Our guide to the best time for a Seine river cruise in Paris
Morning or evening? Summer or winter? Autumn or spring? Choosing the best time for a Seine river cruise is never easy. If you plan on taking a boat tour in Paris, France, you have to make some choices. Chief among them is the best time of the day and month of the year to book it. Luckily for you, boat cruises are our specialty at My Paris River. Here are our top tips to picking the best time for a Seine river cruise.
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Start the day the right way with a Seine boat cruise
Are you a morning person? Fancy a bit of adventure from the get-go? If so, a daybreak departure may be the best time for your Seine river cruise. And that’s not just because it’s a great way to kick-start your day. It’s because there is only light traffic on the river in the morning. So you can enjoy your boat cruise of Paris in a quiet, relaxing environment.
Booking a morning departure also leaves the rest of the day open for other activities. You can take in a museum, linger over the sights, stroll around the city, or savor lunch at any of the fantastic restaurants.
Pro tip: Private boat tours are our specialty at My Paris River. Having a boat all to yourself spares you the hassle of having to fend off the crowds of tourists that flock to Paris all year long.
When is the best time for dining on a Seine river cruise?
You can also book river cruises to coincide with lunch or dinner. Many tour companies offer meals on board. Have a look at the tickets and packages available online. You’ll find lunch and dinner options for péniches (barges), vedettes (cabin cruisers), bateaux mouches, and more.
At My Paris River, you can bring food and drinks on board with you. Whether you hanker for a sandwich, sushi, or a salad, savor it while taking in some of the best views that any city has to offer. Our pontoons offer ample seating around a central table. What more do you need to enjoy a meal in comfort?
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Less adventure, more leisure
Are your feet aching from dashing between museums? Is your brain addled from criss-crossing the metro? Why not give yourself a well-earned break as you kick back and relax with an afternoon cruise down the Seine?
And if you like to soak up the sun when the weather’s fine, the afternoon is the time of the day to do it. Just so you know, our boats can be screened off if the sun is too hot or the winter weather is too cold. This protects you from the worst of the elements without impeding your view of the sights on either bank.
Bonus tip: You can postpone or cancel your Seine boat tour if the weather is not cooperating. You don’t pay anything extra. Just make sure to warn us well ahead of time—48 hours before a postponement, or 96 hours before a cancellation.
Bask in the glory of the golden hour
About 1 hour before the sun sets, the sky takes on a warm golden hue as a soft light pervades the air. This is the best time for a Seine river cruise if you want to grab photos of the unique vibe of Paris. So, get snapping and point your camera any which way—at the sights, at your loved ones, or even at yourself!
The golden hour is also ideal if you’re after the perfect ambience for photos of a special occasion. Say you’re organising a photo shoot or wedding photos. Our boats have covers that can be entirely removed to give you a clear shot. They are also large and stable enough to accommodate all your photography equipment. This makes our boats excellent for filming and photography. If you’re interested in this option, contact our team for a custom quotation.
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Paris—City of Light, city of romance
For the ultimate romantic experience, sunset is the best time for your Seine river cruise. Just picture it! Paris under an evening sky of red and pink as you drift by the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Eiffel Tower, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. (Try beating that for romance!)
Another unforgettable experience is to take a night tour of Paris. Nighttime is when the City of Light lives up to its name. It’s when the lights of the city sparkle on the surface of the Seine. You almost feel like you’re in one of Van Gogh’s famous paintings.
Nighttime is also when the Eiffel Tower bursts into life. Once night falls, the Eiffel Tower lights up at the top of the hour, every hour, until 1 in the morning in summer and 12 midnight in winter.
What are the best months of the year for a Seine river cruise?
The busiest period for boat tours is the summer, between June and August. This is the hottest time of the year in France. Also note that many Parisians leave the city in August, making it also one of the quietest times in Paris.
If you’d rather avoid the heavy heat of summer, consider other options like April/May or September/October. Or go to the other extreme and travel to France for the cozy charm of Christmas and winter in the city. All our boats come with covers that protect you from the elements.
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Whatever you do, don’t delay!
Now you know how to pick the best time for a Seine river cruise. Our final top tip is to book your tickets well in advance. This is the only way to ensure that you get your preferred cruise times. You can book private Seine cruises directly on our website. Simply fill out the contact form. Have special requirements? Make sure to mention them in the contact form. We will be back in touch with a custom quotation for your boat cruise.
