Many companies offer boat tours in Paris, and it can be hard to choose. So I made a list of the best ones and compared what each cruise offers to help you decide.
Table of Contents
In a Nutshell
The most reliable: Bateaux-mouches
- It is the least expensive one and the one which has the most available slots
The best located: Bateaux parisiens
- The boarding is in front of the Eiffel Tower
The most unusual: Batobus
- A unique concept: a “river” bus
- Travel in Paris and hop off wherever you want while enjoying a nice view
The smaller groups: Vedettes de Paris
- Those are the smallest boats on the Seine for a cruise with a small group
- A real guide leads the visit
The most eco-friendly: Vedettes de Paris
- The company has now a 100% electrical boat for a more ecological cruise
Best Sightseeing Seine River Cruises
These cruises do not include any lunch or dinner. If you want to eat on a boat, you should read this article, where I compare the dinner cruises in detail.
Bateaux-Mouches
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It is impossible to talk about discovery cruises without mentioning the Bateaux-Mouches. Since 1949, its aim has been to “bring you around Paris by taking its most beautiful avenue: the Seine” (Jean Bruel, its founder).
Bateaux-Mouches has six boats for its discovery cruises, each of which has a capacity of 1,000 passengers.
Their cutting-edge technology boats allow you a 360-degree view.
Departure times: During the low season (from October to March), there is a departure roughly every 45 minutes from 10:15 a.m to 10:00 p.m every day of the week. During the high season (from April to September), there is a departure roughly every 30 minutes from 10 a.m to 10:30 p.m every day.
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes for a 15 km cruise of about
Prices: €18 for adults (13 years old and over) and €8 for children (4 years old and over). Free for children under 4.
Snacks on board: no snacks
Departure gate: Pont de l’Alma, a less than 15-minute walk away from the Champs-Élysées
Metro and RER: a 2-minute walk away from Alma-Marceau station (M9), a 12-minute walk away from Franklin-D. Roosevelt (M1) and a 2-minute walk away from RER C Pont de l’Alma
Commentary: French, English, Spanish. Brochures are available in 27 different languages.
What I like:
- The affordable prices
- The flexibility with many seats and slots
Information and Booking (Exclusive: Save 10%+ with a combined ticket to Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Arc de Triomphe, or Montparnasse Tower)
Bateaux Parisiens
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Bateaux Parisiens offers you the opportunity to discover the most famous landmarks of Paris, in modern, fully glazed boats with an exceptional view on the upper decks.
There are toilets for your convenience and free wifi access.
People with reduced mobility are welcome on board.
Toilets for disabled people are available on the dock, in the company’s bar-restaurant, on pontoon number 2.
Departure times: One departure every hour every day, between 10 a.m and 10 p.m
Duration: one hour
Prices:
- €19 per adult
- €9 per child (from 4 to 11) and free for children under 4 and babies.
Snacks on board: no snacks, but the company has a bar-restaurant on the docks
Departure gate: Eiffel Tower
Metro and RER: a 10-minute walk from Bir-Hakeim (M6), an 8-minute walk from Trocadéro (M9) and an 8-minute walk from RER C Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
Commentary: 14 languages on the individual audio guides (included in the price) and a special version for children on the audio guide (in French only) are available. A real travel guide, only available in the lower part of the boat, is also present.
What I like:
- accessible for disabled people
- For children, the Bateaux Parisiens organizes a Miraculous-themed cruise for a cultural and fun activity
Information and Booking (Exclusive: Save 10%+ with a combined ticket to Orsay Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Museum of Man, Rodin Museum, Paris Aquarium, or Montparnasse Tower)
Vedettes du Pont-Neuf
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In 1959, a boat dealer decided to start a cruise business in Paris.
That is when Vedettes du Pont-Neuf was born. It was a major success.
The boats have a capacity of about 300 passengers and an upper deck.
There is a heating system inside to suit every season.
The night cruise (departure at 9:15 p.m) shows you the shining Eiffel Tower. You must not miss that.
Aware of the environmental issues, the company is gradually replacing its boats with electric and hybrid boats that will not pollute the Seine with non-recyclable waste.
Departure times: A departure from 10:45 a.m to 9:45 p.m. In the summertime, there are departures from 10:45 a.m to 10:45 p.m.
Duration: one hour
Prices:
- €17 per adult
- €9 per child (from 4 to 12)
- free for children under 4 and babies.
Snacks on board: crepe or cookie + beverage (€5), sandwich (€7), glass of champagne (€8)
Departure gate: Pont-Neuf, right in the historic centre of Paris, on the Île de la Cité
Metro and RER: a 2-minute walk from Pont-Neuf (M7), a 7-minute walk from Louvre (M1), a 12-minute walk from Cité (M4), an 8-minute walk from RER Châtelet and a 6-minute walk from RER B St-Michel
Commentary: French. With its free mobile app “Vedettes du Pont-Neuf”, you will have access to live commentaries in other languages. You can also print commentaries and itineraries from their website in other languages (English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, Swedish and Danish).
What I like:
- The company’s environmental commitment
- It is possible to eat on board
Batobus
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As its name suggests, the concept of the company is to offer a river bus network.
