Booking choice: The Eiffel Tower lunch day trip, from $350 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The packages on Viator range from an independent rail day at $276 to escorted days with lunch and attraction entry at $537. Eurostar also sells its own tickets, from £39 each way on a Standard return when seats are available.
Which is right depends on how much of the day you want planned for you.
The quick answer
DIY is usually cheapest and most flexible if you book Eurostar early and know what you want to see. Rail packages add a cruise, a bus or metro pass and reserved seats. Escorted tours add a guide all day, a coach tour, and on the flagship the option of lunch inside the Eiffel Tower. Every package here is non-refundable.
What are the options?
Three levels: fully escorted tours, independent rail packages, and buying your own Eurostar tickets.
| Option | Guide | Includes | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower lunch day trip | All day | Coach tour, Seine cruise, lunch option | 4.6 (3,046) | $350 |
| Guided day trip | Morning | Coach tour, Seine cruise, free afternoon | 4.4 (114) | $350 |
| Self-guided day | On the train | Seine cruise, map, store voucher | 3.9 (27) | $337 |
| Hop-on hop-off day | No | Hop-on bus ticket, Seine cruise | 3.8 (579) | $430 |
| Independent rail day | No | Seine cruise, metro day pass | 3.4 (17) | $276 |
Want the day planned for you? Check dates for the escorted Eiffel Tower lunch day.
Check dates for the Eiffel Tower lunch day tripIs it cheaper to book Eurostar yourself?
Often, yes: Eurostar's own one-way fares start from £39, but fares rise as trains fill, so that fare is not guaranteed on day-trip timings.
The packages include return seats on day-trip timings, which is the biggest cost of the day. The bigger difference is flexibility. Eurostar Standard and Plus tickets can be changed as often as you like with no fee up to an hour before travel (you pay any fare difference) and refunded up to 7 days before for £25. Every package on this site is non-refundable.
What does a guide add?
Someone to take you through two border crossings, plan the route, and keep the group on time for the train.
Guests on the escorted tours often say they could not have done it on their own, and praise guides who wait for slower walkers. On a first visit with limited time, that is worth paying for.
What does DIY give you?
Freedom: your own trains, your own sights, a long lunch where you like, and museum tickets at the time you choose.
On a DIY day you can book a timed Louvre slot, which the escorted operator advises against because its arrival times vary. In 2026 the Louvre charges €32 for visitors from outside the EEA, British travellers included, and it closes on Tuesdays. You also handle the stations and the metro yourself.
Are the rail packages good value?
They suit people who want reserved seats and a ready-made plan without a guide, but their ratings are lower than the escorted tours.
The hop-on hop-off package rates 3.8 from 579 reviews, and some guests say there is not enough time to do everything advertised. The cheapest package, at $276, includes a metro day pass and a cruise but no guide.
Prefer your own pace with a plan? The package adds a hop-on hop-off bus and a Seine cruise.
Explore the hop-on hop-off dayWhat about going inside the sights?
Most packages only pass the sights; Golden Tours sells days with Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame or Louvre entry.
The Simply Paris walking day includes Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame admission and the Louvre (Wednesday to Monday), but rates 3.7, with guests mentioning a fast pace and missed stops. The second-floor day adds the Eiffel Tower's second floor and a lunch cruise. Viator lists it as non-refundable, although the supplier's own text mentions free cancellation up to 21 days before travel; go by the policy shown at checkout.
Which should you choose?
Escorted for a first visit with no planning; rail package for structure without a guide; DIY if you know Paris or want museums.
- First visit, want it easy: the escorted Eiffel Tower lunch day.
- Want a guide but your own lunch: the guided day with a free afternoon.
- Want to explore alone with a cruise included: the self-guided day.
- Budget first: the independent rail day, or your own Eurostar tickets.
Leaning towards a guide? Check your date for the escorted day trip.
Check dates for the Eiffel Tower lunch day tripFrequently asked questions
Is a Paris day trip package cheaper than Eurostar tickets?
Not usually, but the package includes a guide, a cruise and planning. Compare on your date: Eurostar fares vary by train and day.
Can I leave the group in Paris?
On the escorted tours you have free time in the afternoon; you must be back at the meeting point for the return train.
Do the packages include hotel pickup?
No. Every package on this site starts at St Pancras International.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season. The London day trips are non-refundable, so fix your date first.
Luxury Paris Day Trip with Eiffel Tower Lunch
- Return Eurostar tickets from London St Pancras
- Panoramic guided coach tour past the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees
- One-hour Seine cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
Guided Paris Day Trip with Bus Tour & Cruise
- Round-trip Eurostar with reserved seats
- Panoramic coach tour with a professional guide
- Seine cruise past Notre-Dame and the Musee d'Orsay
Self-Guided Paris Day with Eurostar & Seine Cruise
Your own day in Paris, with a cruise and a guide on the train
