On the river
The best cruises on the Seine River
Sightseeing, evening, Batobus or dinner: here is which Seine cruise fits you, with honest advice on value, finding the right pier and crowded decks.
See our 8 picks
The best Seine river cruise for a first visit is a one-hour sightseeing cruise from the Eiffel Tower, from €18. The evening departures show the city lit up.
Want to stop along the way? The Batobus lets you hop on and off at 9 stops for a day, from €23. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 8 picks for a Seine river cruise
Seven cruises with free cancellation, then one evening cruise that cannot be refunded. Most leave from the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
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from €18 per person Our top pick 1 hour 4.4 (92,119) reviews on GetYourGuide
One-hour cruise from the Eiffel Tower
A one-hour loop on a modern boat from Port de la Bourdonnais. You pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre and more. Commentary comes through a phone app.
Best for First-timers
Check availability: One-hour cruise from the Eiffel Tower on GetYourGuide -
from €25 per person 1 hour 4.4 (26,154) reviews on GetYourGuide
Evening cruise with music
One hour at night on a quiet electric boat, with a music playlist. You can add a glass of champagne, wine or beer. It leaves from the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Best for Couples
Check availability: Evening cruise with music on GetYourGuide -
from €18 per person 1 hour 4.4 (12,854) reviews on GetYourGuide
Cruise with a crêpe
A one-hour cruise from the Eiffel Tower, plus a fresh crêpe with Nutella or sugar near the tower. The ticket is valid for one month.
Best for Families
Check availability: Cruise with a crêpe on GetYourGuide -
from €18 per person 1 hour 4.3 (517) reviews on GetYourGuide
Illuminated night cruise
One hour on the river after dark, from the Eiffel Tower. You sit inside behind glass or out on the open deck. An audio guide comes in 14 languages.
Best for Night owls
Check availability: Illuminated night cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €20 per person 1 hour 4.3 (4,779) reviews on GetYourGuide
Day or sunset cruise with a treat
A one-hour cruise at the time you choose, sunset included. You get an ice cream, a waffle or a soft drink before or after.
Best for Sunset seekers
Check availability: Day or sunset cruise with a treat on GetYourGuide -
from €23 per person Valid 1–2 days 4.4 (6,638) reviews on GetYourGuide
Batobus hop-on hop-off boat pass
A 24- or 48-hour pass for the river shuttle. Get off at any of 9 stops, like the Louvre or Notre-Dame. The heated boats have a terrace.
Best for Sightseers who want to stop
Check availability: Batobus hop-on hop-off boat pass on GetYourGuide -
from €21 per person 1 hour 4.1 (4,381) reviews on GetYourGuide
Cruise and a waffle at Trocadéro
A one-hour day or evening cruise, then a waffle or crêpe at Trocadéro Square. The treat is not served on board.
Best for A photo stop after
Check availability: Cruise and a waffle at Trocadéro on GetYourGuide -
from €17 per person 70 minutes–1.5 hours 4.4 (6,645) reviews on GetYourGuide
Bateaux-Mouches evening lights cruise
Non-refundable. An evening cruise with Bateaux-Mouches from Pont de l'Alma, past the lit-up Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. A photo postcard is mailed to you.
