Glide by the Famous Sights of Paris on a Seine River Cruise
This article lists and compares the best cruises in Paris and what to expect, so you can find the best Seine River cruise for you. If you are in a hurry, head directly to the river cruise overview.
The Seine River (La Seine in French) winds its way through the heart of Paris, bisecting the city from east to west. The Seine River is the origin of Paris, and its development is uniquely tied to the River.
If you visit Paris for the first time, take a Seine River cruise to experience the city from a different perspective and spot some of the most famous landmarks in Paris along the waterway. This is especially beautiful on a Seine night cruise when the historical monuments are lit up: the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the Conciergerie, Notre Dame, and more.
There are many Paris river cruises. Some of these cruises are only for sightseeing, while others come with dinner and music for an all-inclusive, magical experience. You can even craft your own river cruise by chartering a boat for you and your crew! Go on reading to find the best Seine River cruise in Paris for you.
Best Paris River Cruise Overview
Day Seine River Cruise
COMPANY | DURATION | GUIDED TOUR? | OPTIONS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
70 min | Pre-recorded commentary | NO | ||
60 min | Individual audio devices | NO | ||
1 hr 30 min | Pre-recorded commentary | Drinks, snacks | ||
1 or 2 days | NO | NO | ||
2.5 hrs | YES | NO | ||
2 hrs | NO | Different menus |
Private Seine Boat Tour
COMPANY | DURATION | GUIDED TOUR? | OPTIONS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2.5 hrs | NO | NO (but you can bring food & drinks) | ||
– | NO | NO (but you can bring food & drinks) |
Seine River Dinner Cruise
COMPANY | DURATION | LIVE MUSIC? | SERVICES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2 hrs 30 min | YES | 8.30 p.m. | ||
1 hr 45 min | NO | 7.15 p.m.; 9.45 p.m. | ||
1 hr 30 min to 2 hrs 30 min | YES | 6 p.m.; 8 p.m. | ||
2 hr 15 min | YES | 8.30 p.m. | ||
2 hrs | NO | 6.00 p.m.; 9.30 p.m. |
Seine River Night Cruise Without Dinner
COMPANY | DURATION | GUIDED TOUR? | OPTIONS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
60 min | NO | Bar | ||
60 min | Audio Guide App | Drink |
Seine River Cruise for Families
COMPANY | DURATION | GUIDED TOUR? | OPTIONS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
60 min | Pre-recorded commentary | NO | ||
60 min | YES | NO |
Table of Contents:
- River Cruise in Paris – How it Works
- Seine River Cruises in Paris – Itinerary & Map
- Best River Cruise in Paris (Sightseeing Only)
- Best Private Seine River Cruise
- Best Seine River Dinner Cruise (and What to Expect)
- Best Seine River Night Cruise (Without Dinner)
- Best Seine River Cruise for Families
A Seine River cruise is one of the top attractions in Paris. I recommend taking a Paris River cruise in the following Paris itineraries:
River Cruise in Paris – How it Works
Many boat companies operate on the Seine River in Paris, and they all follow the same itinerary, more or less. The difference between them remains in the starting point, the options, and, of course, the experience onboard.
The Seine River cruise times are roughly the same for all companies: 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
All the boats are adapted to disabled visitors (wheelchair accessible).
A Paris river cruise (only sightseeing) usually lasts 60 minutes to 90 minutes and is available every day of the week. Some cruises offer a glass of champagne, other drinks, and snacks as an option.
A Seine night cruise can be with or without dinner. A Seine River dinner cruise usually lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes to 3 hours, and it comes with or without live music. Most of these Paris river cruises with dinner offer different menus with vegetarian and vegan dishes, and this is something that you need to specify during the booking process.
Seine River Cruises in Paris – Itinerary & Map
With few exceptions, the itinerary is very similar to all the Seine River cruises in Paris. It covers the part of the Seine River that goes through the central Arrondissements of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower in Paris 7 to the Ile de Saint-Louis in Paris 4.
