Paris Bike Tour

With over 700km of bike lanes, Paris is one of the best cities in the world to explore from the saddle. Several companies operate Paris Bike Tours with local guides. It's a relaxing way to see the famous landmarks and cycling also enables tourists to amble down the little narrow, side streets. It's also a safe way of seeing the sights, as the guides tend to stick to the footpaths, bike lanes and one-way streets. Bikes are available for rent and there are bicycle lane maps, so it's possible to tour Paris by bike on one's own, but having a guide is fun and you can't beat local knowledge.

Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world and cycling tours appeal to couples as well as families and groups. It's an environmentally friendly way of taking a vacation and sightseeing can be combined with keeping fit. The city is bicycle friendly and motorists are used to a high volume of cyclists. This is touring at a leisurely pace.

The Fat Tire Bike Tours is an American owned company and tours are aimed at English speaking people. The company also organizes cycling tours to Versailles and to Monet's Gardens. Almost the entire route on the Paris Bike Tour is over parkland, on bike lanes and large sidewalks. There is a Day Tour and a shorter Night Tour. The Night Tour also involves a boat cruise with complimentary wine.

Bike About Tours cater for small groups and English speaking guides take in the historic sights, stopping for good photo opportunities. The route also includes quaint back streets and a visit to a traditional French bakery in the Latin Quarter. Guides will also advise on the best restaurants to go to.

Three different tours are offered by the Paris Bike Tour Company. They are the Left Bank, Paris Right Bank, and Paris by Night. Different language guides can be requested for English, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish speakers. These tours are for between 10 - 15 people. Bikers are given a helmet, basket and rain poncho.

The Heart of Paris Cycling Tour is for three hours and affords ample time to see some great sights, including the Marais, Les Halles, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and the River Seine. The Paris Day Bike Tour starts at the Eiffel Tower and lasts for four hours. This Paris Bike Tour includes Napoleon's Tomb, the Louvre Museum, the Musee Dorsay, Tuileries Gardens, the Alexander III Bridge, and the Place de la Concorde.

Another four-hour tour is organized for up to 10 people by the Paris Bike Tours Company. Tourists are given rain gear, a water bottle and a bike bag for personal possessions. Sights include the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs de Mars, the Place Vendome, Louvre Museum and the Petit and Grand Palais.