School Trips to Paris - France's Most Iconic Destination

Top reasons to plan school trips to Paris

With a world-famous vibrant culture, rich history, and truly iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, it's no wonder school trips to Paris come highly recommended for UK students.

Thinking of booking a school trip to the French capital for your class? At Interschool Travel, we specialise in creating educational trip itineraries that combine learning and culture, all in one package. For lots of subjects, a Paris school trip is a top choice: whether students need to brush up on their language skills, engage in French history, climb the Eiffel Tower, or study the incredible art of the Louvre Museum.

We've arranged plenty of school trips to France for UK schools, so we've put together a quick guide on all the reasons you should consider saying bonjour to Paris for your next itinerary!

The French capital is, of course, one of the world's premier holiday destinations and most iconic bucket list locations. But what does Paris offer specifically for students, and why do we consider it one of the very best choices for school trips?

Proximity to the UK

Situated just over 200 miles from London, the French capital is one of the most accessible European cities for UK schools. Because Paris is reachable in just a few hours from most major UK airports, it's a great option for any educational trip, since you get all the benefits and experiences of one of the world's most exciting cities without having to fork out the costs of long haul travel.

The Eurostar train service goes from London St Pancras to the heart of Paris in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Students can board the train in central London and get off at the vibrant Gare du Nord, ready to start a Parisian adventure.

For schools based outside London, plenty of budget airlines operate regular flights from regional UK airports to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. Flight times are typically just over an hour, so schools in northern or western parts of the UK can reach Paris swiftly.

If planes or trains are not suitable for your group then travelling by coach is a great option. Paris can be reached in around 3.5-4hrs from Calais by coach and one of the great things to consider is the it ensures your group is kept together at all times, giving you less stress and more peace of mind. Coach travel is also significantly less polluting than travel by air and can often be much cheaper.

Flexible itineraries

Paris being easily accessible from the UK has several benefits. For a start, it reduces travel stress, since busy teachers only have to manage the journey for a few hours before reaching the final destination.

The shorter travel time to mainland Europe vs further afield also offers flexibility. On a visit to Paris, schools can opt for shorter, more affordable trips (such as a two or three-day visit), without sacrificing quality experiences. That means we can pack even more into student trips—combining culture at the Eiffel Tower or an iconic city museum with a bit of relaxation at Disneyland Paris!

Easy transport options

Once you're in Paris, the city’s compact layout and comprehensive public transport system makes it easy to move your students around.

Paris city centre has plenty of Metro and bus stops, plus the RER train, with stops close to all the most iconic landmarks including the Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.

Having accessible public transport options throughout the city makes navigating with a group of students much more straightforward and efficient. You'll be able to see multiple major landmarks in a single day without exhausting transfers and getting stuck in traffic on a slow old school bus!

World-famous culture

A bit of an obvious one, but one of the major highlights of any school trip to Paris is the iconic landmarks across this amazing city. And because they all have historical significance, it's easy to fit them into an action-packed educational visit.

For example, art school trips to Paris can stop at the Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa and countless other priceless paintings and sculptures. Of course, there's no better place to practise French language skills, whether it's on a walking tour of central Paris or navigating the streets around the River Seine.

What to see on a Paris school trip

Few cities boast as many iconic sights all in close proximity as France's capital. Whatever your students' learning objectives, school trips to Paris offer a unique perspective to help create a truly dynamic educational experience.

There are some iconic monuments and landmarks in Paris that are simply unmissable for any school trip, many of which are included on our pre-designed educational itineraries. These are some of our top picks for sightseeing in Paris you should visit on your next school trip.

Notre Dame Cathedral

A masterpiece of French Gothic architecture and one of the most famous buildings in the world, Notre-Dame dates back to the 12th century and has stood as a symbol of Parisian history for over 800 years. Its detailed sculptures, stained glass windows, and the stories of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame offer history and literature students a vivid look into medieval France.

Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur Basilica

Highly recommended for art and history students, Montmartre has long been an artistic hub, once home to painters like Picasso and Van Gogh. Overlooking the city, the white-domed Sacré-Cœur Basilica, built after the Franco-Prussian War, offers spectacular views and a glimpse into both Parisian culture and religious heritage.

