15 Shore Excursions Tours in France, Compared

1.D-Day Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre with Packed Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 486 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $119Our pick

Travel from Le Havre to Normandy with a history-focused guide such as Bertrand, Sam, or Ash. Visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, the German War Cemetery, and the American Cemetery, then return with time to spare for your ship. A baguette lunch, water, and dessert are included.

“Bertrand gave a very good insightful tour. He accompanied our group at most locations adding his insights and pictures on his tablet. He was more than willing to answer questions and even prepared snacks for our group. He was awesome!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Marseille Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tour of Marseille

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 321 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $96

Travel by air-conditioned minivan or bus from Marseille’s cruise terminal to Notre-Dame de la Garde, Palais Longchamp, Saint Victor Abbey, Four des Navettes, Porte d’Aix, and the Old Port. Guides such as Paco, Aziz, Mariano, and Mario add local history, though group size and pickup arrangements can vary.

“We really enjoyed this tour. It was perfect for an overview of this beautiful city during our day at Port. We were able to learn a bit about the cities history, and see some of the most important and beautiful sites. Then we had plenty of time to explore the old Port area. If you are fortunate enough to get. Mehgi as your guide, you will be in for a treat. He is extremely informative, very nice and professional, and also answered lots of questions we had about things to do in the area. If you have limited time here, this is the one to take.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Marseille Shore Excursion: Half Day Tour of Marseille by Electric Bike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 234 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $89

Ride Marseille’s hills and coast on an electric bike with a local guide such as Pauline, Melanie, Gaby, or Eric. In four hours, you’ll see the Old Port, Notre Dame de la Garde, Vallon des Auffes, the Corniche Kennedy, Panier, and Joliette, with cruise-port pickup and return.

“this is the second time we arrived by cruise ship with friends and had another fantastic time! If you have a day in Marseille, this is a great way to enjoy the many wonderful sights. The electric bikes are easy to ride and everyone enjoyed the day. Highly recommended. They added a small coffee shop since our last visit and the coffee was perfect.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion: Marseille and Cassis Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 110 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $179

Spend about seven hours exploring Marseille and Cassis in a minivan for up to eight people. Visit Notre-Dame de la Garde, follow the Route des Crêtes to Cap Canaille, and enjoy free time in Cassis. Guides such as Sébastien, Morgane, Emmanuel, Caroline, and Pepe are praised for their local insight.

“The guide was very nice and pleasant, but she was mostly a driver. She didn't lead a tour at two of the three stops and at the stop at Cassi, she left us for 2-1/2 hours. She indicated her operating company would not let her leave the vehicle due to vehicle thefts. There was no tour guidance the entire trip back to the port. The transportation was a 8-passenger van including a middle front seat with virtually no leg room. For the price of $170/person euros, this was not the quality of experience we expected.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.6-Hour Private French Riviera Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 107 reviews · 6 hours

Meet your multilingual driver-guide at Cannes port for a six-hour private van tour of the Riviera. Take in Villefranche and Cap Ferrat, visit Eze and its Fragonard perfumery, then see Monaco Cathedral, the palace, Monte Carlo casinos, and the F1 circuit.

“Our driver Jack was lovely & lively, very patient waited for us until we got off from our ship. Though we have a very tight day we managed to go around Monaco & Montenegro and back on our ship on time. He is competent & reliable , a good driver as well as a tour guide. Highly recommend it. Thank you Jack.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.From Le Havre Breathtaking Honfleur and Deauville Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 100 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $156

From Le Havre, you’ll visit two very different Norman towns in about six hours. A guide leads you through Honfleur, while a panoramic drive introduces Deauville’s villas, racecourse, casino, beach, and famous boardwalk. Guides such as Lawrence, Bastien, and Maureen have earned praise for their local insight.

“The city was beautiful and we found the best scallops. The guide was less than effective as he only spoke where the people right behind him could hear. As well he walked very fast and was not in tune with the make-up of the guests and moved on when they were still taking pictures. I would definitely recommend the tour, but not the guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Paris with River Cruise Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 99 reviews · 10 - 11 hours · from $222

Travel from Le Havre to Paris by air-conditioned coach, meet a local guide near the Eiffel Tower, then cruise past the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame. You also stop at the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. Guides may include Amir, Maarten, Martin, or Daniel.

“It was a great day and we hit the major highlights and made the most of our one day stop in Paris.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Deluxe Paris Shore Excursion from Le Havre with Seine Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $85Best value

Ride from Le Havre to Paris in an air-conditioned bus, meet guides such as Amir or Maarten, cruise past the Louvre and Notre Dame, then see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Élysées before returning to your ship on time.

