But How Does A Paris Pass Work
Well, you buy a Paris pass that matches the number of days youll stay in Paris. If your stay is 3-days long, then buy a 3-days long pass. Passes are available from 2 to 6 consecutive days and auto-activate when you visit your first attraction. Its that simple!
However, keep in mind that you can visit an attraction only once!
Seine River Cruises In Paris Itinerary & Map
The itinerary of these River Seine cruises is very similar, covering the part of the river that goes through the central Arrondissements of Paris, from the Eiffel Tower in Paris 7 to Ile de Saint Louis in Paris 4.
Boats go downstream following the Seines Left Bank, and they turn after Ile de Saint Louis to go upstream following the Seines Right Bank.
Along the way, visitors can admire the following top sights: the Eiffel Tower, Assemblée Nationale, Musée dOrsay, Institut de France, Cité de la Mode, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame, Conciergerie, Concorde, Grand Palais, and Palais Chaillot. With some companies, and usually with the Seine River Dinner Cruises, the boats sail further to the Statue of Liberty.
Choosing The Best Seine River Cruise For You
On our best Paris to Normandy river cruises, youll enjoy the art and architecture of Paris plus see stunning châteaus, commemorate the turning point for WWII and stroll the gardens that inspired Monet.
Best For First Timers – Rendezvous on the Seine
Seeking your first meet up with Paris and the northern French countryside? Then the 10-day Rendezvous on the Seine is for you. This idyllic journey begins as you board the ms Sapphire for two nights docked in the City of Light. Highlights of your Paris sojourn include a Tauck Exclusive: a private, after-hours tour of the Musée du Louvre, as well as a guided visit of Château de Versailles. Prepare to be dazzled by the splendor of Louis XIVs country home!
Explore our Family Fun Along the Seine: Paris to Normandy, one of our best France Family Vacations.
Experienced Traveler – Cruising the Seine, Plus London & Paris
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Where And How To Buy Tickets For The Seine River Cruises
Even though you can buy your Seine cruise tickets on-site at the ticket booths along the river, I strongly advise purchasing your tickets in advance. You save yourself from queues, waiting time, and hassle.
Especially if you plan to treat yourself with a Seine River dinner cruise or lunch cruise, or an illumination cruise after sunset. Those are easily sold out and need to be reserved in advance!
You can purchase your tickets hassle-free in advance and online. Simply select the cruise of your choice and the options if applicable, and proceed to check out.
Youll receive a confirmation email with a mobile voucher. Simply show it when boarding and youre ready to cruise!
Paris River Cruise Combo Tours
Parisian tourists love combo tours which include a cruise on River Seine for three reasons:
1. Since the Paris cruise is usually a 1-2 hour activity, tourists get to add one more activity/attraction to the days itinerary
2. Combo tours arecheaper than if you book the activities individually
3. Some of these combo tours come along with a talented Parisian guide, and the tourists love listening to stories from a local
The most popular Paris river combo tour is the one that offers a visit up the Eiffel Tower and then follows it up with a Sightseeing Cruise on the Seine.
Some prefer to make it a two-day itinerary by adding a HOHO bus tour of Paris to the Sightseeing Cruise and Eiffel Tower visit. This combo tour is most popular with tourists who are in Paris for a brief holiday.
Visitors on a romantic holiday prefer to go on a nighttime Seine cruise in Paris. They choose either Crazy Horse show + night time Sightseeing cruise or the costlier Dinner Cruise + Eiffel Tower + Moulin Rouge combination.
Tourists who love art prefer the Louvre Museum + River Cruise tour combination.
For families traveling with kids, we highly recommend the Family city tour + Sightseeing cruise tour.
The local guide stays with you playing games and telling exciting local stories to your kids all through this tour.
Tourists who love biking prefer the Night tour of Paris on bicycle + Cruise combo. One gets to explore the City of Lights after dark in this five-hour tour.
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Seine River Sightseeing Cruises
Sightseeing cruises travel on the Seine travel past several popular sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Parliament, Musée dOrsay, and Notre Dame Cathedral, amongst many others.
Each cruise features recorded audio commentary that is played onboard the cruise and usually comes in several different languages.
Most of these tours run up until 21:00 or 22:00 at night, making them both daytime and nighttime sightseeing tours.
Seine River Cruises Travel Tips
- Depending on the river cruise line, you can either secure a bike onboard or experience cycling in cities, such as Rouen, by using bikes from a local bike outfitter. If you want to bike, make sure you know about access to cycles beforehand.
- It is usually a good idea to get to the starting point of your river cruise destination early. That way, you will feel less stressed and have more time to acclimate yourself to your new surroundings and activities.
- Always carry some Euros with you to ensure you have enough money to tip waiters and drivers on your trip.
- Make sure you have the following items for your Seine River cruise trip: power converters and strips comfortable walking shoes rain gear memory cards for your camera luggage tags and a tote bag.
- Only pack what you need, and make sure you place items that must be accessed quickly at the top of your travel bag.
