Paris Sidecar & Catacombs Tour Review 2025: Is It Worth It?

So, you’re thinking about Paris, right? I mean, it’s a city that so many people dream of, and basically, there are a million ways to see it. You can, for instance, join the crowds and walk everywhere, or you could, like, hop on one of those big red buses. Honestly, I was looking for something a little different for my 2025 trip, you know, something with a bit more personality. That is when I found this tour combining two totally different Parisian experiences: a very stylish spin in a vintage motorcycle sidecar and a trip deep into the somewhat spooky Catacombs. As a matter of fact, the idea of seeing the city from a low-slung sidecar seat, then heading underground, seemed almost like experiencing two cities in one day. Frankly, it felt like the perfect way to see both the light and the shade of Paris, so I just had to book it. This review is pretty much my brain dump of what the whole experience was really like, from the rumble of the engine to the quiet of the tunnels below.

Riding Through Paris in a Way You’ve Never Imagined

Alright, so the first part of this adventure is all about that vintage sidecar. Honestly, the moment you see the motorcycle pull up, you sort of feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s just a completely different feeling than getting into a car or a bus; you are out in the open, pretty much a part of the city scene itself. My guide, a very friendly local Parisian, helped me get settled in, and seriously, the seat was surprisingly comfortable. We set off, and well, the feeling is just hard to describe. You get this amazing, nearly 360-degree view of everything around you, you know? Instead of looking at Paris through a window, you’re actually in it, with the sounds of the streets and the breeze blowing past you. We weren’t just stuck on main roads; as a matter of fact, the driver skillfully took us through smaller, charming side streets that you would probably miss otherwise.

Obviously, this isn’t just a joyride; it’s a guided tour, and a really good one at that. My guide was just fantastic, pointing out all sorts of things—not just the big monuments like the Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre, but also, you know, little details. For instance, he showed me a tiny hidden courtyard here, or told a funny story about a statue there. At the end of the day, it’s these stories that make a city come alive. We stopped for a few photo opportunities, and basically, I never felt rushed at all. He asked what I was most interested in seeing, so in a way, the route felt very personal. He talked about the architecture and the history in a way that was really easy to follow and incredibly engaging. I mean, zipping along the Seine with the wind in your hair, seeing Notre Dame from such a unique viewpoint, is just something a walking tour can’t quite give you. It’s pretty much the coolest way to get your bearings in the city, to be honest.

You literally see, hear, and feel the city in a totally different way. I felt like a main character in my own Parisian movie, honestly, it was that kind of cool.

What I really liked is that the sidecar could get to places larger tour buses simply can’t. We actually wove through the narrow streets of Montmartre, getting right up close to the Sacré-Cœur with none of the usual parking trouble. The driver, by the way, was clearly very experienced, and I felt completely safe the entire time, even in that famously hectic Parisian traffic. In short, this part of the tour is a pure shot of fun and charm. It’s for people who, you know, want more than just static pictures of landmarks. It’s for those who want to feel the energy of Paris, more or less. You are not just a spectator; you’re part of the moving picture of the city for a little while, and that feeling is absolutely unforgettable. Instead of just seeing Paris, you, like, experience it with all your senses firing at once.

The Other Side of Paris: Down into the Catacombs

So, after the bright, breezy, and very lively ride through the city, the tour takes a very different turn. Seriously, it’s a total shift in atmosphere as you get ready to head below ground. The entrance to the Catacombs is fairly unassuming, and frankly, you might just walk right past it if you didn’t know it was there. This tour is great because it includes skip-the-line access, which, let me tell you, is a really big deal. The regular queue can be incredibly long, sometimes hours, so walking past all those people feels a little like a VIP move, you know? You descend a long, winding stone staircase, and with each step down, it gets a little cooler and a little quieter. The change from the open-air sidecar to the enclosed tunnels is actually quite dramatic and sets the stage for what you’re about to see.

Once you are at the bottom, you are in a different world entirely. The tunnels are long and sort of low-ceilinged, carved from the Parisian limestone that, like, built much of the city above. For the first part of the walk, it’s just corridors, but then you get to the ossuary. I mean, the sign above the entrance reads, “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort” (Stop! This is the empire of Death), and it’s not exaggerating. You turn a corner, and there they are: millions of human bones and skulls, neatly, almost artistically, stacked from floor to ceiling. To be honest, it is a very powerful and thought-provoking sight. It’s not really scary in a horror-movie way; it’s more… well, it’s just profoundly sobering. You are literally walking through a part of history, surrounded by the remains of Parisians from centuries ago.

The history here is really fascinating, and my guide did a great job explaining it before we went in. Basically, by the late 18th century, Parisian cemeteries were overflowing, creating some serious public health problems. The solution, in short, was to move the remains from these cemeteries into the city’s old underground quarries. This tour gives you the context you need to appreciate that what you’re seeing isn’t just a macabre display, but a massive feat of civil engineering and, in a way, a very pragmatic solution to a real problem. As you walk through, you’ll see that the bones are not just piled up randomly; they are arranged in patterns, with skulls making designs and plaques indicating which cemetery the remains came from. At the end of the day, it’s a deeply moving experience that really makes you think about life, death, and the sheer scale of history right under your feet.

