up to the 1960s. It’s full of intriguing characters, secrets, love, and at its core is Paris.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George – A charming novel is about Monsieur Perdu, who sells books from his barge on the Seine. It’s about love lost, healing wounds, but also adventure as he sets off down to the south of France via its riverways.

If you’re looking for more ways to feed your travelling soul while at home then check out these Inspiring Travel Books that will take you to places across the world!

Have you taken any virtual tours of Europe that wowed you?

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Tags: Paris travel virtual tours

I'm a Canadian gal with a passion for travel, the great outdoors as well as coffee and books. I hope to inspire others to feel the same way! Traveling mostly solo, I love to explore my own backyard of Ontario as well as exotic cities around the world.

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Paris Virtual Experiences

Your friends in paris bring you history— all from the comfort of your own home, over 20,000 virtual friends made.

Envision yourself in Paris through authentic, vintage and vibrant, current photos of each location, person and topic discussed.

Our most popular Paris tour now from the comfort of your own home. We’ll show you synagogues, Place des Vosges, Holocaust memorial, and more.

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The BEST intro to Paris! Whether it’s your first or 100th time visiting, you’ll learn something new. See Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.

Explore Paris’s artistic history with the Moulin Rouge, Van Gogh, and more. Feel transported back in time as we discover the winding cobblestone streets of this hilltop neighborhood.

20€ per screen Inquire for private tour pricing 1.5 hours

Secret legends and spooky myths lurk in the Latin Quarter. Discover the tiny and winding streets of Paris under star-lit skies as our actor-guides entertain for the traveling story lover.

Learn about and drool over the ABC’s of French cuisine – From savory to sweet we discover the history and importance of food in France with unforgettable and hilarious anecdotes.

20 € per screen Kosher tour available upon request Inquire for private tour pricing 1.5 hours

What was it really like to be in the Resistance? How did one go about fighting the Nazi forces? What were the perils and dangers? And how were they overcome? All of these questions and more will be answered in this virtual resistance tour, the likes of which has never been seen before

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Virtual Reality Tours of Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower

Visitors on the Eternal Notre-Dame virtual reality tour take an extensive tour of the cathedral during its construction, including this view over the city circa 1260. Extract image © Orange/Emissive/Amaclio Productions.

On the one hand, I have a natural aversion to recommending virtual reality tours for travelers. After all, we travel to be someplace, not virtually but actually. On the other hand, virtual reality tours, in addition to being entertaining, can be informative and insightful when there’s a historical or otherwise important unseen component to complement and enhance a visit to the real deal.

Now in their infancy, virtual reality tours will become increasingly immersive, seamless and sensorial in the years ahead. As they stand, aside from their entertainment value, do they help travelers on site understand and further appreciate what they’ve come to see?

Curious about the added value of the virtual reality tours now available within actual sight of two major monuments in Paris, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, I took a test run of their respective magic goggles on site. For Notre-Dame that meant in a subterranean zone one hundred yards in front of the cathedral. For the Eiffel Tower that meant during a stroll along the Champs de Mars, the park that leads to the tower on Paris’s Right Bank.

Eternal Notre-Dame: Amaclio Productions’ virtual reality tour of Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame is currently inaccessible to the general public, as it has been since the fire of 2019 destroyed its roof and steeple. The cathedral is scheduled to reopen in December 2024, though under what conditions is not yet known. The virtual reality tour, reached from an underground entrance at the far end of the square in front of the cathedral, is currently programmed to end on June 30, 2024.

Following along with a handsome, well-spoken electronic guide (choose your language), the virtual reality tour of Notre-Dame leads visitors to the doors of the cathedral then inside, through various steps of the building’s medieval construction, 19th-century restoration, and current rehabilitation. It’s an extensive tour. In 45 minutes, while walking and turning in all directions, visitors get a close-up view of the structure inside and out, from various heights, while encountering works and learning about its elements in stone, glass and wood. Visitors “ride” a platform to the upper reaches of the cathedral to stand near a rose window and then higher to visit “the forest” of oak rafters and beams that form the wooden framework, those elements that burned during the fire of 2019. Details are also given about medieval Christianity and the structure’s theological underpinnings. All is made understandable to a wide public.