Montparnasse Tower

To give your students a real understanding of the city and its sprawling layout, the Montparnasse Tower is a great stop. Built in the 1970s, the modern skyscraper, known as the Tour Montparnasse in the French language, contrasts with Paris’s historic skyline and provides a photo-ready, 360-degree view from its observation deck.

Eiffel Tower

Did you even visit Paris if you didn't stop by the iconic Eiffel Tower? Far beyond just being a must-see sight and an essential for your students' Instagram feeds, the tower is a symbol of engineering brilliance.

While there are amazing views from the platforms and heading to the top of the Tour d'Eiffel is a real bucket list experience, if your school trip's on a particularly tight schedule you can also stop at the Champ de Mars park to get great views of the landscape and the tower itself.

Arc de Triomphe

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the Arc de Triomphe stands as a powerful tribute to French military history and the French Revolution, ideal for school history trips. Beneath it lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, making it a meaningful site for history students studying war, remembrance, and national pride.

It's also a great backdrop for a group photo of you and all your students together celebrating a successful trip!

Seine River

A Seine River cruise is a must for school groups, providing a relaxed yet educational experience and a fantastic way to really view this vibrant city as a whole.

The riverbanks themselves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, steeped in history and lined with bookstalls and street artists. You and your tour guide can use the river as a setting to discuss a range of topics like urban development, French culture, or even literature (since the Seine features prominently in works by famous authors like Ernest Hemingway).

Disneyland Paris

All work and no play is no good! While Disneyland Paris might be known for its entertainment, the theme park is one of our most popular additions to our school trips. Beyond its rides and shows, it offers insights perfect for school business studies trips, such as brand management, tourism economics, and customer experience strategies.

For students on school language trips to Paris, the park provides the perfect setting for practising conversational French in a low-pressure environment. We also love Disneyland Paris as a reward day at the end of a busy itinerary, helping students unwind while making unforgettable memories.

Palace of Versailles

Just outside the city, the Palace of Versailles is an extraordinary site that offers students an unparalleled insight into French history, politics, and culture.

The palace is great as a trip for history students, providing context on French royalty, and the events leading up to the French Revolution.

Versailles also links well with art and design school trips, as students can admire Baroque architecture and intricate interior designs that influenced European styles for centuries.

Paris museums

Paris is home to some of the world’s most prestigious museums, making it an unparalleled destination for unforgettable learning experiences, whatever your subject.

All school art trips to Paris will consider the Louvre, the world's largest art museum and famously home to the Mona Lisa. Then the Musée d’Orsay is another highlight, renowned for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art collections.

School sceince trips to Paris might include time at the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Europe’s largest science museum, or the amazing Palais de la Découverte. With interactive exhibits covering topics from space exploration to robotics and environmental science, this is an ideal place for hands-on learning.

What types of school trips to Paris can I book?

School trips to Paris are amongst the most rewarding educational experiences anywhere in the world, and this city offers an array of experiences to meet learning objectives in a number of subjects. There's so much more to this city than just the Eiffel Tower!

At Interschool Travel, we offer trips for everything from science to sports, and can provide pre-arranged specialist itineraries or custom student trips tailored to your group.

Food science trips

We've arranged food tech school trips to Paris, where students can sample quintessential French delicacies like cheese, chocolate and pastries, and even try their hands at a course at the world renowned Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School.

Must-see sights for school food technology trips:

Local patisseries, traditional markets like Marché Bastille, and a French bakery workshop.

Top tip for food tech trips to Paris:

Book a hands-on baking or chocolate-making class to give students practical insight into French culinary traditions.

Cultural school trips

Another popular option is a cultural school trip to Paris, where your students can immerse themselves in Parisian history and more. From walking the streets of the Latin Quarter, to studying performing arts, this is the perfect location for a cultural educational tour close to home.

Must-see sights for cultural school trips:

You can't go wrong with the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and a Seine River cruise for a broad introduction to Parisian life.

Top tip for cultural trips to Paris:

Explore different neighborhoods like Le Marais or the Latin Quarter to show students the diversity within Parisian culture.

French trip for language skills

Where else for French language students to talk the talk? Paris offers the ultimate French school trip setting, with plenty of opportunities for kids to practise speaking skills in shops, or immerse themselves in the language at performing arts shows.

