Quick Details
Please book for free to guarantee a spot. Tours require minimum 3 guests to operate. Guides will only wait 10 minutes max past the starting time
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Free
Free Walking Tour Of Paris: Discover the City’s History with the Rude Bastards Tour
This is Paris’s funniest, politically incorrect and most talked-about free walking tour for English-speaking travelers who want to experience Paris like a local. Royal scandals, public executions, dark secrets, revolutionary chaos and more. Discover all the events that truly shaped Paris. No sugar-coating. No boredom. Just two hours of unforgettable history.
What you will enjoy on the Tour
The Rude Bastards Tour takes you through the historic heart of Paris, uncovering the scandals, betrayals and disasters that shaped the city.
Starting in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, we’ll make our way towards Notre-Dame Cathedral, bringing to life the French Revolution, royal scandals, political intrigue and the bloody history of the guillotine.
Crossing onto Île de la Cité, the birthplace of Paris, you’ll discover how centuries of conflict and ambition transformed a small medieval settlement into the capital of France.
The tour finishes at Pont Neuf, where your guide will point you towards the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and other must-see sights to continue your Paris adventure.
Tour at a Glance
- Starting point: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Finishing point: Pont Neuf
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Language: English
- Price: Pay what you want
- Runs: Daily
Why choose our Tour ?
There are dozens of free walking tours in Paris. Most follow the same route, recite the same facts and send you back to your hotel mildly informed. The Rude Bastards Tour is not that tour.
We focus on what actually makes Paris interesting: the betrayals, the executions, the political disasters and the moments where the greatest city in the world completely lost the plot. Stories and facts you won’t hear on any other free tour in Paris, delivered by a guide who knows their history inside out. They’ll have you laughing out loud while somehow making even the most “boring” history absolutely fascinating.
The Rude Bastards Tour is perfect for all travelers.
Meet Your Rude Bastards Paris Guides
Our guides are storytellers first and historians second each bringing their own personality to every tour.
Click below to meet the amazing people who will show you Paris!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)— Paris
>>What is the best way to get around Paris?
Paris is best explored on foot, which is why the Rude Bastards Tour is the smartest first move you can make. For longer distances the Metro is cheap and covers the entire city. Get a Navigo card to avoid queuing.
>>Is Paris safe for tourists?
Yes, Paris is a safe city, particularly in the central areas where the Rude Bastards Tour operates. The main thing to watch is pickpocketing around busy Metro stations and major landmarks. Keep your bag in front of you and use the common sense you would in any major European city.
>>What should I wear in Paris?
Comfortable shoes full stop. The Rude Bastards Tour covers several kilometers on cobblestones so leave the heels at the hotel. Bring a light jacket and a small umbrella year-round and skip the full athleisure look unless you want to be quietly judged by everyone you pass.
>>What is the best time to visit Paris?
April to June and September to October are the sweet spots: good weather, manageable crowds and the city at its most photogenic. The Rude Bastards Tour runs daily whatever the season so there is never a bad time to join us just dress accordingly.
>>Do I need to book Paris attractions in advance?
For the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Versailles? absolutely yes, book online before you leave home. For the Rude Bastards Tour Rude Bastards Tour, booking in advance is strongly recommended as spots fill fast in peak season. It takes 30 seconds and guarantees your place.
>>Things to Do in Paris in after the free walking tour
The Rude Bastards Tour finishes at Pont Neuf perfectly placed for an afternoon at the Louvre Museum, a stroll along the Seine River or a coffee and croissant in the Latin Quarter. Our Paris travel tips page has everything else you need. And if you want more Rude Bastards across Europe, find us in Berlin, Cologne and Amsterdam.
Google Map
I took this tour with my family when I was in Paris visiting, and it was amazing! We had a fantastic tour guide named Iris and she made each story so much fun. The time flew by and I learned so much! I would 100 percent recommend and can’t wait to take another Rude Bastards tour.
– Tripadvisor
Wendy was a great tour guide, very engaging and entertaining. Excellent knowledge of French history. Would highly recommend!
– Google
Excellent walking tour with Jeremy who is originally from the USA but is clearly fascinated and highly knowledgeable about Paris. He took us round many of the key sightseeing and provided loads of unusual and interesting historic facts! Thanks - really enjoyed it.
– Tripadvisor
It was a great way to experience Paris in a more engaging way. We saw some sites we wouldn’t have visited on our own and some interesting things along the way. Love the different stories about various past layers of Paris and some of the people who have been part that. We brought our teenage kids and it was well suited to them as they enjoy a gory story. Jeremy was a great guide who had some good personal insights share.
– Tripadvisor
Hello all!, I was hunting for something different than a standard historical tour, and Rude Bastards absolutely delivered. We met up near Notre-Dame and the humor they added to the area's history was top-tier. Our guide, Iris, was incredibly knowledgeable and sharp-witted, sharing the kind of "rude" Parisian insights you won't find in a guidebook. If you want a tour with actual personality and a lot of laughs, this is it.
– Tripadvisor