These are the best cruises on the Seine in Paris !
The Seine (La Seine in French) winds its way through Paris heart of Paris, crossing it from’the city in two parts, crossing it from west to east and. C’is the’The origin of the city and its development is solely related to the river.
the best cruises on the Seine
Walking along the most beautiful avenue of the city on a sunny day is a wonder and you will never get bored: the majestic historical buildings reflected on its waters, the typical Parisian “mansards”, the bridges of the Seine, each with a unique style … But also the emblematic bookshops, the picnics improvised by locals who swing their feet on the river’water and even a beach of fools l’summer !
If you’re traveling to Paris for the first time, we recommend booking a cruise on the Seine to discover the city from upstream along the right bank of the river’The boats go down to the summer to get a different view and discover some of the main attractions of Paris along the waterway. C’The Seine is particularly beautiful at night, when the historical monuments are dotted along the waterway: the Eiffel Tower, the National Assembly, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of the Arts’Orsay, the Conciergerie, Notre Dame de Paris and more.
With some cruises on the Seine, you don’will have that’A view of the most beautiful tourist sites of Paris, while the city is in the process of being transformed into a city’with d’other cruises on the Seine, you will be entitled to a lunch, a dinner or a glass of champagne.
With so many’With so many cruise offers and several companies offering similar tours, what is the best choice? best cruise on the Seine for you ? In this article, we’ll give you details of the best cruises on the Seine in Paris to help you choose the one that suits you best.
8 reasons to take a cruise on the Seine in Paris
- “You can have a different look at the city and explore Paris from a different point of view’water.
- ” Day cruise for s’to soak up the atmosphere’You can choose to take the Seine to the energetic hustle and bustle of Paris or choose a night cruise to see Paris by night.
- “In a short time, it will make you discover many sights of Paris.
- “It brings you back to the starting point
- “Multilingual audio guides are available.
- ” C’is a good opportunity to taste French cuisine.
- “It works all the time’year, sun or rain or full moon.
- ” C’This tour is free for children under 3 or 4 years old (depending on the tour)
Our favorite cruises on the Seine Seine in Paris There are two types of cruises: tourist cruises on the Seine and dinner cruises on the Seine.
Hope on board and discovery of Paris’another point of view, from the Seine ! There are many boat companies working on the Seine, all covering more or less the same itinerary, so it will be difficult to make a choice. The difference between them remains in the starting point, the options and of course the price’on-board experience. The good news is’The most important thing is that all the boats are adapted for disabled people (wheelchair accessible).
Itinerary of the Seine cruise
L’The itinerary of these Parisian cruises is very similar, covering the part of the river that crosses the central arrondissements of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower to Paris 7 to the Seine’Ile de Saint Louis in the 4th district of Paris. The boats go down to the’downstream following the left bank of the Seine and turn after the’The good news is that it’s a great way to get to the island of St. Louis and back to the mainland’to discover the city from upstream following the right bank of the Seine.
On the way, visitors can admire the following sights: Eiffel Tower, National Assembly, Museum of Art, etc’Orsay, Institut de France, Cité de la Mode, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame de Paris, Conciergerie, Concorde, Grand Palais, and Palais Chaillot. With some companies, the cruise goes further to the Statue of Liberty with dinner cruises.
A river cruise on the Seine without meals usually lasts from 70 minutes to 90 minutes and is available every day of the week. Find below the departure and arrival points’arrival of the boats
How to book your cruise on the Seine ?
Several ways to get around’The following options are available to you to book a cruise on the Seine, all from the same location’First, go to the website of the dinner cruise company you’ve been looking for. All you have to do is select the right ticket’You can make your reservation in two or three clicks, and a ticket will be issued to you to hand in on the day of your visit. If you don’t’If you have not yet found the site of your choice, some platforms group together several dinner cruise companies in Paris to help you make the best choice.
You will be able to consult comparisons, reviews and opinions of visitors who have already participated in the tour’experience.
Going through an online reservation center remains the easiest way. However, if you come from far away and go through a travel agency for your stay in the capital of France, do not hesitate to ask them for advice’However, if you come from far away and go through a travel agency for your stay in the French capital, do not hesitate to ask them for advice and to make the reservation through this intermediary. Indeed, this will allow you to’have a guarantee and simplify your life by not having too many different reservations.
You could even save money if your travel agency has partnerships with some providers.
The booking process for a’a cruise in Paris
The booking process is the same for all travel companies. Once you have chosen the company for your cruise, you will be able to enjoy a cruise on the Seine, indicate your preferred date, the number of passengers and click on the Check Availability button.
The second step is to choose the type of cruise on the Seine. If the’The company offers different options to choose from, for example a dinner cruise’If you want to book a day + a glass of champagne, they will all appear in this step. Add the’option of your choice to the basket and proceed to the payment (secure payment without taxes or additional fees).