We can arrange for a local guide for your French trip, so your group can spend time honing language skills (and those pesky verb conjugations) as you explore the city.

Must-see sights for school language trips:

Markets like Rue Mouffetard, Cafés, and local shops where students can practice conversational French.

Top tip for language trips to Paris:

Encourage students to order food, ask for directions, or buy souvenirs in French for real-world language practice.

Business studies trips

As part of our build-your-own school trip service, we can arrange a number of school business studies trips or economics studies activities. Visit Paris landmarks like the many stores of the Champs-Élysées or the bustle of Disneyland Paris to see commerce in action—while also soaking up all the culture Paris has to offer.

Must-see sights for school business trips:

La Défense Business District, Galeries Lafayette, and the Champs-Élysées flagship stores.

Top tip for business school trips in Paris:

Arrange a talk or workshop with a local business or retail manager to give students insight into French commerce.

Art school trips

One of our most popular offerings is Paris trips for art students. Considering France's capital is often called the Art Capital of the World, that's not really much of a surprise. The museums here house some of the globe's most famous works, and there are countless settings that make perfect sketch studies, from the Sacre Coeur Basilica to the iconic city skyline.

Must-see sights for school art trips:

The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Montmartre’s Place du Tertre for street artists.

Top tip for art trips to Paris:

Schedule free sketching time in Montmartre or by the Seine to let students capture their own creative interpretations of the city.

Tailor-made school trips to Paris

If you can't find the exact itinerary you're looking for amongst our range of example itineraries, let's start planning! We work with educators all the time to create custom itineraries, so your students can visit Paris and get exactly what they need out of the trip.

Why book a Paris school trip with Interschool Travel?

So, you've decided to visit Paris with your students, but why should you work with us to bring that dream to life?

Tailor-made school trip itineraries

Our team of experienced travel experts make the booking process a breeze, and we'll build the ultimate educational trip for your subject and students, whatever you've got in mind.

Wide range of subject expertise

We offer school trips by subject, so we can cater to any request for educational visits to the countries we specialise in—just get in touch with our team!

Round-the-clock support

Safety is our biggest priority, so you get 24-hour support from our team and we're here for whatever you need. Plus, you'll be accompanied by an expert guide for your entire experience.

Get in touch today to start building a tailored school trip to Paris

FAQs

How long does it take to travel from the UK to Paris for a school trip?

Depending on where you're coming from, travel to Paris can be as fast as just over an hour. Flights from many major UK airports take around 1 hour and 15 minutes (of course, you'll need to add on extra time for check-in, any transfers, and collecting baggage).

By Eurostar, it takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes from London to Paris. You can also look into school tours by bus or ferry, though these will take longer.

What are the best landmarks to visit on a short school trip to Paris?

There are so many amazing sights to add to your school trip planning! Our top recommendations include the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, and a Seine cruise.

These offer a balance of culture, history, and iconic experiences, though of course depending on the subject your students are studying, you might want to add additional sights.

Is Paris suitable for younger school students?

Yes, with the right itinerary, an educational visit to Paris is very suitable for younger students. It offers a safe environment, family-friendly attractions like Disneyland Paris or the Jardin des Plantes, and interactive museums such as the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.

What are the accommodation options for school groups in Paris?

As one of the most-visited cities in the world, Paris has a range of accommodations to choose from. Lots are easily tailored to school groups, including budget hotels, hostels, and group-friendly hotels with multi-bed rooms and dining facilities.

Are guided tours available for school groups?

Absolutely, every Paris trip we offer is accompanied by an Interschool Travel Tour Leader, or Professional Local Guide. This is all included in your price, so you'll be accompanied throughout this wonderful city with a knowledgeable expert with plenty of experience with organising school trips to Paris.

What subjects can be covered on a school trip to Paris?

We offer school trips on a range of subjects, so we'll organise a tailored tour for your students. Popular Paris school trip itineraries include Art, Food Technology, cultural visits and, of course, trips to improve students' French language skills!

What is the best time of year to visit Paris on a school trip?

Paris is a fantastic year-round destination, but the spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are highly recommended for school groups. The weather is generally pleasant, and the city is less crowded compared to peak summer months.