Paris TV Show Tour in a Open Top Vintage French Car Citroen DS

Paris looks better from a classic Citroën. This private tour combines Emily in Paris filming locations with major sights, quiet squares, café-lined streets, and local stories, all from the back seat of an open-top French icon. Guide Benjamin drives, explains the city, and can stop for photographs along the way.

I especially like the way this tour covers far more ground than a walking tour, and I like the personal attention that comes with a private car and guide. The Citroën DS is comfortable, roomy, heated, and impossible to miss. The main drawback is weather: the experience depends on good conditions, and Paris traffic can make the three to four-hour route less predictable.

I would book this early if you want a particular time. The tour is often reserved about 76 days ahead, and the best departure window is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when traffic is generally easier to manage.

Key things to know before booking

• The Citroën is part of the attraction: The vintage French car draws smiles, photographs, and plenty of attention as it moves through Paris.
• Benjamin is your private guide: He combines city history, filming locations, local anecdotes, and flexible stops for pictures.
• You cover a huge portion of Paris: The route reaches the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain, the Marais edge, Montmartre, the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre area.
• The tour works well on a first day: You get a useful overview before deciding where to return on foot or by Metro.
• Pickup has limits: Central Paris pickup and drop-off are offered, but not in the 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 19th, or 20th arrondissements.
• Children under 10 are not accepted: The rear seats do not have seat belts, so check the age rule carefully before booking.

Why the Citroën DS makes this tour different

A sightseeing car can feel like a compromise, but the Citroën DS is the reason this experience has personality. It is a classic French car with comfortable seats, heating, and plenty of legroom. On a sunny day, the open top gives you a clear view of façades, monuments, and street life without the roofline of a standard vehicle getting in the way.

The car also changes how you experience Paris socially. People notice it. Several passengers felt like celebrities as pedestrians stopped to take pictures, and that attention is part of the fun, especially for a first visit or a special occasion.

You are not simply being carried from one landmark to another. Benjamin is both your professional driver and private guide. He has passenger insurance, drives with safety in mind, and adds stories about Paris between stops. The private setup means you can ask questions, request photographs, and adjust the emphasis toward the show, architecture, history, or neighborhood life.

The car holds up to four people per group. That makes the price of $540.95 easier to assess. For four people, the cost works out to roughly $135 per person for three to four hours of private transportation and guiding. For one or two people, it becomes a much more expensive outing, but you are paying for privacy, a distinctive vehicle, and a broad city route rather than a basic shared bus ride.

Starting in the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain

The route begins around some of Paris’s best-known intellectual and cinematic corners. The Latin Quarter has youthful energy, old streets, cafés, and landmark buildings clustered close together. It is a useful introduction to the city because the area feels lived-in rather than designed only for sightseeing.

The Panthéon is one of the first major sights in this part of town. Its neoclassical exterior is imposing, while the building’s role as a mausoleum gives it a strong connection to French public life and national memory. You see it from outside during the scheduled stop, with about 15 minutes to look around.

At Place de l’Estrapade, the tour gets more personal. This small square in the 5th arrondissement is quieter than the nearby monuments and has the classic Parisian feel that makes it useful for photographs. It is also one of the recognizable Emily in Paris locations, so fans will want time here.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés follows, with Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots among the famous café names. These places are tied to writers, artists, and thinkers, but the practical pleasure is simply seeing how café culture fits into everyday Paris. You can appreciate the façades and atmosphere without paying for an expensive drink.

The route also includes the Jardin du Luxembourg, a graceful park with formal gardens, fountains, and places to pause. You will not have time for a full park visit during a fast city tour, but the drive gives you a taste of one of Paris’s most pleasant open spaces.

Le Champo cinema adds another small cultural detail. It is an institution for Parisian film lovers, and its presence fits nicely with a tour built around television, cinema, and recognizable streets.

