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A boat cruise is a relaxed, calm way to take in the sights of Paris compared to a rushed walking tour or hectic metro trips. You can sit back with a glass of wine and watch the city unfold along the banks of the river. With a glass of champagne, wine or local beer, it is even better. So, come with us to have a lunch “chez Gégène”, the most famous guinguette of the river Marne or have a picnic by the waterside on “l’île des impressionnistes” . Cruise on the Saint-Martin canal, the magic of the Seine and the charm of the canal combined in a single cruise.
Navigation Guides
The itinerary is also different from the other Seine cruises. On the bus, you will pass by iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides, the Alexandre III Bridge, the Petit Palais and Grand Palais, the Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and more. They are the big double-decker boats with orange seats sailing on the River. The company Bateaux Mouches has been operating on the Seine River since 1949! The iconic Bâteaux Mouches is today the 4th most visited paid attraction in Paris, only after the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Centre Georges Pompidou.
SELF-DRIVE BOATING
Bateaux Mouches has some of the biggest boats which are easy to spot because they are big, double-decker open-top boats with orange seats. However, deciding on the right cruise may be difficult as there are several companies that provide similar tours along the Seine River. » The Paris City Card tourist card includes a Seine River cruise.
Interview with the president of France Tourisme on the BFM set.
The company offers some of the least expensive Seine River cruises. The main Seine River sightseeing cruises are 2 hours long and combine a canal cruise with a Seine River cruise. While these boats are meant to function as water buses they can still be a good choice for some views of Paris from the river.
Tickets for Seine Sightseeing Cruise from the Eiffel Tower
So in summary, first-timers may want to opt for a classic 1-1.5 hour river cruise, while return visitors could consider a longer or meal-inclusive option. Checking different company offerings for duration and scheduling will ensure the best Seine cruise fit. At the longer end, some full-day and multi-hour cruises are available for those really wanting an immersive experience. These may include multiple stops or activities like museum visits in addition to the Seine sightseeing. The river offers beautiful new perspectives of Paris’ architecture and scenery. Of course, a cruise on the Seine puts spectacular Eiffel Tower views on your doorstep, as well as world-famous museums like the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay.
Dior Spa Cruise: summer wellness experience sets sail in the heart of Paris - LVMH
Dior Spa Cruise: summer wellness experience sets sail in the heart of Paris.
Posted: Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A unique setting, a warm atmosphere and a gourmet meal are all part of our barge restaurants in Paris. During a dinner cruise in Paris, enjoy a unique view of the capital and taste dishes inspired by French gastronomy. Early morning and sunset cruises are peaceful with smaller crowds. Some companies offer half-hour to 45 minute compact mini-cruises. These offer a quick glimpse at the Seine highlights if you’re short on time. Guided cruise provide history and cultural insight into Paris and its famous monuments.
Riverboat cruising
Because the chairs are set up facing one direction, we’d definitely recommend taking the full cruise so you get a chance to fully see both sides of the river bank. Boat access requires being able to climb up and down a set of stairs so you need to be at least somewhat mobile to do the ride. For those who can handle the steps, wheelchairs and walkers can be accommodated on the boat and there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet aboard the boat. The company only operates cruises between April and September and does not offer them daily. Live narration is provided by real guides; however, both sound quality and guide quality can vary. You also have the option to download the commentary in advance and listen to it during your trip with your own smartphone and headphones.
Mobility scooters are usually too heavy to be moved onto the boats. These are hop-on/hop-off boats that make a circuit with 9 separate stops, all near major tourist destinations (e.g., Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre). The Batobus is not really intended for a sightseeing cruise but can still be a good economical choice if you also want to use the Batobus for transportation. An important thing to consider for a Paris night cruise is the sunset time, as the sunset in Paris in summer is quite late.
A private cruise in Paris, an unforgettable evening
With this Seine River cruise, Paris’ top landmarks won’t have more secrets for you as the cruise is complemented by a pre-recorded narration in multiple languages. Port de la Bourdonnais – Close to the Eiffel Tower metro and walking distance southwest of the landmark itself in the 7th arrondissement. It offers quick access for shorts cruises by the iconic tower and surrounding areas. For lovers, the Paris Cruise ticket offers an intimate moment while enjoying a magnificent view of the monuments of the capital. French-waterways.com is the most comprehensive and authoritative online source of inspiration and information about enjoying the rivers and canals of France – on the water or by the water.
For a 1-day pass current prices (as of November 2022) for adult passes (age 16+) are 20 euros and child (age 3 to 15) passes are 10 euros. For a 2-day pass, adult passes are 22 euros and child passes are 11 euros. If you use the boat to do a sightseeing tour, the full circuit takes about 2 hours. If you depart from near the Eiffel Tower, narration is provided through individual audio devices available in 14 languages on the lower part of the boat.
The 1-hour non-stop Discovery sightseeing cruise is currently (as of June 2023) 20 euros for adults, 9 euros for children age 4-11, and free for children under 4. However, if you are looking for just a 1-hour, less expensive tour of the Seine, try another company. I would not recommend Batobus for those in a wheelchair unless you plan to stay on the boat for a round trip ride as only the Eiffel Tower stop is easy to access for wheelchair users. Since there is no guided commentary on board, you are probably better off choosing another boat company. Step-free access via a ramp is available only at the Eiffel Tower stop, and the bottom floor of the boats is wheelchair accessible.
Most boats leave from ports near the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral given their convenient locations. Many cruise companies offer discounted multi-ride packages like a 1-day Big Bus pass with a 1-hour Vedettes du Pont Neuf cruise, making it easy to tour around different Paris neighborhoods. As well as dinner, Bateaux Mouches® also provide lunch cruises or simple boat tours to explore Paris from the Seine. For any booking of 4 people from the same family, 2 adults or seniors and 2 children or youth, we offer 18€ of discount on the total price of the 4 cruises. This time the weather cooperated and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the views.
Open-air or covered seating is available as you listen to prerecorded or live audio commentary to enhance the views. Some companies offer flexible boarding times for independent, hop-on hop-off style cruises during the day which allow you to sightsee at your own pace. Smaller tour boats and private river yacht charters may have more flexibility for custom departure times. Cruise frequency ranges from boats departing every 30 minutes up to every 1-2 hours depending on the season, with more time in between departures earlier/later in the day. In addition to dinner cruises, some cruise companies offer brunch, lunch, and special themed cruises that also serve food. During holidays (e.g., Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Bastille Day), you’ll find a number of special cruises and menus being offered.
Some of the cruises are only for those dining onboard and some also carry regular sightseeing guests as well. The boat is one of the smaller boats on the Seine and also one of the least known, so it can be a good one if you are looking for a cruise with fewer people. The prices, if you don’t want the optional commentary, are some of the lowest. Paris de Vedettes offers pretty much the same standard 1-hour cruise of the Seine as most of the other companies; however their boats are smaller than many of the other companies. However, some people with greater mobility who are in manual wheelchairs and have a person accompanying them to help them navigate the stairs and walkways, may be able to do these cruises.
