ON THE RIVER · RIVER SIGHTSEEING CRUISES IN FRANCE

5 River Sightseeing Cruises in France to Build a Day Around

5 river trips  ·  from $20 a head

The 5 best river sightseeing cruises in France you can board this week, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason; start there.

Paris: Seine River Sightseeing Cruise by Bateaux Mouches - Starting at Port de la Conférence near Pont de l’Alma
France River Cruises, Paris River Cruises, River Cruises, River Sightseeing Cruises, River Sightseeing Cruises in France, River Sightseeing Cruises in Paris, Seine River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Paris: Seine River Sightseeing Cruise by Bateaux Mouches

1.Seine River Sightseeing Cruise by Bateaux Mouches

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,461 reviews · 365 days · from $20Our pick

Board at Pont de l’Alma for a 70-minute sightseeing cruise past the Louvre, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, and Eiffel Tower. Choose the sheltered main deck or open upper deck, then use the smartphone audio guide for commentary in several languages. Evening departures add sparkling Eiffel Tower views, while the optional Sparkling cruise includes champagne.

“All good :) we departed on time and got to see all the main spots. The cruise was good, and definitely not as crowded as the other companies’ cruises that we found along the way. Would recommend”

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Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux Parisiens - Parliament, Musée d’Orsay, and the Left Bank
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Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux Parisiens

2.Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux Parisiens

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 2,374 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $20

Cruise for about an hour from the Eiffel Tower, passing the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, Pont Neuf, and more. Choose your departure time on the booked date, then listen to prerecorded commentary in 14 languages by audio guide or smartphone. Indoor and outdoor seating make this a useful Paris introduction in most weather.

“The Boat ride was quite an interesting one, my family loved it. The narrator did a good job with information on historic events around there. The Eiffel Tower view from the river is beautiful.”

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Bateaux Mouches Sightseeing Cruise on the Seine River in Paris - What the route shows you from the Seine
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Bateaux Mouches Sightseeing Cruise on the Seine River in Paris

3.Bateaux Mouches Sightseeing Cruise on the Seine River in Paris

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 818 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $20

Take a 70-minute sightseeing cruise from Port de la Conférence near Pont de l’Alma. Choose an indoor seat or open rooftop deck, listen to recorded commentary, and pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Hôtel de Ville, Les Invalides, and the Eiffel Tower. Boats run every 30 to 45 minutes from 10am to 9pm, with no fixed time slot required.

“The only thing negative is the line waiting for the boat. People pushing and shoving then running onto boat. The rest of the trip was wonderful. We got on at 9:15. Just in time for the Eiffel Tower sparkle at 10.”

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Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien - The route from the Eiffel Tower to Île Saint-Louis
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Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien

4.Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 750 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $84

Start at Le Bistro Parisien beside the Eiffel Tower, then choose dinner or a one-hour Seine cruise first. See Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Neuf, and Parisian bridges from the water. The package includes a three-course meal, one beer, wine, or soft drink, and an audio app in 11 languages.

“Food was delicious and cruise was fun (a little crowded but what do you expect cruising down the Seine). As other reviewers pointed out dinner and cruise are separate, so if you're aware of that you'll be fine. Thw company does offer a dinner cruise if you want it, but for the price it's much better to do the dinner and then cruise. And food was fantastic!”

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Paris Seine River Sightseeing Guided Cruise Vedettes du Pont Neuf - Finding the boat below Pont Neuf
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Paris Seine River Sightseeing Guided Cruise Vedettes du Pont Neuf

5.Paris Seine River Sightseeing Guided Cruise Vedettes du Pont Neuf

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 718 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $19Best value

Board below Pont Neuf for a one-hour Seine cruise with live commentary in English and French. See Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Alexandre III, Les Invalides, and the Eiffel Tower from the water. Choose an open-air seat or a sheltered lower deck, and aim for an evening departure to catch the tower sparkling.

“This tour gave a great relatively quick tour of the highlights of Paris. It was a very pleasant boat ride, narrated in person. Very good value compared to some tours.”

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