The Ultimate Guide to Help You Plan Your Seine River Cruise Visit
Seine River Cruises | | Visitor Information at a Glance
- What are the Seine River Cruises opening hours?
The Seine River Cruises operate all around the year from 12 PM to 9 PM. - Where is the Seine River Cruise located?
The Seine River Cruises operate on the banks of the river Seine in Paris, France. - How many people visit the Seine River Cruises in a year?
The Seine River Cruises sees over a million visitors every year.
Seine River Cruises Opening Hours
Bateaux Mouches
- Departures every 45 mins from 10:15 AM to 3:30 PM; every 30 minutes from 3:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Bateaux Parisiens
- April, May and September - Departures every 30 minutes from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
No departure at 1:00 PM and 7:30 PM - June, July August - Departure every 30 minutes from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- October to March - Departure every hour from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Bateaux Mouches
- Every Saturday, Sunday and holidays:
Boarding between 12:00 - 12:15 PM. Departure at 12:30 PM and return to the quay at 2:15 PM.
Bateaux Parisiens
- Monday to Sunday:
Departure at 12:45 PM and return to dock at 2:45 PM
Bateaux Mouches
- Every evening:
Boarding between 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM. Departure at 8:30 PM. Return to the quay at 10:45 PM.
Bateaux Pariseins
- Monday to Sunday
Departure at 6:15 PM and return to dock at 7:30 PM
Departure at 8:30 PM and return to dock at 11:00 PM
Batobus Ferry Timings
- Monday to Tuesday - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday - 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- December 24 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Best Time To Go For Seine River Cruises
Weekday vs Weekend: Tickets for the Seine River cruise are always in demand so book yours in advance to secure a spot. Weekends are usually crowded. If you are not comfortable with crowds, the best time to enjoy your Seine River Cruise is during weekdays, around the time of sunset.
April to October: Boat companies have frequent departures during this season. The warm temperature makes the journey pleasant the sunlight gives a honey glow to the city in the afternoons. This is an ideal time for tourists to explore outdoor activities in the city. Another good time to visit is in the summer, between June and August. Parisians leave the city for vacation in summer and tourists can enjoy plenty of sunshine and occasional rain. Avoid visiting Paris in the spring, between March and May, which is the peak tourist season.
At night: Floating on the waters of the Seine and enjoying the City of Lights is an irreplaceable experience. Dinner cruises or sightseeing cruises after sunset are perfect to admire Paris at night.
Seine River Cruise Departure Points
Departure point: Pont de l’Alma on the Port de la Conférence
Getting there:
- By metro: Métro line 9 - Alma-Marceau and Métro line 1 - Franklin Roosevelt
- By RER: RER C: station Pont de l’Alma
- By bus: Buses 28, 42, 49, 63, 72, 80, 83, 92
Departure point: Eiffel Tower, at Port de la Bourdonnais
Getting there:
- By metro: Métro line 9 - Trocadéro and Métro line 6 - Bir-Hakeim
- By RER: RER C: Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel station
- By bus: Buses 82, 42, 87 and 69
How to Get to the Seine River Cruise?
By Public Transport
By Metro: Travel on Metro routes 6 or 9 to reach Pont d'Iéna bridge. The nearest metro station is Lena, just 4 minutes away from the entrance by foot. The approximate travel time is around 40 minutes.
By RER: Travel on the C Line of RER, a hybrid commuter rail and rapid transit system in Paris and its suburbs. The nearest station is Pont de l'Alma, just 4 minutes away by car. The approximate travel time is around 40 minutes.
By Train: Train routes L and N pass through Pont d'Iéna. The nearest railway station is Saint-Lazare, about 3 kilometers away from the boarding point. The approximate travel time is around 60 minutes from the outskirts of Paris.
By Bus: The bus routes passing through Pont d'Iéna are 30, 72, & 82. All the bus stops are around 5 minutes away from the boarding point by foot. The approximate travel time is 45 minutes.
By Car
If you're driving to get to the Seine River Cruise, here are a few nearby parking facilities.
Know Before You Go For Seine River Cruises
- Audio guide: Visitors can enjoy the cruise while listening to audio guides in different languages.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi connectivity on the boat allows users to connect smartphones or listen to audiobooks on headphones.
- Coffee and Snacks: Tourists can enjoy coffee and snacks on board, depending on the type of cruise.
- Lunch and Dinner: You can also enjoy delicious French meals if you opt for Lunch Cruises or Dinner Cruises.
Seine River Crises are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
- The Bateaux-Mouches cruises near Pont de l'Alma bridge are wheelchair accessible.
- The Bateaux Parisiens cruises near the Pont d'Iéna bridge offer assistance to wheelchair users.
- Both Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux-Mouches offer family-friendly cruises.Children under four years can travel for free on some Bateaux-Mouches cruises.
- Dining cruises with Bateaux-Mouches allow baby bottle reheating.
- There are special menus for children on the Bateaux-Mouches lunch and evening cruises.
- For health and safety reasons, dogs or animals except guide dogs, are not allowed on the cruises.