There are nine stops where you can hop on and off the boat to discover the capital at your own pace.
You pay for a 24-hour pass to hop on and off as much as you want during that time.
You can also get a 48-hour pass if you need more time to visit. If you book online, you will have to print your ticket if you want to embark.
Departure times: Seven days a week, there is a departure every 15 minutes from 10 a.m to 7 p.m (the last departure is at the Tour Eiffel departure gate).
Prices:
- €23 for a 24-hour pass per adult and €13 per child (between 3 and 15 years old).
- €27 for a 48-hour pass per adult and €17 per child.
- Free for children under 3 and babies.
Snacks on board: no snacks
Departure gate: At any of the nine stops
All the stops:
- Tour Eiffel
- Les Invalides
- Musée d’Orsay
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Jardin des Plantes
- Hôtel de Ville
- Louvre
- Champs-Elysées
Subway and RER:
- For the Tour Eiffel departure gate: a 10-minute walk from Bir-Hakeim (M6), an 8-minute walk from Trocadéro (M9), an 8-minute walk from RER Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
- For the Les Invalides departure gate: a one-minute walk from Invalides (M3), a 6-minute walk from Alma-Marceau and Iéna (M9) and a 5-minute walk from RER C Pont de l’Alma
- For the Musée d’Orsay departure gate: a 6-minute walk from Assemblée Nationale (M12) and a 4 minute-walk from RER C Musée d’Orsay
- For the Saint-Germain-des-Prés departure gate: a 4-minute walk from Saint Germain des Prés (M4)
- For the Cathédrale Notre-Dame departure gate: a 5-minute walk from Saint-Michel (M4), a 3-minute walk from Maubert – Mutualité (M10) and a 5-minute walk from RER B Saint-Michel—Notre Dame
- For the Jardin des Plantes departure gate: a 5-minute walk from Jussieu (M7), a 2-minute walk from Jussieu and Gare d’Austerlitz (M10), a 2-minute walk from RER C Gare d’Austerlitz
- For the Hôtel de Ville departure gate: a 6 minute-walk from Hôtel de Ville (M1 and M11)
- For the Louvre departure gate: a 13-minute walk from Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre (M1 or M7)
- For the Champs-Elysées departure gate: a 7-minute walk from Concorde (M1) and a 5-minute walk from Champs-Elysées – Clémenceau
What I like:
- With the pass, you can hop on and off the Batobus as much as you want
- The concept is original
Information and Booking (Exclusive: Save up to 10% with a combined ticket to the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Grand Gallery of Evolution or the Zoo)
Les Vedettes de Paris
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The Vedettes de Paris boats are the smallest cruising boats on the Seine, which is perfect for those who are looking for smaller groups.
A real travel guide will explain the history of Paris landmarks, its secrets and multiple anecdotes about the capital.
It is possible to hop off after 30 minutes to visit the nearby neighbourhoods and to hop on again without paying anything extra.
Departure times: One departure every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Duration: one hour
Prices:
- €20 per adult
- €11 per child (from 4 to 11)
- Free for children under 4 and for babies.
Snacks on board: €8 for a glass of champagne, €5 for a crepe or cookie, €7 for a sandwich + a cookie + a drink
Departure gate: Next to the Eiffel Tower
Metro / RER: a 10-minute walk from Bir-Hakeim (M6), an 8-minute walk from Trocadéro (M9) and an 8-minute walk from RER C Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel
Commentary: French and English. For other languages, please download the free mobile app “Vedettes de Paris”.
What I like:
- The visits are guided by a real person
- The more intimate atmosphere of this cruise
- 100% electric boat, less noise and more ecological!
Green River Cruises
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Green River Cruises is the boutique option for travellers who want Paris all to themselves.
Their cosy pontoon boats (maximum 12 passengers) can be fully privatised, so you choose the music, the route and even the drinks.
Four boats in the fleet already run on silent electric engines, meaning your sunset apéro comes with zero exhaust fumes.
Departure times: Completely flexible – you pick the slot when you book (daytime, golden hour or by night).
Duration: 1 h (Alexandre-III), 1 h 30 (Eiffel Tower) or 2 h (Statue of Liberty).
Prices:
- €330 for 2-6 people (1 h)
- €450 (1 h 30) or €540 (2 h)
- €55–90 per additional passenger up to 12
Snacks on board: Bring your own, or pre-order wine, champagne or a full catering package.
Departure gate: Péniche Playtime (36 quai d’Austerlitz, 13th) or Péniche Les Maquereaux (Quai de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, 4th).
Metro / RER: Gare d’Austerlitz (M5, RER C) or Hôtel-de-Ville (M1) and Châtelet-Les-Halles (RER A, B, D).
Commentary: Your skipper doubles as a guide (French or English on request).
What I like:
- Total privacy – perfect for proposals, birthdays or team drinks
- Ultra-quiet electric propulsion
- You can curate the playlist and bring a picnic
Canauxrama / Paris Canal
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Canauxrama (also marketed as Paris Canal) swaps the wide-open Seine for the leafy intimacy of the Canal Saint-Martin.