Île de la Cité, the Palais Royal, and old Paris

The next stretch brings you toward the center of the city, with stops at the Palais Royal, Notre-Dame, Pont Neuf, and Place de Valois. The Jardin du Palais Royal is particularly rewarding for a short stop. Its arcades, formal garden, and striped Colonnes de Buren create a sharp contrast between old royal architecture and modern art.

At 15 minutes, the stop is enough for photographs and a quick look. It is not enough to explore the surrounding galleries or sit in the garden for long, so think of this as an overview rather than a full visit.

Notre-Dame gets another 15-minute stop. The cathedral’s Gothic façade and position on Île de la Cité make it one of the essential Paris sights, even if you are mainly interested in the show locations. The island itself is the historic core of Paris, with the Seine on both sides and a compact collection of major landmarks.

Pont Neuf is one of the city’s oldest bridges and offers a strong view of the river and Île de la Cité. It is a good place to understand Paris from the water outward. The guide can point out how the bridges connect the city’s central islands to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Place de Valois is quieter and more refined. Close to the Palais Royal and the Comédie-Française, it gives you a brief look at a less crowded Paris. Galerie Vivienne continues that elegant mood with its glass roof, 19th-century details, boutiques, and cafés.

This section works best for you if you want more than the obvious postcard sights. The tour moves quickly, but Benjamin’s local commentary helps connect small squares and passages to the larger city.

From Place Vendôme to Montmartre

The route then shifts toward Parisian luxury and entertainment. Place Vendôme is lined with prestigious shops and centered on its famous column. Opéra Garnier brings a grand dose of decorative architecture, and even an exterior view gives you a sense of why this building is one of Paris’s most celebrated landmarks.

Montmartre is where the Emily in Paris focus becomes especially visible. The steep stairs, narrow lanes, and artistic corners create a completely different mood from the formal center of town. Place du Tertre is filled with painters, cafés, and old Montmartre character, though its popularity means the area can feel crowded.

Rue de l’Abreuvoir is among the most photogenic streets on the route. Its old houses and village-like shape make it one of the strongest picture stops. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica follows, with about 15 minutes to admire the white domes and the broad view over Paris.

The timing here is useful but limited. You can take photographs and get your bearings, but you will not have time to climb every staircase, browse the artists’ work, or sit for a long café break. If Montmartre is your main interest, plan to return independently on another day.

Rue Lepic adds cinema and neighborhood life. The street is connected with the Café des 2 Moulins from Amélie, as well as old windmills and local shops. The Moulin Rouge provides a look at Belle Époque nightlife, while La Maison Rose brings you back to the pink café that has become one of Montmartre’s most recognizable images.

The Wall of I Love You is another 15-minute stop. The phrase appears in more than 300 languages, making this a simple but memorable photo opportunity. It is a natural fit for couples, families, and anyone who enjoys the romantic side of the show.

Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and grand avenues

After Montmartre, the car reaches the western side of Paris. Parc Monceau and the Courcelles neighborhood provide a quieter change of pace, with elegant streets and a landscaped park before the route moves toward the Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe is viewed from street level, with time to take photographs. You will not be climbing to the roof or entering the monument on this tour. That is typical of the experience overall: it is designed to show you many places from outside, not to provide museum admissions.

The Eiffel Tower receives another 15-minute stop. The best value here is the approach. Rue de l’Université offers attractive views toward the tower, while the École Militaire adds a formal 18th-century setting nearby. You get several different angles instead of a single quick photo from the most crowded viewpoint.

This part is particularly good for a first-day orientation. Afterward, you will know which side of the tower you want to revisit, and you can return for a longer walk or a timed visit if you choose.

The presidential district and the Seine

The middle and late sections include the Élysée Palace, Les Invalides, Pont Alexandre III, the Champs-Élysées, La Madeleine, the Grand Palais, Petit Palais, and Pont de la Concorde.

These sights show Paris at its most formal. The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the French president, while Les Invalides is marked by its golden dome and connection with Napoleon’s tomb. You see the buildings from outside, but Benjamin’s explanations help give the drive meaning.