Boats follow the Seine’s Left Bank downstream and turn after Ile de Saint Louis to follow the Seine’s Right Bank upstream.
Along the way, visitors can admire the following top sights: the Seine islands, the Assemblée Nationale, Musée d’Orsay, Institut de France, Cité de la Mode, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, Conciergerie, Concorde, Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower, and Palais Chaillot.
Usually, the Seine River dinner cruises sail further to the Statue of Liberty on the Ile aux Cygnes.
The map below shows the point of departure for the best Seine River cruises.
Click here to view this Seine River Cruises Map on Google
- LEGEND
- Yellow: Bateaux Mouches
- Red: Bateaux Parisiens
- Green: Vedettes de Paris
- Purple: Batôbus Paris
- Black: Paris en Scène
- Blue: Paris Canal (Seine River + Canal Saint-Martin)
- Brown: Trattoria en Seine (Italian Meal Seine Cruise)
Best River Cruise in Paris (Sightseeing Only)
Best Combo Tickets with a Paris Seine Cruise (Sightseeing Only)
Book once and save money with a Paris combo ticket! Combo tickets usually include 2 or 3 top attractions in Paris at a discounted price (usually 10-15% off).
1. Bâteaux Mouches
Active since 1949, the iconic Bâteaux Mouches are today the fourth most visited paid attraction in Paris, only after the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Centre Georges Pompidou.
The Bâteaux Mouches are large vessels with various formats and capacities. They are the big double-decker boats with orange seats sailing on the River.
With this Seine River cruise, Paris’ top landmarks won’t have more secrets for you, as a pre-recorded narration in multiple languages complements the cruise. You can also book a glass of champagne.
- Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Departure /arrival point: Pont de l’Alma Rive Droite – Port de la Conférence, Paris 8 Right Bank
- Adapted toilets on the pier, a removable ramp for access from the pier to the boat, and no steps on board. No adapted toilets on board.
Click here to book this Seine River Cruise
2. Bâteaux Parisiens
The Bateaux Parisiens offer similar boat tours to the Bâteaux Mouches. The fleet consists of fully glazed boats, medium-sized, that offer an amazing panoramic view. Visitors can also stay outdoors on the deck, but space is limited.
Starting from the Eiffel Tower, this Paris river cruise comes with an individual audio guide that is available in 13 languages. The cruise lasts approximately 1 hour, and there’s the option to book it with a glass of champagne.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Departure /arrival point: Port de la Conférence, Paris 7 Left Bank
- Adapted toilets on the pier. Some boats have wheelchair access on the main deck and inside, while others can be accessed through a temporary wheelchair ramp. For adapted toilets also onboard, ask for “Juliette Greco” or “Brigitte Bardot” boats.
Click here to book this Seine River Cruise
TIP: This Seine cruise is included in the Paris City Card. If you were considering buying this fantastic Paris tourist card, this is an extra reason to get it now!
3. Vedettes de Paris
The Vedettes de Paris are elegant, smaller boats that transport fewer people. During the 1-hour Seine boat tour, you will learn about the history of Paris and the sights along the River with audio commentary.
This is the best river cruise Paris has to offer to avoid crowds. The onboard bar offers interesting French-inspired apéritifs and snacks. If you know you will be tempted to try some, I recommend booking them online with your ticket: they are usually more expensive if paid onboard.
TIP: This Seine boat tour is included in the Paris Seine Pass. If you are considering buying this fantastic card, this is an extra reason to get it now!
- Duration: 1 hour
- Departure /arrival point: Port de Suffren, Paris 7 Left Bank (see our Google map)
- Options: sightseeing cruise, sightseeing cruise + glass of champagne, sightseeing cruise + drink and /or snack
- Passengers with wheelchairs can be accommodated with the help of a staff member if they can climb the 3 steps. There are adapted toilets at the embarkation point and on the boats Paris Etoile, Paris Iéna, and Paris Trocadéro.
