Why go

Paris was built along the Seine, and many of its greatest buildings face the river. The banks between the Pont de Sully and the Pont d’Iéna are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a cruise is the easiest way to see them in one sweep: the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, the Conciergerie, Notre-Dame and some 20 bridges, each with its own story. For a first-time visitor it is also a gentle way to get your bearings on day one.

Cruises suit almost everyone. They run all day and into the night, all year round, last about an hour and need no planning beyond turning up at the pier. The evening sailings, as the city lights up, are the most romantic. Children love being on the water, the boats are covered as well as open, and most have recorded or live commentary in several languages, so it works whatever the weather and whoever you are travelling with.

What to see

  • The Eiffel Tower. Boats turn beneath it, and after dark it sparkles for a few minutes on the hour.
  • The bridges. The gilded Pont Alexandre III, the Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge in Paris, and the Pont des Arts footbridge.
  • The islands. The Île de la Cité with Notre-Dame and the Conciergerie, and the quieter Île Saint-Louis.
  • The Left Bank. The Orsay’s station clocks, the bookstalls on the quays and the dome of the Institut de France.

Plan your visit

Several companies run one-hour sightseeing cruises. The best known is Bateaux-Mouches, which sails from the Port de la Conférence by the Pont de l’Alma. From November to March its boats leave every 45 minutes from 10.15am to 9.30pm, and every 30 minutes from 4pm; from April to October they run every 30 minutes. Adults pay €20 at the pier or €17 online, children under 13 pay €10 or €8, and under 4s go free. Tickets are valid for any departure for a year, so there is no slot to book.

The Vedettes du Pont Neuf leave from the Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Île de la Cité and have a live commentary. Adults pay €17, or €15 online. Bateaux Parisiens leave from the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and the Batobus is a hop-on hop-off boat linking nine stops, which works as a scenic form of transport.

Dinner and lunch cruises cost much more and should be booked ahead. For a simple sightseeing trip, just choose the pier nearest your day’s plans. Sit on the open deck if the weather allows, and bring a warm layer for evening sailings. River levels sometimes rise after heavy rain in winter, and when the water is very high cruises can be suspended, so check before you set off.

Nearby

From the Pont de l’Alma, the Eiffel Tower is a 15-minute walk along the river and the Champs-Élysées is ten minutes north. From the Vedettes du Pont Neuf, the Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame and the Louvre are all within a short walk.