Altogether, this is an excellent tour that’s as visually compelling as it is informative. And complementing the virtual tour, visitors then visit at their own pace an exhibition about the current renovation and reconstruction. Objects and models along with explanatory panels and interviews in French and in English provide visitors with a clearer understanding of elements touched on during the virtual tour: recreating the wooden framework of the forest, restoring stained glass, the grand organ and the bells, replacing stone vaulting and sculptural elements, and conducting research. By the way, you can keep up with restoration work here .

The combination of the virtual reality tour and the exhibition afterwards make for an exceptional and entertaining introduction to the cathedral for those with little prior understanding of the construction and current restoration of the cathedral and is equally fascinating for those already acquainted with Our Lady of Paris. The virtual tour last 45-minutes, to which you need to add departure time and time to visit the post-tour exhibition, so count 70-90 minutes altogether.

Be sure to get a good look at the façade of Notre-Dame and a side view as well before taking the virtual reality tour. Then, after the virtual tour and exhibition, now armed with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the architectural and artistic glory of the cathedral, reconsider the actual façade and take a walk around the full perimeter of the building.

Practical considerations

There’s a cost to virtual reality tours that may be prohibitive to some. The experience at Eternal Notre-Dame costs 30€99 for adults and 20€99 for children under 17, though on certain days and times adults pay the children price, particularly off season.

Groups of up to six people set off together at the same time, with individual headsets speaking in your chosen language. Each person wears a headset and carries a backpack containing what is essentially a laptop computer while walking along the underground maze. Precise instructions and indications keep you moving and prevent you from bumping into other visitors. The glasses/headset adjust well and the tour is captivating enough that it’s easy to forget the equipment and enjoy the walk. However, the backpack is bit cumbersome, and for anyone with a bad back, carrying it for 45 minutes may be uncomfortable.

Brief pauses between scenes within the virtual universe can be momentarily confusing, but the lit path and your virtual guide will return soon enough to point you in the right direction as you walk.

The minimum recommended age is 11, though children as young as 8 may be admitted. However, given the weight of the backpack and the need to precisely follow lit directional indications so as to avoid bumping into walls and, especially, other visitors, this virtual reality tour may not be appropriate for a small and fidgety preteen. Or you can hold your child’s hand as guidance.

For further information and reservations see Eternal Notre-Dame .

Eternal Notre-Dame was produced by Amaclio Productions , a company that has developed other virtual reality and sound and light shows in France, including at the Invalides in Paris, the Cité de l’Histore at La Défense (Eternal Notre-Dame is also available at that site), Mont Saint Michel, and the Carrousel of Saumur.

Viality Tour’s Eiffel Tower virtual reality and actual walking tour

While Viality Tour’s virtual reality tour of the Eiffel Tower doesn’t have the same high production value as Amaclio’s well-financed Notre-Dame tour, what makes it worthwhile is that this tour has its iconic monument in plain view and is given by an actual human guide, and a delightful one at that.

The tour was developed by the young start-up team of Vladina Flaquière and Michel Dang. Vladina herself serves as your guide. The goggle-wearing virtual portion of the tour takes users through the construction of the Eiffel Tower from 1887 to 1889 and into the Universal Exposition of 1889 for which it was built. Much of the exposition sprawled along the Champs de Mars, the very park where you’ll be walking. The Champs de Mars formerly served as the parade grounds for the nearby Military Academy (Ecole Militaire).

Vladina herself rather than an avatar is your actual guide. Speaking French or English depending on the scheduled or private group, she explains what you see in the goggles as you stand and turn in 360 degrees. You do not walk while wearing the goggles. Instead, between virtual scenes, you then remove the goggles and approach closer and closer to the actual tower. During that time, the tour continues with the actual Eiffel Tower in view as Vladina provides further details about what you see today and answers any questions you may have. So this is both a virtual and an actual tour, lasting about 75 minutes, accompanied by your affable guide and with numerous photo ops along the way. Vladina has worked as a licensed guide at various chateaux in Brittany, the Loire Valley and Versailles, before teaming with Michel to develop Viality Tour. She continues to guide at Versailles.