Click here to book this Seine River Cruise
4. Batobus Paris (Seine River Cruise Hop-On Hop-Off)
This Seine River cruise hop-on, hop-off is the less touristy option available on the Seine River, and it is without audio commentary. It is a great alternative to the classic Paris hop-on hop-off bus because it avoids the traffic jams on the streets of Paris.
Many moons ago, the Batobus was included in the monthly Navigo metro pass, so I used to take it a lot. It was fun to sail the River Seine from time to time!
This is the best Paris river cruise for a more local experience. It is possible to get on the Batobus Paris as often as you want over a specified period of time without buying new tickets.
- Duration: 1 day or 2 days, with unlimited trips
- Departure /arrival point: passengers can hop on and off the boat at any of its nine stops: Eiffel Tower, Invalides/Pont Alexandre III, Musée d’Orsay, St Germain des Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes /Cité de la Mode, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs-Elysées.
- Only the stops at the Eiffel Tower and Louvre are accessible to wheelchair users. The other stops have too many steps.
Click here to book this Seine River Cruise
5. Canal Saint-Martin + Seine Cruise Boat Tour
This Paris river cruise navigates the waters of the Seine River and Canal Saint-Martin. Admire Paris classics, like the Orsay Museum, the Louvre, and Notre Dame, before heading to the tunnels and locks of Paris’s most picturesque canal.
This is a one-way cruise that starts at the Orsay Museum (Paris 7) and ends at Parc de la Villette in Paris 19 (or vice versa). Then, you can explore this less-touristy district of Paris, with interesting sights like the Parc de la Villette, Parc Buttes-Chaumont, and the banks of the Bassin de la Villette. If you prefer, you can sail from La Villette to the Orsay Museum in central Paris by booking this tour.
- Duration: 2 hrs 30 min
- Departure /arrival point: Port de Solferino, in Paris 7 Left Bank /La Villette or vice-versa (see our Google map)
- Options: sightseeing cruise only
Click here to book this Seine River + Canal Saint-Martin Cruise
Best Private Seine River Cruise
Craft your own experience and book a private cruise on the Seine River. Admire Paris’s most beautiful avenue while sipping a glass of wine or enjoying a picnic on board.
There’s no best private Seine River cruise; it depends on what you are looking for! You can book this private Seine boat tour which follows a similar itinerary to the other Seine boat tours, or choose another boat more adapted for you and your group (the map on this page shows where the boats are moored).
With this kind of river cruise, Paris will delight you. You can bring your own food and wine for a picnic or a French apéritif. Sometimes, you can purchase them as an add-on during the booking process.
Click here to book a Private Seine Boat Tour
Best Seine River Dinner Cruise (and What to Expect)
A Paris night cruise with dinner is one of the best things to do in Paris at night. Enjoy the views and some of the famous foods in Paris while sailing through the city’s most beautiful avenue.
Some boat companies offer two dinner cruises a day, the first starting around 6 p.m. and the second starting at 8:30 p.m. or later.
The first Seine River dinner cruise is usually less expensive. This is because the menu options are more limited, and the cruise is shorter (usually 70 minutes). The second dinner cruise is fancier and usually features live music.
For some people, 70 minutes is long enough to have their meal while enjoying some of Paris’s most beautiful sights. Others will find that it is a bit rushed.
Another important thing to consider is the time of the cruise, especially during the summer. If you want to do this Seine cruise at night, check out the Paris sunset times and plan your Seine night cruise accordingly:
- The 6 p.m. cruise finishes around 7:10 p.m. This means that during the summer, you will be sailing in daylight.
- With the 8 p.m. cruise, you can be sure to enjoy the Paris illuminations during the tour, at least for the last part of the cruise.
The dress code for a dinner cruise in Paris is usually smart casual (check what to wear in Paris here), but nobody will complain if you wear your best dress or suit!
1. Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise
Bateaux Parisiens offers a Seine River dinner cruise starting at 8:30 p.m.
In general, this Seine River dinner cruise gets good reviews for its food, drinks, and kind staff. The 3-course meal comes with different starters, main dishes, and dessert options, and all the proposals include a glass of champagne. There is also a vegetarian option available.
This dinner cruise features live music and lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes. The price varies depending on the menu and the placement of your table.
MAKE IT SPECIAL: the Service Privilège and Service Premier have better placements by the window. It is well worth the extra fee!
Click here to book this Seine River Dinner Cruise
2. Paris en Scène Dinner Cruise
Paris en Scène is one of the best river cruises in Paris with dinner, and it is my personal favorite for a casual soirée.
On this cruise, the boats are designed like a theater, with the Seine as the main stage. All seats face the windows, offering uninterrupted views of the river and its illuminated landmarks. Guests dine side by side in spacious club chairs at custom-designed tables that enhance both the meal and the view (click here to see the pictures). The boats also feature a bar and a large open-air terrace for an unforgettable experience on the Seine.
With prices starting at 65€, this is definitely the least expensive dinner cruise in Paris. The meals are Parisian bistro-style, all cooked on-site, and with fresh and seasonal produce. Enjoy a 2-course menu starter, main, and dessert at your window-facing table.
Click here to book Paris en Scène Dinner Cruise
3. Maxim’s de Paris River Cruise
Board one of Maxim’s boats, decorated in the Art Nouveau style, and enjoy a relaxing soirée with its delicious cuisine (3-course dinner) and live jazz.
This is the typical dinner cruise that I book when I have guests coming from abroad because of its oh-so Parisian Belle Époque atmosphere. It is also a more intimate experience than the other dinner cruises.
- Duration: 1 hr 30 min (first service) and 2 hours (second service)
- Departure /arrival point: Pont de Solferino in Paris 7 (see the Google Map)
Click here to book Maxin’s de Paris Dinner Cruise
4. Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise
Bateaux Mouches offers a River Seine cruise with dinner starting at 8:30 p.m. In general, this river cruise gets good reviews for food, wine, and entertainment.
The all-inclusive menu offers 3 to 5 different options (depending on the chosen menu) of starter, main dish, and cheese or dessert, and there’s always at least one vegetarian option for each course.
Bâteaux Mouches offers a romantic dinner cruise lulled by the sound of the piano and violin. Enjoy a three-course menu designed to bring you the best of French cuisine and good live music with your best company in the City of Light.
Click here to book the Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise
Best Seine River Night Cruise (Without Dinner)
For those who wish to take a Seine sunset cruise or night cruise to admire Paris illuminated, a few options are competing for the best Seine River night cruise without dinner.
An important thing to consider for a Seine cruise at night is the sunset time, as the sunset in Paris in summer is quite late. Check out the Paris sunset times for your dates in Paris and book accordingly.
What is the best Seine River cruise, night without a meal? Both the Sunset Happy Hour Cruise and the Evening Cruise on the Seine are mid-size boats that come with music and a bar onboard. The Sunset Happy Hour cruise has an alcoholic or soft beverage included, while for the Evening Cruise on the Seine, the beverage comes as a paid option.
Best Seine River Cruise for Families
Which Seine River cruise is the best for families? There are a couple of river cruises especially designed for families with children. They both last 1 hour, and the commentary is more adapted for the little ones.
The Paris Cruise for Kids (with Quiz) comes with a booklet – a Paris quiz for children, but it is in French. There’s also an audio guide in 14 different languages.
In my opinion, the best Seine River cruise for families is this Family Cruise on the Seine. This Seine River tour comes with a funny live guide (English and French) specialised in capturing the imagination of the little ones. There is also a children booklet (in English and French) with riddles and questions, and a children Captain’s diploma.
So there you have it, a detailed guide with all the options, so you can find the best Seine River cruise for you and your crew. Which Paris river cruise would you like to take right now?
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