Best cruise and dinner cruise on the Seine in Paris

The emblematic activity on the water in Paris is cruising in a Bateau Mouche on the Seine at nightfall when the city lights up. We go through the islands; we see Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Palace. Several boats do this cruise. We looked for the best cruise on the Seine in Paris and the best dinner cruise.

1. The cruises on the Seine in Paris

There are 3 main categories of cruises on the Seine:

1. Sightseeing cruises on the Seine only. It lasts about 1 hour and operates all day long, at all hours.
2. Cruises on the Seine and the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris. It’s a more extended trip; it lasts about 2 hours and passes through the canal locks.
3. Cruises with dinner, and sometimes also live music. The cruise lasts longer, between 1h30 and 2h30.

Several companies offer Bateau Mouche cruises in Paris. The best known are Vedettes de Paris, Bateaux Parisiens or Bateaux Mouches. Each company has its style of fly boat, always with large bay windows to see Paris well and an outdoor platform.

Bateau Mouche. The Bateau Mouche is a style of boat typical of Paris and France. The first tourist boat in Paris dates from the Universal Exhibition of 1837!

1.1 Sightseeing cruises on the Seine in Paris

All sightseeing cruises do the same tour, and they pass by all the iconic spots in the city. The prices are also quite close. However, each company has a different starting point, so choose the one that best suits your stay.

• Vedettes de Paris: see prices
• Bateaux Parisiens: see prices
• Bateaux Mouches: see prices
• Batobus (hop-on hop-off): see prices

There are also slightly more original cruises, such as the one that includes a tasting of several champagnes (see availabilities here)

Places where the cruise passes:

• Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower dominates the city of Paris. From the water, we discover it from another angle. Initially, it was a temporary construction for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. But it remained!
• Musée d’Orsay. The Musée d’Orsay is located in the former Orléans station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, like the Eiffel Tower. Today it is the largest museum in the world for Impressionism.
• Palais du Louvre. It was the primary residence of the kings of France for almost 300 years before they moved to the Palace of Versailles. Today, it is one of the largest museums in the world.
• Ile de la Cité, Ile Saint Louis. These 2 islands are exceptional, many want to live there, but real estate is costly! The best, Ile Saint-Louis, represents the end of the cruise on the Seine in Paris, where the boat turns around.
• Notre Dame de Paris. The Cathedral of Paris is also an emblem, thanks to the novel Victor Hugo. We prefer other churches in Paris, like the Panthéon, or other Cathedrals like the ones in Chartres, Reims, or Orléans.
• Hotel de Ville. The town hall of Paris.
• Pont Alexandre III. The most beautiful bridge in the city is a gift from Russia to France to symbolize the friendship between these people. It was also built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900.
• Pont des Arts. It is a small pedestrian bridge, but it is known because many young people meet there in the evening. And lovers come here to mark their love with a padlock. It’s a beautiful place because you can see the tip of the Ile de la Cité, with the two arms of the Seine.
• Hôtel des Invalides. You can see it a bit far from the Seine, but you can recognize it by its golden dome. From the outset, this building has housed wounded and disabled French soldiers.
• Trocadéro and the Palais Chaillot. The Palais de Chaillot is also a building built for the Universal Exhibition, but the one in 1937. It is in the direct line to the Eiffel Tower.
• Grand Palais. It is an ample space that hosts exhibitions or events. Once again, it was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900.
• Jardin des Tuileries. The garden just in front of the Palais du Louvre
• National Assembly. One of the most important buildings in France is the Parliament, where the laws are made.

Some longer cruises go down the Seine to the Statue of Liberty in Paris. A replica of the famous New York statute, a gift from France to the United States of America. Click here to see our unusual places in Paris.

Water bus – Batobus. Batobus is a “bus” on the water. It is not a cruise; it is used to go from one place to another. For example, to go easily from Notre-Dame de Paris to the Eiffel Tower, you can take the Batobus. It will always be nicer and prettier than the RER C! It’s not a cruise, but the boats are glazed and offer a panoramic view.

Audio guide. An audio guide is usually included, but a special kind: it is a smartphone app. You have to use your phone and headphones. It’s pleasant to use its own equipment. On the other hand, it can be more complicated with children.

Best Seine River Dinner Cruise in Paris

There are 2 services for a dinner cruise on the Seine in Paris:

• 1st serve. Dinner is early, before 7 pm. The boat trip is also shorter.
• 2nd Course: Dinner is later, from 9 pm. It’s usually a longer boat ride with live music as well. It’s a more expensive option as well.

Best dinner cruise on the Seine in Paris: 1st or 2nd service. We explain later that the best time to cruise is in the evening at nightfall. So we prefer the 1st service in winter when the sunset is earlier, and the 2nd service in the evening, when the day lasts longer.

Menu on the dinner cruise. The menu of a dinner cruise is of high quality and typically French. We are talking about Foie Gras, Coquille Saint-Jacques, Beef, or even several kinds of cheese.

Different companies offer a somewhat similar service:

• Bateaux Mouches: see prices
• The Marina: see the prices
• Paris City Vision: see rates

Cruises on the Seine and the canal

Choosing a cruise on the canal and the Seine in Paris is very different. We spend most of the time on the channel, which is much narrower than the Seine. The cruise usually ends at Parc de la Villette, at the far end of Paris.

The boats are often smaller than the ones on the Seine.

• With Paris Canal, see prices here or even here.

Popular Paris? There are no historical monuments on the route, only ordinary buildings. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable ride. The quays of the Canal Saint-Martin are always crowded in the evening, and this little arm of water under the trees is very romantic.

Locks. The canal rises north, so you pass several locks during the cruise. It’s pretty unusual to take a boat lift.

Underground. Part of the canal cruise in Paris is underground. The canal is covered between Place de la Bastille and Rue du Faubourg du Temple (between République and Belleville). It’s quirky, but it’s also a less enjoyable part.

When to take the cruise on the Seine

The best time to take a cruise on the Seine is in the early evening when the sun begins to set, and the buildings of Paris begin to light up. Paris is a very well-lit city. All the monuments are very well highlighted, and we discover a different city at night.

The show’s highlight is when you pass in front of the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Splendid 🤩.

Good to know. You can enjoy a free Paris cruise with “Vedettes de Paris” on your birthday. Go directly to the ticket booth, show your passport, and complete a form. More information here.