In a nutshell
- There’s no shortage of Paris boat tours — from classic one-hour cruises to dinner cruises with live music and hop-on/hop-off boats. We’ve compared the best five so you can pick the right one.
- The route is basically the same on most tours: departing near the Eiffel Tower and heading downstream toward the Grand Palais. What sets them apart is the experience on board.
- The classic Seine river cruise is our top pick for most visitors — affordable, flexible, and easy to fit into any itinerary.
- You can also book Paris boat tours as combo tickets — paired with the Arc de Triomphe, for example — to save money on two attractions at once.
Classic Seine Boat Tour
- Price: from 19 euros
- Duration: 1 hour
- Boarding: Port de la Bourdonnais at the Eiffel Tower
- Extra: Audio guide
- Tickets: Book online in advance or buy on the spot
If you want to see Paris from the water, a classic Paris boat tour is a solid, affordable choice that never disappoints.
Boarding is right at the Eiffel Tower, and the one-hour runtime means it fits perfectly into your sightseeing itinerary without eating up half your day.
You can also be completely spontaneous and pick whatever time works best for you. The Bateaux Parisiens boats run every 30 minutes from 10 AM to 10 PM from April through September. In the off-season, they run every hour from 10:30 AM to 9 PM. Your ticket is valid for any departure on your booked day.
The cruise delivers unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Île de la Cité with Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Grand Palais. Seriously great photo opportunities!
Our tip: Book your ticket online in advance — you’ll skip the line and usually get on board faster.
Book the classic Seine boat tour online
Seine Boat Tour with Dinner
- Price: from 115 euros
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Boarding: 3 options for the starting point near the Eiffel Tower
- Extra: 3-course menu, champagne, live music
- Tickets: Book online in advance
Want to turn your Seine river cruise into a full evening out? We’d recommend the 3-course dinner cruise with live music.
You’ll be served an à la carte dinner — fish, meat, or vegetarian — while you glide past Paris’s most famous landmarks.
When booking, you can choose between a 3-course and 4-course menu and add extras like champagne, coffee, and appetizers. So you can tailor the whole experience to your preferences and budget.
Instead of an audio guide, this cruise features live music throughout. And yes, feel free to dress up — the dress code is smart casual.
Book the Seine dinner cruise online
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Batobus Hop-On/Hop-Off Paris
- Price: from 23 euros
- Duration: 24- or 48-hour pass
- Boarding: 10 stops along the Seine
- Extra: No audio guide
- Tickets: Book online in advance or buy on the spot
You’ve probably used hop-on/hop-off buses in other cities — the concept is the same here, just on the water. Buy a 24- or 48-hour pass and ride as many times as you like along a fixed route.
Paris brings this to the Seine with the hop-on/hop-off boat “Batobus”, which runs daily from 10 AM between the Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III.
There are nine stops along the way, all conveniently close to major Parisian landmarks. Sightseeing, transportation, and a boat ride — all in one pass.
Book your Batobus ticket online
Find out more about hop-on/hop-off in Paris here:
Night Boat Tour on the Seine in Paris
- Price: from 24.90 euros
- Duration: 1 hour
- Boarding: Port de la Bourdonnais at the Eiffel Tower
- Extra: Audio guide, waffle at Place du Trocadéro
- Tickets: Book online in advance
Paris is called the City of Light for a reason — and from the Seine at night, you really feel it. The glowing buildings and the sparkling Eiffel Tower are honestly something else.
The night boat tour lasts one hour and takes you past the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Grand Palais. You’ll also drift under the beautifully illuminated Parisian bridges — seriously one of the best views in the city.
As a sweet bonus, you can grab a fresh waffle at Les Terrasses du Trocadéro on Place du Trocadéro before or after the cruise.
Book the night Seine boat tour online
Boat Tour along the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin
- Price: from 23 euros
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Boarding: Quai Anatole France near the Musée d’Orsay
- Extra: English-speaking guide, also available as a combo ticket e.g. with Tour Montparnasse
- Tickets: Book online in advance or buy on the spot
The Canal Saint-Martin is a historic waterway branching off the Seine, running through one of Paris’s most authentic neighborhoods.
