Yves | Private Tour Guide in Paris | Licensed Expert | 280 5★ Reviews
Bonjour! I'm Yves, an official licensed Paris private tour guide with deep local knowledge from 25 years of living in this magnificent city. As a French postgraduate specialist in Paris art history, I've earned TripAdvisor's Travelers Choice Award 6 times for my dedication to creating exceptional experiences.
I specialize in crafting private Paris tours that reveal the soul of the city beyond ordinary tourist routes. As an expert Louvre Museum tour guide, I offer thoughtful insights into its world-renowned masterpieces and hidden treasures. Whether you're dreaming of a romantic Montmartre walking tour, exploring the historic charm of Le Marais district, or discovering the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and Île de la Cité, my customized Paris itineraries are designed around your specific interests. Each tour showcases the authentic Paris you've been longing to experience, with the personalized attention and local perspective that only a passionate Paris guide can provide.
💡 Best tip: direct access to my most high-demanded and highly appraised private tours in 2026
N°1 Louvre • N°2 Notre-Dame Cathedral • N°3 Île de la Cité
Specialities: Art Tours (d'Orsay, Rodin, Picasso, etc.) and History Tours (Napoleon, French Revolution, WW2, etc.)
Summary:
- Why traveler choose me
- Private tour guide services in Paris
- Bespoke Tour Services
- Predesigned private tours
- Neighborhood and monument tours
- History tours: Napoleon & French Revolution tours
- Continuous improvement - tours in preparation
- Louvre museum tours
- Art and museums tours
- Familly, Children and Tresor Hunt
- Full day tours
- Paris first-timers walking tour suggestions
- Paris full discovery program
- Painting tours program
- My favorite Paris
- My favorite places in the Paris area
- Hints and suggestions
- How I became a guide (Biography)
- Reviews
- FAQs
- Louvre Blog by Yves
- Paris Blog by Yves
Musée Rodin's amazing garden with box trees, topiaries, and roses in the foreground, and in the background, the Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. Photo © Broaden Horizons.
✅ Why Travelers Choose Me
- Five TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards (2020, 2022-2026)
- Louvre Expertise
- Flexible Durations: from 2-hour tours to day packages.
- All year round (if available).
- Transparent Pricing: from €179 for a 2-hour tour for two people
- Easy Online Booking & Payment
- English, French, and Spanish.
- Fully Licensed: Certified by the French Ministries of Culture and Tourism.
- Member of the Fédération National des Guides Interprètes & Conférencier since 2017.
- Official Partner of Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau: "Paris je t'aime" since 2023.
- Postgraduate by Université PSL: France n° 1 (n° 24 worldwide, just after Yale in QS World University Rankings 2025).
"Best Tour Guide!
Absolutely Fantastic. Make sure you keep up, Yves is both quick on his feet and full of fascinating information. The tour will be tailored to whatever your interests are and the Louvre is such a large area that there will be plenty to keep you interested and then some, so plan ahead what you are interested in. We will definitely be using Yves again, he was knowledgeable, friendly and passionate. Best tour guide ever!!!"
Vacation711627 - Friends - July 2024 - Tripadvisor
**
Private Tour Guide Services in Paris by Yves
Private Tour Services
I focus on private tour services in Paris. I often work with luxury tour agencies. I create custom tours for their clients, do pickups in Parisian palaces, and give bespoke tour services.
As I'm the founder of Broaden-horizons.fr, you can book a tour with me here without a middleman for a more reasonable price. A two-hour private tour in Paris starts at 145 € for two people.
Two types of tours are possible for end customers:
- Predesigned private walking tours: I propose a large tour offer, from first-timer tours, neighborhood tours, Louvre tours, art and museum tours, history tours. and full-day tours.
- Bespoke tour services: Custom tours with or without hotel pickup.
Inclusion / Exclusion
All the rates on this page reflect my availability as a licensed tour guide. They apply to the guiding services listed here. These rates do not include any extras, entry tickets (museum, etc.), or transport services; we do not provide any.
You Can Also Explore My Complete Paris Tour Catalog On The Dedicated PAGE
I've designed 40+ Paris private tours across museums, neighborhoods, and themes. Whether you're passionate about the Louvre, historic districts, or Napoleon's legacy, browse my complete catalog to find the perfect tour for your interests.
Bespoke Tours & BtoB (Guide availability by time)
Bespoke Tours (Hotel Pickup, Custom Tours)
Time-based availability & services: custom tours, tour guide by hours, for half day(s) or day(s).
I believe predesigned tours are more efficient. However, starting the tour at your hotel can be a good idea. This is especially true if your hotel is in a central tourist area of Paris.
Such tours can also be adequate if you have precise ideas about what you want to see, such as a unique shop or place.