- Seine River cruises normally run from March to December, with the shoulder seasons of March and April and November and December being preferable for beating the crowds and enjoying reduced pricing.
- Before your river cruise, familiarize yourself with some general French phrases, so you can feel more comfortable when seeing the sights and communicating.
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Private Seine Boat Tour
Craft your own Seine River experience and book this private Seine boat tour for 4 people maximum with a personal skipper. Enjoy the beauty of Paris main sights and the River Seine while sipping a glass of wine.
You can bring your own food and wine for a picnic or a French apéritif, or you can purchase them as an add-on during the booking process.
The itinerary of this Seine boat cruise is longer as it starts in the west of Paris. This allows you to view Ile-Saint-Germain and Ile-aux-Cygnes with the Statue of Liberty. If you are looking for a Paris river tour with the maximum of privacy, this is it.
- Duration: 2 hrs 30 min
- Departure /arrival point: 36 Quai Alphonse le Gallo, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
- Options: a bottle of champagne, extra wine.
Seine River Cruise Itineraries
There is one main Seine itinerary, running between Paris and Caudebec/Honfleur .
Not all river cruises go all the way north to Honfleur proper, so check your line options carefully. Likewise, not all ships are small enough to dock in the middle of Paris so if walking around the city right from your ship is important to you, double check where the vessel docks.
In a region so richly endowed with attractions, shore excursion options vary widely, and operators make changes by adding longer stays in key ports like Rouen and tagging on land stays in Paris at either end of the cruise. So, you could take more than one Seine cruise and do something a bit different each time.
Starting at the Paris end, you first call at Vernon, for tours to Giverny and Monet’s famous garden. If you have already done that, you can opt to see Bizy Castle, famed for its imposing 18th century facade and Baroque water gardens.
Other calls include Les Andelys , Conflans and medieval Rouen, where Joan of Arc met her painful death in 1431.
From Caudebec and Honfleur, you can explore the Normandy beaches or tour the Normandy coast and its Belle Epoque resorts, Deauville and Trouville. It’s a longer drive to the beaches from Caudebec about two hours round-trip.
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Overview Of The Seine River In Paris
The Seine River pulls water from a little place known as or . It runs all the way across France to the English Channel. Where is Sources de la Seine? According to Wikipedia the Seine is 775km or roughly 482 miles from the English Channel running almost clear across France. The source of this river is only about 171km from Switzerland!
At the source it would be hard to believe that this little stream turns into the powerful river flowing through Paris and many other French cities. That said, run-off water from Frances fertile and wet countryside builds up which adds to the size of the river as it flows! You cant fight physics!
Best Cruise For Children
The Bateaux Parisians Enchanted Cruise is a one-hour tour with actors describing the history of Paris in song and stories. Throughout the cruise, two elves, Lila and Philou, engage children by dancing through the aisles and asking silly questions. The cruise in in French, but my English-speaking children could follow along with the elves’s carefree pantomime and singing.
Entertain and Educate Your Child on an Enchanted Bateaux Parisians Cruise.
A Paris institution, the Enchanted Cruise, has entertained over 350,000 locals and tourists over the last 11 years. The price for the Bateaux Parisians Enchanted Cruise is 11 for one adult and one child.
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The Famous Love Lock Bridge Of Paris
ParisPonts des Arts is one of the most famous bridges in the world which would appear a mystery at first glance. Bridges like Pont Neuf of Paris or the Golden Gate Bridge are famous due to their architectural prowess and beauty. On the other hand, Ponts des Arts is a rickety metal foot-bridge running from the Left Bank to the Right bank.
Why so famous? The answer is simply Love! Read about it more in our article on Paris Love Lock Bridge.
Our Best Guided Tours of Paris
Likely to Sell out
Privileged Access Eiffel Tour with Champagne on the Seine
Sometimes the most amazing moments happen by chance. Other times, they are orchestrated by professionals. Our Eiffel tower tour cruises by the famed monument as it lights up and you drink champagne. After, youll have tickets to enter the tower and ascend to the 2nd level with an elevator. Admissions included and well take care of the details you simply pay and show up!
Frequency Of The Cruise
While booking Seine River sightseeing cruise tickets, you dont need to select any time.
On the day of yourcruise, you can land up at the departure point, show your ticket and board thenext boat.
Thats why it is essential to book a Paris river cruise with companies offering cruises at a regular frequency.
During the peak months , the popular cruise companies usually have one boat leaving the shores every 30 minutes.
During the non-peakmonths of October to March, a cruise sets sail every hour.
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How To Choose The Best Seine River Cruise
Choosing the best Seine River cruise can be a bit tricky since most tour companies offer similar itineraries. However, there are a number of factors that you should consider before purchasing a cruise ticket. Aside from the price, duration, and boat size, here are additional items you should take into consideration:
Vip & Exclusive Cruises
A Paris Insiders Guide Favourite
If you know us, it won’t be a surprise to hear that we like to be treated special, particularly when relaxing in the city we love the most. So we’ve included a curated selection of Seine River cruise VIP events that involve special treatment or exclusive activities, such as dinner on a private yacht, a VIP dinner cruise with a private city illuminations tour, and a 2-day stay on a luxury yacht.
