In short
- What it costs: 49 euros for an adult day ticket, and 27 to 29 euros for a child aged 4–12 (September 2026 prices).
- Ticket validity: 24, 48 or 72 hours from your first ride, not by calendar day. A ticket activated at 2:00 p.m. is valid until 2:00 p.m. the next day.
- Loop time: about two hours for a full loop without getting off.
- Hours and frequency: Tootbus runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., a bus every 8 to 15 minutes, seven days a week.
- What’s included: with Tootbus, audio commentary in 10 languages, a separate kids’ channel and five walking routes in the app. With Big Bus, the 24-hour ticket includes a one-hour Seine cruise.
- Kids: under 4 ride free with Tootbus, and there’s a 125-euro family ticket for two adults and two children.
- Cancellation: with Tootbus, free changes or cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
There’s no question that the best way to see Paris is on foot (that’s what the walking routes on the blog are for). But sometimes it’s worth getting to know the city from a different angle: motorized, a little higher up, and above all, less tiring.
Why bother? (Or: when your back will thank you)
- After a few intense days of walking, when your feet are begging for a day off.
- If your age (or your knees) won’t let you walk dozens of kilometers a day.
- If you’re in Paris for a very short “blitz” visit and want to see all the icons.
- When the sky decides to surprise you with a sudden Parisian downpour.
- A tourist bus in Paris usually has an open top deck, the perfect angle for your Instagram shots.
- An ideal solution for families with kids who tire quickly.
So if you’ve decided to give your feet a rest, I’ve gathered the best ways to discover Paris “on wheels” (or from the air):
How much a tourist bus in Paris costs and what you get
A one-day ticket for a tourist bus in Paris starts at 49 euros for an adult and 27 euros for a child, and the full loop takes about two hours if you don’t get off. The two big operators are Tootbus, owned by the RATP, and Big Bus. The detail that trips up a lot of travelers is that the ticket is valid by the hour, not by the day: it starts on your first ride, so a 24-hour ticket activated at 2:00 p.m. is valid until 2:00 p.m. the next day.
With Tootbus, buses run from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., every 8 to 15 minutes, seven days a week. The audio commentary comes in 10 languages, there’s a separate kids’ channel in English and French, and the ticket also includes five self-guided walking routes in the app. Changes and cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the tour, and if you’re traveling with kids there’s a family ticket for 125 euros for two adults and two children. Children under 4 ride free.
| Ticket | Valid for | Adult | Child 4–12 | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tootbus Paris Discovery | 24, 48 or 72 hours | 49€ | 27€ | One route, commentary in 10 languages, kids’ channel, five walking routes in the app |
| Big Bus Essential | 24 hours | 65€ list price, 49€ booked in advance | 39€ list price, 29€ booked in advance | Includes a one-hour Seine cruise |
| Big Bus Explore | 48 hours | 79€ list price, 64€ booked in advance | 45€ list price, 35€ booked in advance | Two days of unlimited rides |
What usually tips the balance between the two is the cruise. If you were planning a Seine cruise anyway, the Big Bus 24-hour ticket includes a one-hour cruise, so you won’t need a separate ticket. Are you really going to hop off at the stops, or do you just want to see the city from above? If you only want one loop without getting off, you’re paying for flexibility you won’t use, and the night tour in the cards below is a better fit.
🚌 Buses and money-saving deals
The tourist bus is a classic Hop on, Hop off option: the ticket lets you get on and off as often as you like at the main stops.
-
The classic tourist bus
The classic Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off ticket. It passes all the main sights, with audio commentary on headphones.
- Passes all the main sights (the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe)
- Valid for one day or more
-
Dinner on a bus
A special experience that combines a tour of the city lit up at night with a full three-course Parisian dinner and champagne, all on board the upscale Bustronome bus as it rolls through town.
- Combines a tour of the city lit up at night
- A full Parisian dinner and champagne
-
A bus tour for kids
An eco-friendly tourist bus with commentary made especially for kids (“Kids Tour”), so the little ones enjoy the ride too and don’t get bored by the usual history lessons.
- Made especially for kids
- Eco-friendly
-
Deal: bus + Eiffel Tower
A smart combo ticket with a tourist bus (night tour) and entry to the second floor or the summit of the Eiffel Tower. It saves time and money compared with buying them separately.
