Private Tours of Paris Museums

Q: During a visit to Paris in March we would like to go on a private tour of the most famous museums. Ideally, we would prefer the tour to consist of our family group only with an English-speaking tour guide. - Mandy Elkington

A: A private company called Paris Muse offers private guided tours of all of the great museum collections in France's capital city, including temporary exhibits. You can choose which museums you want to visit, including the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée de l'Orangerie, Musée Rodin, the Musée Picasso and the Pompidou Centre. The guides employed by Paris Muse are mostly art historians, often American academics studying or working in the city. Entrance tickets are arranged in advance, so more time is spent in the museums. You can make reservations online at www.parismuse.com. If you only have one day to explore museums, you could consider taking a private tour organised by Paris Luxury Tours (www.parisluxurytours.com). These are specifically designed for travellers with limited time and provide an overview of three of the city's most important museums the Louvre, Orsay and Marmottan Museums. You will get to see some of the most famous artworks in the world by Da Vinci, Manet, Monet, Rodin and Renoir. Prices range from 800 Euros per group, which includes the services of a guide, vehicle and driver. (11/9/11)