Laden with attractions, history at every turn, more monuments than you can shake a stick at and so many galleries and museums you can’t even take it all in, there’s no doubt Paris is one of the world’s most amazing cities to visit.
But with so much on offer in this capital however – and usually a finite amount of time to enjoy it – it can be a serious challenge to fit in even half of what you want to see there!
That’s why a Hop On Hop Off Paris Tour makes such a good option when you travel to this city, especially if it’s your first time.
I loved using this sort of trip to get to grips with the city and its layout when I first visited and strongly advise all budget travellers to do the same.
It’s easy, it’s cheap and it will save you a huge amount of time and stress!
So here’s my top tips on how to make the most of your hop on hop off Paris tour.
Related Posts
- How to Visit Paris on a Shoestring
- 11 Best Day Trips from Paris
- The Top 10 Free Things to Do in Bruges, Belgium
#1 Book in Advance
One of the best pieces of advice I can give when it comes to making the most from your hop on hop off Paris tour is to organise and book your tickets before your arrival in the city i.e. in advance.
I was so glad that I got myself sorted and did this ahead of time when I visited Paris, as it then allowed me to make the most of my very short 3 days in the city!
As I’ve said, Paris is huge and with so much to see and do, you just won’t want to waste a minute… trust me!
Messing around trying to decide what trips to do, researching the options and prices, taking the time to buy them and then access the tickets, is all just wasted time, which you could spend actually enjoying Paris!
Using a reputable website like PARISCityVISION to book your hop on hop off tickets ahead of time therefore, is a truly great idea for making the most out of your city adventure.
And with the ability to carefully consider your options, as well as get your tickets online – you can then arrive into Paris totally ready to explore this sensational city.
#2 Consider the Time of Your Visit
Are you travelling to Paris during the height of the summer for a weekend of fun in the sun, or are you heading to the capital of love to enjoy a romantic winter getaway?
The time of year you choose to visit Paris is definitely something to consider when trying to make the most of your hop on hop off tour.
For example, in the summer, combining your hop on hop off tour with a wonderful boat cruise on the Seine could be just the answer to keep cool and grab some rays!
In winter, combining your hop on hop off pass with a museum entry ticket (such as to the wonderful Musée d’Orsay or the famous Louvre) could be the perfect combination when it comes to saving money and staying out of the rain if the Paris weather isn’t behaving itself!
Sometimes you can even combine your hop on hop off bus trip and museum entrance package with a “skip the line” bonus!
If you’ve ever been to Paris before on a tight time schedule, you’ll know this sort of bonus is a godsend!
PARISCityVISION offers a wide range of hop on hop off packages that include “line skip entry” to a few different Paris attractions, so do check them out if this is something you’re interested in.
Just enter your details below and I'll email it you - simple!
Information will be sent to the email provided above
#3 Think About the Length of Your Trip
And leading on from the line-skipping option, thinking about the length of your trip to Paris is key when it comes to getting the most from your hop on hop off tour.
If you have just one day to fit in as much of the city as possible, then both the Blue and Red routes of the Big Bus tour, for example, will allow you to quickly and efficiently see a huge amount of the city.
The best thing is, of course, that you can then just jump off the bus when one attraction interests you.
Otherwise, you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery of some of the world’s most iconic attractions including the Sacre Coeur, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.
Find out how long it takes to visit the Eiffel Tower here.
If you really want to pack a lot into a short trip to Paris, then combining a hop on hop off bus excursion in the morning with a tour to the amazing Palace de Versailles in the afternoon is the way to go!
This package not only gives you the ability to see the many famous sights within the city, but also one of the major surrounding attractions too.
Otherwise, if you’re lucky enough to have the luxury of a longer trip to Paris, it’s great to know you can purchase a 2 day hop on hop off pass.
This will give you a more leisurely opportunity to explore the city, taking in almost every major sight… without the need to navigate public transport of course!
This is exactly what I chose to do when I visited Paris, taking the central Big Bus Red route on the first day, followed by the northern Blue route on the second day, which allowed me to explore the areas of Montmartre and the great hipster suburb of Pigalle with its awesome cafes!
I also loved how the hop on hop off bus I took had free commentary running. All I had to do was grab a pair of headphones, sit back and listen to tons of interesting info about the many sights I was viewing out of the window!
Way more interesting than having my head buried in a Paris guidebook, it was great to hear about the history behind what I was actually looking at!
#4 Bear in Mind the Style of Your Trip
It’s also important to consider the style of your trip when trying to get the best from your hop on hop off Paris tour.
Are you, for example, travelling with friends, with family, or as a couple?
If you’re with kids, the line skip options could be great, whereas if you’re in a couple, you might want to book a romantic dinner cruise on the Seine to accompany your bus tour.
With friends, perhaps you want to take things more independently and at your own pace, meaning the E-Ticket Big Bus Pass could be just the option for you.
Otherwise, for serious sightseers, the hop on hop off tickets that include audio-guided tours at various museums, galleries and attractions in Paris could be perfect – again saving you time and money by booking them as a package!
#5 Research the Attractions You Want to See
And finally, my most important piece of advice when it comes to making the most of your hop on hop off Paris tour is to do some research before you land in the city!
It needn’t be that detailed, but having some idea about what you want to see in Paris, where roughly in the city the attractions are and just how much you’ll realistically be able to fit into a day, is a great idea!
Remember a hop on hop off tour is going to save you tons of time, because you don’t have to worry about public transport, but still planning your route a little and knowing what you want to see the most in Paris is the best way to ensure you enjoy time here to the max!
PIN IT TO PINTEREST!
So there you have it, my top tips when it comes to making the most of your hop on hop off Paris tour.
Have you visited this amazing city?
Did you use a hop on hop off bus service?
What did you like most about it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments box below…
Great tips Stephanie! I’ll be in Paris in October and will spend the first day hopping on and off. Let me know if you’re heading toward Nice. I’d love to meet for a coffee (or wine!).
Oh Nice would be nice Andy and wine / coffee always good, but I’m headed to warmer shores again come Autumn I’m afraid. Winter, Europe and me are not friends! 😉