Cruising On Paris, an Activity Not To Miss

Paris is an iconic city, a melange of everything artistic and sublime, with a worldwide reputation for excellence in cuisine, fashion, architecture and the fine arts. Cruise to Paris to feel the cool morning air outside Gothic Notre Dame cathedral, and see works from prehistoric to postmodern at the Louvre. A Seine river cruise is a very popular way to see Paris. These short river cruises allow you to take in many of the highlights of the city—the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc.—as you float along the Seine River.

Many of Paris’s most famous and important buildings, bridges, and attractions can be seen from the river. The river viewpoint also allows you to gain some good insight into the city’s history, evolution, and architecture. In fact, the banks of the Seine in Paris were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

First, most Seine cruises last about an hour in duration and stop and end at the same point unless otherwise noted. They also all complete approximately the same circuit although you can check for the exact map for each by going to the companies’ websites. Most companies operate sightseeing river cruises in Paris year round. In addition to regular sightseeing cruises, the majority of these companies also operate dinner cruises (as well as other meals and special event cruises) if you are looking for a meal on board.

While you can buy tickets for most cruises the same day in-person near the dock, you may be able to save money by purchasing in advance. Often tickets are valid for 3 months to 1 year following purchase allowing you to choose the time and date of your Seine cruise. Some of the companies offer cruises seasonally whereas others operate year round. High season is generally from April to September and the low season is from October to March.

One option to discover the most beautiful tours with commentary in Paris with a sightseeing cruise is the Vedettes de Paris. Board your boat at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, for an hour on the Seine (€18 adult / €9 child).

Their boats are equipped with a glass covered main deck, an open upper deck and a bar for you to enjoy a glass of champagne, a sweet crepe or a savoury snack. The sightseeing cruises have commentary in 3 languages (French, English, Spanish), and descriptive pamphlets are available in 9 languages (Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Turkish).

Vedettes de Paris also organizes themed cruises, for adults and children, to discover the Seine in a different way: mysteries of Paris, P’tits Loups, Croisière Buissonnière, the Paris of the Impressionists, Sustainable Development, champagne tasting. With departures every day of the year (except July 14th), the Vedettes de Paris welcomes you from 11am until 9pm on its vessels or on the quayside at the Terrasse des Vedettes.