Apart from monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, lush parks, cobblestone streets, and delicious cheese, Paris boat tours are among the top things to try out when in the city. A relaxing and unique way to discover the capital city of France, all you have to do is to look out to admire some notable Parisian landmarks as your boat languidly floats down the Seine River. There are different types of Paris boat tours, ensuring there is something for everyone — be it a sightseeing, meal, or combo cruise. While offered by many companies, Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches are typically the best at Paris river cruises. Read on to know more about booking your Paris boat tour.
Why Go on a Paris Boat Tour
A Paris Boat Tour is a unique experience, one that is highly popular among those visiting the French capital. As part of your cruise experience, you will get to see the recognizable Parisian landmarks such as the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Conciergerie, Les Invalides, and others pass you by. Your glass-covered boat ensures that you do not have to worry about harsh weather conditions. As part of your Paris boat cruise, you also have the opportunity to have lunch, brunch, or dinner and enjoy divine French delicacies with a side of cheese and fine wine.
Types of Paris Boat Tours
Sightseeing Tours
As part of a sightseeing Paris boat tour, you will get to admire some of the best landmarks in the city from the heart of the Seine. This tour is typically an hour long and usually includes an audioguide or an actually professional guide to help you navigate the charming French capital city.
Seine Sightseeing Cruises
Lunch Cruises
A Lunch Paris boat tour is a unique experience in that you get to see the historic landmarks peppering the banks of the Seine as you bite into some delicious French dishes. Some lunch tours also offer live music to set the scene as you take in the beauty of the city.
Seine Lunch Cruises
Dinner Cruises
A Dinner boat tour of Paris is an unmatched experience. As you indulge in some fine French cuisine and wine, you will understand why Paris is called The City of Lights, as it starts to glitter around you. Look out for the Eiffel Tower, the beauty of which must be seen to be believed.
Seine Dinner Cruises
Combo Tours
A Combo Paris boat tour is an exciting option as it gives you the chance to take a Seine River Cruise along with entry tickets or guided tours of popular and iconic French monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, or Louvre; cabaret shows; or even Paris city tours.
Seine Combo CruisesBest time to take a Paris boat tour
A Paris boat tour is suited to all weather conditions thanks to its closed, air-conditioned boats.
In spring, summer, and autumn, the weather is pleasant and the sunlight takes on a honey hue and makes everything glow in the afternoon, making for a magical experience. In winter, Paris transforms into a winter wonderland as the snow starts to cover the banks of the Seine — the beauty of which you can appreciate from your closed boat.
At night, you can watch Paris come to life as the city starts to light up and shimmer like gold around you. This is one of the best times to take a Paris boat tour as it is an enchanting experience.
What You Can See & Do
Attractions
As you glide down the seine, you will be able to see some of the most iconic Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, Opera House, Conciergerie, and Les Invalides, among others.
Cabaret Shows
As part of your combo tour, you can also watch a cabaret show. Be it Moulin Rouge, Le Lido, or Crazy Horse, each show features vibrant colours, exotic dances, and world-class entertainment.
Paris City Tours
Pick from a number of different tours along with your Paris boat tour. You can choose from a tour of Paris at night, an audio-guided tour, and even tours of specific landmarks along with a Seine River cruise.
About River Seine
Meandering through the heart of Paris, the mighty River Seine boats of a length of nearly 800 kilometers and an average depth of 31 feet in Paris. With 37 bridges connecting its Parisian banks, the river starts at Source-Seine and drains into the English Channel. Easily navigable, the Seine is known for its cruises in Paris, where glass-covered boats transverse its calm waters and offer a different vantage point of the city.
Paris Boat Tour Timings
Bateaux Parisiens
Sightseeing Cruise
- Open Wed, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Departure every hour from 2 PM to 9 PM (Sunday from 12 PM to 6 PM)
- The last departure is one hour before closing hours
Lunch Cruise
- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Closed from Monday to Thursday
Dinner Cruise
- Open on Thursday, Friday, and on Saturday
- Closed from Sunday to Wednesday
Bateaux Mouches
Sightseeing Cruise
- April to September: Departures approximately every 30 mins between 10 AM and 10.30 PM.
- October to March: Departures approximately every 40 mins between 11 AM and 9.20 PM. Additional departure at 10.15 AM on weekends.
Lunch Cruise
- Every Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
- Boarding between 12 to 12.15 PM. Departure at 12.30 PM and return to the quay at 2.15 PM.
Dinner Cruise
- Every evening.
- Boarding between 7.30 PM to 8.15 PM. Departure at 8.30 PM. Return to the quay at 10.45 PM.
Getting There
Bateaux Parisiens Departure Point
Eiffel Tower, at Port de la Bourdonnais
- Metro: Métro line 9 - Trocadéro and Métro line 6 - Bir-Hakeim
- RER: RER C: Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel station
- Bus: Buses 82, 42, 87 and 69
Bateaux Mouches Departure Point
Pont de l’Alma on the Port de la Conférence
Metro: Métro line 9 - Alma-Marceau and Métro line 1 - Franklin Roosevelt
RER: RER C: station Pont de l’Alma
Bus: Buses 28, 42, 49, 63, 72, 80, 83, 92
Plan Your Bateaux Mouches CruiseVisitor Tips
- Paris boat tours are a highly popular experience in Paris and get sold out quickly. To avoid disappointment, purchase your tickets online and in advance.
- Avoid wearing casual clothing like shorts and flip-flops — it is recommended you wear smart casuals.
- Not all Paris boat tours are wheelchair-friendly. Note that Bateaux Mouches' Paris boat tours leave from Pont d'Alma provides easy access for those via a slope.
- Children under 12 and students usually get a discount. Please check the ticket page and carry along a valid ID or student ID in case of student discount, if availing of it.
- Hotel transfers are usually not included in your tours, so it is advised that you reach the boarding point at least twenty minutes prior to departure.
Paris Boat Tours: Frequently Asked Questions
While tickets can be bought in person, it is advised you purchase them online and in advance to ensure you get them for the date you prefer.
This depends on the tickets you book. However, most Paris boat tours offer discounts to children under 12 and students upon presentation of a valid ID.
The combo Paris boat tours are the best as they offer you stunning views of the city along with entertainment and/or city tours along with it, making them well worth your while.
A sightseeing tour is perfect for the family as you can go down the Seine and see the best of Paris in an hour.
Couples will love the meal (lunch/dinner) Paris river cruises as it is quite a romantic experience, usually accompanied with live music to set the mood. They can also opt for a combo Paris boat tour with a cabaret show for a unique and fun experience.
Sightseeing cruises usually take place between 9 AM to 11 PM. Lunch cruises take place around noon, and dinner cruises usually start at 8 PM. It is advised that you check your tickets for the timings before booking.
A sightseeing Paris boat tour is typically an hour long, while Paris river cruises that include meals can go on for a little over two hours.