- Lunchtime cruises require all visitors to wear smart casuals, while smart dresses are mandatory on the evening cruise.
- Guests wearing sportswear, flip-flops, Bermuda shorts, and baseball caps will not be permitted on board.
- Visitors are requested to reach the departure point at least 15 to 20 minutes before the cruise starts.
- Passengers are not allowed to enter the power unit or cockpit without permission.
- For safety reasons, no materials considered dangerous by the boat crew are allowed on board.
Lunch & Dinner Cruises: Visitors can choose various lunch & dinner cruises to savour a three-course traditional French cuisine with wine and champagne.
Le Bistro Parisien: This diner is very close to the Seine River cruise by Bateaux Parisiens. You can enjoy steak, burger, and fish while adoring the view of the Eiffel Tower.
Firmin le Barbier: A typical French Bistro about 4 minutes away by car from Bateaux Parisiens. Enjoy steak and fish in a vintage Paris ambience.
L'Avenue: This upscale French Bistro is a 3-minute drive from Bateaux Mouches. The prime location offers charming views of the Eiffel Tower and gorgeous Seine River sunsets.
If you'd like to stay close to the gorgeous Seine River, here are a few options for you.
Budget stays: Hôtel Restaurant Campanile Porte D'Italie, Comfort Hotel Paris Porte d'Ivry and Hôtel Mercure Paris Ivry Quai de Seine.
Mid-range stays: Residhome Paris Evry, Hôtel Mercure Paris Tour Eiffel Pont Mirabeau, Hotel Eiffel Seine and Hôtel Félicien.
Luxury stays: Hotel Saint-Louis en L'Isle, Hôtel d'Orsay, Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris, Hotel Chambiges Elysees (4-minute drive from Bateaux-Mouches), Hôtel Alison (5-minute drive from Bateaux-Mouches).
Seine River Cruise Options
Sightseeing Cruises
On a sightseeing cruise, you get to look at iconic Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum, Pantheon, the Louvre, and more. Sightseeing cruises come with an audio guide in 14 languages or a professional guide depending on the experience you book.
Know More About Paris Boat Tours
Lunch Cruises
Cruise along the Seine River aboard a delightful ship as you chomp down some delicious lunch. There are various lunch options for you to choose from like the Etoile Service, the Privilege Service, and the Premier Service. Get panoramic views of iconic monuments and buildings across the city.
Know More About Lunch Cruises
Dinner Cruises
Enjoy stopping at the many landmarks of Paris after sunset as you sail along the Seine River. Dinner cruises include a delicious three-course meal with wine/champagne to make your evening more enjoyable. Sit back, relax, and have a beautiful evening in the city of love.
Know More About Dinner Cruises
Hop-On-Hop-Off River Cruise
Get on board a Batobus to explore Paris at your own pace. You can choose from 24 hour passes, 48 hour passes, and annual cruise passes. With 9 stops, this hop-on-hop-off cruise lets you explore Paris like a native. Don't forget to grab a detailed route map detailing boarding points for a memorable cruise.
Know More About Hop-On-Hop-Off River Cruise
Combo Tours
Combo tours offer you the best of Paris attractions like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower as well as a Seine Cruises experience. This option would make a perfect one-day sightseeing trip for families, groups and even solo travellers in the city along with either lunch or dinner on the waters of the Seine.
Visitor Tips
- Seine River cruises are a popular tourist draw in Paris. Book your tickets in advance to secure a seat on the cruise.
- All cruise companies prefer visitors to wear smart casual clothing.
- Photography is allowed on the Seine River cruise. Visitors can also hire professional photographers aboard the ship.
- The boarding point for most of the cruises is located at the Eiffel Tower, making it easy for tourists to start cruising right after visiting Eiffel Tower.
- Avoid luggage and hug bags as most cruises don't provide a locker room facility.
Seine River Cruises Tickets
Frequently Asked Questions About Taking a Seine River Cruise
A. Yes, Seine River cruises are open to the public.
A. Seine River cruises are the best way to explore Paris. Discover breathtaking Parisian monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre Museum, and more.
A. No, Seine River cruises are run by tour agencies and everyone is required to purchase tickets to enjoy the experience.
A. Seine River cruise tickets are available online.
A. Seine River cruises tickets start from €16.
A. The best time to take a Seine River cruise is during the weekday during sunset.
A. Seine River cruises timings are between 12:00 PM and 9:00 PM daily.
A. Yes, you can book Seine River cruise tickets for groups.
A. Yes, Seine River cruises are perfect for families with children.
A. Yes, the Seine River cruises are accessible to people with reduced mobilities.
A. Yes, Visitors can buy coffee and snacks on board some cruises. If you want to take a cruise with dining options, book tickets for lunchtime cruises and dinner cruises. Most of these cruises serve three-course French meals with or without wine/champagne.
A. The duration of a Seine River cruise depends on the type of ticket you book.
A. Yes, taking a Seine River cruise is one of the nicest ways to explore the city of Paris.