Best for Fixed plans
Check availability: Bateaux-Mouches evening lights cruise on GetYourGuide
Seine river cruises compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-hour cruise from the Eiffel Tower | €18 per person | 1 hour | Yes | First-timers | The classic cruise, with 4.4 from 92,119 reviews. |
| Evening cruise with music | €25 per person | 1 hour | Yes | Couples | A relaxed night cruise, with 4.4 from 26,154 reviews. |
| Cruise with a crêpe | €18 per person | 1 hour | Yes | Families | A treat for kids and a flexible ticket, with 4.4 from 12,854 reviews. |
| Illuminated night cruise | €18 per person | 1 hour | Yes | Night owls | A plain night cruise at a low price, with 4.3 from 517 reviews. |
| Day or sunset cruise with a treat | €20 per person | 1 hour | Yes | Sunset seekers | You pick the light you want, with 4.3 from 4,779 reviews. |
| Batobus hop-on hop-off boat pass | €23 per person | Valid 1–2 days | Yes | Sightseers who want to stop | A boat and a way to get around in one, with 4.4 from 6,638 reviews. |
| Cruise and a waffle at Trocadéro | €21 per person | 1 hour | Yes | A photo stop after | The best view of the tower comes with the snack, with 4.1 from 4,381 reviews. |
| Bateaux-Mouches evening lights cruise | €17 per person | 70 minutes–1.5 hours | Non-refundable | Fixed plans | The lowest price here, with 4.4 from 6,645 reviews. |
One-hour cruise from the Eiffel Tower
€18 per person1 hour 4.4 (92,119)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- First-timers
- Why we picked it
- The classic cruise, with 4.4 from 92,119 reviews.
€25 per person1 hour 4.4 (26,154)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Couples
- Why we picked it
- A relaxed night cruise, with 4.4 from 26,154 reviews.
€18 per person1 hour 4.4 (12,854)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Families
- Why we picked it
- A treat for kids and a flexible ticket, with 4.4 from 12,854 reviews.
€18 per person1 hour 4.3 (517)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Night owls
- Why we picked it
- A plain night cruise at a low price, with 4.3 from 517 reviews.
Day or sunset cruise with a treat
€20 per person1 hour 4.3 (4,779)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Sunset seekers
- Why we picked it
- You pick the light you want, with 4.3 from 4,779 reviews.
Batobus hop-on hop-off boat pass
€23 per personValid 1–2 days 4.4 (6,638)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Sightseers who want to stop
- Why we picked it
- A boat and a way to get around in one, with 4.4 from 6,638 reviews.
Cruise and a waffle at Trocadéro
€21 per person1 hour 4.1 (4,381)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- A photo stop after
- Why we picked it
- The best view of the tower comes with the snack, with 4.1 from 4,381 reviews.
Bateaux-Mouches evening lights cruise
€17 per person70 minutes–1.5 hours 4.4 (6,645)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Fixed plans
- Why we picked it
- The lowest price here, with 4.4 from 6,645 reviews.
- Group sizes are not stated on most of these listings.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which Seine cruise fits you
Match the cruise to who you are. Most cruises last one hour and cost about the same. What changes is the time of day and the extra on board.
| You are | Book this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first-timer | One-hour cruise from the Eiffel Tower | You see the big sights in one easy loop |
| A couple | Evening cruise with music | Night views and a drink if you want one |
| A family | Cruise with a crêpe | A treat for kids and a ticket valid for a month |
| On a budget | Bateaux-Mouches evening lights cruise | The lowest price, but it cannot be refunded |
Cruise types at a glance
There are four kinds of Seine cruise: sightseeing, hop-on hop-off, dinner, and sunset or champagne. A sightseeing cruise is the cheapest way to see the river.
The price difference buys time and food. A one-hour cruise starts from €17 here. A dinner cruise starts from €59 and often lasts two hours. You pay for the meal, not for better views.
| Type | How long | From | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing | About 1 hour | €17 | A loop past the sights, with commentary |
| Hop-on hop-off | 24 or 48 hours | €23 | A boat shuttle with 9 stops |
| Sunset or champagne | About 1 hour | €20 | The same loop at golden hour, often with a drink |
| Dinner | 75 minutes to 2.5 hours | €59 | A meal on board while you cruise |
Guides on Seine cruises and Paris nights
What is included
The cruises from the Eiffel Tower are much alike. What changes is the extra. The treats come on land, not on the boat.
| Cruise | Treat | Where you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise with a crêpe | A crêpe with Nutella or sugar | Near the Eiffel Tower |
| Cruise and a waffle at Trocadéro | A waffle or crêpe | Trocadéro Square, after the cruise |
| Day or sunset cruise with a treat | An ice cream, a waffle or a soft drink | Trocadéro Square, before or after |
| Evening cruise with music | Champagne, wine or beer, if you add it | On board |
Sightseeing cruises: the classic boat tour
A sightseeing cruise is the classic Paris tour boat. It lasts about one hour and loops past the main sights. Bateaux-Mouches lists the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Conciergerie, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay.