For such tours, please contact me directly at yves@contact@broaden-horizons.fr.
Paris Bespoke tours, custom tour minimum tariff:
| Duration (hours) | Rate (€) Paris |
| Till 2.5 hours | From €250 |
| Till 4 hours | From €350 |
| Till 8 hours | From €650 |
These are the minimum rates provided for information only. They may change based on the number of people, the type of audience, and the exact length of the tour. Extra preparation time may increase the tour price for special requests like custom tours or corporate events.
BtoB, Corporate, Tour operators
Time-Based Availability & Services: Guide by hours, for half a day(s), day(s). The same minimum tariff as bespoke tours applies (see the previous table). Please contact me directly at yves@contact@broaden-horizons.fr.
An exceptional tour guide
"Yves was outstanding. He provided a thoughtful, entertaining, and very educational tour of the Louvre's greatest hits. He was prompt, engaging, and even managed to keep the attention of our both of our sons (youngest age 12) throughout the tour. We will definitely tour with him again when we are in Paris again. I highly recommend him."
Predesigned Private Tours (270+ five stars reviews)
Predesigned Paris Private Walking Tours - 2 to 4 hours
Genuine private tours (your party only) with a fixed departure meeting point and predefined route.
- Strategically fixed meeting points: Begin the tour directly in the perfect place.
- Carefully designed route to optimize delivered information.
- No scripted tours: I have the information in mind, and I adapt my speech to customers.
- I often engage in meaningful conversations with my tour guests.
- The route may include some flexibility, especially in district tours rather than in themed tours.
Predesigned tours are the most efficient.
I have personally curated all of them at Broaden Horizons Paris, and my reviews speak for me!
No hassle in long mail exchanges to decide what to see, how long it will take, and what the cost will be. Just:
Yves is the best!
We had two truly exceptional tours with Yves during our time in Paris: the 2-hour Paris Essentials tour and the 2-hour Louvre highlights tour. He is such a wealth of information and a great storyteller that both times we wish we had booked a longer tour with him. He goes out of his way to tailor the tour to your interests and really makes the most out of your time together. My partner and I are pretty nerdy tour people who love to ask lots of questions and Yves was delighted to answer all of them. In the rare instance on our first tour that he didn’t know the answer to one of them, he came prepared during our 2nd tour with the answer! A plus is that the Broaden Horizons online booking system was very easy to navigate in English (a rarity for French websites) and communication leading up to the tour was perfect. Yves was hands down one of the best tour guides we’ve ever had, and we couldn’t recommend him highly enough.
Prices for Paris pre-designed private walking tours:
| Group Size | 2-Hour Tour | 3-Hour Tour | 4-Hour Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 people |
€179
€89.50 pp. |
€235
€117.50 pp. |
€275
€137.50 pp. |
| 3 people |
€219
€73.00 pp. |
€280
€93.33 pp. |
€325
€108.33 pp. |
| 4 people |
€259
€64.75 pp. |
€325
€81.25 pp. |
€375
€93.75 pp. |
| 5 people |
€299
€59.80 pp. |
€370
€74.00 pp. |
€425
€85.00 pp. |
| 6 people |
€339
€56.50 pp. |
€415
€69.17 pp. |
€475
€79.17 pp. |
These are the most common prices for Broaden Horizons tours in Paris. These prices are for guiding services only; they do not include tickets or museum reservation costs. Some tours may have different prices (E.g. Notre-Dame). Other tour durations also exist.
| Group Size | 2-Hour Tour | 3-Hour Tour | 4-Hour Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 people |
€179
€89.50 per person |
€235
€117.50 per person |
€275
€137.50 per person |
| 3 people |
€219
€73.00 per person |
€280
€93.33 per person |
€325
€108.33 per person |
| 4 people |
€259
€64.75 per person |
€325
€81.25 per person |
€375
€93.75 per person |
| 5 people |
€299
€59.80 per person |
€370
€74.00 per person |
€425
€85.00 per person |
| 6 people |
€339
€56.50 per person |
€415
€69.17 per person |
€475
€79.17 per person |
These are the most common prices for Broaden Horizons tours in Paris. These prices are for guiding services only; they do not include tickets or museum reservation costs. Some tours may have different prices (E.g. Notre-Dame). Other tour durations also exist.
Neighborhood and Monument Tours
My Paris Neighborhood and Monument Tours
Genuine private tours (your party only).
These predesigned Paris walking tours work as the other (price table, etc., see previous dedicated section) but are dedicated to discovering Paris and its most famous districts and monuments.
