L'Open Tour is a hop-on, hop-off tour bus service that offers four different tour routes and 50 stops around Paris-- arguably providing the greatest range of choices among tour bus operators in the city of light. The bright-yellow, easily recognizable double-decker bus is good for sightseeing as it boasts a large open deck. Audio commentary is available in English, French and six other languages.
Tour Routes:
- The longest tour, the "Paris Grand Tour lasts 2 hours 15 minutes and shuttles visitors around many of the city's most popular sites, including the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe.
- The Montparnasse tour lasts about an hour and covers some of the left bank's most storied places, including the Latin Quarter, Montparnasse and the Invalides.
- The Montmartre Tour lasts a little over an hour and gives visitors a good overview of the edgier, more modern right bank, with notable stops at the Sacre Coeur basilica, the Moulin Rouge cabaret, the Saint-Martin canal area and classic Paris department stores (Grands Magasins).
- The Bastille tour lasts around an hour and gives a good glimpse of Paris' dynamic center and Seine-side attractions, including the Centre Pompidou, the trendy Marais district, the Ile Saint Louis and Picasso Museum.
Ticketing and boarding time information: One and two-day passes are available and you can take as many tours as you want for the duration the ticket is valid. For complete information on current fares, where to purchase and boarding schedules, visit the L'Open Tour website. You can also book L'Open Tour tickets online: (Book direct now at Rail Europe).
The Bottom Line: Slightly more expensive than Les Cars Rouges, but offers a more complete range of tours. Take this tour if you want to get a truly complete look at the city's most important sights.