If you take the tour, you may or may not meet Michel, the equally affable tech half of the team. Michel holds a masters in marketing and worked as a junior product marketing manager with Netgear before he and Vladina partnered to create Viality Tour. Michel does the computer modeling with the assistance of a graphic designer as well as the team’s communications work.

With or without actually going up in the tower, this is an excellent introduction to it. If unwilling to deal with the tickets, lines and crowded elevators, the Viality Tour—both its virtual and actual realities—can serve as your informative visit in and of itself.

If interested in the Viality Tour and also planning to go up the tower, try to sync the two by scheduling the Viality Tour so that it ends 15-30 minutes before the timed ticket you’ve purchased (well) in advance to go up. That will allow for a nice segue from one to the other while allowing you time to go through the security line at the tower. (Viality Tour will not purchase your Eiffel Tower ticket.)

The 75-minute tour costs 29€ for adults and 19€ for children 8 to 17. Children under 8 are not accepted. Groups can consist of up to 10 people.

For further information and for the tour schedule see the Viality Tour website . With sufficient advance planning, privatization for your own group may be possible upon request.

Vladina and Michel plan to extend the Viality Tour concept to other major monuments of the city over the coming years.

© 2024, Gary Lee Kraut

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360° virtual tours

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Explore the Palace of Versailles and relive its temporary exhibitions remotely, with our collection of 360° virtual tours. 

Horace vernet 

Find all the artworks in this exhibition in a unique setting using 360° photo technology. An immersive experience, to discover the world of Horace Vernet. A key figure at Versailles during the reign of  Louis-Philippe , the artist produced, over period of 13 years, some of the most beautiful paintings in the  Historical Galleries , making Versailles home to the largest collection of his works today.

Curator:  Valérie Bajou, General Curator at the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon.

Discover the exhibition     Discover the tour

louis xv passions of a king exhibition (2023)

Discover all the works of this exhibition in a unique scenography thanks to the 360° photo technology. An immersive experience, to discover the passions of Louis XV.

Curators : Yves Carlier, Chief Heritage Curator at the Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, Hélène Delalex, Heritage Curator at the Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon.

the king's animals exhibition (2021-2022)

The Palace of Versailles, located in the heart of a huge forest in Île-de-France, has fostered the development of a new relationship with the animal world. From the object of study and collection to the animal as a political attribute and symbol of power, what relations did the Court have with pets, wild and exotic animals?

Exhibition curators : Alexandre Maral, Curator General, Head of the Sculpture Department of the Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon and Nicolas Milovanovic, Head Curator of the Paintings Department of the Louvre Museum.

hyacinthe rigaud or the sun portrait exhibition (2021)

The palace of Versailles presents the first major monographic exhibition dedicated to the work of  Hyacinthe Rigaud . This most famous portraitist of the Sun King dominated portraiture for nearly a century and set new codes in the discipline.

Exhibition curators : Laurent Salomé, Director of the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, Élodie Vaysse, Curator of Heritage and Ariane James-Sarazin, Curator General of Heritage, Deputy Director of the Musée de l'Armée.

Discover the exhibition      Discover the tour

versailles revival exhibition (2020)

The exhibition «Versailles Revival» shows the enthusiasm and passion for the Versailles of the Ancien Régime, which developed a hundred years after the French Revolution through 350 works, documents and photographs. In parallel, the Republic gathers its assemblies and receives foreign sovereigns, gardens attract tourists and large waters become a popular destination. 

Exhibition curator : Laurent Salomé, Director of the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon et Claire Bonnotte, scientific collaborator of the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon.

the king is dead exhibition (2015-2016)

The exhibition explores the role of the king’s death in the monarchical imagination and court society, placing the death of Louis XIV in the context of the funeral rituals of European rulers from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. It presents major works of art and historical documents, some of which have never been exhibited before, relating to the survival of this ritual after the French Revolution .

