Top 6 bike tours in Paris

The variety of 20 Best Things To Do in Paris is so great that you will have to optimise your time to the maximum. If you are one of those who likes cycling , you can make the most of your hobby by taking a bike tour of Paris, seeing the main sights of the city in less time.

Paris, despite its enormous size, is a very friendly city for cyclists thanks to its infrastructures and for this reason, cycling around the city is a very pleasant activity. The bicycle is even the means of transport used by more and more Parisians to get around. There are tours to do during the day and there are also night tours. Here are the 7 best bike tours in Paris and Versailles.

If you want to tour Paris, do it like the locals do, by bike. On this tour you will pass through the main attractions of the city, stopping at each of them to take pictures. Entrance fees to the different museums and monuments are not included in the price. After finishing this tour you will be able to choose which of the best Paris museums or monuments to visit with more time.

You will see the Musée d'Orsay from the outside and continue on to the Eiffel Tower. You can have an unforgettable visit by following these tipsfor visiting the Eiffel Tower where you can stop and take pictures. If you want to know how to visit the Musée d'Orsay here you have all the information. The tour continues to the Louvre Museum where you will stop again to listen to the explanations of your guide. The tour continues to the Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens and other places of interest, ending at Rue de Cler.

The total tour lasts approximately 4 hours and costs around 40 euros per person. The price includes helmet rental, bike rental and child seats (please let us know in advance that you will need child seats).

Interesting details about this experience

• Price: around 40 euros per person.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: touring the main sights of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: not available in Spanish.

On this tour you will cycle through Paris by night. Paris is rightly called the city of light, you'll love to see the most iconic sights lit up. The sights you will see from the outside with time to take pictures include Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Conciergerie. You will have time to have an ice cream at the famous Berthillon ice cream parlour (the cost of the ice cream is not included in the tour price) or order water or juice along the way (included in the price).

You will pass along the Seine River and cross it by boat, the boat ticket is included in the tour price. The price of the tour is approximately 50 euros per person and includes bike and helmet rental, insurance, entrance to the boat on the Seine and water or juice. Child seats are available on request, but please advise at the time of booking. Paris bike tours are a great activity to share with children and there are many other kid-friendly activities in Paris that you can enjoy as a family.

Interesting details about this experience

• Price: around 50 euros per person.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: insurance included.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour is not in Spanish.

This tour has a regular route which is quite different from the others. The meeting point is at the guide's café, where you will meet the guide and taste some of his specialities. From there you will go to the Hôtel de Ville, the current seat of the Paris City Hall, where the bikes are kept, which means you will have the privilege to enter and see this magnificent building. From there, mounted on your bike, you will go to the historic district of La Merais where you will ride through its narrow streets while your guide tells you about the history of the area. You will also pass through the Latin Quarter among other places of interest.

The tour costs approximately 40 euros and lasts 4 hours, the price includes child seats if requested at the time of booking, bike and helmet hire, drinks and meals are not included in the price.

Details of interest about this experience

• Price: from 40 euros.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: it passes through places that are not visited on other tours of this type.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in English.

On this tour you will get to know hidden places in Paris, not just the most famous monuments. It is the ideal tour for those who already know the city and want to discover new places and for those who prefer to avoid the big crowds.

You will ride through the bohemian cafes and you will also be dazzled by the exclusive jewellery shops in Place Vendome.

The tour is done on state-of-the-art electric bicycles. The price is around 57 euros per person, including bike rental and helmet. You will need 3 to 4 hours for this tour.

Interesting details about this experience

• Price: 51 euros per person approximately.
• Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: you will see places that are not very well known.
• Disadvantages of this option: there are no seats for children and it is not available in Spanish.

This tour is not in Paris but in Versailles, but it is another option for cycling enthusiasts. Versailles is very close to Paris and is a great day trip. There is a lot to see in Versailles so you should make the most of your time. A good way to tour the Gardens is by bicycle, otherwise it's impossible to do so as they are huge. Many travellers get a bit disoriented when visiting the Palace but if you follow these tips for visiting Versailles it will be much easier.