Commentary comes on board or through an app. The cruise from the Eiffel Tower offers it in 14 languages.
Bateaux-Mouches cruises
Bateaux-Mouches cruises leave from Port de la Conférence, by Pont de l'Alma. The sightseeing cruise lasts about one hour. Its own site lists adults at €20 and children under 13 at €10.
Children under 4 ride free. The evening lights cruise on this page is a Bateaux-Mouches boat too.
Hop-on hop-off cruises
The Batobus is a hop-on hop-off boat with 9 stops. You can ride it all day and get off where you like.
The stops are Tour Eiffel, Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre and Concorde. On its own site, a 24-hour pass costs €23 for adults and €13 for children. A 48-hour pass costs €27 or €17.
Dinner cruises
A dinner cruise is a full meal on the river. Most take about two hours. It costs far more than a plain cruise. See our Seine dinner cruise guide, which compares eight of them.
Bateaux-Mouches runs its own dinner cruise too. Its site lists adults from €90.
Sunset, champagne and night cruises
Evening cruises show Paris lit up, and they cost about the same as day cruises. Most still last one hour.
Vedettes de Paris sells a champagne cruise for €32 on its own site. Its boats leave from Port de Suffren, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Seine night cruise
For a Seine night cruise, book a late departure. The illuminated night cruise and the music cruise both run after dark. The Bateaux-Mouches evening lights cruise does too.
Seine sunset cruise
For a Seine sunset cruise, pick the slot near sunset when you book. The day or sunset cruise lets you choose your time. Sunset comes early in winter and late in summer.
Where boats leave from
Most cruises here leave from the Eiffel Tower. Check the pier name on your ticket, because there are several.
Bateaux Parisiens boats leave from Port de la Bourdonnais. Vedettes de Paris boats leave from Port de Suffren. Both sit right at the foot of the tower, so you can pair a cruise with Eiffel Tower tickets.
Bateaux-Mouches boats leave from Port de la Conférence, by Pont de l'Alma. The Batobus starts at the Tour Eiffel stop. To plan the trip by metro, see getting around Paris.
Best time of day and season
Cruises run all year, in sun and rain. Boats have glass cabins, so you stay dry in bad weather.
From April to October, Bateaux-Mouches boats leave every 30 minutes. From November to March, they leave every 45 minutes. After 4 pm in winter, they run every 30 minutes again.
The Batobus has shorter winter hours. From November to March, the Batobus runs 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday, and 10 am to 7 pm Friday to Sunday.
An evening plan: cruise plus cabaret
Pair a cruise with a cabaret for a full night out. Take a one-hour cruise at dusk first.
Then head to the Moulin Rouge. Dinner there starts at 7 pm, and the first show is at 9 pm.
Before you book a Seine cruise
Check the cancellation
Seven of our eight picks have free cancellation. The Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise cannot be refunded.
Find the right pier
Port de la Bourdonnais and Port de Suffren are both at the Eiffel Tower. Bateaux-Mouches leaves from Pont de l'Alma.
Pick your time
Book a sunset or night slot for the lights. Day cruises are better for photos of the buildings.
Kids and access
Bateaux-Mouches lets children under 4 ride free. Some cruises do not suit wheelchair users, so check the listing.
Seine river cruises: questions and answers
Which Seine river cruise is the best?
How long is a Seine river cruise?
Is a Seine river cruise worth it?
How much is a Seine river cruise?
Where does a Seine river cruise start and end?
Do Seine cruises run in winter?
More Seine cruises, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See today's prices on GetYourGuide.
All of these tours in one list, with times and availability.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSee today's prices on GetYourGuide.
All of these tours in one list, with times and availability.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (7), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Best Things to Do in Paris editorial team.