Paris Boat Tours

On prices: this page lists who runs what and where each boat leaves from, but not what it costs. Seine cruise pricing changes every season and varies by operator, by time of day and by whether a meal is included, and every operator sells cheaper online in advance than at the pier. Check the operator's own site, linked below, for the current fare.

When a river runs through the heart of a city, that almost always means sightseeing by boat is an excellent idea - and in Paris that's absolutely true. Taking a Paris boat tour during your stay gives you a completely different perspective on the city, one you can't get by staying on land. There are many options for boat tours on the Seine these days. Some of them are more geared for tourists with limited time in Paris, others are more often frequented by locals (yes, there are boat tours the Parisians take, too!). Here are your options for boat tours in Paris. >> Browse your options for Paris boat tours online and get discounts by booking in advance

Seine Sightseeing Tours

These boat tours are typically more brief, and often have running tour-guide commentary available via headsets or loudspeakers. Some companies have open-top boats, offering outdoor seating (delightful in nice weather). These tours are aimed at tourists, so that's who else you'll be sharing the boat with. Some companies offer tours more geared toward kids, too, so look for that when you're browsing your options. The largest boat tour companies are:

• Bateaux Mouches - The most famous and longest-running boat tour company in Paris, they offer tours both with meals (lunch or dinner) or without. Tours depart from Pont de l'Alma.
• Bateaux Parisiens - They offer tours both with meals (lunch or dinner) or without. Tours depart from Port de la Bourdonnais (near Eiffel Tower) or Quai de Montebello (near Notre Dame).
• Vedettes du Pont Neuf - They offer only tours without meals, but have both daytime and nighttime cruises. Tours depart from the Ile de la Cite.
• Vedettes de Paris - They offer tours both with meals (snacks/light meal or dinner) or without. Tours depart from Port de Suffren.

If you'd like a more DIY tour experience, you can hop on the Batobus - Paris' public transportation on the Seine. It stops at eight points along the river, so you can hop on and off as you like, and you can pick out landmarks with the help of a map or guidebook - or you can just enjoy floating down the Seine without having running commentary in your ear. The Batobus sells a one-day and a two-day pass, at the piers and online.

Seine Dinner Cruises

Some of the companies listed above run both dinner cruises as well as regular sightseeing tours without meals, but other companies specialize in dinner cruises - they run nothing else. Two of these companies tend to be more frequented by Parisians - usually either when celebrating something or entertaining out-of-town guests - but don't worry if you don't speak French, because the staff speaks English. With these dinner cruises, the focus is certainly more on the food than the "tour" aspect of the experience - there isn't going to be a running tour-guide commentary, for instance.

• Capitaine Fracasse - They offer only dinner cruises. Tours depart from Pont de l'Alma. (Frequented mainly by Parisians.)
• Marina de Paris - They offer both lunch and dinner cruises. Tours depart from Quai Anatole France (near the Musee d'Orsay).
• Paris-en-Scene - They offer both brunch and dinner cruises. Tours depart from Pont Saint Michel (near Notre Dame). (Frequented mainly by Parisians.)
• Yachts de Paris - They offer mostly private event tours, but they do have a dinner cruise option individuals can book. Tours depart from Port Henri IV.

photos by PhillipC, rebekah.grmela, ayustety