- Paris Essentials 2.5h
- Paris Essentials 3.5h
- Île de la Cité 3h
- Notre-Dame to Le Marais
- Latin Quarter to Marais
- Le Marais 2h
- Le Marais 3h
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés 2h
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés 3h
- Saint-Germain Church & Abbey
- Montmartre 2h
- Latin Quarter 2h
- Latin Quarter 2.5h
- Opera Garnier 2h
Notre Dame Cathedral: early morning tours (less line, less crowd) are now available.
Recommended for First-timers
Notre-Dame to Marais
“A few steps in quartier Latin and then – Ile de la cité & Nôtre Dame – Ile Saint-Louis – Le Marais. A simple but extremely efficient choice for first-timers. “
Most Content Rich Tour
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
“ This tour is content-rich and amazing in diversity. If you are a big fan of guided tours, the 3h-extended version (3h) is for you. American citizens as chocolate connoisseurs will find a special interest in this tour.“
History Tours: Napoleon & French Revolution Tours
Genuine private tours (your party only).
These predesigned walking tours function similarly to the others (price table, etc., see previous dedicated section) but are more focused on history.
I offer Napoleon and French Revolution tours, as well as two new Paris World War II Tours since 2025.
I have been familiar with the Napoleon saga for decades and also know well about the French Revolution and its links with American independence.
No other Parisian tour company proposes such a large offer about the Napoleonic and French Revolution eras.
The Storming of the Bastille, Paris, France, on 14 July 1789. Photo : Musée Carnavalet.
Napoleon Tours
- Napoleon in Paris tours 2.5h & 3h
- Napoleon in Paris tour 4h
- Napoleon Full-day tour (walk + Louvre + Invalides)
- The Invalides, with Napoleon Tomb and the Museum of the Army
French Revolution Tours
- Classical 3-hour Left Bank to Right Bank French Revolution Tour
- Extended 4-hour Left Bank to Right Bank French Revolution Tour
- Left Bank - Saint-Germain-des-Prés French Revolution Tour (2.5 hours)
- Right Bank - Le Marais - Revolution Tour (2.5-hour)
- Right Bank - Le Marais - Extended French Revolution Tour (3 hours)
History Buff Package: Napoleon & French Revolution
For an overview of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Period, follow first these tours (order matters):
- (1) Right Bank - Le Marais - Extended French Revolution Tour (3 hours)
- (2) Left Bank - Saint-Germain-des-Prés - French Revolution Tour (2 hours)
- (3) The 3 or 4-hour Napoleon Tours or the full-day Napoleon tour
Do not book our 3 or 4-hour "Left to Right Bank French Revolution Tours" as they are partially redundant with the Napoleon Tours.
World War 2 Tours
Enthralling, educational, and utterly captivating!
Enthralling, educational, and utterly captivating! Our Napoleon-themed tour guided by Yves was an absolute delight. His passion for history shone through as he expertly navigated us through the intricate details of Napoleon Bonaparte's life and conquests. This was great as I am also an amateur Napoleonic historian. From the grandeur of his palaces to the battlefields where history was made, every moment was brought to life with vivid storytelling and insightful commentary. With a perfect blend of humor and reverence, Yves made even the most complex historical events accessible and engaging for all. Whether you're a history buff or just curious about one of the most fascinating figures in world history, this tour is an absolute must-do. Bravo to our knowledgeable guide for and unforgettable journey through the footsteps of Napoleon!
Continuous Improvement - Tours in Preparation
Continuous Improvement to Create New Tours
Staying up to date is key to remaining a good guide. Each year during the off-season, I follow training courses on a large variety of subjects. Below are some of my last ones in Paris.
- Off-season 2025-2026: English Paintings in the Louvre
- Off-season 2025-2026: Musée de l'Orangerie
- Off-season 2025-2026: Picasso Museum
- Off-season 2024-2025: French Revolution Left Bank
- Off-season 2024-2025: WW 2 Paris
- Off-season 2023-2024: Ile Saint-Louis (near Notre Dame Cathedral), The Gardens of Versailles, The Gardens of Trianon (part of Versailles), Château de Fontainebleau.
- Off-season 2022-2023: Visit Versailles Palace, the North Marais, Luxembourg Garden, and The Malmaison. The Malmaison was the home of young Bonaparte and his ex-wife, Empress Josephine.
These training courses are a great help in making my new tours. However, it is not enough. Creating a new tour is always a significant personal undertaking.
Training guided tour at FontaineBleau Castle. Photo © Broaden Horizons.
New Tours Coming Soon
- Orientation tour, learn to navigate Paris.
- The Templars
- Paris special USA
Paris Special USA
Soon available
Louvre Tour Guide
The Louvre Is My Preferred Museum
Even if I like doing outdoor tours, I consider myself, first of all, a Louvre tour guide.
Unlike other Paris private guides or travel agents:
- I do not charge more for the Louvre Tours, even the evening ones.