The tickets have a date, but they are not valid’There is no specific time slot for these boats. With many departures throughout the day, you can choose a time that suits you best’best fits your Parisian schedule and arrive at the dock before the scheduled daily departures.
How to buy a night cruise on the Seine ?
The reservation process for the night cruises on the Seine It is the same as for the day cruises on the Seine. It is’there are no specific tickets for night cruises on the Seine. Because tickets for’There is no specific time slot, you just have to make a reservation’The process is the same for all the travel companies, but you must go to the last ship departures to take advantage of the latest information’a night cruise in Paris.
OUR TIP: Please note that during the summer season, there is no specific time slot for the ferry’In summer, the sunset can be around 10 pm, which means that the lights will only be visible in the evening’after this time. This means that in order to take advantage of’For a night cruise in Paris in the summer, you have to jump on the last one or the last one of the day’penultimate night cruise on the Seine.
Bateaux Mouches Paris
The company Bateaux Mouches has been operating on the Seine since 1949 ! L’icon Bateaux Mouches is now a’Today the 4th most visited paying attraction in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Georges Pompidou Center.
The Bateaux Mouches The boats can carry up to’to 600 passengers ! These are the big double-decker boats with orange seats that sail on the river. Their tours are complemented by a pre-recorded narration in several languages and they are accompanied by an audio guide’a glass of champagne as an option.
- “Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
- “Departure/arrival point: Pont de l’Aigle’Alma Rive Droite – Port de la Conférence, Paris 8 Right Bank (see our Google map)
- “Adapted toilets on the pier, ramp, etc’If you already know that you will be tempted by the lack of removable access from the pier to the boat, no steps on board, no adapted toilets on board.
Bateaux Parisiens
The Bateaux Parisiens offer boat tours similar to those of Bateaux Mouches. The fleet is composed of fully glazed boats for an exceptional panoramic view and can carry up to 250 people’for up to 250 passengers. Visitors can also stay at the bar’outside on the bridge, but the’space is limited.
From the Eiffel Tower, visitors receive an individual audio guide (13 languages available) which is complemented by the commentary of a guide’A guide in the lower part of the boat. The cruise lasts about 1 hour.
- “Duration: 1 hour
- “Departure/arrival point : Port de la Conférence, Paris 7 Rive Gauche (see our Google map)
- “Options: tourist cruise, tourist cruise + glass of champagne
- “Adapted toilets on the pier. Some boats are wheelchair accessible on the main deck and on the second deck’s interior, while the’others are accessible via a temporary wheelchair ramp. For adapted toilets also on board, ask for Juliette Greco or Brigitte Bardot boats.
Vedettes de Paris
The Vedettes of Paris The boats are elegant and smaller (up to 10 meters)’to 250 people), less frequented. During this tour, you will be able to see the’one hour, discover the’You will be guided through the history of Paris and the sights you pass by with an audio commentary. The on-board bar offers a wide range of’interesting aperitifs and snacks’French-inspired.
If you already know that you will fall into the temptation of a cruise on the Seine’if you want to try them, we recommend you to book them online with your ticket: they are usually more expensive if you don’t try them’They are paid on board.
- “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
- “Wheelchair passengers can be accommodated with the same audio commentary as on the other boats’help of’a staff member if passengers are able to climb the 3 steps. There are adapted toilets at the boarding point and on the boats Paris Etoile, Paris Iéna and Paris Trocadéro.
Batobus Paris
This Seine River Cruise is the’the least touristy option on the Seine, without audio commentary. Batobus Paris is designed as an alternative to the Paris metro and it is possible to ride the Batobus as many times as you like over a given period of time without buying new tickets.
Batobus is the Paris river cruise that we know best because’Once upon a time, the Navigo Paris metro ticket included’It was fun to sail from time to time on the Seine River in the evening’one point outside on the bridge, but the’from the opposite bank.
- “Duration: 1 or 2 days, with an unlimited number of trips
- ” Departure/arrival point: passengers can get on and off the boat from any point on the river’which of its 9 different stops: Eiffel Tower, Invalides/Alexandre III Bridge, Museum of Fine Arts’Orsay, St Germain des Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes /Cité de la Mode, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs-Elysées (see our Google map)
- “Options: 1-day package, 2-day package
- “Only the Eiffel Tower and Louvre stops are accessible to wheelchair users. Other stops have too many steps for wheelchairs.
How to enjoy Paris at night with a dinner cruise
A dinner cruise on the Seine can be the perfect way to end your day in Paris. As the sun sets and the city sinks into the depths of the earth, the Batobus is a great way to get around’lights up, get on board and prepare to spend an unforgettable night on the river. So sit back, relax and let the boat take you on a journey through Paris with music, good French food and wine, and incredible views.