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Why Youll Love Taking A Seine River Cruise While In Paris
If youre still unsure as to whether or not you should take a river cruise along the Seine, then here are a few points to consider: firstly, you can enjoy many of Paris major sights from the comfort of your seat. Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée dOrsay, and even some of the Louvre Museum are all visible from the water.
Another reason to sit back, relax, and book a river cruise includes the fact that this is the kind of activity that can be done in any season and most weathers come rain or shine, cold or heat, this is one thing to do in Paris throughout the year. Though Parisian picnics are indeed enjoyable and another great way to enjoy the banks of the River Seine, theyre not too fun in the rain!
Next, its not too expensive to book a cruise and is possible on plenty of budgets, especially if youre planning to mix up your Parisian itinerary with some of the best free things to do in Paris. Otherwise, youll get an entirely new perspective of the city and the chance to dinner dine on the boat or simply soak up the attractions!
Whichever cruise you end up selecting, its worth noting that, by and large, every boat takes roughly the same route. As a rule of thumb, the itinerary is as follows: boats begin on the left-bank close to Île Saint Louis. The cruises then sail alongside the left-bank, passing under 20 bridges en route!
Bateaux Parisiens Seine River
This Paris dinner cruise takes passengers on a night out aboard a luxurious Bateaux Parisiens riverboat. Get cozy in the onboard dining room and relish in a grandiose 3-course meal as well as complimentary wine.
The Bateaux Paris boat dinner departs from Port de la Bourdonnais and lasts approximately 2,5 hours.
- Complimentary champagne whilst waiting to board for trips after 8pm
- Cruise along the Seine
- Pick-up and drop-offs from hotels
- Guided Narration
Take-in sights of the most prominent Paris attractions lit up in the usual fashion of Paris nightlife. Furthermore, this Seine dinner cruise includes champagne and vibrant live music on certain 8:30 pm departures. This is possibly the best dinner cruise in Paris for charming date nights and family events.
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Your Guide To Visiting Paris
While visiting the City of Lights may not be just as you expect after watching An American in Paris, a vacation in Paris is like nothing else. With so many tourist spots to explore, you may find it difficult to plan everything youd like to see and experience into just one vacation. I guess that just means youll have to come back to see this beautiful city again.
Our travel guide below can help you plan a vacation to Paris whether you are staying for 2 days or 10 and whether its your first visit or fifth.
Seine River Cruise Tour + Eiffel Tower
Do we really need to introduce you to the Eiffel Tower? The 1,063ft tall tower was inaugurated on March 31st, 1889 by its engineer, Gustave Eiffel. That was 130 years ago! Three levels are opened for visitors with restaurants on the two first ones. It offers a spectacular and breath-taking view of Paris. With more than 250 million of people since its inauguration, its the most visited-paid monument in the world! Starting at 69 for a combined offer, be one of them too!
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Paris At The First Lodges
Climb aboard Paris very first fully electric boat on this unique dinner cruise. Indulge in the intrinsically Parisian experience of dinner along the Seine.
This tour includes a 4-course or 5-course dinner of your choosing. As well as guaranteed window seating to gaze at the night-time sights. With no music as well as dim, ambient lighting, this Paris river cruise feels like a play.
- Gratuities
- Guided narration
This is a quiet, intimate tour with the most gorgeous Parisian cuisine to boot. Bless your taste buds while dining on high-class meals and watch the lights and sights of the river unfold in front of you like the theatrical opening of a curtain.
Where To Buy Seine Cruise River Tickets
Seine River cruise tickets can be bought online and on the spot at ticket offices. Most companies offer online bookings for convenience so all you need to do is to show up with your online ticket or confirmation email. Booking on the spot is also okay, but take note that you might not get your desired cruise time depending on the number of tourists. It is also highly recommended to purchase tickets online for a lunch or dinner cruise since you might want to have the menu adjusted if you have special dietary concerns or allergies.
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Bateaux Parisiens Lunch And Dinner Cruise
Aside from its sightseeing tours, Bateaux Parisiens also offer lunch and dinner cruises. Made from fresh and seasonal produce, they serve mostly traditional French cuisine. Enjoy this gastronomic experience as you cruise along the Seine River in Paris on board your glass boat. As you enjoy your lunch or dinner, be serenaded by the live band. The lunch cruise starts at 12:45 while the dinner cruise starts at 18:15 and 20:30. Bateaux Parisiens lunch and dinner cruise also offer special menus for events like Valentines Day, Bastille Day, Christmas, and New Year.
Departure Point: Port de la BourdonnaisLanguages Offered: Commentary is not available Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible toilets are available.Extras: Vegetarian options and menus for special dietary needs are available as long as they are informed upon booking