“I was skeptical at first if I want to book this tour. This is the last port (in Le Havre) before we disembark the next day. Been to Le Havre before and I am looking the best way to kill the time other than staying on the ship, and try to use up the drink package and get wasted. Been to Paris and stayed for couple of days before. Is it worth the money to stay on a bus for 6 hours total (round trip) and spend couple of hours in Paris and to see places that I have already visited before. I am glad, I did. On the last…”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion: Marseille and Aix-en-Provence

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $179

This seven-hour cruise excursion combines Aix-en-Provence’s fountains, markets, cafés, and Cours Mirabeau with a driving tour of Marseille and a stop at Notre-Dame de la Garde. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with up to eight people, and guides such as Pepe, Lucie, Morgane, Rémy, and Sébastien may lead the day.

“Pepe had our attention upon first meeting at the cruise port in Marseille and he kept it enthusiastically throughout the day as he whisked us around Marseille and the entrance of Provence’s stunning jewel Aix-en-Provence. For the history buff there was plenty to captivate and for those who preferred to take in the sights…they certainly didn’t disappoint. This tour was amazing from start to finish. Highly recommend Pepe’s attention to detail!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.The best French Riviera Full-Day from Cannes Small-Group Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 65 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $155

Start at Cannes port in an eight-passenger minivan and follow the Riviera to Antibes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Èze, Monaco, and Monte Carlo. You get scenic drives, free time, the Fragonard perfume factory, the Prince’s Palace, Monaco Cathedral, the casino, and a lap along the Formula One circuit.

“We had a great day with Anthony. Relaxed, knowledgeable and good company on this tour. We had a great day seeing Eze, Monaco, St Paul de Vence. Good tips on where to eat and get ice cream! Throughly enjoyed the day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Cannes Shore Excursion: Private Day Trip to Monaco and Eze

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 59 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $487

Leave Cannes port with a private English or French-speaking driver-guide in an eight-seat Mercedes minivan. Visit medieval Eze and Fragonard, then see Monaco-Ville, the palace, Monte Carlo, Casino Square, and the Formula One circuit. The flexible format suits families and small groups.

“Beautiful day trip from Cannes to Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze. Our guide Antione was extremely knowledgeable, sharing details about culture and life style. We started out at the palace in Monaco and a visit to the beautiful gardens and views of Monaco. We were able to watch the changing of the guard ceremony. He then drove us to Monte Carlo to experience the Casino and drive the F1 track pointing out the famous turns, pit areas and yacht viewing areas. We had some free time for a little extraordinary window shopping then he took us to a fascinating tour of a perfume factory where he had arranged a tour…”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Le Havre Shore Excursion: Private Day Tour with Omaha Beach & American Cemetery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $820

Meet your English-speaking driver-guide at Le Havre at 8:30 am for a private 8-hour Normandy tour. Visit Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery, with possible time for Longues-sur-Mer or another added stop. Guides including Celine, Matthew, Gaetan, and Julie have earned praise for clear, personal storytelling.

“...This was a full day trip, and was to be the highlight excursion of the cruise. While researching this excurision, I had questions about where the vehicle driver would meet our tour group. A call to Viator resolved the issue, and we were met by the driver at the port instead of having to go into town. The driver was prompt and arrived at the agreed time. He introduced himself, and gave us an overview of the day's tour. He told us that the drive time to Omaha Beach would be around 1 1/2 hours, the time we would spend at the beach, the other places we would visit and…”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Cannes Shore Excursion: Private Tour of the French Riviera

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

You’ll travel in an air-conditioned minivan with a driver-guide such as Jerome, Ingrid, Rene, Roman, or Margarita. Expect cliff-top Eze, perfume-making, La Turbie views, Monaco’s palace and casino district, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Antibes, and Cannes, with time shaped to your group.

“Rene was fabulous. He hit all the highlights for us. He was very personable and very fun. He took us along the beautiful coast and then into Monte Carlo. Rene is very knowledgeable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Full-Day Private Cannes Shore Excursion: Nice, Monaco, Eze, Antibes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · 7 hours (approx.)

Start at Cannes port with a private air-conditioned minivan and visit Nice, Èze, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Antibes, Cap d’Antibes, and Cannes. Your driver-guide can adjust the route, explain sights during the drive, and help with photos. Adam is one guide praised for his flexible, attentive approach.

“Adam was such a great tour guide. He gave us information about things almost the whole time he was driving. We stopped at many very interesting places and he even customized our trip to see a place we wanted to see near Monaco. He also helped us take many pictures too.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Marseille Shore Excursion Private Electric Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 43 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $120

Ride a private electric bike from Marseille’s cruise port to Notre-Dame de la Garde, Le Panier, the Corniche, and Vallon des Auffes. Guides such as Emmanuel, Raphael, Manu, and Isabelle tailor the route, help first-time riders, and return you to the ship on time.

“We had a fun time and our guide was excellent. The only issue I had was that I'm very short and the smallest bicycle they had for me was still a little too large and it was difficult to push off, there were some areas on our tour where it was more helpful to use a curb to push off. The sites were wonderful, but the areas were very crowded and we constantly had to maneuver around people.”

Check availability →Read our full review