Film & media school trips to Paris

Film students will love the opportunity to attend the ÉCU Independent Film Festival, which comes to Paris each year in April. Pegged as the ‘Sundance of Europe’, the festival offers the perfect opportunity for your students to experience a range of film styles, as they gain inspiration from a huge showcase of films from the very best independent filmmakers around the world.

Take your students behind the scenes at one of Europe’s largest and most famous cinemas at Le Grand Rex, and learn all about the cinema's glamorous history. During your visit, your group will have access to an audio guide which will guide them through each room of the Art Deco cinema’s interior — from the archive and projection rooms through to the auditorium.

With one of the largest archives of film documents and film-related objects in the world, there’s plenty in the Cinémathèque Française to inspire and motivate each and every one of your students. Founded in 1936, the archive also offers daily screenings of films from around the world, and has itself been featured in several films including Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers.

Visit the site of Paris's most famous landmark and the symbol of France – the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, this engineering masterpiece dazzles at night, rightly earning its place at the centre of the ‘City of Lights’. We also recommend taking some time to explore the nearby Trocadero Gardens and its famous Fountain of Warsaw.

For a day of magical escapism, take your group to Paris’ Disneyland Resort. This sprawling amusement park features a huge variety of Disney themed rollercoaster rides, live shows and attractions for every age group and thrill level – as well as everybody’s favourite Disney characters. We know your students will love this excursion.

One of Paris’ most famous landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe is a magnificent monument built to commemorate Napoléon’s victory at Austerlitz. As well as honouring those who fought in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the arch stands atop the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. 

Running between the Place de la Concorde in the east and the Place Charles de Gaulle and Arc de Triomphe in the west, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées fills almost two kilometres with theatres, cafes and luxury shopping – with everything from Louis Vuitton to Zara to Ladurée macarons. Commonly regarded as the "most beautiful avenue in the world", the avenue is a must-visit for souvenir shopping and dining on your school trip to Paris.

The biggest science museum in Europe, this is a fantastic place to spend a day with your students. The museum is brimming with interactive learning opportunities, covering themes from the body and communication to water games, the garden and the factory. There’s also a planetarium, a submarine and an IMAX theatre to maximise excitement within your group.

Often referred to as one of the trendiest areas in Paris, the Latin Quarter is where you’ll find university students and artists hanging out in excellent local cafés. As well as being a great place to stop for some pastries, this district boasts some of the best architecture in the city – students will love visiting both the Panthéon monument and nearby Luxembourg Gardens.

Île de la Cité is one of only two remaining river islands located in Paris, with history dating as far back as the 4th century when it was the site of a Roman fortress. Today, students can be inspired by the world-famous Notre-Dame cathedral, La Conciergerie and the royal chapel of Sainte Chapelle, as well as the city's oldest surviving bridge, the Pont Neuf.

Students can enjoy exploring the contemporary creation of photographs at this brilliant art house, which explores the media’s progression through the 20th century to today. Through numerous exhibitions, conferences and film cycles, the centre aims to make photographic media accessible to everyone, inspiring school groups through around 20,000 works of art as it does so.

Located in the Palais de Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art has an impressive collection of 20th and 21st century art to inspire the imaginations of your students, including Raoul Dufy's striking The Electric Fairy. Don’t miss the museum’s monumental murals, created by Raoul Dufy, Gaston Suisse and Henri Matisse.

Students can explore more than 150,000 objects in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which celebrates the decorative arts through a series of techniques and materials. A must-visit for art and design groups, your students can find plenty of inspiration for their next school project here, with exhibits on wallpaper, stained glass, enamel, wood, jewels, graphics, trompe-l'oeil, furniture, fashion and more.

Find the cultural, historical and architectural treasures of Paris’ 9th arrondissement on the right bank of the Seine, with the Palais Garnier, Boulevard Haussmann and Galeries Lafayette all worthy of a visit. Regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time, the Palais Garnier offers students the chance to learn about the area’s operatic heritage, as well as the house’s architectural prowess.

Founded in 1669 by Louis XIV, the Palais Garnier, also known as the 'Opéra de Paris' is a 2,200-seat opera house, regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time. Visit this magnificent building and be inspired by its glory and operatic heritage, which inspired the iconic stage show, Phantom of the Opera.

Once the aristocratic district of Paris, Le Marais is a historic part of the city where students can spot several buildings of outstanding architectural importance, such as the Hôtel de Ville and the Place des Vosges. A district where you’ll find more locals than tourists, it’s also an excellent place for pastries and coffee, and sports several trendy shopping spots and restaurants.