Unsurprisingly, Paris has a wealth of tour options geared to helping you get the most out of your stay. If time is limited, a guided breeze on a bike or open top bus can be just the thing to get a handle on the city. You’ll also find a wide range of out-of-town sightseeing tours listed later in this section. For a dash of novelty, consider touring the city by Segway human transporter (p.xxx), exploring its lesser-known attractions by electric bike (p.xxx), or taking a spin in a classic Citroên 2CV (p.xxx). Less informative, but very appealing for out-of-town visitors, boat cruises serve up romantic views from the Canal St-Martin as well as from the Seine. Heritage is well served, too. Among the notables, Paris Walks (p.xxx) has been providing excellent close-ups on the city for over a decade, while Paris Muse (p.xxx) offers lively and intimate tours within art galleries and museums. If your French is good enough, the programme run by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (p.xxx) is well worth tapping into. And, whether your stay is long or short, don’t overlook the other options. Specialists such as Edible Paris (p.xxx), Ô Château (p.xxx) and Chic Shopping Paris (p.xxx) are on hand to reveal their insights into the art of savoir-vivre. Where better than in the city that perfected it? Tour companies in Paris are well regulated and the guiding profession is tightly controlled by law. Only officially licensed guides are authorised to accompany groups into museums, monuments and galleries. For visits out and about, it’s not compulsory for guides to have a formal diploma, though it’s unlikely to detract from their knowledge or service. Tours can be booked directly with the operators, in many hotels and at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau. If you’re taking a cross-border excursion to a neighbouring country such as Belgium or the UK, remember to check any visa requirements with the tour company or your embassy.