The meeting point for this tour is at a metro station to be arranged with the guide in Paris, to board the suburban train (tickets are not included) and depart for Versailles. You will have entrance tickets included to: Palace of Versailles, Le Petit Trianon, The Royal Chapel, Le Grand Trianon, Queen's Village and the Hall of Mirrors.

Interesting details about this experience

• Price: from 100 euros.
• Duration: 9 hours.
• Means of transport: train and bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: includes all entrance tickets to Versailles and insurance.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in English but they offer audio guides in English for the visits.

This tour is also in Versailles. Included in the price are all entrance tickets to the different attractions of the Palace without queuing, which is very useful as the queues at Versailles can take hours. Tickets to and from Paris are also included in the price.

The duration of this tour is 7 to 8 hours and gives tourists plenty of time to wander around on their own and find a place toeat in Versailles. Bicycles and helmets are included and child seats are available for hire.

Interesting details about this experience

• Price: from 100 euros.
• Duration: 7 to 8 hours.
• Means of transport: train and bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: includes all entrances to Versailles without queues, also includes return tickets to and from Paris by train.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour in English but they offer audio guides in English for the visits.

The best way to book a bike tour in Paris is through companies specialised in online tourist services. Many people wait until they arrive at their destination to start looking for tours, usually through hotel recommendations. This is not a good idea for several reasons. At the hotel desk they will not have as many options as on the online sites. The prices at the hotel will almost always be more expensive than if you book online, because the hotel companies generally charge a commission.

Another advantage of booking tours online is the security of payment, which is made through credit or debit cards, an option that often the company or person organising the tour does not give to its customers.

As if these reasons were not enough, there is the security of the online booking of the availability of the chosen date, a certainty that you will not have if you wait until you arrive in Paris to look for a bicycle tour operator. If you book online in advance, that date is yours, if you wait to book when you arrive at your destination you may not have available dates to do the tour.

If you are going on a bike tour of Paris you need to follow some safety rules to enjoy the experience with the utmost peace of mind. Here are a few things that are important to keep in mind if you plan to do a bike tour in Paris.

The city of light is very friendly in terms of infrastructure for cyclists, there are special paths throughout the city, use them and avoid riding in places not allowed for this type of vehicles. There is a lot of traffic in Paris and respecting the special areas set aside for cyclists is the best way to protect yourself. Always use the special bike paths.

When booking your Paris bike tour, if you plan to do the tour with children, make sure that the special child seats required by French law are rented along with the bike to ensure the best safety conditions for your children. Require child seats that meet the requirements of French law.

If you are travelling with children, you will find that many tours offer child seats on request, ask for them in advance, at the time of booking is best, if you later decide not to do the tour with your children you can waive the special seats free of charge. Please advise at the time of booking that you need special seats for children.

When booking your Paris bike tour and requesting special seats for children, ask if they also include helmet rental for children. If they are not included in the price, ask for them anyway and pay the extra charge, if they don't have child helmets available, buy one, they are not expensive. Make sure your children will have a protective helmet.

Before starting the tour, check and test the bike to make sure it is in good technical condition. Check the wheels, brakes, mirrors and lights. For night tours make sure you wear clothes that are easily visible and reflect the light.

Wear suitable clothing and footwear for cycling, the tours are long and appropriate clothing is essential to have a good experience during the tour.

Take water to keep hydrated and if the tour is during the day wear sunscreen.

Ask if the tour offers some kind of risk insurance, it is important to know before hiring the service.

The city of Paris has traffic that can be crazy. As a general rule, in the busiest tourist areas, such as near monuments or museums, the traffic is even more complicated due to the presence of more large vehicles such as tour buses, for example. An experienced local guide will be able to guide you to the most interesting places along the safest cycling routes, routes that you are probably not familiar with if you are in Paris for the first time. Cycling in Paris is much safer in a group than alone, because, among other advantages, groups are more easily visible than single cyclists and are usually more respected by drivers.

Risk insurance is also important when assessing whether to take a guided tour. Many companies offer with their tours, insurance against possible risks during the tour, insurance that if you do the trip on your own, you will not have unless you specifically contract it.