Seine River Cruises in Paris

The Seine is the soul of Paris, the landmark that gives the city a magical touch. A cruise on the Seine is the best way to see its main monuments at a glance.

This boat trip on the Seine is the most economical option. The tour starts at the Bateaux Mouches pier and lasts approximately one hour and ten minutes. It is a great option for children as they get a discount on the ticket and it is also perfectly adapted for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility.

Departure point

The departure in all cases is from the Bateaux Mouches quay located near the Alma Bridge; you'll recognise it because it's the first one you'll find walking from the Eiffel Tower towards the Louvre Museum.

Points of interest to be visited

When to do it

If you opt for this option, I recommend choosing the latest timetable to be able to see the city lit up. In high season (April to September) there is a departure timetable every 30 minutes from 10am to 10.30pm, in low season (October to March) a boat leaves approximately every 40 minutes from 11am to 9.30pm.

Imagine tasting a delicious French crepe while cruising along the Seine River. This iconic sight is possible thanks to this crepe tasting cruise. You'll sail aboard a comfortable boat for an hour and admire the Parisian monuments before finishing with a taste of the quintessential Parisian dessert.

Points of interest to see

When to do it

Any time is a good time to enjoy a French crepe with chocolate, sugar, jam or your favourite topping. Can you resist?

If in addition to cruising along the Seine you want to complete the tour of part of Napoleon's canal system in the Ancien Régime, I recommend this complete 2.5 hour cruise. Through the locks and swing bridges, you will travel along the Canal Saint Martin, created to bring drinking water to the city of Paris.

Thanks to the indications of an expert guide included in this cruise, you will learn about the history of this canal and the whole network of tunnels that crosses the city of light. You will also have the option to move around both on the upper deck and in the interior cabin of the cruise.

Points of interest that you will visit

When to do it

You can choose a morning or afternoon timetable when booking, depending on your travel plans.

For the more romantic, there is also the option of a moonlight cruise with a glass of champagne. Make the most of your trip to Paris to dedicate some time to love and what better way to do it than toasting with champagne on board a boat on the Seine River with the Parisian monuments illuminated in the background...

Points of interest to see

When to do it

The special thing about this one hour and ten minute cruise is the night time slot. You will enjoy the best possible views of the city of light.

This is the VIP option for those who don't want a simple boat ride to see Paris. This type of cruise is for those who want to relax and enjoy the experience without thinking about anything else. It is a two-hour VIP cruise on the Seine that starts at 20:15pm and includes music on board, a three-course dinner and pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in the centre of Paris.

The price of this cruise is higher than the other options, but because the experience is much more exclusive; it is less about sightseeing and more about celebrating a special occasion. One of the advantages of this option is that there are many details that you can personalise such as the seats you want to sit in or the menu you want to eat. All menus include three courses prepared by the on-board chef and drinks.

Points of interest

Make the most of a cruise on the Seine to enjoy a gourmet Parisian-style lunch. If you are going to Paris with your family, it might not be a good idea to do the evening cruise with dinner, so you can also book the boat trip with lunch and live music. You will have the opportunity to discover the main monuments while tasting authentic French cuisine.

When to do it

Personally, I would recommend this excursion to those who don't want to miss the experience of cruising the calm waters of the Seine and enjoy a multi-course meal in the Parisian sunshine. The two-hour tour with narration of the sights overlooking the river also has the option of adding a glass of champagne to make the experience more authentic.

Points of interest covered

If you are one of those who also have in mind to visit the Louvre Museum during your visit to Paris, another of the obligatory stops that will leave you with the best memories of art in the city, I recommend that you join a cruise with tickets for this art gallery. Combining both activities will also save you money.

The cruise

The cruise will leave you with the best possible panoramic views with the Eiffel Tower, the Alexander III Bridge, the Musée d'Orsay and Notre Dame Cathedral as the most representative buildings of the boat tour.

The Louvre Museum

For its part, the monumental Louvre Museum awaits you to dazzle you with such important paintings as La Gioconda by Leonardo da Vinci or Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix, among many others. As for the sculptures, you can admire the beautiful Venus de Milo or the spectacular Victory of Samothrace, to give you an example of everything there is to see in the Louvre Museum.

It is important to book your tickets in advance

Whichever type of cruise you choose, it is advisable to book your tickets in advance to ensure your place on the day and time chosen for the tour. The way these cruises work, regardless of what each one includes, is very similar: once you have booked online, you will receive a voucher or receipt via e-mail that you must present at the point indicated on the day and time you have chosen for your cruise.

The meeting point

If your cruise includes other attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the meeting point will be different, but otherwise you will usually depart from one of the docks in the city of Paris (you will be told which one your boat departs from when you buy your tickets, but they are all centrally located in the city and easy to get to).

About guides and reviews

Most Paris Seine river cruises include audio commentary on board in several languages, but not all include a dedicated guide. If the difference is important to you, make sure before you book your ticket what services are included in the cruise. In any case, with or without a guide, most of the commentary is very well done and you will always learn something about the points of interest included in the tour.

Photographs

You'll be able to take as many photos as you like from the boat, but weather permitting, make sure you choose one that doesn't have a roof for the best views. If you can, stand next to the water for a better angle and if you have a zoom lens you can use that too. However, I'm not going to kid you: the pictures you'll take from a Seine cruise are not the best; this experience is more for enjoying than for photographing.

If you have a Paris Pass, check to see if there are any cruises included. The Paris Pass, for example, includes a free Seine River cruise so you don't need to book it separately. Many children also get a discount on sightseeing cruises.

The Paris Pass is highly recommended if you are planning to make the most of your trip by visiting as many attractions or museums as possible, as you get the best possible prices with this tourist card. I have written an article on Paris Pass where you can find out whether or not to use the Paris Pass, when and how to use it and how to get the most out of it.

Seine cruises are a convenient way to see the city and learn about it, but they are not the only way. Personally, I recommend two more experiences in which you will see a good part of Paris:

The first one is the sightseeing bus with panoramic views and you can read more about this option in the guide I have written on Paris Hop on Hop off Bus Tours. From the boat there will be monuments that cannot be seen and that is a problem that the bus solves without sacrificing comfort and saving time when travelling distances. If you have never taken a tourist bus during one of your trips, from experience I advise you not to discard the option before time.

The second option is the guided walking tours through different areas of the city. On the one hand, getting to know a city on foot is to get to know it in a special way, and on the other hand, I have always learned stories on these tours that have made me love the city even more. If you want a selection of the best tours of Paris, you can read this other article on Paris Tours I wrote about it.