No trip to Paris is complete without a cruise on the Seine—an experience as iconic as the Eiffel Tower. In this article, we introduce the most renowned boat cruise company on the Seine and explore the different ways you can enjoy this unique perspective on the City of Light.
Many companies offer Seine River cruises, but Bateaux-Mouches stands out as the most iconic—it was the very first! Founded in 1949 with a single steamship, the company has grown into a modern fleet of 12 boats, welcoming nearly 2.5 million passengers each year. Every boat has its own character and a charmingly French name.
The Bateaux-Mouches dock is located right by the Pont de l’Alma on the Port de la Conférence.
Closest Metro: Alma-Marceau (Line 9)
Closest RER: Pont de l’Alma (RER C)
High Season (April to September)
Departures run every 30 to 45 minutes from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, with an extra departure at 10:30 pm on Saturdays.
Low Season (October to March)
Departures are every 45 minutes from 10:15 am to 10:00 pm
Each cruise lasts around 1 hour and 10 minutes, offering a perfect glimpse of Paris from the water.
Stepping onto a Seine river cruise is like slipping into a moving postcard of Paris. As your boat glides along the water, the city’s treasures unfold in a way that no street walk or viewpoint can match. The gentle lapping of the river against the hull becomes the soundtrack to a journey past some of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
The boats make their way up the Seine toward Notre-Dame de Paris, passing the Louvre Museum, Hôtel de Ville, and La Conciergerie. They then loop around Île de la Cité to cruise along the Left Bank (Latin Quarter), offering a close-up view of Notre-Dame Cathedral. The journey continues past the Musée d’Orsay and the Assemblée Nationale, finally heading toward the Eiffel Tower.
What makes a Seine river cruise truly enchanting is how the experience shifts with the time of day: the tranquility of a quiet morning, the warmth of a sunny afternoon, or the shimmering lights of the city at night. Choose the moment that speaks to you the most!
For a more luxurious Seine River experience, skip the standard €18 ticket and opt for the Champagne cruise. This option includes a scenic cruise along the Seine and half a bottle of Champagne (EPC) for two people (€29 per person). The bottle can be collected from the souvenir shop on the pontoon, just past the turnstiles in the boarding waiting area. When booking through the official website, there’s no need to reserve a specific departure time—tickets are valid for departures all day (for two years after purchase!). Feel free to wander through the boat and enjoy the open views from various parts of the deck.
Sipping Champagne on the Seine adds an extra touch of elegance to your photos, turning them into truly iconic memories. It’s also a quintessentially French way to enjoy the city, raising a glass to Paris’ most famous monuments while embracing the French art of living.
Planning a romantic dinner in Paris but can’t decide on the perfect spot? Why not choose them all at once? A dinner cruise is a magical way to admire the city’s landmarks while savoring French cuisine. The atmosphere is intimate, calm, and elegant—an ideal setting to experience Parisian romance as the capital’s most iconic monuments glide past in the night. All tables are next to windows and offer a direct view onto the Seine and the monuments running alongside it.
Bateaux-Mouches offers lunch cruises on weekends (from €85) as well as several dinner options every day. The early evening service (€90) departs at 6:00 pm (boarding from 5:30 pm) and lasts 1h15. For a more refined experience, opt for the longer 2h15 dinner cruise (boarding at 7:45 pm, departure 8:30 pm, return 10:45 pm). Guests can choose between the Menu Prestige and Menu Excellence. Both include starter, main, dessert, and drinks, but the Excellence option offers a more elevated version of French dining. The evening is made even more romantic with a live piano and violin performance of classical French music.
We tried the Excellence Menu, which truly embodies the French art de vivre and showcases fine gastronomy. The evening begins with a glass of champagne and a small mise en bouche.
With five options per course, there’s always something to please every taste. The selection is varied—seafood, meat, French classics, fusion dishes, and vegetarian options. You can check the current menu on their website. All dishes are cooked by the chefs using seasonal products in the boats’ kitchens.
Our selections:
Whole duck foie gras, mirabelle plum confit, toast — a classic French delicacy for special occasions
Sea spider meat with creamy potatoes and wakame seaweed — perfect for seafood lovers
Normandy beef fillet with apple purée and pepper sauce — a regional dish with rustic charm
Tuna steak with black olive “virgin” sauce, aioli style — light and Mediterranean in spirit
Rocamadour AOP cheese with semi-candied plums from Lot-et-Garonne and a walnut vinaigrette salad
Chocolate and buckwheat tart with warm chocolate sauce
Rhubarb iced mousse with compote and buckwheat crumble
The menu also includes a generous selection of drinks: champagne, Montagne Saint-Émilion red, Chablis white, soft drinks, and sparkling water.
We wish you a wonderful cruise and hope it becomes one of the highlights of your Parisian trip!
Autor and photos: O'bon Paris Team