An hour on the river shows you more of Paris than a day on foot. Here is which boat, and when.
The short version
- The one-hour sightseeing cruise is the one to do. Our Seine river cruise with Vedettes de Paris leaves from the foot of the Eiffel Tower every 30 minutes by day, with audio commentary in English.
- The loop runs east past the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the islands, then back past the Musée d’Orsay. Sit on the open top deck if the weather lets you.
- Go in the hour before sunset. The light is gold on the stone, and on the way back the bridges and the tower light up.
- Dinner cruises are two to three hours and priced for the dinner. The view is the same; the food is the variable.
- The Batobus is the hop-on boat: a day pass, stops along both banks, and no commentary. It’s transport with a view, not a tour.
- For a small-group evening, our Paris Champagne cruise is an hour on the river with a sommelier and three Champagnes, Thursday to Saturday at 18:00.
Which boat
For a first trip, the one-hour sightseeing boat. It costs about $23, takes an hour, and puts the whole center of Paris on both sides of you. Book a timed ticket; the boats run every half hour by day.
For an evening out, the Champagne cruise or a dinner boat. The Champagne cruise is an hour, capped at 20 people, with a tasting of a Brut, a Demi-Sec and a Rosé in a lounge at the bow. A dinner cruise is two to three hours and a full meal.
For getting around, the Batobus. It stops at the big sights along both banks, and the day pass lets you get on and off as often as you like.
What you see
From the Eiffel Tower dock the boats run east under the Pont Alexandre III, past the Grand Palais and the Orsay on opposite banks, and along the Louvre’s river front.
Then the islands: the Pont Neuf and the Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Île de la Cité, the Conciergerie, Notre-Dame from the river with its new spire, and the 17th-century houses of the Île Saint-Louis.
The boat turns around past the islands and comes back along the other bank to the tower, which on the hour after dark sparkles for five minutes.
Tips
Pick the sunset slot and book it. The hour before sunset is the one everyone wants, from 17:00 in winter to after 21:00 in June.
Sit outside on the top deck going east and on the left side coming back for Notre-Dame. Bring a layer even in summer; the river is cooler than the street.
Pair it with a car: our private Paris tour by car is four hours with a driver-guide from your hotel, any time of day or night, and can end at the Eiffel Tower for a cruise slot you have booked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Seine cruise is best?
For a first visit, the one-hour sightseeing cruise from the Eiffel Tower. It covers the whole center, runs every half hour by day, and costs a fraction of a dinner cruise.
How long is a Seine cruise?
One hour for the sightseeing boats. Dinner cruises run two to three hours. The Batobus is a hop-on day pass with no fixed length.
When is the best time for a Seine cruise?
The hour before sunset, for the light on the stone going out and the lights coming on coming back. After dark is good for the tower sparkling on the hour.
Do the boats run in winter?
Yes. The sightseeing boats run all year, with fewer departures in the evening. Ours runs every day except Christmas, New Year’s Day and July 14.
Is there a Champagne cruise?
Yes. Our Paris Champagne cruise is one hour with a sommelier and three Champagnes in a lounge at the bow, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 18:00, 20 people at most.
Our Most Popular Day Trips From Paris
Louvre, Montmartre and Notre Dame in eight hours with a private driver-guide.
