What is the best Seine River cruise? Here what you need to know!
- By: Amelia Hayes
Sightseeing in Paris through the Seine River offers an unbeatable panorama of the City of Light. From famous monuments to lesser-known architectural gems, river cruises have become what is today a classic Parisian adventure. We examine four big boat companies – Bateaux Parisiens, Bateaux Mouches, Vedettes de Paris, and Batobus Paris – to help you choose your perfect Seine outing. Let us start.
Bateaux Parisiens
Bateaux Parisiens offers sightseeing and dinner cruises on the Seine. Their sightseeing cruises take an hour from the foot of the Eiffel Tower and include guided commentary and the option of a smartphone audio guide. Families can even enjoy special quiz cruises with study sheets.
Their dining program provides 12 assorted:45 PM two-hour lunch cruises, 6:15 PM 75-minute early dinner cruises, and 8:30 PM two and a half hour premium dinner cruises. There is live music at the 8:30 PM dinner cruise, and French cuisine in the traditional style is prepared fresh onboard. Prices start at €95, with special Valentine’s Day menus and celebration packages available, which may consist of champagne, photos, and roses.
The cruise visits Paris’ highlights like the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Les Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, and the Louvre, though itineraries may vary depending on the state of rivers.
What Do Guests Say? Bateaux Parisiens earns 4 of 5 stars in nearly 10,000 TripAdvisor reviews. Guests rave about the romantic atmosphere, food quality, attentive service, live music, and complimentary wine. Window seats receive particular mention for panoramic views.
Bateaux Mouches
One of the most iconic of Paris’s river cruise companies, Bateaux Mouches has been operating Seine tours since 1949. Their glass-enclosed boats offer sightseeing cruises with commentary, along with diverse dining cruises that range from light lunchboxes to upscale dinner services. Their hallmark cruises include weekend lunch cruises, dinner cruises at night, and celebration cruises for special events like New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and Bastille Day with fireworks viewing.
The firm’s central Paris base makes an ideal starting point for tours of the city’s landmarks, with itineraries taking in the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Pont Alexandre III. Their established reputation and wide range of service offerings make them a popular choice with tourists and locals alike looking for Seine River activities.
What Did Visitors Say? Recent TripAdvisor reviews (4 out of 5 stars from 8,572 reviews) are favorable. Favorable reviews praise romantic atmosphere, live violin and piano music, and attentive service. Window seats are particularly praised for landmark views.
Vedettes de Paris
Vedettes de Paris presents one-hour Seine River activities with guided tours, aperitif evening cruises, and family-oriented excursions, each costing €20. Their latest feature is a 100% electric boat that delivers ecotourism tours.
They set sail from Port de Suffren close to the Eiffel Tower and provide guided commentary on main attractions and have a waterside café serving local drinks. The company provides combination tickets with bus tours and also special winter evening cruises with lighted monuments.
What Did Visitors Say? Based on TripAdvisor reviews (4 of 5 stars from 1,748 reviews), visitors appreciate particularly the multi-language commentary by knowledgeable guides, small boat intimacy, and excellent viewing. Reviews state that blankets are available on cold days and onboard refreshments for convenience. Those who do an evening cruise praise the stunning lighted views of Paris sights.
The firm’s electric boat venture gets good reviews for its quiet, environmentally friendly travel. Being situated at the base of the Eiffel Tower makes it convenient to access and provides great photo opportunities. Most reviewers suggest reserving evening cruises for the best views of illuminated monuments.
Batobus Paris
Batobus offers a unique hop-on-hop-off Seine boat tour with nine stops at major Paris attractions. For €23 (adult) or €13 (child), visitors get unlimited 1-day access, with the option of a 2-day pass.
Key features:
- Stops include Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Tour Eiffel, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and Notre Dame.
- Flexible boarding and alighting during operational hours.
- Substitute for conventional public transportation.
- Emphasis on key tourist destinations
What Do Visitors Say? Based on TripAdvisor reviews (4 out of 5 stars based on 3,716 reviews), visitors like Batobus as a more relaxed option compared to the regular hop-on-hop-off buses. Reviews cite the air-conditioned boats, convenient access to major attractions, and value of the two-day pass option.
Recent reviewers remark on service disruption due to high water levels and some difficulty locating stops. While most praise the scenery and convenience, some remark on real-time scheduling problems and short operating hours.
More useful information about Seine River Cruise in Paris
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- Paris hop-on hop-off river cruise – The best way to travel in Paris!
We are a group of travelers who love to explore and write about Paris. Over the years, we have gained extensive experience with cruising on the Seine River in Paris. Here, you could find all the essential information you need to know about Seine River cruises, including the different types of cruise, prices, tickets, operating hours, departure points, and many more. Bon voyage!