Exhibition curators : Béatrix Saule, Director and Head Curator of the Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, assisted by Hélène Delalex, Conservation Officer at the Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon

versailles and the ancient exhibition (2012-2013)

A political and aesthetic ideal, antiquity was glorified in all the courts of Europe since the Renaissance and the Greek and Roman remains were collected with passion by the princes and powerful. But with the reign of Louis XIV, this admiration took on a completely different dimension. To impose in the eyes of all the advent of the absolute monarchy and the power of France, the Sun King conceived his palace as a new Rome dedicated to the cult of Apollo, as well as a sanctuary for his prestigious collection of statues, busts, vases, cameos and medals.

Discover the tour

wardrobe of LOUIS xvi

The wardrobe cabinet , made in 1788, is considered the masterpiece of Versailles royal art. It is a small cabinet of about 13 m2, located in the interior apartment of Louis XVI and accessible through a hidden door. The white and golden woodwork is unique in Europe and represents a peak of French decorative art of the 18th century.  

napoléon rooms

The Napoleonic collections are now presented in several spaces in the palace: in the Coronation Chamber showcasing Napoleon 's rise to become Emperor ; in the rooms known as the « Revolution Room », the « Consulate Room » and the « Empire Room », on the ground floor of the South Wing, presenting the most important moments in Napoleon's rise and his reign in the political, military, diplomatic and dynastic domains ; and in the Gallery of Battles , on the first floor of the same wing. On the second floor, known as the Chimay and South Attics, the story of Napoleon is illustrated by other works, accompanied by many portraits of the Emperor's entourage and the society of his time.

Voyage d’hiver 2017-2018

• Virtual Tours

Virtual Tours of Paris

Discover paris from home with a private guide.

Duration of the tour:

1 hour per visit

Maximum group size:

From 1 to 50 computers

Virtual tour price:

Virtual guided tour via video conference

Ideal to discover Paris and France from home

Included in this private tour:

• Certified professional tour guide
• Private video conference only for you, your family or friends (up to 5 computers), or for your business team or group up to 50 computers.
• Discover Paris and France from home
• Guided tour in French, English or Spanish

The rate of 270 Euros is for families and friends , up to 5 computers at a time. It is possible to add more people  to the virtual tour: please contact me . I can also organize virtual tours for business teams, or retirement homes. 

With the pandemic, and borders being closed, I now offer virtual guided tours of some monuments and museums in Paris. 

Using online resources from different museums , I will guide you inside the Orsay museum or the Opera House of Paris , without the need of travelling to Paris!

You can ask as many questions as the tour goes, and I you can even invite your friends or family to join the video conference !

Virtual tours are available from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 9pm (Paris time), so that we can find the appropriate time , wherever you are located (US, Australia...)

This is like a private tour : you can choose your time slot, personalize your tour according to the age of your kids... This is a great opportunity to discover or rediscover Paris from home! And it can be a good way to prepare for your next trip to Paris. 

How does it work?

• STEP 1: Fill in the  contact form  to choose when would you like to do the virtual tour, and what would you like to visit
• STEP 2:  I will send you an  email with a payment link to pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
• STEP 3: I will send you the link to connect to the video conference (Zoom meeting)
• On the day of the video conference, just click on the link to access the live virtual tour
• I will share my screen with you so that you can see the virtual tour, I will explain the history of the place and everything we can see. You can ask me questions , and I can adapt the tour for your kids  if needed. 
• Video conference is accessible on a computer or tablet with good internet connection . 

What to visit virtually?

Htere are all the virtual tours I can offer online: 

• Paris overview from the Seine river:  the best of Paris
• The Eiffel Tower and Paris seen from the roofs : panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and other monuments
• The Seine river and its beautiful bridges in Paris
• Louvre museum : history of the old palace and masterpieces
• Louvre museum : Italian and French paintings
• Notre-Dame Cathedral : from the Middle Ages to the restoration works after the fire
• Opera House Garnier : the beauty of an opera house from the XIXe century
• Orsay museum : from the old train station to the impressionist masterpieces
• Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie : outstanding stained glass windows and a royal palace from the Middle Ages
• Montmartre district : a very nice neighborhood where lived some great artists
• Basilica of Saint-Denis : a beautiful gothic Cathedral, where are buried the French kings
• Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise : discover the charming village where the painter Van Gogh spent his last months

In January, 2021, I was  interviewed in a podcast  with T he Wandering Scholar , to talk about how I adapted my work to  virtual tour guiding in the face of the pandemic.