- I do not oblige customers to take a full-day package to get a Louvre tour.
I'm passionate about the Louvre, and my reviews show that customers can feel it.
Louvre Tours Prices
Tariff for private Louvre tours (without Louvre tickets):
| Duration | Rate | Price per extra person up to six in total |
| 2 hours | 179 € for 1 to 2 people | 40 € |
| 3 hours | 235 € for 1 to 2 people | 45 € |
| 4 hours | 275 € for 1 to 2 people | 50 € |
These are the standard prices; some tours may have different rates. Louvre tickets are extra (not included).
The best! A dream come true
"I can say without a doubt that the Private Tour of the Louvre with Broaden Horizons was the BEST investment we made in Europe.
Yves is an excellent, knowledgeable guide who opens the doors to fascinating and well-organized knowledge. My advice is not to go to the Louvre on your own, because you will get lost a lot, and you will end up tired probably walking the same galleries. If you can make the tour with Louvre with Yves, you will learn like never before, and make the most of your visit.
Something I love is that Yves is not an amateur, he is a real expert, with a lot of knowledge about different periods and artistic movements, painting techniques and world history. At the beginning of the tour he will ask your interests and thus accommodate the tour for you.
We plan to return to Paris and return to take a tour with Broaden Horizons. Personally I love art and have done a lot of research, so I enjoyed talking to Yves about something we both love, it was like chatting with a friend.
PS. During our visits we saw other tours, huge groups, many could not even see the painting they were talking about. To spend on such a tour, better invest in a tour with Yves (which, by the way, is very good price!) and you will have a private experience. Your Spanish and English are very good so you will not have communication problems."
My Vast Louvre Tour offer
- Highlight Discovery Tours: available in 2-, 3-, or 4-hour durations.
- The "Louvre Tout Off the Beaten Track": For those who don't need to see Mona-Lisa with me.
- Thematic tours: French paintings, Italian Renaissance, Flemish & Dutch Painting, Napoleon.
- Louvre Evening Tour: If the corresponding gallery is open, it can be applied to any of my tours.
On this page, you will find all my Louvre tours.
I'm always preparing new Louvre tours.
Currently, I'm working on tours about Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Louvre, the Bible, the Art of Islam, Sculptures through the Ages, and the famous Flemish Baroque Painter Rubens.
Whatever, the evening tour will always remain the best Louvre tour choice, in my opinion:
Louvre Evening Tour
“The main Problem in the Louvre is the crowd. The evening tour is your best chance to avoid it. Possible on Wednesday and Friday. The Louvre Evening Tour is my best choice, no doubt.“
I Continuously Improve my Louvre Skills with Great Pleasure
What is fantastic about the Louvre is that after all these years, I still discover something new each time I go there. I'm continuously improving my Louvre skills by reading new books and online documentation.
I also follow pieces of training by specialists, for example:
- English paintings in the Louvre, during Off-season 2025-2026
- The Louvre: Ancient Greek sculptures, during the off-season 2022-2023
- Mineralogy Museum: The use of mineral pigments for painting.
- Dutch and Flemish paintings in the Louvre, during the off-season 2021-2022
- Italian Renaissance Painting in the Louvre, during the off-season 2021-2022
The Louvre can be tricky for first-time visitors. From time to time I wrote some posts in the Louvre section of the broaden-horizons blog they may be useful to prepare your visit.
Paris Museums Tour Guide
Despite being, above all, a Louvre Tour Guide, I also know the most famous Parisian museum.
Prices
The price table for these museums is the same as the one for the Louvre. As for the Louvre, museum tickets are extra (not included).
For a chronological introduction to the arts in Paris, follow my tours in this order.
- Louvre tours (there are plenty of them)
- Musée d'Orsay Tour - world biggest impresionnist collection
- Rodin Museum Tour - Rodin's former Parisian mansion
- Orangerie (where the famous Monet Water Lilies are)
- Picasso Museum (The Biggest Picasso collection in the world)
The Orangerie is relatively small so that you can visit it yourself.
Continuous Improvements and New Museum Tours
I have just finished preparing a Musée Picasso Tour.
Indeed, like the walking tour, I'm following a continuous improvement process for museums. Here are some of my last trainings.
- Off-season 2024-2025: Musée Guimet (Asian art), Cluny Middle Ages Museum.
- Off-season 2023-2024: Petit-Palais (Paris Museum of Fine Arts), Rodin Museum.
- Off-season 2021-2022: Invalides Musée de L'Armée, Musée Carnavalet (historical museum of Paris).