Pont Alexandre III is one of the most decorative bridges in Paris, with ornate details and broad views along the Seine. The Champs-Élysées then shifts the mood toward shopping, ceremony, and grand urban planning.

La Madeleine has a monumental neoclassical façade. The Grand Palais and Petit Palais bring in art and exhibition culture, while the Pont de la Concorde links the Place de la Concorde area with the Tuileries side of the river.

You may also drift along the Seine or cross several bridges during the drive. That movement matters. Paris is not only a collection of monuments, and seeing the city from the river corridors helps you understand how its neighborhoods fit together.

The Louvre and final views

The Louvre section centers on the glass pyramid and the surrounding courtyards. The tour stops at the Pyramide du Louvre for about 15 minutes, enough for photographs and a look across the grand museum complex.

You do not receive museum admission, and there is no time to see the Mona Lisa or explore the galleries. That is an important distinction. The tour gives you a broad introduction to the Louvre area, not an art museum visit.

The Place de la Concorde and Tuileries Gardens complete the central Paris portion. The obelisk, fountains, formal gardens, and views toward the Louvre and Champs-Élysées create one of the city’s strongest visual sequences. The Musée d’Orsay may also appear along the route, housed in its memorable former railway station.

By the end, you have crossed a large part of Paris without spending the day underground or wearing yourself out on foot. You can be dropped at a location of your choice where the service permits it, making the final stop useful for dinner or for continuing your sightseeing.

Price, timing, and practical limits

The $540.95 group price is easiest to justify when four people share it. You get a private car, a licensed professional driver, a private guide, bottled water, and an itinerary that reaches most of the city’s major postcard sights.

For a couple, the price is more of a splurge. I would choose it for a first visit, a birthday, a special trip, or a short stay when saving time matters more than saving money. If you already know Paris well and prefer long museum visits or slow neighborhood walks, a cheaper public transport plan may suit you better.

The best departure times are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The route covers busy areas, so traffic can affect the exact pace. Pickup and drop-off are available in central Paris, except for the listed arrondissements and areas including Le Marais, Bastille, République, and Gare du Nord.

If your accommodation is outside the service area, you can use the Hôtel de Crillon at 10 Place de la Concorde or the Panthéon at Place du Panthéon as a meeting point. Contact the provider after booking if you need to confirm your hotel.

The tour is offered in English and is private, so only your group participates. Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Children under 10 are not accepted because the rear seats do not have seat belts.

Rain is a real concern. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but late cancellations and changes are not accepted.

Should you book the Citroën DS tour?

Book it if you want a stylish overview of Paris, enjoy Emily in Paris, or need to see a lot in a short time. Benjamin’s warmth, flexible approach, city stories, and willingness to stop for photographs are central to the experience, while the Citroën makes the sightseeing feel special.

I would especially recommend it for first-time visitors, families with older children, couples, and small groups of friends. It is also a smart opening activity because you can use the route to decide where to return for a slower visit.

Skip it if your priority is entering monuments, spending hours in museums, or exploring one neighborhood on foot. The strength of this tour is breadth, comfort, private attention, and atmosphere. Paris gives you all four from the back seat of a very memorable French car.

FAQ

How long does the Paris Citroën DS tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three to four hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to four people.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are offered at locations inside the permitted central areas of Paris. Service is not available in the 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 19th, or 20th arrondissements, or in Le Marais, Bastille, République, and Gare du Nord.

Where can I meet the guide if my hotel is outside the pickup area?

You can arrange a meeting at the Hôtel de Crillon, 10 Place de la Concorde, or in front of the Panthéon at Place du Panthéon.

Who is the guide?

Benjamin is the self-employed local guide and professional driver for Classic 60’s Paris Tours.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Are children allowed?

Children under 10 are not allowed because the rear seats do not have seat belts.

Are museum or monument entry tickets included?

No admission tickets are included. The tour views the main sights from outside, with approximately 15-minute stops at selected locations.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you are offered another date or a full refund.