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💡 Reviews are calculated using the weighted average and aggregate review count from GetYourGuide, Tripadvisor, and Viator. I also include listings that I consider "arbitrary duplicates" of the original ones (e.g. the same cruise during the day vs night).
Paris River Cruise Itinerary
Every river cruise on this list follows the same itinerary (except the St. Martin Canal cruise), which runs between the Statue of Liberty and Pont de Sully (Sully Bridge). The route passes nearly 20 landmarks, including:
- The Eiffel Tower
- Pont Alexandre III
- Musée d'Orsay
- Grand Palais
- Petit Palais
- Institut de France
- Île de la Cité
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Hotel de Ville
- Louvre Museum
- Place de la Concorde
- The Statue of Liberty
Is It Worth Trying A Seine River Cruise in Paris?
Yes, absolutely.
A caveat I’d add is that while the Eiffel Tower is beautiful to witness, particularly after 8 pm when the sparkling lights are on for 5 minutes at the start of every hour, I have to say that I found the Seine River to be less captivating compared to other cities like Budapest, London, or Amsterdam.
Next, let's get into the nitty gritty of our review.
1. 🏆 Best Paris River Cruise Overall (Bateaux Parisiens)
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Pros:
✔️ Great All-Around Experience
✔️ Modern and Well-Equipped Ship
✔️ Great Location at the Eiffel Tower
✔️ Great Smartphone Audio Guide (Web Browser Based, Download Not Required)
✔️ Live Commentary and Built-In/Non-App Audio Guide Available
✔️ Covered Waiting Area
✔️ Vending Machines Available On Board
Cons:
❌ Top Deck Seats Face the Sides, Not the Front
❌ Built-In Audio Guide is Unhygienic, Impractical and Has Low Sound Quality
❌ Live Narrator Hard to Understand in Non-French Languages
❌ Smatphone Based Audio Guide Requires Earbuds
Summary & Review — How Was It and What to Expect?
Miles ahead of other Seine river cruises in popularity based on review counts, I was very curious to try Bateaux Parisiens.
I wasn’t disappointed.
Bateaux Parisiens and its boats are top-notch — they have spacious decks, 360° panoramic views up top, cozy seats, vending machines and clean restrooms. However, the top deck seats face the sides, which means some neck turning.
Peak season crowds are inevitable, but you know how Paris is — it's bustling everywhere. I experienced it myself, but when I visited in October, it wasn't that bad.
They claim to be wheelchair accessible, and they sort of are. The main deck has numerous 1-step stairs scattered around, and there’s limited space to maneuver with a wheelchair.
Additionally, there’s no way for a wheelchair user to ascend the stairs to the top deck unless you can cast Wingardium Leviosa.
(Update: They have access ramps available, so you can to move around on the bottom deck. The top deck is inaccessible.)
The audio guide on the smartphone is crystal-clear and of high quality. They offer three different options (smartphone, phone dial, and live), which is a little excessive.
The location is right next to the Eiffel Tower, so finding it is easy peasy.
In summary, the sightseeing cruise was well-organized from start to finish, with no next to no inconveniences during my experience.
💡 Duplicate listing warning: This Bateaux Parisiens sightseeing cruise with over 9700 reviews is exactly the same as the cruise I recommend in this article. Same service, same price, same ship. It's a duplicate. Just mentioning this to clear up any confusion.
About Bateaux Parisiens
Bateaux Parisiens was founded in 1956 and currently operates a fleet of 8 sightseeing boats and 5 restaurant cruise boats.
Their compound is located just 2 minutes away from the Eiffel Tower. The company has a diverse workforce of 270 staff members from 37 nationalities, representing 50 different professions.
Each year, they welcome 3.4 million passengers on board their boats.
💡 Other popular options cruises and bundles from Bateaux Parisiens:
1. Cruise with Crepe Tasting 🥞 near the Eiffel Tower
2. Day or Sunset Cruise with Drink 🍷, Ice Cream 🍨 or Dessert 🍰
3. Cruise with Louvre Museum Entrance Ticket 🎫
4. 2-Hour Lunch Cruise on the Seine
Video: Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise Review
Take a look at this short video I made to get an accurate feel of the cruise:
Teaser Video (Made by Bateaux Parisiens)
What's Included
- A 60-minute Seine river cruise with an audio guide (2 pre-recorded options and a live narrator are available) in up to 14 languages.
- Food or drinks are available from onboard vending machines.
- You can show up anytime (for the day you selected) and board the next cruise with your ticket.