Usually, the boat companies offer two dinner cruises per day, the first one starting at 6pm and the second one starting at 8:30pm. The first dinner cruise is usually less expensive. Indeed, the menu is more limited and the cruise shorter (about 70 minutes), while the second dinner cruise is more chic, and usually with live music and a singer instead of background music.
For some, 70 minutes is enough time to eat while enjoying the most beautiful views of Paris. D’Other people will find that 70 minutes is more like it’is a bit rushed.
Another important thing to consider is the’hour cruise, especially during the’summer:
- “A 6 p.m. dinner cruise on the Seine that ends around 7:10 p.m. means you’ll be cruising with daylight.
- “With the 8pm dinner cruise, you can be sure to enjoy the illuminations of Paris during the tour, at least for the last part of the cruise on the Seine.
Dress code for a dinner-cruise in Paris is generally chic and casual (check out what you can expect from the restaurant)’to Paris here or here during the’They’re not all about the weather (e.g., fall/winter), but no one will complain if you wear your best dress or suit !
Find below the best dinner cruises on the Seine, and my opinion for a good evening in Paris.
The best dinner cruises on the Seine
Parisian Boat Dinner Cruise
Bateaux Parisiens offers two dinner cruises starting at 6pm and 8:30pm. In general, both cruises receive good reviews for the food, drinks and friendly staff. All-inclusive menus are offered with 4 different options to choose from’Enjoy a starter, main course and dessert, and both proposals are accompanied by an appetizer’a welcome glass of champagne.
A vegetarian menu is also available.
6 pm Service. Bateaux Parisiens offers you a fantastic French dinner with an original musical atmosphere and the possibility to enjoy a delicious dinner on the Seine’one of the most beautiful views of Paris from the window. The dinner consists of an all-inclusive à la carte menu with everything prepared on site by their chef: appetizer, main course, dessert, wine, mineral water and coffee.
The duration of this tour is 70 minutes.
8:30 pm Service. Bateaux Parisiens offers you another interesting dinner starting at 8:30 pm. Compared to the previous service, the a la carte menu is more sophisticated and includes French cheese and a larger selection of French wines. There is also a vegetarian option available. This dinner cruise is offered at different prices, depending on the menu chosen and the location of your table (see all the services offered here) and it is animated by a singer with a band.
The 8:30 am dinner cruise is longer, with a duration of 2:30 am, and with a longer itinerary, it is also longer, up to 2 hours’to the Statue of Liberty on the’Swan Island.
Getyourguide
Getyourguide
Getyourguide
Paris en Scène Dinner Cruise
Paris en Scène is perhaps the least known boat company that offers dinner cruises on the Seine in Paris. However, their proposal is very attractive, flexible and certainly our favorite.
All about’At first, the boats are imagined as a theater where the Seine is the main stage. All the seats are placed in front of the view to admire the river and all the illuminated monuments along the way. Passengers are comfortably seated in large club chairs and dine side by side on specially designed tables to enjoy both the view and the meal.
The ships also have a’a bar and d’a huge open-air terrace so that visitors can make the most of the Seine during the cruise.
With prices starting at 42€, including’is certainly the cheapest dinner cruise in Paris. Meals are Parisian bistro style, all cooked on site with fresh and seasonal products. Enjoy a choice of’s a starter, others will find it more like 70 minutes’a main course and a second course’Enjoy a 3 course dessert at your table, facing the window, and add some wine or champagne.
Every evening, Paris en Scène offers 3 cruises starting at 6pm, 8pm and 10:15pm to see the city’s most beautiful monuments’adapt to all schedules. Cruises last between 75 minutes and 90 minutes.
Boarding of the restaurant’Summer (from May 1 to October 31) is done from the Pont Saint Michel in Paris 1 and the boarding of the island is done from the Pont Saint Michel in Paris 2’winter (November 1 to April 30) of the’Ile aux Cygnes, in Paris 15.
Dinner Cruise on a Fly Boat
Bateaux Mouches offers two dinner cruises starting at 6pm and 8:30pm. In general, both cruises get good reviews for food, wine and entertainment. The all-inclusive menus include 3 to 5 different options (depending on the menu chosen)’The menu includes a starter, main course, cheese or dessert, and there is always at least one vegetarian option for each course.
Drinks and coffee or tea are included.
18 h Service. This cruise on the Seine River by Bateaux Mouches lasts 70 minutes and is accompanied by’a 3-course menu all inclusive: starter, main course, cheese or dessert, and drinks, all accompanied by a selection of wines’a background music.
20 h Service. Bateaux Mouches offers a romantic dinner cruise with piano and violin music, starting at 8:00 pm. Visitors can choose from two all-inclusive 4-course menus, Prestige an Excellence.
Apart from the culinary proposals, we are not sure that the Excellence menu means a better placement of your table. Enjoy good food and live music with your best company in the city of lights.