Here’s where you can book our top-rated Earful Tower walking tours. All the info is on the icons below, and below is a quick summary. Don’t want to take our word for it? Scroll down for some reviews.
Semi-private tours are €100 per person and may include up to six guests. We do Monday mornings in the Marais (usually hosted by Oliver), Tuesday afternoons in the Latin Quarter, and Friday afternoons in Montmartre.
Private tours are just for you, no strangers, and cost €400. They are available every day and we are very flexible.
Personally, I scripted the tours and I believe in them 100 percent. But I don’t want you to take my word for it. Here come ten exceptional reviews from our tour participants, chosen from among the 180 consecutive five-star reviews we’ve had on TripAdvisor. (There are also 65 consecutive 5-star reviews on Google). And every single pic below is from the reviewers, who’ve helped us to squeeze into the top 20 tours in Paris out of the 2,500 (!!) on offer.
1. ‘He redefined the Paris tour’
The Marais walking tour with Oliver was one of my best experiences in Paris. Why? Because he knows the history, the special spots, and secrets that you won’t find anywhere else. He’s authentic and curious—on our tour, he got us into amazing courtyards that aren’t open to the public.
We discovered a new artisan on a medieval street whose shop isn’t even open yet—but he opened it for us. It’s rare and a true pleasure to find someone like Oliver. He’s redefined the Paris tour, and I will book with him every time I return to this beautiful city.
2. ‘The best tour we have had in France.’
We went on the Marais tour with Hannah as our guide. This was the best tour we have had in France. Hannah showed us hidden out-of-the-way spots and had so much knowledge of the area.
I am a listener of the Earful Tower Podcast so I have heard some of the tidbits that were talked about, but this is by no means a requirement for the tour, just an enhancement. We enjoyed this so much we have another tour booked for later in the week with them. 10 out of 10 would recommend. Especially with the historical knowledge of the area.
3. ‘Many thanks for opening my eyes even more.’
The walking tour through the Marais with Oliver himself was so much fun. My husband was not feeling well, so I met Oliver at The Peloton Cafe. The group consisted of myself and Oliver and boy was I in luck. He could not have made me feel more comfortable and was sorry my husband could not join in. I explained to Oliver that we’ve been traveling to Paris, just about yearly, for 34 years. He immediately customized the tour in his mind and off we went.
It became apparent that our interests were similar in finding of vestiges of the medieval city, literally right below our feet, and around secret corners. Of course, so much changed in the 19th century in the replanning and rebuilding of the city, but there are bits and pieces still there, if you know where to look. Or, more to the point, if you know someone who knows where to look.
It was fascinating to get to see Oliver’s inquisitive nature in action and the delight he takes in finding out the wonderful mysteries this city has to offer. Many thanks for opening my eyes even more.
4. ‘Just a perfect experience for our first trip to Europe!’
My husband and I took the tour with Oliver on our first full day in France. What a wonderful introduction to the city of Paris. He was such a terrific guide and shared his extensive historical knowledge of the sights in the Marais. Just a perfect experience for our first trip to Europe!We also booked another tour for later in the week with The Earful Tour and Hannah was our amazing guide! She took us all through the Montmartre neighborhood. She was like walking the streets with an old friend! Such a great beginning and end to a fabulous week in Paris.
5. ‘It was excellent in every way!’
Yesterday we took our second Earful Tower Tours walking tour in Paris. It was excellent in every way!
It’s been nearly one year since we took our first tour (the central Paris islands tour); this second tour was of the Marais district. Our guide was none other than Oliver Gee, the founder of this tour group and the host of the Earful Tower podcast!
Our group consisted of 5 people, and the tour could have worked well with even a bit larger group. We understand that the Earful Tower Tours keeps its group sizes small.
As we wound through the ancient streets, and our guide explained how the neighborhood had evolved, it became clear that there was a fascinating unifying theme to this walk: the 12-13th century Paris city wall known as the wall of Philip Augustus. Large stretches of the wall remain, incorporated into the fabric of modern Paris. It’s cool to imagine what parts of today’s Paris were once “inside” and “outside” of the city’s wall.
Our guide took us to the doorway of a shop in which we could view, from the outside, that one entire wall of the shop itself is ancient city wall. Wow. The walk was far more than wall, but that unifying theme was quite satisfying.
Another highlight for me was being led inside a large Parisian library that houses ancient Parisian maps and fascinating historical record books.
Having lived in Paris for several years, and visited more times than we can count, we considered ourselves very familiar with the Marais neighborhood. Yesterday’s walk nevertheless revealed new sights, experiences and information that we’ll never forget. This walk was a highlight of this visit!!
7. ‘I have never enjoyed a tour more!’
Yesterday we were privileged to take a very special tour through the Marais with The Earful Tower owner/podcaster Oliver Gee himself. A self-proclaimed Marais expert, Oliver did not give us a standard, boring, pedestrian tour, rather an exciting, history-filled couple of hours off the beaten path through gardens and in and out of buildings tracing the ancient Phillip-August wall that used to encircle the city of Paris.
His knowledge is broad, enthusiasm is catching, and I have never enjoyed a tour more! Most highly recommend! (You must listen to the Earful Tower podcast, too, it is the best!)
8. ‘The Earful Tower Tours are well worth the time and investment!’
Hannah was incredible! We had a fantastic time on our tour of Montmartre. She knows this area in and out, extremely informative, yet also made our time together very interactive. It was more of a running conversation than having her talk/teach at us. The Earful Tower Tours are well worth the time and investment! They will share stories about the culture and history that you cannot find online.
9. ‘Truly passionate individuals who love their city.’
If you find yourself in Paris, make sure you book a tour with the Earful Tour. The half day Marais tour revealed a whole new side of Paris we have never seen before. It was filled with endless hidden gems and surprises, from the exciting “secret” passages to the subtle protective guard stones or chasse-roue located in front of gates and doors…just to name a few.
Oliver and Charlotte’s “history lesson” was incredibly informative yet highly entertaining. They are truly passionate individuals who love their city. Top it off with an amazing coffee stop at the legendary Peloton Cafe, we couldn’t have asked for a better tour. We’ll always have Paris…and the Earful Tower will certainly be there to help you explore one of the many layers of the City of Lights.
10. ‘Much appreciated by this older visitor!’
Having followed Oliver Gee’s witty Earful Tower blogs and podcasts about life in France for several years, I was eager to join his walking tour of Montmartre (he also leads one in the Marais). This Aussie ex-pat’s love for Paris and its history makes learning great fun. We started at the Montmartre Cemetery and worked our way up to Sacre Coeur, walking gentle inclines with few steps. Much appreciated by this older visitor!