On the boat tour along the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin, you get both sides of Paris — the iconic, touristy highlights and the quieter, lesser-known neighborhoods that most visitors never see.
Here’s the really cool part: the route doesn’t stay above ground the whole time. It actually takes you through a tunnel beneath Paris.
This is a fantastic outing for first-timers, but also a great way to rediscover the city if you’ve been before and want to see it with fresh eyes.
Book the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin boat tour online
This tour is also available as a combo package. You’ll find the options under “Learn more” at “Additional options & upgrades” directly on the booking page on Tiqets.
You can pair it with Tour Montparnasse, for example, or even with Disneyland Paris.
Paris Boat Tours Compared
Here’s a side-by-side overview of all five Paris boat tours so you can make a direct comparison:
| Classic Boat Tour | Boat Tour with Dinner | Hop-On/Hop-Off Boat | Nighttime Boat Tour | Seine & Canal St. Martin Boat Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | from 19 EUR | from 115 EUR | from 23 EUR | from 24.90 EUR | from 23 EUR |
| Duration | 1 hour | 2.5 hours | 24- or 48-hour pass | 1 hour | 2.5 hours |
| Boarding | At the Eiffel Tower | At the Eiffel Tower | 10 boarding and alighting stops | At the Eiffel Tower | At the Musée d'Orsay |
| Extras | Audio guide | 3-course menu, champagne, live music | No extras | Audio guide, waffle tasting | English-speaking guide, available as a combo ticket |
| Buy now | Buy now | Buy now | Buy now | Buy now |
Paris Boat Tour Combo Tickets
Seine river cruises are also available as convenient combo tickets — you get two Paris attractions for one price and save a bit of money in the process.
Combo ticket: Seine boat tour + Arc de Triomphe
Combo ticket: Seine boat tour + Musée Grévin
Combo ticket: Seine boat tour + Hop-on/Hop-off bus
Frequently Asked Questions about Paris Boat Tours
How much does a boat tour in Paris cost?
The price depends on which cruise you choose. A classic cruise starts at around 20 euros, while a dinner cruise starts from 115 euros.
Where do Seine boat tours depart from?
Most Seine boat tours depart near the Eiffel Tower — for example, from the Port de la Bourdonnais dock.
When does the Batobus Paris run?
The Batobus Paris runs from April through October daily between 10 AM and 7 PM, including Sundays.
From November through March, it operates Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 5 PM.
How long does a boat ride on the Seine take?
Seine boat tours last between one and two and a half hours, depending on which cruise you choose.
Which Seine boat tour is best for kids?
For a Seine cruise with kids, we’d recommend the 1-hour classic cruise.
There’s plenty to see, the duration is manageable for little ones, and there’s no dress code to worry about.
If you’re spending several days in Paris with kids, the hop-on/hop-off boat could be worth it too — you can hop on and off as many times as you like over 24 or 48 hours.
For more ideas, check out our article with tips for Paris with kids.
Can you bring bags on Seine boat tours?
You cannot bring large luggage on board. Regular backpacks or bags you’d carry while sightseeing are totally fine, though.
Are strollers allowed on Seine boat tours?
Strollers should ideally be foldable if you want to bring them on a Seine cruise.
A great alternative for a Paris city trip with little ones is a good baby carrier — that way there are no issues on boat tours or anywhere else.
Are dogs allowed on Paris boat tours?
No — unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on Paris boat tours.
Only service dogs are permitted on board.
That said, a stroll along the Seine banks is a lovely alternative — and dogs are very welcome there.
Which Paris boat tours are wheelchair accessible?
The classic cruise and the nighttime cruise are wheelchair accessible.
Unfortunately, the hop-on/hop-off boat, the dinner cruise, and the Canal Saint-Martin tour are not.
Is a Seine boat tour included in the Paris City Pass?
Yes! A Seine boat tour is included in four of the Paris city passes:
- Paris City Pass
- Paris Passlib’
- Paris All-Inclusive Pass
- Paris Explorer Pass
You can find out which pass gives you the best value in our Paris pass comparison.