Detailed Breakdown — Before the Cruise
Assembly Area
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- Bateaux Parisiens is located in the most prominent section of the Seine’s lower embankment, near the Eiffel Tower, which makes it convenient and easy to find.
- The assembly area includes a ticket office, parking spots, restaurants (the Bistro Parisien), and various vendors selling food, drinks, and coffee.
Boarding
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- To board, head to Zone 3.1 for a mandatory bag check as part of the security process. After clearing security, you’ll enter a covered waiting area equipped with vending machines.
Getting There
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Port de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France
Detailed Breakdown — During The Cruise
The Ship
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- The ship is a modern and spacious double-decker with a 400-person capacity. For the best views and comfortable seating, head to the upper deck.
- Bateaux Parisiens has 8 sightseeing ships in its fleet, so you’re experience might be slightly different than pictured here.
The Lower Deck
- Seating downstairs is divided into two types: window seats and middle seats. The window seats are preferable, as you can’t see much from the middle seats.
- The lower deck also features a toilet (only urinal for men) and vending machines in the back.
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The Top Deck
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- The upper deck offers 360° panoramic views, which lets you enjoy the city panorama and snap photos.
- The seating arrangement consists of benches oriented to the sides (without backrests), with a standing-only frontal section available for those who prefer to face ahead.
Cruise Itinerary & Views
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- The cruise follows a standard itinerary, covering the area between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge.
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- Key landmarks along the route include the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Palais Bourbon, Musée d’Orsay, Institut de France, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Conciergerie, the Louvre, the Obelisk, the Grand Palais.
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Audio Guide
- The audio guide on Bateaux Parisiens offers three options.
Smartphone Audio Guide
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- The best option is a mobile-friendly website available in 7 languages (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Chinese).
- It offers clear audio and high content quality, along with interactive features like photo filters and quizzes for each location.
- Try the fun photo filter. You won’t regret it 😉
- It's accessible through your browser. No app download is required.
Wired "Phone Dial" Audio Guide
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- The second option is a wired audio guide that resembles a phone dial available at each window seat. They are literal dials that you could pull out from a hole and put next to your ear like an old phone. One could alternatively use plugged-in earbuds.
- It comes in 14 languages (English, German, Chinese-Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, French, Arabic, Hindi).
- Based on what I saw, not many people were using it. Maybe due to hygiene concerns? It had basic controls (change language, change volume) and subpar audio quality (like on an old phone).
Live Audio Commentary
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- A live guide is also onboard, offering narration in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, and German, which can be heard everywhere on the ship.
- However, his heavy accent in languages other than French made them hard to understand. Personally, I found the smartphone option satisfactory if I wanted audio commentary.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Cruises depart every 30-60 minutes from 10 am - 10 pm. Tickets include flexible arrival times - show up when convenient and board the next cruise.
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Available ✔️
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Lower levels only with access ramp ✔️
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible (️infant seats also available) ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0-3), 50% off standard ticket price (age 4-11) ✔️
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near the meeting point (subject to availability) ✔️
2.🥈 Second-Best Paris River Cruise (Bateaux Mouches)
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Pros:
✔️ Great All-Around Experience
✔️ Modern, Massive and Well-Equipped Ship
✔️ Great Location at the Alma - Marceau metro
✔️ Great Loudspeaker Commentary in English
✔️ Covered Waiting Area
✔️ Air-Conditioned Waiting Lounge
✔️ All Seats Face the Front
Cons:
❌ No Bar or Vending Machines On Board
Summary
Bateaux Mouches offers a slightly different yet stellar sightseeing experience in the same weight class as Bateaux Parisiens.
Located near the Alma-Marceau metro station, it’s a short walk from the Eiffel Tower.
The assembly area has a covered waiting area, an air-conditioned waiting lounge, and a ticket office.
Paid parking is also available (for free if you go on one of their dinner cruises).
Their ships are massive, double-decker vessels capable of accommodating over 1000 passengers each at a time.
The upper deck of these boats offers 360° panoramic views and front facings seats (vs. side facing on Bateaux Parisiens — this way, you don’t have to turn your necks constantly), ideal for photo opportunities.
The lower deck provides comfortable outdoor and indoor seating, though with a lesser panorama. The lower deck is spacious enough to accommodate wheelchair users.
The audio guide, broadcast via loudspeakers in English, offers high-quality sound and informative content, enhancing the sightseeing experience.
One notable feature is that they turn off the lights after dusk to eliminate window glare on the bottom deck.
Overall, Bateaux Mouches offers a memorable tour of Paris’ key sights along the Seine. There are no significant drawbacks, making it my number two choice.