Great experiences Musee Louvre & Rodin
We (four of us) took the 4-hr Friday night Louvre tour, then backed up with the Musee Rodin. Yves constructed two wonderful experiences for us. Yves is very passionate about you getting the best tour experience and a great communicator (and lovely bloke). His knowledge and stamina is amazing. We regard these tours as part of the high points of our 10-day stay in Paris.
The Dome of the Invalides photo taken from the garden of the Rodin Museum. Photo © Broaden Horizons.
Familly, Children, Tresor Hunt
Family tour with children.
My Genuine Private tour (your party only) is an ideal format for a family with children.
Nevertheless, I have not developed a specific tour for the family.
But I always do my best to adapt my tours (content, pace, etc.) to my audience, including children.
When I have to do a tour for a family with children, I do concentrate on engaging the children.
I do not have specific content for children, I respectfully consider them like little/young adults, simplifying the tour content in function of their age.
This has most of the time given good results (see the reviews). But I'm not a magician, and I can't do a lot for children who are not interested at all in art history or architecture.
I do not propose a treasure hunt. As mentioned previously, I focus on adapting my tour content, believing that children can understand a lot if they receive explanations at their level.
Such a wonderful guide, for children as well as adults!
As my 13-year-old says, "Yves was the G.O.A.T." The way he could engage my boys (11 and 13) during a 3-hour walking tour and also a 2-hour tour of the Louvre was truly impressive. We haven't done a great job of teaching them about art/architecture in their lives so far and I was so worried they would be kind of "checked out" (they were also super tired) but he was wonderful with them, and they were riveted the whole time. He ascertained immediately how to best reach them (i.e., he knew just exactly what facts/stories would pique their interest, and how to make them laugh). I loved that, later during our trip, our son entered a cathedral and told me, "Mom, this is an example of flamboyant gothic." He definitely wouldn't have known or had any interest in this topic before our tour with Yves. I learned so much during our tours as well. We are now recommending him as tour guide to everyone we know.
Predesigned Day-Packages - 7 hours Walking Tours
Genuine private tours (your party only).
These tours have the same characteristics as the other predesigned tours, but they last much longer: 7 hours. You must reserve these tours for:
- People who like walking tours a lot
- People in good physical condition
These predesigned day packages are as easy to book as the shorter ones:
Tariff for Paris predesigned 7h private tours package:
| Duration | Rate | Price per extra person up to six in total |
| 7 hours | 380 € for 1 to 2 people | 70 € |
These are the usual prices; some tours may have a specific price.
Three day-packages are available:
An Exceptional Experience in Paris
"In preparation for my trip to France, I researched official options with credentialed experts for a tour of Paris. I found Yves' website and was impressed by the various options for touring Paris and other areas of France. I decided to book the full day tour of Paris (including the Louvre) for first timers, for myself and my mother.
My mother and I were incredibly impressed by Yves' mastery of Parisian history and his ability to customize the tour based on our interests and enthusiasm. As an art and cultural enthusiast, I was impressed with the Louvre tour since we focused on sculpture (one of my favorites) and viewed breathtakingly beautiful works of Renaissance art. Our tour was comprehensive and we covered an incredible amount of ground - it was a visual and intellectual feast! Our tour truly took our trip to Paris to the next level - it was the highlight of our trip! We are looking forward to seeing Yves again when we visit France in the future.
Thank you Yves for your dedication, enthusiasm, humour, and kindness. Wishing you continued"
First-Timers Walking Tours Suggestions
Very Short Stay in Paris: Time for Only One Walking Tour?
American Citizens: Time for Only One Walking Tour in Paris?
More Time Available? Discover Paris's Historical Iconic Center Combining Three Amazing Walking Tours?
Paris Full Discovery Program - Combinate My Tours for an in-depth Paris Discovery
If you want an extended Paris discovery without redundancy, just follow these tours
It is better to follow the tour in the above order, but it is not mandatory.
Museums explorations may also complete the discovery of the city
My Art Tours Program in Paris
Follow Art Evolution Through the Age With our Amazing Tours in the World Famous Parisian Museums.
Dutch and Flemish paintings (Louvre)
Italian Painting from Renaissance to Baroque (Louvre evening tour)
French 17th century (Louvre)
French 18th century (Louvre)
French first half of 19th century (Louvre)
Orsay Museum, also ideally in the evening
Rodin Museum (Once the Rodin estate in Paris)
Orangerie Museum (Monet Water Lilies - "Sixtine Chapel of Impressionism")
Picasso Museum (World biggest Picasso collection )
Optionally, in Context, Art-Related Tours.
My Favorite Paris
My Preferred District?
Le Marais is an incredible open-air museum from the 16th and 17th centuries. I know it very well, as I lived there for about 15 years.
My Preferred Museum?
The Louvre. I know it well, but I learn something new each time I go there.
My Preferred Garden?
