Bus tours of Paris offer a good introduction to the city, though complaints of dull and confusing narration are not infrequent. Tours start from the place des Pyramides, across from the Louvre end of the Tuileries Gardens and are generally in double-decker buses with either a live or tape-recorded commentary (English, of course, is available) and last two hours. Expect to pay about 150 francs for a two-hour tour. The two largest bus tour operators are :

Cityrama
Address: 4 place des Pyramides, 75001 Paris
Call: (33) 1-44-55-61-00

Paris Vision
Address: 214 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Call: (33) 1-42-60-31-25

The RATP (Paris Transport Authority, offers guide-accompanied excursions in and around Paris. Both its Tourist Service at place de la Madeleine (to the right of the church as you face it) and the office on quai des Grands-Augustins are open daily 9-5.

Address: place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris
Address: 53 bis quai des Grands-Augustins, 75006 Paris
Call: (33) 1-40-46-42-17

More intimate--albeit expensive--excursions are also available on minibuses, which have a maximum capacity of eight people and can pick up or drop off at hotels. The cost is 210 francs for a two-hour tour, 350 francs for three hours. Reservations are necessary. Contact Cityrama.
Address: 4 place des Pyramides, 75001 Paris
Call: (33) 1-44-55-61-00

For those who prefer to sightsee at their own pace, Parisbus (tel. 01-42-30-55-50), a red double decker with nine pickup and drop-off points around Paris, allows you to discover the city's main tourist sites independently. Tours start from Trocadéro at 10:20 AM and depart every 50 minutes until 5. Tickets are good for unlimited use for two days and cost 125 francs. A copy of the timetable is available from the main Paris Tourist Office :
Address: 127 av. des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris
Call: (33) 1-49-52-53-54

Other tour companies include American Express :
Address: 11 rue srcibe, 75009 Paris
Call: (33) 1-47-77-77-07

Air France :
Address: 119 av. des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris
Call: (33) 1-44-08-24-24

and Wagons-Lits :
Address: 32 rue du Quatre-Septembre, 75002 Paris
Call: (33) 1-42-66-15-80

Walking Tours

There are plenty of guided tours of specific areas of Paris, often concentrating on a historical or architectural topic--"Restored Mansions of the Marais," "Private Walled Gardens in St-Germain," or "Secret Parts of the Invalides." Tours are often restricted to 30 people and are popular with Parisians as well as tourists. They are accompanied by guides whose enthusiasm and dedication is invariably exemplary, though most are French and may not be able to communicate their enthusiasm to you in English. These potential linguistic problems are more than outweighed by the chance to see Paris in a new light and to visit buildings and monuments that are not usually open to the public. Charges vary between 40 and 60 francs, depending on fees that may be needed to visit certain buildings. Tours last around two hours and are generally held in the afternoons, starting at 2:30 or 3.

In most cases, you must simply turn up at the meeting point (usually listed as "RV" or "rendezvous"), but it's best to get there early in case of restriction on numbers. For visits to some private mansions, you may be asked to show identification, so be sure to have your passport with you.

Tour details are published in the weekly magazines Pariscope and L'Officiel des Spectacles under the heading "Conférences." The Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques :Bureau des Visites/Conférences, Hôtel de Sully
Address: 62 rue St-Antoine, 75004 Paris
Call: (33) 1-44-61-20-00

publishes a small booklet every two months listing all upcoming tours. You can also get information on walking tours by contacting the main Paris Tourist Office :
Address: 127 av. des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris
Call: (33) 1-49-52-53-54

Personal Guides

Paris Major Limousine
Address: 6 pl. de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris
Call: (33) 01-42-45-34-14

Paris Bus
Address: 22 rue de la Prevoyance, Vincennes
Call: 01-43-65-55-55
have luxury minibuses (for 4 to 15 passengers) that will take you around Paris and its environs for a minimum of four hours. Reservations are essential. The price varies from 200 to 350 francs depending on the number of passengers.