And yes, as both a working city and one of the world’s top tourist destinations, the hustle and bustle of Paris can make a trip here seem a little daunting. But with a well-planned itinerary designed with your group in mind, your visit could very well become one of your students’ most treasured memories of their school days.
Example 5-Day Itinerary for a School Group Visiting Paris
Day 1
Day 1 is all about the journey.
- Make your way to Dover for your Channel crossing.
- Arrive in Calais and continue your journey to Paris.
- Check into your accommodation and relax over your evening meal.
Most school groups visiting Paris will choose to travel by coach. Not only is this the more environmentally friendly option, it’s generally just easier with a group (because it’s a door-to-door service).
So, depending on where you are in the UK, your coach will probably pick you up in the morning and you’ll make your way down to your Channel crossing (for most groups, this is a ferry from Dover to Calais).
From Calais, you’ll continue your journey on to Paris, which usually takes about 4 and a half hours. You can really make the journey an unforgettable part of the experience (for all the right reasons). Just check out our top tips for your coach journey.
Once you’ve arrived and checked into your accommodation, you’ll be more than ready to tuck into your evening meal. For sport and music groups, there may even be time to squeeze in a self-led training session or rehearsal (but do make sure you let us know you’d like this, so we can make sure we book you into suitable accommodation).
Day 2
Your first full day in Paris will be spent exploring one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.
- 'Race for Time' activity trail.
- Time for pictures by the Eiffel Tower.
- Stroll along the Champs-Elysées and visit the Arc de Triomphe.
You’ll start the day with a continental-style breakfast at your hotel before venturing out to explore Paris.
One of the best ways to do this is through the Race for Time self-led activity trail. This 2–3-hour activity trail will see students take part in several team challenges in key sites across the French capital, helping them to really engage with their surroundings. You’ll be sent a teacher pack around 6 weeks before you travel with all the solutions, as well as some top tips to make sure everyone has plenty of fun and stays safe.
You’ll end up at the Champs de Mars, beneath the Eiffel Tower, so (after a photo opp with the city’s most iconic sight) you’ll still be right in the heart of the city. This means you can enjoy a packed lunch in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, or you can pop into one of the nearby food outlets to grab some lunch before some more sightseeing adventures in the afternoon.
Named after the Campus Martius in Rome, ‘Champs de Mars’ means ‘the field of Mars’ (Roman god of war) and this gives a hint of its fascinating history. In the late 18th Century, the École Militaire was built here, and the park grounds were used as drilling and marching grounds (important for French pageantry and military might). They also hosted important festivals (and clashes) during the French Revolution (so, there’s a great history angle for your lunch spot).
After your break, you could take a stroll along the Champs-Elysées (literally, the most famous street in France - it’s also been called ‘the most beautiful avenue in the world’). Lined with luxury shops, your wide-eyed students will want to take loads of pics of all the cool window displays.
The annual Bastille Day military parade takes place on this wide avenue. It runs from the Place de la Concorde to the iconic Arc de Triomphe.
When you reach the Arc de Triomphe, you can venture inside. However, most school groups prefer to explore the outside (and grab a few pics for the ‘gram).
Musicians could perform an afternoon concert in the gorgeous Jardin du Luxembourg, instead.
And if you’re in Paris for sports, you might substitute these afternoon activities for your first friendly fixture against local opposition. Or, if you’re here on an Outdoor Adventure trip, you could spend the morning tackling the high ropes course and an outdoor escape room, before having a go at laser tag, bungee duel, tug of war and sumo in the afternoon.
Day 3
Day 3 is about seeing Paris from a different perspective.
- After breakfast, take a Seine River cruise.
- Head up the Montparnasse Tower for epic views across the city.
One of the best ways to see Paris is from the Seine, which runs through its historic centre. Its banks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Left Bank (Rive Gauche) has long been associated with artists, writers and Parisian café culture. This is where Picasso, Hemingway and the rest of the Lost Generation tended to hang out, in cafés like Les Deux Magots. This is also where you’ll find the cobbled streets of the oldest part of the city, the Latin Quarter.
The Right Bank (Rive Droite) was always more about commerce and trade, and it used to be the wealthier side of the river (although that’s not really the case nowadays). You’ll find most of the city’s headline attractions here.
Cruising along the Seine will allow you to see all the iconic landmarks on both sides of the river, including Notre Dame (on the Ile de la Cité in the middle of the Seine), the Louvre (on the Right Bank) and the Eiffel Tower (on the left bank). And all at a gentle enough pace that you’ll be able to get plenty of photos. Cruises usually last 60-75 minutes and depart from next to the Eiffel Tower.
As well as the landmarks, you’ll also see all of Paris’ most famous bridges. There’s Pont Neuf (‘New Bridge’, which is ironic because it’s actually the oldest bridge across the Seine in Paris). Its sturdy stone arches connect the Ile de la Cité (where you’ll find Notre Dame) to the Left and Right Banks.
