The Paris Pass®: 40+ Attractions Including Eiffel Tower

Paris rewards a well-planned attack. The Paris Pass® lets you pack 40-plus attractions into one to six consecutive days, from an Eiffel Tower stair climb and Seine cruise to wine tasting, walking tours, and breakfast at Café Louise. I like the freedom to swap a museum for a food experience when the weather turns, and I like how the Go City app puts opening hours, attraction details, and reservations in one place. The main catch is simple: you need a busy schedule to make the $91 starting price pay off.

The best value comes from combining several activities in one day, especially costly or time-sensitive ones. I also like that the pass can be upgraded to include the Paris Museum Pass, which covers the Louvre, Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, and many other museums. But the Eiffel Tower inclusion means a guided climb, not an elevator ride, and several popular attractions require advance booking.

Key points to know before buying

• The Eiffel Tower visit is a guided stair climb: The pass does not include the lift option, so this matters if stairs are difficult for you.
• The Paris Museum Pass is an upgrade: The standard pass does not automatically include the Louvre, Versailles, or other major museums.
• The Seine cruise and Big Bus tour help you get oriented: Both offer easy first-day introductions to central Paris.
• The pass works best for active itineraries: Three or four activities per day can create good value, but loose sightseeing plans may not.
• Reservations can make or break your visit: Some experiences have fixed time slots, and popular places can fill before you activate the pass.
• The app is essential: Use it for the attraction list, opening hours, booking links, itinerary planning, and digital pass access.

What the Paris Pass actually includes

The Paris Pass is a digital sightseeing pass from Go City. You choose a validity period of one, two, three, four, or six days, then visit included attractions during those consecutive calendar days. Your pass is activated the first time you enter an attraction, and it remains valid for the number of days purchased.

This is not a 24-hour pass. If you first use it at 3 p.m. on Monday, Monday counts as day one. That detail matters, especially with a one-day pass. I would activate it first thing in the morning, when possible, and save the pass for days when you have a clear plan.

The standard pass covers more than 40 attractions, tours, and activities. The list mixes major sights with smaller experiences, which is one of its strengths. You can climb the Eiffel Tower, take a Seine cruise, visit the Aquarium de Paris, attend a show, sample French wine, or join a walking tour in Montmartre.

You can also choose the Paris Pass Plus, available for two to six days. It adds the Paris Museum Pass, with access to more than 50 museums and monuments. The two-day and three-day Paris Pass Plus options include a two-day Paris Museum Pass, so you need to download that separate museum pass before sightseeing.

The Eiffel Tower climb, with an important catch

The Eiffel Tower guided climb is the pass feature that attracts many buyers, but read the wording carefully. This is a climb by stairs, not a standard elevator visit. One review described buying the elevator option separately because knee problems made the stairs impractical.

If you are comfortable climbing, this can be a fine way to see the tower. You get the structure at close range, then views across Paris as you rise. It is also a more active experience than simply riding up in a lift. For anyone who dislikes stairs or has limited mobility, though, the pass inclusion may have little value.

I would not buy the pass solely for the Eiffel Tower unless you have confirmed the current reservation rules and feel good about the climb. Check the app before your sightseeing day, since the attraction may require a reserved time.

A first look at Paris from the Big Bus

The one-day Big Bus Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Tour is useful early in your stay. It gives you a broad view of the city without asking you to master the Metro on your first morning. You can also use it as a scenic ride when your feet need a break.

The tour is not a substitute for walking Paris. It is best used as an orientation tool, helping you connect areas such as the Eiffel Tower, the river, and central monuments. The value improves if you ride it with a plan to hop off at one or two places rather than staying aboard all day.

Remember that transportation to and from attractions is not generally included. The Big Bus tour is a specific included activity, not a general transport ticket. You still need to budget for your other journeys around the city.

The Seine cruise and Paris from the water

The Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Cruise offers a slower hour or so, depending on the current schedule, with familiar sights viewed from the river. It is an easy choice after a museum or before dinner, and it gives you a different sense of how Paris is arranged.

I especially like placing the cruise near the beginning of a short visit. From the boat, you can see why the Seine is the city’s central organizing line. Bridges, riverbanks, and major monuments make more sense after you have viewed them together.

The cruise is also a useful pass day filler. If you have already paid for the pass, an activity that requires little walking can help you reach the break-even point. Check departure times in the app, since a fixed sailing schedule can affect the rest of your day.

Notre Dame, the crypt, and the limits of the description

The Notre Dame and Archaeological Crypt Experience adds an important layer beneath the famous cathedral area. You see the archaeological remains under Île de la Cité, then connect the site with the wider story of central Paris.

