Frequently asked questions

The simplest way is the contact form on the Request a Tour page. Tell us who you are, how many people are in your group, and the dates you are in Paris. We reply within 24 hours to confirm availability and send a tailored proposal. Nothing is charged until your tour is confirmed.

Per group, not per person. Every tour is private, and the base fee covers a group of two guests. Above two, a per-person supplement applies, which depends on the site visited and on each guest's age, since every venue charges its own admission. Museum entry is always included in the price you are quoted. For a couple, this often makes a private guide better value than it first appears.

The price covers everything needed to enter and follow the tour: entry tickets, the group reservation fee, an audio system where one is required, and a public transport ticket when the itinerary calls for moving between sites. On food tours, the tastings are included. There are no hidden extras and nothing to pay during the visit. A private driver can be arranged on request. Reaching the meeting point is otherwise your own arrangement, except on day trips outside Paris, where transport is organised and confirmed when you book.

As early as you reasonably can, particularly from spring to autumn, when both timed-entry tickets and guide availability are limited. Sites such as the Louvre and Versailles require entry to be reserved in advance, so a few weeks of notice is ideal. That said, last-minute requests are sometimes possible, so it is always worth asking.

Payment is requested in advance to confirm your tour. Once it is received, your date and your guide are secured. We accept payment by bank transfer or card.

You can cancel or reschedule for a full refund up to seven days before the tour. Between seven days and 72 hours before the start, 50% of the tour price is due. Within 72 hours, and for no-shows, the tour is non-refundable. Rescheduling may be possible but cannot be guaranteed. Admission fees already reserved on your behalf are not refundable in any case. If we have to cancel, you receive a full refund or a new date, your choice. The full policy is in our terms and conditions and restated in every booking confirmation.

No. In France a gratuity is never expected, and the price you are quoted is complete. If you particularly enjoyed your tour and wish to leave something for your guide, it is always appreciated, but it is entirely your choice and never assumed.

Your meeting point is decided together, either at your hotel, or in front of the museum or in the neighbourhood where the tour begins. It is confirmed in your booking email, and your guide sends precise directions in advance, along with a phone number in case anything is unclear on the day.

Comfortable walking shoes are the main thing, as most tours involve a fair amount of standing and walking. Major sites have security screening, so travel light: large bags and suitcases are not admitted. At Notre-Dame, an active place of worship, modest dress is appreciated. Photography without flash is generally allowed. For outdoor tours such as Montmartre or the gardens at Versailles, dress for the weather.

Museums occasionally close rooms for restoration, lend a work to another institution, or shut for a special event or a strike. Where we are aware of a closure that affects your tour, we tell you in advance. If something changes on the day, an alternative of equal interest is always proposed. We do not offer refunds for closures outside our control, but the tour will always be worth your time. See our legal notice and terms for more detail.

The guide-conférencier is a national qualification issued by the French Ministry of Culture, awarded after university-level training in art history and heritage. By law, only holders of this card may lead guided visits inside France's national museums and historic monuments, the Louvre and Versailles among them. Every Pépin Paris tour is led by a licensed guide-conférencier, which is both a guarantee of training and the legal right to guide inside the rooms themselves.

All tours are conducted in English by default, and the language is central to how they are built for international visitors. Other languages, French, Spanish, German and more, can be arranged on request. Tell us your preference when you book and we will confirm what is possible.

Every tour is private, so the group is simply yours. Up to six guests is straightforward at almost every site. Beyond that, or at a few venues with their own rules, one of two things may be needed: a specific group ticket, or a second guide so that everyone can hear and see properly. Either way, we tell you plainly what applies to your group and recommend the option we think serves you best, at the price it involves. There is nothing to work out on your side before you write to us.

Yes. Because every tour is private, the guide adapts the pace, the focus and the storytelling to children of any age. Please mention the children's ages when you book so the visit can be shaped around them.

Most venues on the programme are wheelchair accessible, including the Louvre, the Orsay, Notre-Dame and the main palace at Versailles, though some routes within them require adaptation. Montmartre is not suitable for wheelchairs due to its steep cobblestone streets. Please mention any accessibility requirements when booking and we will confirm exactly what is possible and adapt the itinerary accordingly.

Always. Because every tour is private, the pace and emphasis adapt to you, whether you want a broad overview or to linger on a single period or theme. Tell us what draws you when you book, or use the day builder to shape a full day around your interests.

Yes. The day builder lets you combine several sites into one private day, morning, afternoon or evening, and shows which pairings work well together. If you prefer, simply tell us your interests through the contact form and we will design the day for you.

Yes. Beyond Paris we guide across Île-de-France, including Versailles, Giverny and Monet's garden, and Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh spent his final months. These are full-day experiences, and transport arrangements are discussed and confirmed when you book. Other regions, such as Normandy, the châteaux of the Loire Valley and Champagne, can be arranged on request. They are not listed on the site, as we remain a small company for now.