💡 Why so few reviews? Bateaux Mouches is the second most popular cruise company in Paris, on Par with Bateaux Parisiens. They have five sightseeing and five dinner cruise ships running day and night. They've got a vast compound where I stood in line. It was brimming with people. This reality isn't well reflected online for some odd reason. They seriously need a proper online presence.
Video: Bateaux Mouches River Cruise Review
Take a look at this short video I made to get an accurate feel of the cruise:
About Bateaux Mouches
Bateaux Mouches, founded in 1949, offers Seine sightseeing and dinner cruises with a fleet of 15 boats. It stands as the 4th top-paid attraction in Paris, serving 2.5 million visitors annually.
During peak seasons, the operation supports over 450 employees, and each sightseeing boat has a capacity of 1,000 passengers.
Since its inception, Bateaux Mouches has welcomed over 150 million guests.
💡 Other popular options cruises and bundles from Bateaux Mouches:
1. Louvre Museum Reserved Access and Boat Cruise 🎫
Before the Cruise
What's Included
- A 70-minute Seine river cruise with an audio guide (pre-recorded, broadcast via loudspeaker) in English only.
- Food or drinks are available from the onboard bar.
Assembly Area
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- Bateaux Mouches is located next to Pont‘d Alma (metro station Alma-Marceau), a 15-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.
- The assembly area includes a ticket office, parking spots, an air-conditioned waiting lounge, and vending machines.
Boarding
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- To board, head to the large building and get in line. There weren’t any security checks when I went. After validating your ticket, you’ll enter a covered waiting area equipped with vending machines and an air-conditioned waiting lounge.
Getting There
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Port de la Conférence, 75008 Paris, France
During The Cruise
The Ship
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- The ship is a massive double-decker that has the capacity to accommodate over 1000 passengers on some ships. The upper deck provides better views, as usual.
- These boats can get crowded, but they have a large capacity to handle the crowd. Crowds are a common occurrence in Paris, it’s something we all have to accept.
- Bateux Mouches’s fleet comprises 6 sightseeing boats, so your experience may vary.
The Lower Deck
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- The outdoor seating arrangement (on the sides of the ship) comprises two columns of chairs, each two chairs wide, with backrests facing the front. These have better views than the indoor seats, but they don’t offer 360° panoramic views like on the upper deck.
- The indoor seating arrangement has two columns of chairs, each three chairs wide, with backrests facing the front and a central aisle for walking. This area is great for warming up during winter, but it does not offer as much of a view.
- A nice touch I discovered is that they turn off the lights when it’s dark, allowing you to see outside without the glare.
The Top Deck
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- The upper deck offers 360° panoramic views, which lets you enjoy the panorama of the city and take photos.
- The seating arrangement comprises two columns of chairs, each three chairs wide, with backrests facing the front and a central aisle for walking.
Cruise Itinerary & Views
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- The cruise follows a standard itinerary, covering the area between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge.
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- Key landmarks along the route include the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Palais Bourbon, Musée d’Orsay, Institut de France, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Conciergerie, the Louvre, the Obelisk, the Grand Palais.
Audio Guide
Audio Commentary (Broadcast Through Loudspeakers)
- The audio guide on Bateaux Mouches is broadcast in English only through loudspeakers. I found it informative, enjoyable, and high quality - both in terms of sound and content.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Departures run frequently from 10 am to 10 pm.
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Accessible ✔️
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible (️infant seats also available) ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0-3), 6€ tickets (age 4-12) ✔️
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near the meeting point (subject to availability)✔️
3.🥉 Best Paris River Cruise with French Music (Vedettes de Paris)
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Pros:
✔️ Great All-Around Experience
✔️ Modern and Well-Equipped Ship
✔️ Great Location at the Eiffel Tower
✔️ Bar Available On Board
✔️ Covered Waiting Area
Cons:
❌ No Built-In Audio Guide Available, Only Optional Smartphone App
Summary
If you're looking for a more intimate, cozy, and smaller-scale cruising experience, Vedettes de Paris is the perfect choice compared to sightseeing cruises, which handle massive crowds daily.
They are situated in a prime location near the Eiffel Tower and Bateaux Parisiens, which is perfect.
Their small-to-medium-sized, double-decker ships can accommodate around 220 passengers each.
The lower deck features open-air built-in benches and indoor standard seating with limited views, whereas the upper deck provides 360° panoramic views of Paris – making it the prime spot for this cruise.