Tuileries Garden, Musée Rodin Garden, or Palais Royal Garden but the one I like best is the Jardin du Luxembourg in Quartier Latin. As a Gardens fan, I wrote a lot about in the blog.
My Preferred Square in Paris?
Place des Vosges, previously called Place Royale it is Paris oldest square.
My preferred monument?
I'm a fan of churches. Apart from Notre Dame, the three churches I like best in Paris are Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Saint-Pierre de Montmartre the two oldest of Paris and Saint-Gervais Saint-Protais for its amazing white sobriety.
Place des Vosges, Le Marais, Paris. Photo © Broaden Horizons.
My Favorite Places in the Paris Area
Château de Fontainebleau
Why do I'm a fan of Fontainebleau? Because, it is the French Royal Castle by excellence.
The first castle was probably built under Louis VI le Gros (the fat) in the 12th century. Most of the present castle was built during the French Renaissance by François I, Henry II, and Henry IV and houses amazing Renaissance mannerist frescos, paintings, and sculptures.
But, Fontainebleau is also an Imperial Palace. It is the place where Napoleon's farewell to its old guard on four April 1814. The Napoleon appartement is still visible and there is also an important Napoleon Museum.
Fontainebleau Castle. The Courtyard of Farewells.
Hints & Suggestions
Best District for Chocolate Boutiques
Best Ice Creams & Sorbets in Paris
Berthillon on île Saint-Louis.
A Luxury Pause at One of the Ritz Bars
You have the choice of Bar Vendôme, Salon Proust, or Ritz Bar, but if you are American, you may prefer the famous Bar Hemingway.
Restaurant of Napoleon & The French Révolution
Restaurant Grand Véfour. Amazingly the decoration is still the one from the French Revolution. A Must.
Batobus
Batobus is the easy and cheap hop-on and off to avoid the hassle of traffic Jams in Paris. 9 stops in the center of Paris. Amazing views from the Seine River!
Batobus - Louvre station. Photo © Broaden Horizons.
Petit Palais
The Petit Palais is a magnificent Belle Epoque building between Champs Elysée and Alexander III Bridge, which houses the Paris Fine Art Museum. Its café (also a restaurant) and tiny garden are usually an amazing haven of peace in the heart of Paris.
City Pharma
Looking to bring home some of the finest French beauty products at discount prices? City Pharma is a huge hybrid shop with regular pharmacy, beauty, and homeopathy products. Usually crowded, avoid the weekend, and come early in the morning.
How I Became a Paris Private Tour Guide (biography)
Before Being a Guide
I'm a postgraduate at Paris Dauphine-PSL University, where I passed a M.S. in Applied Economics and a MPhil in Information Systems.
PSL University is a Parisian University that includes the Collège de France, France's most prestigious research establishment. founded in 1530 by King of France François I (the king who purchased Mona Lisa for his royal collection).
According to the QS University World University 2025 Ranking, PSL University ranks n°1 in France (n°24 worldwide), while the famous Sorbonne University ranks n°3 (n°64 worldwide).
I have worked for years at Saint-Gobain, a French multinational corporation founded in 1665 by Jean-Baptiste Colbert. He was the Minister of Finance for the Sun King.
The company was first called the "Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs." One of its first orders was for the mirrors in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. More than Three centuries later it is Saint-Gobain which provide the 773 pane of glass of the Louvre Pyramid!
The company that created the mirrors of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles for the Sun King still exists. The Compagnie de Saint-Gobain is now a world leader in construction products.
A Passion for Arts & History
My passion for art and history began in childhood. One of my grandmothers was a painter, and the other was a history teacher.
When I reached my 40s, my interest in art and history became more prominent, and I finally decided to become a guide.
I studied history and art history at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers).
There, I graduated with a BA in Heritage Development and Preservation. I earned a Magna cum laude distinction.
I also received my tourist guide accreditation there. My accreditation is validated by the French Ministry of Culture for tours in English, Spanish, and French.
The National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts is one of the three founding schools of the Grande École system. This system is similar to the Ivy League in the United States. The French Revolution established it in 1794, along with École Polytechnique and École Normale Supérieure.
I also have a Ville d'Art et d'Histoire régional certificate from the Centre Loire Valley Region. I had to pass another challenging selection process to earn it.
I worked at the well-known Orléans Museum of Fine Arts. There, I improved my art and painting skills, which are very beneficial to me for my tour at the Louvre Museum.
In 2017, I founded the Broaden-horizons.fr guided tours website.
I have lived in Paris for over twenty years. I love showing my favorite city to newcomers and those who want to learn more about it.
I'm a member of the FNGIC and Guid'z guides associations, Paris Historique association, and Napoleonic American Society.
