---
title: Paris Occupation History WWII 2 Hour Walking Tour
lang: en
alternate_de: https://guidekin.com/de/france/paris/tours/paris-occupation-history-wwii-2-hour-walking-tour/
type: tour
city: Paris
country: France
price: 44
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.99
reviews: 87
duration_minutes: 135
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
guidekin_pick: WWII occupation history
rank_in_category: 13 of 54 (Walking Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-03
data_updated: 2026-10-12
canonical: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/tours/paris-occupation-history-wwii-2-hour-walking-tour/
---

# Paris Occupation History WWII 2 Hour Walking Tour

**Guidekin's take:** Walk through central Paris to places connected with life under occupation during World War Two, with commentary on how each site functioned. Admission is included; the walking route requires moderate fitness. 4.99 from 87 reviews at €44 per person for 2h 15m.

In our comparison: #13 of 54 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Step into the streets of Paris and understand what it truly meant to live here during the occupation. This World War II walking tour gives you a clear mental map of occupied Paris, following a coherent route through the city center so you never feel lost—historically or geographically.

As you walk, you won’t just hear stories. You will stand exactly where events unfolded and learn how these places functioned between 1940 and 1944. 

At each stop, you’ll discover how Parisians lived day to day, how German power was organized in the city, and how political control shaped everyday life. The focus is on precise locations and concrete facts, helping you understand why these places mattered—and still matter.

To help you visualize the past, the tour uses rare archival photographs, many unfamiliar even to history enthusiasts. You will directly compare wartime images with today’s streets, giving you a much clearer and more lasting understanding of what Paris looked like under occupation.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: The guide will send you a message the…
- Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk
- Starts 09:00, 12:30: 2 departures a day
- Children from €14: ages 0 to 11

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €44 per person
- Duration: 2h 15m
- Rating: 4.99/5 from 87 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: 1533walks - Historic Paris Tours
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Tickets: Admission included
- Start times: 09:00, 12:30
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03

## Reviews

4.99 from 87 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 87 of 87.

- 5 stars: 86 (99%)
- 4 stars: 1 (1%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the detailed history, archival photos and open discussion; the tour can run long when questions continue.

**Praised:**
- Clear, nuanced explanations of occupation, collaboration and resistance
- Archival photos connect wartime events to the buildings along the route
- Individual stories connect the wider history with daily life under occupation
- An approachable guide welcomes questions and adapts to different knowledge levels
- Clear advance messages help visitors find the meeting point

**Complaints:**
- Questions and detailed discussions can make the tour run long

Written by Guidekin from the 71 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2026-03-30 to 2026-09-24); last checked 2026-10-03.

## What's included

- Admission fee

## Itinerary

1. **Place de la Concorde** (15m) - The arrival of the Germans in the context of the outbreak of the Second World War and the first days of the occupation in Paris
2. **During the occupation, Le Meurice served as the German strategic military hea...** (10m) - During the occupation, Le Meurice served as the German strategic military headquarters for Greater Paris. Rue de Rivoli was one of the preferred locations for parades. At this stop, we discuss the year 1940 and how the Germans systematically looted France.
3. **At the Ritz, all of Parisian high society gathered** (15m) - Here, we discover how Marshal Göring looted antique furniture and took all the hotel’s hot water. Meanwhile, Frank Meier, the secretly Jewish bartender, unknowingly served as a dead drop. We also discuss pro-Nazi plots involving Gabrielle Chanel and members of the British...
4. **Place De L'Opera** (15m) - Place de l’Opéra was the jewel that Hitler was delighted to visit first during his only trip to Paris. While operas were staged exclusively in German, the National Front of Musicians was organizing to take part in the Resistance.
5. **At the Berlitz Palace, in September 1941, the infamous exhibition "The Jew an...** (15m) - At the Berlitz Palace, in September 1941, the infamous exhibition "The Jew and France" opened. Its objective? To prepare and manipulate public opinion into accepting the deportation of tens of thousands using Nazi "science." It also discusses the terrible laws against this...
6. **Square Louvois** (15m) - Louvois Square is a beautiful and peaceful place of reflection in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement, paying tribute to the many Jews deported during the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup and recalling the role of the French government, which deliberately chose to include children. Thanks...
7. **At the old town hall of the 2nd arrondissement, they tell the story of an ord...** (15m) - At the old town hall of the 2nd arrondissement, they tell the story of an ordinary resistance: Jacques Bidault, the mayor, is arrested for providing ration tickets to young people who are hiding to avoid the STO, the last terrible idea of the 3rd Reich to try to stem the...
8. **Rue De Rivoli** (15m) - We are back on Rue de Rivoli, where liberation has finally taken place. Seeing their occupiers overwhelmed by the Normandy landings, Parisians go on strike. The police retake the police headquarters, then the city hall. The entire city is a battlefield with barricades, and a...

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 09:00, 12:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

The guide will send you a message the day before, which will allow you to get her contact details. She will be there before the meeting time to welcome you just below the statue. She will be wearing a black cap.
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJPX0OldJv5kcRt49e2wrRtgk

## Good to know

- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

## Compared with other Walking Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #13 of 54** | €44 | 2h 15m | 4.99 (87) | shared |
| [Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based)](/france/paris/tours/paris-city-center-free-walking-tour-tip-based/?format=md) | €3 per group | 2h 15m | 4.97 (2147) | shared |
| [Montmartre District and Sacre Coeur - Exclusive Guided Walking Tour](/france/paris/tours/montmartre-district-and-sacre-coeur-exclusive-guided-walking-tour/?format=md) | €55 | 2h 30m | 4.98 (418) | private |
| [Paris Highlights: Half Day Private Walking Tour](/france/paris/tours/paris-highlights-half-day-private-walking-tour/?format=md) | €350 per group | 3h | 5.0 (206) | private |

Ranked #13 of 54 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €1 to €225, median €55; typical length 2h 15m. 13 of 54 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/france/paris/walking-tours-paris/?format=md

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