If you want to learn more about it, and learn how it is still possible to visit Paris now , you can check the podcast here .

Some reviews about virtual tours online

Virtual tour of the Versailles Palace

Awesome Virtual Tour of Versailles

Our family was looking for something enjoyable and educational during this challenging time staying at home for weeks, and Elisa's virtual tour of Versailles was perfect! My family in California, my parents in Florida, and my sister's family in the Carolinas all joined Elisa for a one hour live guided tour through Versailles Palace (using Google Arts and Culture's 3D mapping so it was like being there - but with no other people/crowds!). Elisa's commentary and insights, and her eagerness to respond to questions, made the experience interactive and engaging for our tri-generational group. And, at only 80 Euros for the hour, we received a lot of value for our money. Cannot recommend enough.

April, 2020 -  Read this review on TripAdvisor

Virtual Tour of Paris from the Seine river

Virtual Tour of Paris from the Seine River

Elisa joined us virtually for our team holiday event and she was fantastic! She “walked” us through Paris and gave us historical but also fun tidbits about each area we saw. She was knowledgeable, entertaining and also very professional. Our team appreciated being transported to another country momentarily and forget that we’re stuck in Canada in a pandemic. 

Thank you Elisa! Your services will certainly be recommended!

December, 2020, Read this review on Google

Some other tours in Paris

+33 7 82 23 44 83

APRIL IN PARIS VIRTUAL TOUR

Virtual Tour

Description

Are you daydreaming about Paris? Join April in Paris for her perfect day in the City of Light! During this unique virtual tour, you will experience Paris like never before! Visit the artsy Belleville neighbourhood, the ultra trendy Marais and what the locals call the "Belly of Paris", all from the comfort of your own home! Throw on a beret and get ready to explore April's Paris, as you learn about the history, explore the city's  best kept secrets and visit the grand monuments that have made April fall in love again and again with such an extraordinary city!

This 1.5-hour virtual experience will be held over Zoom. Please do come prepared with the application downloaded on your computer, tablet or smartphone. At the end of the tour, we will raise a glass together to the most beautiful city in the world, so bring along a beverage of your choice for a toast!

All April in Paris Virtual Tours are private tours for you and your loved ones. The perfect idea for a special birthday, anniversary, family reunion or holiday party - whatever the occasion, dazzling Paris awaits! Contact April now to organize this very special virtual experience!

What's included?

1.5-hour virtual experience

€20 discount code for your next April in Paris Tours booking

Complete list of places visited

Home > Tours > April in Paris Virtual Tour

*if your date is not available, please contact april in paris tours for more options.,  need  help.

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 7.30pm

[email protected]

66 avenue des Champs Elysées 

75008 Paris, France

Paris, France

@ April in Paris Tours

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

100 Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love!

20 Famous Art Museums You Can Visit from Your Living Room

Art from around the world has never been closer to home.

Did you know that you can access art museum virtual field trips, tours, and resources from around the world for free ? Why not take your students on virtual museum tours to the lavish Louvre in Paris? Or the majestic Metropolitan Museum of Art? Or any one of these historic art museums from around the world? Check out the list below to get started!

1. Benaki Museum

Located in Greece, the Benaki Museum features European and Asian pieces of artwork dating all the way back to prehistoric ages. In addition to having a massive collection of art you can explore virtually, the Benaki also offers audio tours for several of their larger exhibits. Our favorites include Chinese and Korean Art, Historic Heirlooms, and Childhood, Toys, and Games.

2. The Frick Collection

Frick, yeah! Click your way through this interactive map for a tour of the beautiful building and collections of art from the likes of Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and more.

3. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Explore thousands of items in the Getty’s collection  with help from Google Arts & Culture. The J. Paul Getty Museum specifically has several interactive options for exploring their collection: a “museum view” virtual tour, three ebook-style online exhibits, and the library of over 15,000 collected pieces of art.