You can also check my interviews about the Napoleon movie by Ridley Scott on the History Movie Podcast. There are three episodes.
Yves Paris Private Tour Guide Reviews
Exploring the arc of art history at the Louvre
We took the evening Louvre tour with Yves and it was one of the highlights of our time in Paris. The Louvre can be overwhelming, so if your goal is to go and take a selfie with the Mona Lisa and call it good, that's fine. I had been there before and wanted something more than just the standard audio tour. My wife and I were looking for a more unique experience with more depth exposing us to more about the works, the history of the museum, and the larger arc of art history as a whole, and that's what we got from our tour with Yves! His selection of works to highlight during the tour was well chosen to get at that arc of art history to help the interested laypeople like us. Yves brought a ton of energy and knowledge that really drove the tour and got us involved from start to finish. As the tour went on, he was adapting some of the focus points to the topics/lines of questioning that we were focusing on throughout, providing a very personal feel to the end product of the tour. I have a technical mindset as well as an interest in history, and he picked up on that from my questions and deftly weaved elements of that into the tour as we progressed. It was obvious that he is guiding tours due to his passion for the subject matter. As a history enthusiast, I also really appreciated how he was very thorough in pointing out what he knew (and could back up with research) versus where there was some speculation in the historical consensus. As a private tour, I doubt there are any as affordable with this high of a product and I would highly recommend Yves as a guide for anyone looking for compelling depth and energy in a private tour.
Guided Louvre tours with Yves
I had two wonderful Louvre tours with Yves last week--which is to say that his energy, kindness, and informed intelligence are fresh on my mind. Our mutual 'discovery' of an ancient Sumerian poem--"Lamentation for the City of Ur"--one of the earliest known poems in what later became the elegiac tradition in poetry... well, that was a "wow" moment for me. (I am a writer.) That happened during our second 2-hour tour, when Yves suggested that we could simply go to the places where the crowd weren't, and I happily agreed. So much fun to follow Yves as he nimbly guided us through African, Mesopotamian, Sumerian and other sections of the museum I might never have visited otherwise. A joy. (Yves also generously took some extra time to ensure that I had a good introduction to the Italian Renaissance galleries, our original destination before the crowds dissuaded us from spending our entire tour there.) Yves is warm, engaging, and highly knowledgeable--so I can highly recommend him as a tour guide. I'll also say that the Louvre can be kind of overwhelming to navigate on your own... at least for me! So the tours I booked with Yves through Broaden Horizons were super extra worth it, and made my limited time in Paris much more enjoyable and worthwhile. Thanks, Yves.
The highlight of our trip!!
"This was the best investment and hands down the highlight of our trip!! We booked a tour of the Louvre with Yves. The Louvre is huge and there is so much to see. In two hours, Yves managed to show us an incredible amount. He is deeply knowledgeable about art history, and it was amazingly helpful to have him contextualize what we were seeing for us. We are already planning to book with him again the next time we are in Paris. Don’t hesitate—this is an experience that is worth every penny!!"
Paris historical tour
Fascinating, educational and fun tour in Paris. Private guide who was passionate and knowledgeable and tailored the tour specifically for me.
Great Historic Tour with Relatable and Fun Guide
Yves curated a private tour of Napoleonic history for my history buff spouse and myself. We had such a great time walking around learning about Napoleon I and Napoleon III and the impact they had on the city of Paris. I am a history buff but not nearly as knowledgeable about Napoleon as my spouse, and Yves was able to both jump into deep dives for my spouse as well as explaining things high level for me. We will be back for other tours - what a fantastic experience!
Yves is a wonderful guide!
I booked a tour with Broaden Horizons and had Yves as my guide. Since nobody else booked a tour that day, I was lucky to have Yves to myself. He was not only very well informed and interesting, he went out of his way to give me as much information as possible based on my personal curiosity. In other words, an almost tailor made tour! Chapeau to Broaden Horizons for having such a wonderful guide
FAQs
Q: Are guided tours in Paris worth it?
A: Paris has a fantastic history. It is not only the capital of France but also one of the world's most famous cities, if not the most famous one, for art and culture. If you can find a good guide, then yes, private guided tours in Paris are very much worth it!
Q: Why hire a private tour guide? Do you need one to visit Paris?
A: Yes and no, it depends on what you want.
- Hop-on-hop-off buses are undeniably helpful for a first overview of Paris and familiarization with its layout! They’ll take you directly to all the postcard spots.
- The Parisian metro, one of the oldest in the world, is known for its exceptional density within the capital’s territorial limits. The metro can take you to every corner of the city.
So, in both cases, no tour guide is needed.
Now, you need a tourist guide to understand the great history of Paris, linked to many amazing historical facts. You can choose to take a group tour or hire a private guide.
