Cultural & Enrichment Trips to Paris
A cultural trip to Paris offers your students an insight into one of the world’s most charismatic cities. Educate and inspire your students with a trip to Paris to explore the style and glamour of this wonderful city. Enrichment is a huge part of a Paris school trip, and you can plan an itinerary that blends intellect, art and politics during your stay.
Paris is one of Europe's major centres of finance, commerce, fashion, science and the arts. It is famous for its grandiose museums and architectural landmarks such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe. This historical district along the Seine in the city centre is classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Here are some of the benefits a cultural and enrichment trip can provide:
- Develop a sense of responsibility.
- Strengthens character building and develops the self-esteem and self-confidence of your students.
- It helps to improve social and interpersonal skills - the ability to communicate or interact well with other people.
- The opportunity to experience Parisian culture and appreciate societal and lifestyle differences.
- Develop new friendships with their peers.
- Broaden your students’ horizons and knowledge.
- Encourages problem-solving and teamwork.
- Provides fond memories and long-lasting positive benefits.
Equally, a cultural tour of Paris provides benefits for you as well as your students. Teachers get to observe their students in a different environment and see how they respond in an environment of culture and enrichment. It can also generate ideas for you to bring back to the classroom and enhance the educational value for your students after your Paris school trip has concluded.
If you want to inject an extra bit of fun into your cultural tour of Paris, you could extend your trip to include Disneyland® Paris. Contact us to receive a quote for your personalised itinerary.
Check out the cultural trip highlights that Paris has to offer
With so much culture to explore in Paris, deciding on the places you want to visit during your trip can be difficult. So, if you need a helping hand, we’ve devised a selection of the best Paris trip highlights that are a must during your stay.
- Seine River Cruise
- Sacré-Coeur
- Musée de Louvre
- Centre Pompidou
Seine River Cruise
A city cruise along the Seine River offers you and your students the chance to admire the splendid monuments that line the Seine’s river bank. Embark on your voyage from the world-famous Eiffel Tower and glide across the waterway as you learn about the stunning monuments thanks to the intriguing commentary provided by your tour guide. Why not opt for a cruise when night falls for an illuminated experience and truly appreciate the ‘City of Light’ in all of its dazzling glory?
Sacré-Coeur
A cultural trip to Paris isn’t complete without a visit to one of its most iconic monuments, the Sacré-Coeur. Its Roman-byzantine architecture is a sight to behold, as are the incredible panoramic views overlooking the city that can be accessed from the dome. Marvel at France’s largest mosaic located inside this wonderful building, and explore the wonders of the crypt.
Musée de Louvre
The Louvre Museum is a symbolic part of Parisian history. Explore one of three wings of this huge museum complex, including the Richelieu wing to embark on a journey through space and time. If you want to discover life in Ancient Egypt, take the ‘Journey along the Nile’ visitor trail for an unforgettable insight into the Pharaohs. Some of the world's most illustrious masterpieces are on show, including the Mona Lisa and the sculpture of Aphrodite. Your students will simply love embracing the rich tapestry of cultural significance on display in the Louvre!
Centre Pompidou
For an illustration of the world’s finest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe, a trip to the Centre Pompidou is a must! Discover the amazing work of some of the most revered artists in history, including Picasso, Kandinsky, and Matisse. Ranges of famous contemporary artists are also housed at Centre Pompidou, including Burne, Boltanski, Opalka, Twombly, Widmer and Garouste. There is also a selection of temporary exhibitions that showcase the main actors and movements of 20th-century art.
Explore all of our educational trips to paris
Prices start from£279pp
Popular Itinerary
This sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific requirements and learning outcomes.