The wording can mislead you if you expect a full interior tour of Notre Dame. The experience is described as an Île de la Cité tour that ends at Notre Dame, rather than a complete cathedral visit. I would treat it as a neighborhood and archaeology experience, not as a guaranteed cathedral admission.

That distinction is typical of sightseeing passes. The headline name may point to a famous monument, while the actual included activity takes place nearby. Read the full entry instructions in the app before building your day around it.

Wine, breakfast, crepes, and other edible value

The pass includes several food-based stops. At Les Caves du Louvre, you can take part in a French wine tasting in a setting connected with the old royal wine cellars. This was singled out as a favorite experience, and I can see why: it offers a distinctly Parisian activity without requiring half a day.

Other food options include a Parisian breakfast at Café Louise, a croque monsieur with a Champagne cocktail by the Seine, French sweet crepes near the Arc de Triomphe, French Apéro in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and Champagne Gourmand in Montmartre.

These inclusions help the pass feel less like a checklist of monuments. You can use one of them when you need a pause from galleries and churches. They may also make the pass more worthwhile for couples or families who would buy food experiences separately.

Read exactly what each food stop includes. Food and drinks are not generally covered unless the attraction description says they are. The pass includes the named breakfast, tasting, snack, or drink where specified, but not every meal during your trip.

Walking tours that put you in the neighborhood

The walking tours cover some of Paris’s most rewarding districts. Options include Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur, the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Marais, the covered passages, Montparnasse, the River Seine bridges, and a tour focused on the women of Paris.

These tours are valuable because they add context to places you might otherwise see only from the outside. Montmartre, for example, is more than the basilica and its viewpoint. A walking route can help you understand how the neighborhood fits together before you wander on your own.

The pass also includes special-interest routes such as Scandals and Love Affairs at Père Lachaise and Emily in Paris: The Unofficial Tour. These are not essential Paris sights, but they can be fun choices when you want a lighter afternoon.

Check the meeting point and start time carefully. Some links can be difficult to use, and one practical complaint about the pass involved finding certain places and getting reservation links to work. Give yourself extra time for a first meeting point, especially in a crowded district.

Museums, Versailles, and the Paris Pass Plus

The Paris Museum Pass is the reason many serious sightseers choose the Plus version. It includes the Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles, Orsay Museum, Orangerie Museum, Picasso Museum, Rodin Museum, Sainte-Chapelle, and Arc de Triomphe, among others.

For museum-focused trips, the upgrade can be more useful than the standard Paris Pass. It may also provide skip-the-ticket-line access, although you still need to follow each museum’s entry rules and reservation system. The pass is not a magic key that removes every queue. Security checks and timed reservations still apply.

The Louvre needs special planning. One three-day pass user could not secure a Louvre time because the museum was already booked. The practical lesson is clear: check reservations before activating your pass, even if you expect to book later.

You also need to carry both pieces of digital proof when required. The Go City pass alone may not be enough for museum entry. Download the Paris Museum Pass from the reservation portal and keep it available on your phone along with the main Go City pass.

Versailles is another major addition, but it takes substantial time to reach and explore. If you include it, plan it as the main activity for that day rather than squeezing it between central Paris stops. The museum upgrade has strong value when you actually use several museums, not simply because the list looks impressive.

Unusual choices beyond the famous monuments

The attraction list reaches well beyond the usual first-time Paris route. You can visit the Paradox Museum Paris, Grevin Paris wax museum, Aquarium de Paris, the Gourmet Chocolate Museum Choco-Story, and the perfume mini workshop by Fragonard.

There is also an Opera National de Paris self-guided tour, a Galeries Lafayette fashion show, the Stade de France tour, Rex Studios with afternoon popcorn, and the Ballon de Paris Generali. PanoraMagique at Disney Village and Parc Astérix offer choices outside the city center.

These options are useful for repeat visits, families, or rainy days. They also let you see parts of Paris that might not appear on a standard monument list. The tradeoff is time. Every unusual stop takes time away from the Louvre, a long neighborhood walk, or simply sitting at a café.

I would not try to visit everything. Pick two or three unusual activities that genuinely interest you, then use the rest of your time for unstructured Paris.

How to calculate the $91 value

At $91 per person, the pass is not automatically a bargain. Its value depends on how much you do during the active days. The strongest approach is to pair one costly attraction with one or two shorter activities.