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4. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

The largest art museum in the western United States is offering art museum virtual field trips. Watch videos and museum walkthroughs, listen to soundtracks and live recordings, learn with online teaching resources and courses, browse their art collection, and more on LACMA’s redesigned website.

5. The Louvre

One of our favorite art museum virtual field trips—and the world’s large museum—is the Louvre with options for some of their best exhibition rooms and galleries. Explore rare Egyptian artifacts, iconic paintings, the beautiful structure of the building, and much more through their 360-degree viewing feature.

(NOTE: Several of these virtual tours require Flash Player.)

6. Metropolitan Museum of Art’s #MetKids

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka the Met) developed #MetKids for, with, and by kids—but we think parents and teachers will have just as much fun using it. Our favorite features include a fun and highly interactive map, a “time machine” search function, informational and how-to videos, and so much more.

7. Musée d’Orsay

Instantly transport to the middle of Paris with the Musée d’Orsay and their online tours and art collection. Here you can explore art history with the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces from renowned artists such as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and many more.

8. Museo Frida Kahlo

Also known as La Casa Azúl (the Blue House), this historic art museum was developed where renowned artist Frida Kahlo lived and created masterpieces. While there, you can learn about her life, her art, and more as you take a virtual tour through her former residence.

9. The Museum of the World

The British Museum and Google Cultural Institute teamed up to create one of our favorite interactive projects: The Museum of the World. The British Museum’s digital art collection lets users travel through time—starting with 2,000,000 BC—while seeing how each historical piece in their collection connects with others. Wow!

10. The National Gallery

Click and scroll your way around the National Gallery in London with their three interactive virtual tour options. The National Gallery has hundreds of paintings in its collection ready to be viewed online, many of which are from the Renaissance period.

11. The National Gallery of Art

Washington D.C.’s National Gallery of Art has a wide variety of great educational resources,  including video tours of their exhibitions, in-depth looks at the best pieces of their collection, downloadable learning resources and exercises, pre-recorded lectures by artists and curators, and more.

12. Pergamon Museum

One of Germany’s largest museums, Pergamon is home to a variety of ancient artifacts, including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Pergamon Altar.

13. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the museum of the Netherlands and contains an online collection of well over 160,000 items. Not only is their digital collection incredibly stocked, but it’s also one of the more immersive collections online today. In addition, we highly recommend you try their “stories” feature (shown above), which walks users through the story and emotions behind the artwork created.

14. San Diego Museum of Art

Step inside the San Diego Museum of Art from anywhere! Enjoy 360-degree scans of your favorite galleries, zoom in to see art details, and read full label text in both English and Spanish, all from the comfort of home.

15. San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts

The San Francisco MoMA offers exclusive content featuring artists and their work online. Watch videos, read articles, and more right on their website.

16. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation has several art museums around the world, which means more history to absorb virtually! Their Collection Online has over 1,700 diverse artworks by over renowned 600 artists—and it is definitely worth checking out as one of our top art museum virtual field trips!

17. Tate Modern: Andy Warhol Exhibit

The Tate Modern put together this video tour of their famous Andy Warhol exhibit. Museum curators Gregor Muir and Fiontán Moran talk in-depth about Andy Warhol and his work through the lens of the immigrant story, his LGBTQ identity, and more.

18. Uffizi Gallery

Here you’ll find the art collection of one of Florence, Italy’s most famous families, the de’Medicis. Wander the halls from any classroom!

19. The Van Gogh Museum

With an obvious focus on Vincent van Gogh, the Van Gogh Museum is home to the largest collection of van Gogh pieces in the world. The museum, virtual tours, ebook “stories,” and online collection dive into the life of van Gogh and the inspiration behind his art. Moreover, we think teachers everywhere will appreciate how big a fan he was of reading books!

20. The Vatican Museums

You can finally say you’ve seen the Sistine Chapel thanks to this online program! And, you can also virtually visit the Raphael Rooms, the Chiaramonti Museum, and more historic sites through these virtual tours by the Vatican Museums.

Did we miss one of your favorite art museum virtual field trips? Share them with us, and we might just add it to this list!

Also, check out the best field trip ideas for every age and interest (virtual options too).

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