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Travel by coach right into the heart of Paris and drop off your bags. | Head out on a Guided Walking Tour of the city in French or English and then take a cruise along the River Seine to take in all the sights whilst listening to the on-board commentary. | |
| Day 2 | Take your pick from one of the excellent museums or galleries; the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay or Cite des Sciences. | Climb Paris Montparnasse - Top of the City for some fabulous views over the city. | |
| Day 3 | Soak up the atmosphere of a Parisian market and converse with the locals. | Take a backstage tour of one of the many popular theatres and finish with a performance with English subtitles. | |
| Day 4 | Visit the Arc de Triomphe. | Free time and shopping on the Champs Elysees before you board the coach to return home. | |
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
| Morning | Travel by coach right into the heart of Paris and drop off your bags. |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Head out on a Guided Walking Tour of the city in French or English and then take a cruise along the River Seine to take in all the sights whilst listening to the on-board commentary. |
| Evening |
| Morning | Take your pick from one of the excellent museums or galleries; the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay or Cite des Sciences. |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Climb Paris Montparnasse - Top of the City for some fabulous views over the city. |
| Evening |
| Morning | Soak up the atmosphere of a Parisian market and converse with the locals. |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Take a backstage tour of one of the many popular theatres and finish with a performance with English subtitles. |
| Evening |
| Morning | Visit the Arc de Triomphe. |
|---|---|
| Afternoon | Free time and shopping on the Champs Elysees before you board the coach to return home. |
| Evening |
Price Shown includes
- Return Coach Travel
- 2-nights B&B accommodation
- Specialist group travel insurance
- Bespoke itinerary planning service
- Free place ratios
- Locate My Trip - live trip tracking app
- Online trip organiser & travel app
- 24/7 support whilst you are away
Planning your cultural trip to Paris
With EST, planning a cultural and enrichment trip to Paris is easy. We provide access to our My Tour Manager, a tour organiser that helps you save time and money, helping you to plan the best cultural trip possible!
So, what are you waiting for - start planning your cultural school trip to Paris and leave let your students enjoy the trip of a lifetime!
Places to Stay
Places to Visit
Eiffel Tower
Probably the most famous of all the Paris landmarks, the Eiffel Tower majestically overlooks all of Paris. This visit can easily be combined with a cruise on the Seine as the starting point for Bateaux Parisians is at the foot of the Tower. There are 3 levels which can be accessed by foot or by lift.
Seine River Cruise
A tour along the river Seine will offer students the chance to see most of Paris’s sights and institutions from the river. A commentary is available in English to explain the history and background of the attractions.
Arc de Triomphe
At the end of the impressive Champs Elysees, this famous landmark was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 as a tribute to his victories. Accessed by a subway, there is also an excellent view from the top.
Paris Montparnasse – Top of the City
Take in the very best view of the Eiffel Tower and everything else Paris has to offer on the amazing 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower to get the best panoramic views.
Sacre Coeur
With its distinctive white dome, the Sacre Coeur sits proudly next to Montmartre. It is possible to access the crypt and the dome, with the view from the top being quite incredible.
Sightseeing Tour of Paris
See all of Paris's main attractions including the Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, Sacré Coeur and Notre Dame with commentary from an experienced guide. Tours can be tailored to your specific curriculum needs e.g. a fashion tour.
Disneyland® Resort Paris
Disneyland Resort Paris with its new Walt Disney Studios is perfect for a one or two day visit. The park is divided into five lands with a range of shows, roller coasters, rides and other attractions. There is also the chance to meet the famous Disney characters! The Walt Disney Studios explains the behind the scenes magic of film, television, animation and entertainment.
Cité des Sciences et de L’industrie
Part of Universcience, this ultra-modern science museum at La Vilette aims to promote public interest in science, research and industry. Explora, the museum’s permanent exhibition includes themes on the themes of the Brain, Man & Genes, Transport & Mankind, Energy, The Universe, Mathematics and Sounds. There are interactive exhibits on language and communication and the opportunity to be a weather reader and to explore optical illusions and 3D images. The site also has a planetarium, submarine and IMAX theatre.
