The ultimate guide to the best Seine cruise in Paris
Want to try something really special while you’re in Paris, France? How about a boat tour on the Seine river? It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned Parisian or visiting Europe and the City of Light for the first time. A cruise down the Seine lets you rest weary feet while you take in the views and tour the sights—including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
But how do you choose the best Seine cruise in Paris? Because when the time comes to book your tickets for a river tour, you may end up feeling lost between all the cruise companies and packages. The sheer number of tours can seem overwhelming.
Check out a range of the best Seine cruises in Paris and choose the cruise that fits your budget and offers the right duration, start and finish points, company, and type of boat. Ready to see how it all works? All aboard for the ultimate guide to Seine boat tours!
What are the best Seine cruises in Paris?
On a trip to the city for a romantic getaway or a family break? Book a sightseeing cruise on the Seine and learn about the city’s famous monuments, including some of Paris’s iconic sights like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, and Orsay Museum.
Or perhaps you’re looking to break up the weekly routine with a fun evening among work colleagues, or searching for a quirky way to celebrate a birthday or bachelor/bachelorette party in Paris.
Either way, there are Seine boat tours in Paris for each of these occasions and more. Choose whichever boat tour best suits you, whether that’s a lunch cruise, dinner cruise, or drinks cruise, a sunset or night cruise, a live-guided sightseeing tour, or themed tours for couples, families, and birthdays. You can start Seine river cruises at different points around the city, including the Pont d’Issy, Pont d’Alma, Pont Neuf, or at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Seine river cruises also offer different boats, itineraries, pick-up points, and durations. For example, you can choose between pontoons, boat restaurants, “bateaux mouches” (the famous glass-enclosed boats) or “vedettes” (cabin cruisers). And of course, you can book cruises for an hour, a half-day, or more. The price of your boat tour depends on which options you go for.
Book a private river cruise and have that unforgettable moment all to yourselves
A crowded bateau mouche not your style? If you prefer a more intimate feel as you drift through the heart of the city with loved ones or work colleagues, why not book a private Seine river cruise? Just imagine it:
- You and someone special, a glass of champagne in your hand, as you soak up a breathtaking view of the sunset from the cozy, spacious deck of a pontoon. Sound like fun? If so, book your romantic Seine river cruise right here. You can customize every little detail, from dinner to the duration of the cruise to the pick-up and drop-off points. You can even have a bouquet of red roses and a photographer waiting for you on board to make your day out unforgettable.
- Have a friend visiting Paris for the first time and want to give them a tour that’s a bit different? Private river tours on the Seine let you hang out and chat, listen to your favorite music, or enjoy live-guided commentary in French or English from your skipper. It’s up to you.
- Want to surprise clients or colleagues? Organize a meeting or after-work drinks on a private boat and let them experience a cruise that they are not likely to forget in a hurry.
Book a themed river cruise in Paris and raise your glass, celebrate—or pop the question!
A Seine cruise could be a memorable way to celebrate an event with friends, family, colleagues, or your partner.
Got a child who’s obsessed with boats and pirates? Why not celebrate their birthday on a private boat? Have your parents just retired? Mark the occasion with dinner, a tour of the city, and a glass of champagne on the Seine!
Want to pop the question in the heart of Paris, opposite the night-lit Eiffel Tower? Better do it in the quiet, intimate setting of a Seine river cruise than right in the middle of a crowd of tourists on the Champ de Mars.
Organizing a bachelor or bachelorette party in Paris? Hop on board a private boat and raise your glasses with your friends. Or perhaps you just want a romantic meal with your partner? If so, you’ve got cozy or romantic lunch and dinner cruises to suit every style and budget.
Final tips on choosing the best Seine cruise for your day out in Paris
- The itineraries as well as pick-up and drop-off points for Seine cruises depend on the company chosen but can also be tailored to your needs.
- The price of tickets on Seine river tours depends on the company, duration, type of boat, number and age of passengers, and optional extras included. Consider whether you’d feel more comfortable on a bateau mouche, a private boat, or vedette, and whether you’ll need a guide, lunch, dinner, champagne, etc. To give you an idea, you can usually find a spot on a large sightseeing cruise for under 50 euros a head. But expect to pay a few hundred euros a head for dinner cruises or private cruises.
- You can also choose the duration of your Paris boat tour, which can last an hour, two hours, or a whole morning.
- Several companies take online bookings for Seine River tours. To organize your Seine cruise with My Paris River, contact our team directly.