What You Really Need to Know Before You Book

Okay, so let’s get into some practical stuff, because there are definitely a few things you should know. First, let’s talk about booking. I’d suggest you book this tour well in advance, especially if you’re traveling during a popular season, as a matter of fact. These kinds of unique tours tend to fill up fast. The sidecar only holds one or two passengers (depending on the company’s setup—some have a seat behind the driver), so it’s a very intimate experience, and obviously, they can’t run a huge number of tours each day. When you book, you’ll likely get a confirmation with a meeting point. Mine was super clear, and the driver was there promptly. Honestly, the logistics were very smooth.

Now, for clothing. You definitely want to dress in layers. For the sidecar portion, even on a sunny day, it can get a little breezy, you know? A light jacket is a good idea, and they typically provide a helmet. Also, sunglasses are pretty much non-negotiable for keeping the wind out of your eyes. For the Catacombs, just remember that it’s consistently cool down there, around 14°C (57°F), year-round. So, even if it’s a hot day up top, you’ll want that jacket with you. Perhaps the most important thing is footwear: wear comfortable shoes. Seriously. There’s a lot of walking in the Catacombs, and there are 131 steps down and 112 steps back up, and the ground can be a bit uneven. This is not the time for fancy heels, to be honest.

I also want to touch on accessibility. This tour, unfortunately, isn’t suitable for everyone. The vintage sidecar requires you to be able to climb in and out of a somewhat compact space. Furthermore, the Catacombs are just not accessible for people with mobility issues or wheelchairs due to all those stairs and the uneven terrain. It’s also probably not a great idea for anyone with severe claustrophobia, for obvious reasons. Or, for young children who might find the skeletal displays a little too much. So, just be aware of these physical and psychological aspects before you commit. You have to be in reasonably good physical shape to handle the walking and stairs. In that case, it is just better to be prepared for what the physical demands actually are.

So, Is This Tour a Good Fit for Your Paris Trip?

Alright, so we get to the main question: who is this tour really for? Well, if this is your very first time in Paris and you have, like, only two days, this might be a little too specific. You might want a broader overview first. But, if you’re on a return trip, or if you have a bit more time and want to do something that feels really special and not just another tick on a checklist, then absolutely. It’s perfect for the person who, you know, gets a thrill from finding experiences that are a bit out of the ordinary. It’s for the solo traveler wanting a safe yet exhilarating way to see the city, or for a couple looking for a really memorable, almost romantic-in-a-vintage-movie-way, date activity.

It’s also a fantastic choice if you’re a history buff but are, frankly, a little tired of stuffy museums. This tour is history in motion. You get the architectural and social history from the sidecar, and then this incredibly visceral, deep history in the Catacombs. The contrast between the two halves of the tour is really what makes it so brilliant, I think. You start in the sun, feeling the freedom of the open road, celebrating the life of the city. Then you descend into this quiet, contemplative space that asks you to think about the past and mortality. At the end of the day, it’s a really well-rounded experience that hits you on multiple levels—it’s fun, it’s cool, and it’s also pretty deep.

You’re basically getting two completely different, yet equally Parisian, experiences in one neat package. It’s efficient, sure, but more importantly, it’s just incredibly impactful.

However, this tour probably isn’t the one for you if you’re on a very tight budget. To be honest, it is a premium experience, and the price reflects the private nature of the tour, the guide, the motorcycle, and the skip-the-line tickets. You could, of course, do these things separately for less, but you’d lose the seamlessness, the storytelling that connects them, and that awesome feeling of having your own private guide zipping you from one point to the next. So, in other words, if you’re looking to splurge on one really standout activity during your Paris stay, this is a very strong contender. It’s for someone who values unique experiences and is willing to pay a little extra for a story they’ll be telling for years. It’s just that good.

A Quick Look: Top Tips and Takeaways

Okay, to make it super easy, here are my main thoughts all wrapped up. At the end of the day, it was a highlight of my trip.

• The Vibe: Honestly, you get two tours in one. One part is pure, exhilarating fun seeing the city in a super cool way. The other part is this really profound, historical deep dive.
• Best For: I’d say it’s for returning visitors, adventurous couples, solo travelers, or anyone who wants a really unique story to tell. It’s pretty much a guaranteed memorable experience.
• What to Wear: Seriously, wear comfy shoes. You’ll thank me later. Also, bring a jacket or sweater, because you’ll need it for both the windy ride and the cool Catacombs.
• Photo Ops: The sidecar part gives you amazing, unobstructed views for photos. The Catacombs are quite dark, so don’t expect to get brilliant shots down there unless your phone is really good in low light. Just experience it.
• The Skip-the-Line Perk: Frankly, the included skip-the-line ticket for the Catacombs is a huge benefit and saves a massive amount of time you’d otherwise spend in a queue.
• Physical Demands: Just be ready for the stairs in the Catacombs and the need to be a little nimble to get into the sidecar. It’s not for those with mobility concerns.

Read our full review: [Paris Sidecar & Catacombs Tour Full Review and Details]

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