Castles · FRANCE CASTLE TOURS

The 15 Best Chateau Tours in France

42 tours  ·  from $12 a head

Chambord, Chenonceau, Versailles and the walled city at Carcassonne. These 15 compare the long day trips out of Paris against the tours that start in the Loire itself, with wine stops flagged and travel time stated.

Loire Valley Castles Day Trip from Paris with Complementary Wine - Leaving Paris before the crowds
1-Day Tours, Castle Day Trips, Castle Day Trips in France, Castle Day Trips in Paris, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Paris Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Loire Valley Castles Day Trip from Paris with Complementary Wine

1.Loire Valley Castles Day Trip from Paris with Complementary Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,907 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $149Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Paris to Chambord and Chenonceau, with entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, free time in Blois, and three Loire Valley wine pours in Chenonceau’s cellar. Guides such as Daniel, Emma, Goran, and Thelma have led especially engaging departures, but expect a full 13-hour day and limited time at each château.

“This was such a beautiful experience. Daniel is a great host. Very kind and informative. Our tour was unintentionally delayed but he was still in high spirits and kept us updated. I highly recommend not only booking the tour, but making sure you have Daniel as your guide. And don’t forgot to go to Annie when you stop by Blois”

Check availability →Read our full review

Carcassonne: Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket - The Bishop’s Tower and the Double Defenses
Castle Entry Tickets, Castle Entry Tickets in France, Castle Tours, Fortress & Citadel Tours, France Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Carcassonne: Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket

2.Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,884 reviews · 1 day · from $15Best value

Use this one-day entry ticket to explore Château Comtal, its courtyards, archaeological museum, and medieval ramparts at your own pace. A multilingual leaflet is included, while an audio guide costs €3 extra on site. The western ramparts provide wide views over Carcassonne and the surrounding countryside.

“It was a great experience. The castle is magnificent as it looks over the city. Lots of history and scenic views. When in Carcassone it is a must see.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Chambord: Entry Ticket to the Castle - Entering the castle with a prepaid ticket
Castle Entry Tickets, Castle Entry Tickets in France, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Tour Reviews

Chambord: Entry Ticket to the Castle

3.Entry Ticket to the Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,841 reviews · 1 day · from $24

Explore Château de Chambord for one day with entry to more than 60 rooms, temporary exhibitions, formal gardens, and the vast park. Your ticket skips the counter queue, but not security. See the double-helix staircase, watch a multilingual film, and use the free guide to understand this remarkable Renaissance castle.

“A marvelous experience. The landscape and architecture are beautiful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Paris: Loire Valley Castles Day Trip With Wine Tasting - The meeting point near the Paris Catacombs
1-Day Tours, Castle Day Trips, Castle Day Trips in France, Castle Day Trips in Paris, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Paris Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

From Paris: Loire Valley Castles Day Trip With Wine Tasting

4.Loire Valley Castles Day Trip With Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,727 reviews · 13 hours · from $104

Leave Paris by air-conditioned coach for Chambord and Chenonceau, with free time in Blois between them. Your English-speaking guide, such as Dee, Jasmina, or Riti, shares castle stories on the road, while you explore both palaces independently. Skip-the-line entry and a complimentary wine tasting are included, but lunch and hotel pickup are not.

“Jasmina was a great guide and knew so much about the history of France and how it tied into the castles. it's a long day but well worth it. Going in January you might miss the blooming gardens but there was no crowd and our small group basically had both castles to ourselves.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Chenonceau Castle Admission Ticket - Entering the castle and its decorated rooms
Castle Entry Tickets, Castle Entry Tickets in France, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Tour Reviews

Chenonceau Castle Admission Ticket

5.Chenonceau Castle Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,515 reviews · 1 day · from $22

Spend a full day exploring Chenonceau Castle, its gardens, Dômes Gallery, and Carriage Gallery. The château spans the Cher River and tells the story of Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, and its wartime hospital years. Audio guides are available in 16 languages. Exchange your voucher for a timed entry ticket at the estate.

“It was a very busy day at the chateau . We arrived around 10.am with our pre bought tickets. We have to present the passes we have to exchange for the entry tickets standing in the queue they were telling everyone next castle entry would be 5.15pm. When we exchanged our prebought tickets we were given entry at 11.15 because we had prebought tickets . This was a huge benefit . The castle tour was excellent which we did ourselves using the free pocket handbook which detailed every room”

Check availability →Read our full review

Medoc or Saint Emilion Wine Tasting and Chateau from Bordeaux - Leaving Bordeaux in a small air-conditioned minivan
Bordeaux Castle Tours, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Medoc or Saint Emilion Wine Tasting and Chateau from Bordeaux

6.Medoc or Saint Emilion Wine Tasting and Chateau from Bordeaux

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,415 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $114Top rated

Spend 4.5 hours with a guide and up to seven other guests exploring either Médoc or Saint-Émilion from Bordeaux. Visit classified-growth châteaux, taste local wines, enjoy bread, cheese, cured meats, and chocolate, and learn from guides such as Mélanie, Thibault, Nina, or Axel.

“Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. The vineyards were terrific and the staff at each one made the experience very enjoyable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

★ Walking Tour of Old Nice and Castle Hill - Cours Saleya and the morning food culture
Castle Tours, Castle Walking Tours, Castle Walking Tours in France, France Castle Tours, Nice Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

★ Walking Tour of Old Nice and Castle Hill

7.★ Walking Tour of Old Nice and Castle Hill

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,318 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Walk from the Fontaine du Soleil through Cours Saleya and Old Nice, then climb Castle Hill for broad views over Nice. Local guides such as Lara, Laura, and Soni explain the city’s history, food, architecture, and Italian connections in English. Expect a friendly 2-hour-15-minute walk, some stairs, and a taste of homemade pissaladière.

“Terrific guide! Very knowledgeable and helpful! Would recommend this to anyone. ********************”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Paris: Full-Day Loire Valley Chateaux Tour - Getting out of Paris and into royal country
Castle Day Trips, Castle Day Trips in France, Castle Day Trips in Paris, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Full-Day, Loire Valley Chateaux, Paris Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Paris: Full-Day Loire Valley Chateaux Tour

8.Full-Day Loire Valley Chateaux Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,269 reviews · 12 hours - 750 minutes · from $127

Leave Paris for a full day among three very different Loire châteaux. See Chambord’s grand Renaissance design, Chenonceau’s river setting and gardens, and Cheverny’s polished interiors. Choose a live guide in English or Spanish, or use an audio guide in eight languages. Expect a long coach day with limited time at each stop.

“Nati handled her customers with three levels of tour services well. I had the highest level where she guided our small group through each chateau and thoroughly answered all of our questions. We kept the seats we sat in at the start of the tour to avoid "international incidents" - a good idea. Be aware some people with very limited English skills might join your tour, which can cause problems. Two young Japanes girls misunderstood the meeting time at the last chateau despite Nati's best efforts to explain the time and to tell everyone to ask her if they were unsure. The two Japanese girls showed up 35 minutes late…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Loire Valley Castles Trip with Chenonceau and Chambord from Paris - Leaving Paris before breakfast
Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Paris Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Loire Valley Castles Trip with Chenonceau and Chambord from Paris

9.Loire Valley Castles Trip with Chenonceau and Chambord from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 901 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $160

Leave Paris at 7:00 a.m. for Chambord, Chenonceau, and Cheverny with round-trip coach transport and admission included. Choose a live guide or phone-based audio guide. Guides such as Claire, Franck, and Severine have added strong historical context, but cramped seating and unreliable audio equipment can affect the day.

“The bus ride outside of Paris is long, but the scenery was pretty and the castles were very interesting.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Nice Old Town and Castle Hill: Guided Cultural Walking Tour - Finding the character of Vieux Nice
Castle Tours, Castle Walking Tours, Castle Walking Tours in France, France Castle Tours, Medieval Old Town Tours, Medieval Old Town Tours in France, Tour Reviews, Tours

Nice Old Town and Castle Hill: Guided Cultural Walking Tour

10.Nice Old Town and Castle Hill: Guided Cultural Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 790 reviews · 2h 15m · from $30

Walk from Place Massena through Vieux Nice, Palace of Justice Square, Rosetti Square, Cours Saleya market, the Promenade des Anglais, and Castle Hill. English-speaking guides such as Soni, Lara, Chris, and Laurence share local history, food tips, and personal stories. Expect hills, narrow lanes, and sweeping sea views.

“Great tour definitely worth it to get your bearings around the old town . Lots of things you would miss without someone pointing it out. Unfortunately the Castle Hill was closed due to potential lightning storm . Our lovely guide , Lara , rallied quickly and still made the tour super interesting. Their company also sent us an email of other interesting things to do and restaurants they recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Amboise: Clos Lucé Castle, Da Vinci Park and Museum Ticket - Entering Leonardo’s château and restored workshops
Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Museums, Tour Reviews

Amboise: Clos Lucé Castle, Da Vinci Park and Museum Ticket

11.Clos Lucé Castle, Da Vinci Park and Museum Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 779 reviews · 1 day · from $23

Spend a full day at Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, Leonardo da Vinci’s final French home. Explore his rooms and workshops, see 40 invention models, follow interactive garden trails, and enjoy museum displays on painting, architecture, science, and nature. This is a self-guided visit, with no guided tour included.

“We enjoyed all the informative displays and the lay out of the exhibits. The chateau was charming and well done. The gardens and exhibits were fantastic. We loved it and can’t recommend it enough, a must see!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Colmar, Medieval Village & Castle Small Group from Strasbourg - Eguisheim: the stop most likely to change
Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Medieval Old Town Tours, Medieval Old Town Tours in France, Tour Reviews

Colmar, Medieval Village & Castle Small Group from Strasbourg

12.Colmar, Medieval Village & Castle Small Group from Strasbourg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 769 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $241

Travel from Strasbourg in an air-conditioned minivan limited to eight people, with Colmar, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, the Alsace Wine Route, and Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle on the plan. English-speaking guides such as Camille, Jerome, Pauline, and Carlos have led this outing. Village time is mostly independent, while the castle visit is guided.