Then there’s Pont Alexandre III. This Beaux-Arts-style bridge was built in 1900 to celebrate Franco-Russian relations and is so gorgeous it’s been featured in countless TV series, films and music videos.
While you’re admiring all the man-made wonders across and along the Seine, make sure you take some time to marvel at the river itself. After all, without it, there’d be no Paris to enjoy. That’s because the first people to settle here (a Celtic tribe called the Parisii) did so more than 2,000 years ago, because the river was such an important trade route from the English Channel into the continent. By the 14th Century, Paris had grown from a small riverside village to the largest city in Western Europe.
After lunch, it’s time for one of our top Paris hacks. Now, most people who visit Paris head to the Eiffel Tower for views across the city. And that is a great experience (apart from the queuing beforehand because it’s so difficult to pre-book for school groups). But the view you get from the Eiffel Tower is missing one of the most iconic parts of the Paris skyline – the Eiffel Tower itself.
So, in our opinion, the view from the Montparnasse Tower trumps the one from the Eiffel Tower for one key reason – it includes the Eiffel Tower. The lift will whizz you up to the 56th floor in just 38 seconds. This is the Observation Deck, where you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views up to 40km in all directions and new virtual reality stations offering glimpses into the city’s past.
There are also maths workbooks and a French language quiz (both suitable for KS2 and KS3 students) available for your visit to the Montparnasse Tower.
You can also head a further three floors up to the rooftop terrace for uninterrupted, 360° views.
If you’re visiting Paris on a music tour, you could skip the Montparnasse Tower and head to the Champ de Mars for an afternoon concert beneath the Eiffel Tower.
And if you’re visiting Paris for sport, you could choose to skip the river cruise and instead spend the morning in a self-led training session, followed by a tour of the impressive Stade de France (the country’s national stadium, so just bear in mind that this visit is dependent on availability). In the afternoon, you’ll take on local opposition of a similar standard to your team(s) in a friendly fixture.
Day 4
Day 4 is what you've all been waiting for - theme park day.
- Enjoy a full day in Disneyland Paris or Parc Astérix.
Disneyland Paris is 20 miles east of the centre of Paris. Usually, if you’re visiting both Paris and Disneyland, we’ll find you accommodation in between the two to minimise journey times.
Disneyland Paris is Europe’s most-visited theme park and actually consists of two parks – Disneyland Park (which opened in 1992 and is where you’ll find the Sleeping Beauty Castle) and Walt Disney Studios Park (which opened ten years later, in 2002, and is where you’ll find the Earffel Tower).
There are loads of rides (and there’s definitely something for everyone). To end a magical day, make sure you stay to see the spectacular parade and fireworks. This is where the fairy tale is really brought to life, and you’re able to see all your favourite Disney characters.
The magic of Disney means this is often a real highlight of the trip for all groups. And if you’re here for a music tour, you might even get the truly unforgettable opportunity to perform at the heart of Disneyland Paris on the Videopolis Stage (just bear in mind that you will need to audition for this in advance).
If you want a similarly fun experience with a little more ‘Frenchness’, then you could consider Parc Astérix as an alternative. Of course, this theme park is based on the bande dessinée Astérix by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny, about a tribe of indomitable Gauls who put up incredible resistance against the Romans.
It’s the second-most visited theme park in France after Disneyland Paris and is a similar distance from Paris (it’s 22 miles north of the city). It’s well known for the number of rollercoasters and areas themed around different historic cultures, including the Gauls and Romans (obviously), as well as Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.
And if you want to make sure there is definitely some learning going on (as well as all the fun), Parc Astérix have created worksheets for secondary school groups.
Day 5
Day 5 means bidding a fond 'au revoir' to Paris, as it's time to head home.
- Check out of your accommodation.
- Depart Paris and enjoy lunch en route.
- Arrive at Calais and take the ferry to Dover.
- Arrive back at school.
After breakfast, you’ll check out of your accommodation and start your return journey back to school. Depending on your crossing time, there may be an opportunity to stop somewhere along the way, but most groups will be ready to get back home.
You’ll have a bit of a journey ahead though, so why not plan some activities to keep everyone entertained on the coach? This is a great opportunity for filling in trip diaries, quizzes on what they’ve seen, heard or eaten during their time in Paris, or going round and reflecting on personal trip highlights. All of this will reinforce the memories made, so that you can continue the learning once you’re back in the classroom (and if you want some more tips on how to do that, make sure you check out our guide).
Ready to start planning?
We hope you’re feeling inspired. Remember, this is just one idea for an itinerary. But we’ll design your trip to suit your group (reflecting your own must-haves, learning objectives and group needs).
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started. Ask us for a no-obligation quote today, or get in touch if you’ve got any questions.
Tours Sales & Product Manager