A group tour is nonflexible in terms of schedule, route, and content. You have a highly reduced possibility of asking questions with a tourist guide who is not available for you but for the whole group.
A private tour guide provides the opposite service. Your guide will only be available for you, as a couple, with friends, or as a family to ensure maximum satisfaction during your tour!
Q: Why hire a certified official guide?
A: In France, certified tourist guides are called Guide-conférencier (guide lecturers).
To become an accredited Guide Conférencier, you must first be admitted to the Ministry of Culture’s prestigious corresponding program.
Then, you must pass a specialized Bachelor's program in arts, history, architecture, public speaking, group management, tourism management, etc., in which you must demonstrate, via a demanding written and oral exam, your capacity to speak at least one foreign language at the C1 level in the Advanced in the Council of Europe's Language Scale.
This demanding training is a guarantee of high qualifications and professionalism.
If you hire a non-certified guide, you may be lucky and deal with a talented, non-graduate multilingual fellow, but it will probably be different.
Only authorized persons can speak publicly in French national museums like the Louvre or d'Orsay. So, hiring a non-official guide there is a terrible idea.
Q: How to recognize an official guide? How to recognize the professional license card?
A: In France, the certified official tourist guides (Guide-conférenciers) received a special official card from the French Ministries of Culture and Tourism.
This card proves that a guide has graduated from the specific training to be a tourist guide in France.
In French national museums like the Louvre or d'Orsay, tourist guides must wear their license cards around their necks during guided tours. If a “guide” does not wear his license card, it is not a good sign; if you doubt his competency, do not hesitate to ask your guide to show it. It must look like the image below.
Q: Why not follow a free tour? There is a tourist guide too there?
A: Free tours are not so free. They are group tours in which the "guide," in addition to delivering low-quality or inappropriate content, will spend a lot of energy trying to persuade his guests that they must tip him at the end of the tour, as he can't work for nothing.
Q: How much does a private tour guide cost in Paris?
A: The market prices for a 2-hour tour in Paris usually start at 200/250 €. At Broaden-horizons.fr, our prices for a 2-hour tour start at 145 € for a private tour for 1 to 2 people.
Q: What is the best tour for Paris?
A: My preferred tour selection on this page is a good start to answering this question! The Notre Dame to Marais Private tour is a must for first-timers!
Q: How much do you tip for a private tour in Paris?
A: Tips are not mandatory in France, but tourist guides welcome them. Tip as if you were at home, and it will be great. See our full post about it.
Q: What is the City of Art and History (Ville et Pays d'art et d'histoire) Label?
A: Ville et pays d'art et d'histoire (City and Country of Art and History) is a label that awards territories and cities that commit to the French Ministry to engage in an active approach to knowledge, conservation, and mediation of their heritage (historical, architectural, etc.).
As Paris is not under the Label, I passed it in the Loire-Valley, a worldwide region famous for its French Renaissance heritage (The Loire Valley castles) listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
Tour creations under the label often imply local research and in-depth studies participating in the knowledge development of the guide in charge. I have curated many tours for the label from 2017 to 2019 and learned a lot from it.
Q: What are the qualities required to be a Paris private tour guide?
A:
- In-depth knowledge of his tour field: Paris is massive in size and history. The guide should have personally curated the content of the tour he is doing.
- Curious and proactive: Exploring new subjects and zones is essential for a guide to remain at the top and not transform himself into a repeating machine.
- Permanent training: with membership in one or more of the French guides associations (FNGIC, Guid'z, Ancovart, etc.)
- Foreign languages are an evident skill that is needed when working with foreigners. You never stop learning a language, and such skills require permanent training.
- Good Memory: An essential quality for a tour guide, memorizing tour data is more about working and reworking than rehearsing it.
- Humor/fun: Memorizing a lot of data is not enough; the information must be conveyed without boring the public. Humor and fun are essential for a successful tour.
- Passion: it is a communicative quality as essential as humor and fun for a successful tour
- Adaptive and sensitive to customers' diversity and knowledge, a guide must control his passion and adapt his speech to the public.
Punctual, Organized, and Responsive: The last skill of the list, as it envelops all the others. Whatever the qualities of a guide, the tour or even the all-day may become a mess if the tourist guide is late or does not control his tour route.
Guesses do not have to wait or check around for a tour guide; everything should run smoothly during the tour.
Louvre Posts by Yves Louvre Tour Guide
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Paris blog post by Yves
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Secret Gardens of the Marais Paris
The Secret Gardens of Le Marais The Secret Gardens of Le Marais Discover another Marais, a surprising one, not the foody one, not the middle-aged one, or the one of private mansions. No discovert the one of the green spaces. A secret Marais, full of gardens. Archives...
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