FlyView Paris
Get a unique birds-eye view of Paris’ most famous landmarks and monuments as you ‘fly’ over the city. Through the magic of virtual reality technology and a dynamic moving platform you will feel all the sensations of real flight without leaving the ground! Experience the city of Paris from a completely new perspective, explore the heights of the Eiffel Tower, look down on the Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, and the River Seine. A sightseeing tour like no other. A souvenir photo is included with your visit.
Musée du Louvre
The Louvre Museum, former residence of the kings of France, has for two centuries been one of the biggest museums in the world. The museum’s collections spread over eight departments: Near Eastern Antiquities, Islamic Art, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Paintings, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Prints and Drawings from the middle ages to 1848.
The Louvre is entered through a modern Paris landmark, the glass pyramid in the court of the old Royal Palace. It is home to the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa as well as a spectacular collection of art that spans many different cultures.
Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou houses the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe. With over 100,000 pieces of work, it displays the masterpieces of some of the most iconic figures in modern art like Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, Chagall, Léger, Miro, Dali, Dubuffet and Klein.
Ranges of famous contemporary artists are housed here too, such as Buren, Boltanski, Opalka, Twombly, Hantaï, Tallon, Widmer and Garouste. They also welcome an interesting selection of temporary exhibitions that highlight the main actors and movements in the history of 20th century art.
The Centre Pompidou allows students to immerse themselves in contemporary and modern art.
Paris Street Art Tour
Located in the 13th district, an outdoor museum with works from artists from the world around including Obey, Seth, Inti, Vihls, D-Face, C215. Murals, street tags and graffiti and an insight into this fascinating world of art exploring the different styles and learning about its history.
World Cup Stadium 'Stade de France'
Experience a behind the scenes tour of this 80,000 seater stadium in St Denis (just north of Paris) which hosted the 1998 World Cup. The 'Behind the Scenes Tour' is a full guided tour of the stadium & the visitor centre with commentary on all aspects of the project - technology, architecture, sport & business.
Musee Gourmand du Chocolat - Choco Story
Discover the wonderful world of chocolate and its history of four millennia in this gourmet museum. Spread over 3 floors the museum retraces the history of cocoa and presents the different types of manufacture & tasting of chocolate throughout times. This visit includes a film, a genuine chocolate making demonstration, and a tasting.
Musée de l' Air et de l'Espace
Occupying over 150,000 square metres of land and hangers, the Musee d'l Air et de l'Espace is one of the oldest aviation museums in the world. Their collection includes more than 150 aircrafts and a wide range of aviation paraphernalia dating back to the 16th century. The museum is the only place in world with two Concorde planes on display as well as 5 space rockets.
Chateau de Versailles
The palace, begun in the late 1600s, was the dream of Louis XIV and home of the French monarchy until the demise of the aristocracy. The mammoth estate could accommodate 20,000 people and its grounds cover over 800 hectares. Famous sights include the Hall of Mirrors and the Apollo Salon.
Eiffel Tower Behind the Scenes Tour
A qualified English speaking guide will take you to the machinery room which controls the lifts and explain how this fascinating system works. In the old bunker a few feet underground the history of the tower will be told and on the technical gallery, situated under the first floor, you will be able to admire the view over the square 57 metres above ground.
Artisan French Bakery Visit
French bread and the classic baguette have been staples of French cuisine for hundreds of years; and just as these breads have stood the test of time, so too has the tradition of bread-making and baking in France.
We invite you to enter into the kitchen of a bakery to see for yourself the bakers in their element and how they work. You'll learn the bread-making traditions and the origins of some of France’s most iconic products, and you’ll get to see the bakers at work as they fill the shelves of the bakery with breads and pastries for hungry clients.
This experience will help you not only appreciate bread-making in a new light; it will also help with recognizing the difference between products that are authentically handmade and those that are shipped in from industrial manufacturers. To complete your hour-long visit you’ll get to leave with a freshly-baked baguette and croissant to enjoy for later.
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