- Includes a tourist bus and entry to the Eiffel Tower
- Saves time and money
-
Deal: bus + the Moulin Rouge
A classic Parisian evening: a package with a night bus tour of the city lights and a ticket to the famous cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge (champagne included).
- Includes a night bus tour and entry to the cabaret show
- A romantic, unforgettable experience
-
Deal: bus + the Louvre
Fast-track entry to the Louvre (the direct route to the Mona Lisa) combined with a night tour on a tourist bus. A great option if you’re short on time.
- Includes fast-track entry to the Louvre
- Saves time and money
🚗 Private car and rickshaw (Turtle)
Looking for something more intimate? A ride in a vintage car (just like in the movies) or in an electric bike taxi (Turtle) will give you a different, more romantic and personal view of the city.
-
Turtle: Saint-Germain and Notre-Dame
A half-hour ride in an electric bike taxi (with a private driver) through the heart of the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain, including a moving view of Notre-Dame Cathedral, restored after the fire.
- A ride through the heart of the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain
- Includes a moving view of Notre-Dame Cathedral, restored after the fire
-
Turtle: around the Eiffel Tower
A short, to-the-point half-hour ride around the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro gardens and the wide avenues around them. Perfect for photos without wearing yourself out walking.
- A short, to-the-point ride around the Eiffel Tower
- Perfect for photos without wearing yourself out walking
-
Turtle: the Napoleon tour
A more in-depth, full-hour ride past the main historic sites connected to Napoleon and the heart of Paris.
- A more in-depth ride of a full hour
- Passes the main historic sites connected to Napoleon
-
Vintage: a night tour
A romantic, unforgettable experience: a tour of Paris lit up at night in a classic vintage Citroën 2CV with the roof open. It feels like you’re in a Woody Allen movie.
- A romantic, unforgettable experience
- It feels like you’re in a Woody Allen movie
-
Vintage: secret Paris
Discover the places only locals know on a special tour in a Citroën 2CV, through hidden, magical little streets that no bus could ever fit into.
- Discover the places only locals know
- A special tour through hidden, magical little streets
🚁 Flying over the city
Want to see the City of Light the way the birds do? Here are a few exciting ways to fly over Paris and the surrounding area.
-
Helicopter flight
An unforgettable helicopter flight over Paris and all the way to the Palace of Versailles. The view from above is simply breathtaking, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- An unforgettable flight over Paris
- The view from above is simply breathtaking
-
Hot-air balloon in Paris
A balloon ride (Ballon de Paris Generali) in Parc André-Citroën. You rise to a height of 150 meters for a 360-degree view of the city.
- A 360-degree view of the city
- You rise to a height of 150 meters
-
Hot-air balloon at Disneyland Paris
A ride in the PanoraMagique balloon over Lake Disney. A magical experience for the whole family, with a stunning view of the park and the castle.
- A magical experience for the whole family
- A stunning view of the park and the castle
Questions and answers about getting around Paris as a tourist
Is a tourist bus in Paris worth it in winter?
Coming to Paris in winter? Great! There aren’t many tourists, and you get to enjoy the city in real European weather. The big advantage in winter is that the lower deck of the bus is enclosed and heated (and sometimes the top deck is covered too). It’s a great way to see the monuments without getting soaked or freezing, and a pleasant way to spend a rainy day.
How does a Hop-on Hop-off ticket work?
The system is simple and brilliant: you buy a ticket for one, two or three days. As long as the ticket is valid, you can get on and off at any stop on the route as often as you like. Want to stop at the Louvre for two hours? Hop off, explore, and catch the next bus that comes along (usually every 10-20 minutes).
What do you see on the bus tour?
The classic tour covers all of Paris’s “Greatest Hits”: the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Opéra and more. The ride comes with an audio guide in a range of languages, so you also learn some history along the way.
Is there a tourist bus that includes food?
Absolutely! The Bustronome offers an experience that combines a city tour with a gourmet meal. There are lunch and dinner options (champagne included), a vegetarian menu and even dishes made for kids.
Even if you’re in top shape, don’t rule out the bus. I recommend using it on the first day of your trip to get a “map in your head” and see where everything is, or on the last day, when you’re out of energy for walking and just want one last look at the most beautiful city in the world before you say goodbye.