Operating since 1985, it’s the cruise Parisians take themselves: past swing bridges, through four locks and beneath the spectacular underground vault of the Bastille before emerging onto the Seine.
Departure times: Daily departures from Port de l’Arsenal at 9:45 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; the “Best of Both Worlds” Canal & Seine loop leaves at 3 p.m.
Duration: 2 h 30 (Old Paris cruise), 2 h (“Best of Both Worlds”) or 1 h 15 on the 100 % electric Rocca II.
Prices:
- From €23 per adult for Canal Saint-Martin
- €25 for the combined Canal + Seine
- Children up to 12 enjoy reduced fares and under-4s sail free.
Snacks on board: Standard cruises come without food, but themed sailings such as “La Parisienne” include champagne and macarons.
Departure gate: Port de l’Arsenal (Métro Bastille) or, for the reverse itinerary, Bassin de la Villette (Métro Jaurès).
Metro / RER: Bastille (M1, 5, 8) or Jaurès (M2, 5, 7); Gare de Lyon (RER A, D) is a 10-minute walk from the Arsenal dock.
Commentary: Live guide on board in French and English; printed cards available in other languages.
What I like:
- The only sightseeing cruise that ventures through Paris’s historic locks and the hidden Bastille tunnel
- Option to sail on the city’s first 100 % electric canal boat
- Tree-lined quays, iron footbridges and street-art views you won’t see from the Seine
Comparison Table
| Company | Departure times | Duration | Prices | Advantages |
| Bateaux-Mouches | Winter: 10:15 a.m.–10:30 p.m., every 40 min Summer: 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m., every 30 min | 1 h 10 | €18 adult €8 child | Cheap, very spacious boats |
| Bateaux Parisiens | Daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m., every hour | 1 h | €19 adult €9 child | Toilets on board, Disabled access, Free Wi-Fi, Audio guides in 14 languages |
| Vedettes du Pont-Neuf | Winter: 10:45 a.m.–9:45 p.m. Summer: 10:45 a.m.–10:45 p.m. (fixed times) | 1 h | €15 adult €7 child | Quiet electric boats, Snacks available, Multilingual mobile app |
| Batobus | Wed–Sun, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., every 15 min | — (hop-on / hop-off) | 24-h pass :€23 adult €13 child | Unlimited hop-on / hop-off, Dogs accepted (conditions apply) |
| Vedettes de Paris | 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m., every 30 min | 1 h | €20 adult €11 child | Live guide (no audio track), Free hop-off / hop-on option, Snacks on board |
| Green River Cruises | Custom schedule – daytime, sunset or night on demand | 1 h • 1 h 30 • 2 h | €55 / €75 / €90 per person* | Fully private pontoon (max 12), Silent electric propulsion, Bring your own picnic or pre-order drinks |
| Canauxrama / Paris Canal | Daily 9:45 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. “Best of Both Worlds” at 3 p.m. | 1 h 15 – 2 h 30 | €23 adult (Canal) €25 adult (Canal + Seine) | Only cruise through Canal Saint-Martin locks & Bastille tunnel, 100 % electric boat option, off-the-beaten-track scenery |
Q&A
Do I have to make a booking for the cruise in advance?
No, it is not compulsory but it is better to do it to be sure to have a seat. You can buy your tickets at the ticket office up to 15 to 20 minutes before boarding.
When do I receive confirmation of my cruise booking?
Immediately.
Are there any stops during the cruises?
No, there are no stops, except for the Batobus company.
Is luggage allowed on board?
Bulky luggage (other than handbags, backpacks and computer bags) is not accepted for the safety of all. Please feel free to leave them in public or private luggage lockers.
Are pets allowed onboard?
No, animals are not accepted, except for guide dogs. However, Batobus does accept dogs as long as they are kept on a leash with a muzzle or in a bag for small dogs.
Are there toilets onboard?
No, except for Bateaux Parisiens (toilets on board and toilets for the disabled on the dock).
Are cruises canceled if it rains or snows?
Snow and rain do not disrupt traffic. However, if the water level is too low or too high, the Batobus boats will not set. But this is extremely rare.
Is it possible to eat onboard?
No, not on the discovery cruises. There are special lunch and dinner cruises but a reservation is required. However, Vedettes de Paris and Vedettes du Pont-Neuf sell snacks on board if you are a bit hungry.
Are there any cruises on Sundays and bank holidays?
All companies have cruises on Sundays and bank holidays, except for government restrictions. However, Bateaux Parisiens company has no cruises after 5 p.m on the second Monday of January.
Do you recommend a day or night cruise?
We recommend the late day cruises, which are unforgettable with the city lights and the setting sun. And if you are lucky, you will see the Eiffel Tower sparkle (every hour for 10 minutes when it’s dark).
Can I cancel a cruise and get a refund?
You can get a refund if you cancel 72 hours in advance.
Can I change the date of a booking?
Yes, it is possible. You must make the request 72 hours (or at the latest 24 hours) before boarding. The new date must not exceed 6 months after the initial date and will be assigned according to the availability of the companies.
With a passion for travel and having visited over 50 countries, Dorian is eager to share his favorite spots and expert tips to help you explore Paris and France like a local.