“A full day going to places you would not do on your own. Very convenient. Jerome (our guide) was excellent, a good driver and moved along at a nice pace with lots of information.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Versailles Château and Gardens Walking Tour - What the walk through the grounds is really like
Castle Gardens & Grounds, Castle Tours, Castle Walking Tours, Castle Walking Tours in France, France Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Versailles Château and Gardens Walking Tour

13.Versailles Château and Gardens Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 727 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $78

Meet your English-speaking guide near Versailles train station for a small-group walk through the grand gardens, fountains, Tapis Vert, and Grand Canal. Then enter the palace with timed admission and explore the Royal Chapel, King’s State Apartments, and Hall of Mirrors at your own pace. Guides such as Aaron, Toby, Mado, and OJ are known for lively historical stories.

“Our tour guide Toby was phenomenal! Super knowledgeable and full of stories; not only for the tour but also about the town and culture! He went our pace, athletic, and it was amazing! He took photos of us, and gave us extra inside knowledge on other things around the area and our future plans!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Versailles Château and Gardens Walking Tour from Paris by Train - The Tapis Vert and the Grand Canal
Castle Gardens & Grounds, Castle Tours, Castle Walking Tours, Castle Walking Tours in France, France Castle Tours, Paris Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Versailles Château and Gardens Walking Tour from Paris by Train

14.Versailles Château and Gardens Walking Tour from Paris by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 714 reviews · from $79

Meet your guide in Paris for a 30-minute RER ride to Versailles. Walk the gardens with guides such as Aaron, OJ, Mado, or Toby, then enter the palace independently with timed admission. Train tickets, a small group, and flexible return time make this a practical half-day visit.

“Our guide, Aaron, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history of the gardens of Versailles. He made it fun and enjoyable (even though it was raining!). Would definitely recommend this tour for incoming tourists”

Check availability →Read our full review

Loire Valley Wine and Castles Small-Group Day Trip from Paris - Chambord and its grand double-helix staircase
1-Day Tours, Castle Day Trips, Castle Day Trips in France, Castle Day Trips in Paris, Castle Tours, France Castle Tours, Loire Valley Chateaux, Paris Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Loire Valley Wine and Castles Small-Group Day Trip from Paris

15.Loire Valley Wine and Castles Small-Group Day Trip from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $296

Travel from Paris in a small group of up to eight to visit Chambord, Chenonceau, and Amboise. Your driver-guide, such as Tim, Valeria, Enzo, or G, shares castle history before you explore independently. Lunch is on your own in Amboise, followed by a brief tasting of three Loire wines at a local shop.

“The trip to the castles was interesting and Matthieu made sure we were all well taken care of. The trip is long but Matthieu made the time informative and fun.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in France Castle Tours

★ 4.5Private Day Trip to the Châteaux DE la LoireFrom $66113 reviews
★ 5.0Chateau of Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte 9-Hour Private TourFrom $64914 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour: Chateaux de Vaux le Vicomte & FontainebleauFrom $3068 reviews
★ 4.0Château of Versailles and Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon Private TourFrom $95126 reviews
★ 5.05H00 ALSACE PRIVATE TOUR-Castle, Villages, Wine, Friendly Driver35 reviews
★ 5.0Loire Valley Castles VIP Private Tour: Chambord, Chenonceaux, AmboiseFrom $91637 reviews
★ 4.8Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Private TourFrom $30334 reviews
★ 4.9Wine Tasting at a Historic Château in a Land Rover !From $79156 reviews
★ 5.03 Loire Valley Castles and Wine Tasting Private Guided Tour38 reviews
★ 4.8Chenonceau and Chambord Castles Guided TourFrom $24786 reviews
★ 4.5Private Guided Tour of the Medieval FortressFrom $23564 reviews
★ 5.0Essential Wine Tour with Tasting & Chateau Visits from BordeauxFrom $83133 reviews
★ 5.0Saint-Émilion day tour: village visit, Châteaux and lunchFrom $187121 reviews
★ 4.6Angers: Château d’Angers Entrance TicketFrom $12191 reviews
★ 5.0Walking tour of Nice, the old town & the Coline du ChâteauFrom $30200 reviews

Keep browsing

Loire Valley Chateaux15Paris Castle Tours15Germany Castle Tours43Neuschwanstein Castle Tours21Munich Castle Tours15Austria Castle Tours13Italy Castle Tours27
Scroll to Top

Pick a wall and start climbing

By the kind of castle day, rather than the country.

Getting in

Entry TicketsSkip the LineGuided EntryPrivate DaysGrounds Only

Kinds of castle

AlcazaresFortressesDracula CastlesLoire ChateauxJapanese Keeps

Shapes of day

Day TripsWalking ToursCastle and CathedralWalled TownsShore Excursions

The famous ones

NeuschwansteinWindsorEdinburghPragueWawel