A productive day might include the Eiffel Tower climb, the Seine cruise, and a wine tasting. Another could combine a Big Bus route, a walking tour, and a food stop. If you complete three or four activities per day, the math can work well, particularly when the individual admissions would otherwise add up quickly.

A relaxed two-day plan may not save money. You might prefer one museum, a long lunch, and hours walking along the Seine. That style is perfectly good, but a sightseeing pass charges you for possibilities you may not use.

The advertised savings of up to 50 percent applies to certain planned itineraries, not every possible visit. I would list the exact attractions you want, check their individual prices, and compare the total with the pass price. Count only places you would genuinely visit.

The pass can also encourage spontaneous choices. A food tasting or neighborhood walk you might skip when paying separately becomes easier to choose once it is included. That is real value, but only if those activities suit your interests.

Building a sensible one to six-day plan

For one day, choose attractions close together and start early. The Big Bus tour, Eiffel Tower climb, Seine cruise, and one food experience could make a full day, but reservations and travel time need careful attention.

Two days allow a strong central Paris plan. Use the first day for the river, Eiffel Tower area, and a cruise. Use the second for a walking tour, food stop, and one museum if you have the Plus version.

Three or four days offer the best balance for many people. You can set aside a museum day, a Versailles day if desired, and separate time for Montmartre, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or Le Marais. A six-day pass gives you more breathing room, but it still requires planning to reach good value.

Keep one flexible block in your schedule. Paris weather, museum closures, and fixed tour times can disrupt a tightly packed plan. The app’s itinerary planner can help you group nearby activities and check opening hours before you commit.

The Go City app and practical snags

You need a charged smartphone. The digital pass arrives with instructions after booking, and the Go City app contains the attraction list, opening hours, planning tools, and reservation information. A PDF guide is also available.

The app is useful, but do not assume every booking link will be effortless. Some links may be hard to open, and some attractions use separate reservation systems. I would save confirmation details before leaving your hotel and keep the museum pass ready if you buy the Plus option.

At each attraction, staff scan the relevant pass or ticket. For museums, you may need both the Go City pass and the separate Paris Museum Pass. Having both available avoids a needless delay at the entrance.

Included attractions can change without notice, and each attraction can be visited only once. That makes pre-trip checking worthwhile. Do not build your entire itinerary around a single attraction until you have confirmed its current inclusion and reservation rules.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The pass itself remains valid for one year from purchase before activation, which gives you some flexibility if your plans shift.

Who should buy the Paris Pass?

I would recommend the standard pass to an energetic first-time visitor who wants a menu of activities and plans to see several paid attractions each day. It also suits families and repeat visitors who value the aquarium, chocolate museum, shows, food stops, or themed walks as much as the major monuments.

The Plus version makes more sense for museum fans. If the Louvre, Versailles, Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Arc de Triomphe are all on your list, the additional museum access can save both money and queue time.

I would be cautious if you prefer slow mornings, long café stops, or only one major sight per day. I would also check the Eiffel Tower details carefully if you need a lift rather than stairs. The pass can still help, but its headline attractions may not match your needs.

Should you book it?

Book the Paris Pass if you can name several included activities and are ready to reserve the popular ones before your sightseeing days begin. The strongest features are the broad choice, the well-liked wine tasting, the Seine cruise, the walking tours, and the chance to combine major sights with smaller Paris experiences.

Choose the Paris Pass Plus when museums and Versailles are central to your plans. Skip it if you want an unhurried visit or cannot commit to a busy schedule. In either case, use the app first, map your days by neighborhood, and treat the pass as a planning tool rather than a ticket to everything Paris has to offer.

FAQ

How many days is the Paris Pass valid?

You can choose a pass valid for one, two, three, four, or six days. The days are consecutive calendar days, not 24-hour periods.

Does the Paris Pass include the Louvre and Versailles?

The standard Paris Pass does not include them. You need to upgrade to the Paris Pass Plus, which includes the Paris Museum Pass and access to the Louvre, Versailles, and other museums and monuments.

Does the Eiffel Tower visit include an elevator?

The included Eiffel Tower experience is a guided climb by stairs. The lift option is not included, so you may need to purchase it separately.

Do I need reservations for attractions?

Some attractions and tours require reservations, and certain experiences have fixed time slots. Use the Go City app to check requirements and book before your pass days begin.

Can I visit an attraction more than once?

No. Each included attraction can be visited only once with the pass.

What do I need to use the pass?

You need a charged smartphone to display the digital pass and use the Go City app. If you purchase the Paris Pass Plus, download the separate Paris Museum Pass before sightseeing and keep both passes available where required.