They played pop music on their ships on the loudspeakers on this cruise.
Update (2024 Jan): They changed this to quintessential French songs so visitors can enjoy that quintessential Parisian vibe we all expect.
A downloadable audio guide app is available in six languages. Alternatively, you can join a cruise with live narration in English and French.
On this Seine River cruise, you can explore Parisian landmarks between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Grand Palais.
Video: Vedettes de Paris River Cruise Review
Take a look at this short video I made to get an accurate feel of the cruise:
About Vedettes de Paris
Vedettes de Paris was established in 1976 and offers sightseeing cruises on the Seine River with smaller, more intimate boats in Paris.
The cruises depart from the Eiffel Tower and include guided day cruises and evening aperitif cruises with music.
The company has a dedicated staff of 70 employees.
💡 Other popular options cruises and bundles from Vedettes de Paris:
1. Seine Cruise with Drinks 🍷 and Snacks 🌭
2. Seine River Morning Guided Sightseeing Cruise 🌄
3. Family-Friendly River Seine Guided Cruise 👪
Before the Cruise
What's Included
- A 60-minute Seine river cruise with an audio guide (via downloadable app) in 6 languages. This identical cruise by the same company has a live English/French narrator on board instead.
- Food or drinks are available from the onboard bar.
Assembly Area
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- Vedettes de Paris is located in the most prominent section of the Seine’s lower embankment, near the Eiffel Tower, which makes it convenient and easy to find. It’s right next to Bateaux Parisiens.
- The assembly area includes a ticket office, parking spots, restaurants (the Bistro Parisien), and various vendors selling food, drinks, and coffee. Just head over to Bateaux Parisiens to find them.
Boarding
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- To board, find the ticket office — the boarding area is right next to it. Vedettes de Paris has a covered waiting area, like most other cruises.
Getting There
- 🗺️ Meeting point: 2 Port de Suffren, 75007 Paris, France
During The Cruise
The Ship
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- The ship is a medium-sized double-decker that has the capacity to accommodate 220 passengers. There’s a wide variety of seating arrangements, so bear with me.
- Note that Vedettes de Paris operates different types of boats, so your boat may be slightly different from the one I experienced.
The Lower Deck
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- The ship’s outdoor seating consists of built-in benches located both at the front and back. However, they are not front-facing. The toilet and stairs to the upper deck are located at the back.
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- The indoor section has standard front-facing seats with backrests, which are located in the middle (below) and front areas (above).
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- This deck doesn’t provide true 360° panoramic views, as seen in the photos. It’s better to go to the upper deck for that.
The Top Deck
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- The upper deck provides a 360° panoramic view of the city, perfect for taking photos.
- Seating-wise, there are two columns of chairs, each three chairs wide, with backrests facing the front and a central aisle for walking. There are a handful of side-facing benches at the front.
Cruise Itinerary & Views
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- The cruise follows a standard itinerary, covering the area between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge.
- Key landmarks along the route include the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Palais Bourbon, Musée d’Orsay, Institut de France, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Conciergerie, the Louvre, the Obelisk, the Grand Palais.
Audio Guide
Mobile App
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- There is no built-in audio guide available on this cruise. Instead, the ship’s loudspeakers play pop music. Update (2024 Jan): The company switched to quintessential French songs.
- There is a mobile app available in six languages (French, English, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and German), that offers a glimpse into the history of Paris. Using the phone's GPS, it automatically plays the commentary corresponding to the attraction. I haven’t tested it (since I had no earbuds on me), so I can’t comment on the sound and content quality.
Live Commentary
- Alternatively, the company offers this nearly identical cruise with live commentary in French and English. It runs every day until 18:30.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Departures run frequently from 11 am to 9 pm.
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0-3), 9€ tickets (age 4-11) ✔️
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near the meeting point (subject to availability)✔️
4. Hop-On/Hop-Off Paris River Cruise (Batobus)
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Pros:
✔️ 9 Hop-On Hop-Off Stops
✔️ Unlimited Use for 24–48 Hours
✔️ Can be Useful for Transportation and Getting Around
Cons:
❌ Not Ideal for Sightseeing as There Are No Great Views.
❌ No Audio Guide available.
❌ The Top Deck is Not Accessible.
❌ If the Sun Shines Too Strongly, It Can Get Hot and Blinding.
❌ No Bar or Vending Machines Available on Board.
❌ Mediocre Ship
Summary
Batobus is a hop-on hop-off cruise that provides a flexible way to travel up and down the Seine, with nine different stops near major Parisian attractions.
It is not ideal for sightseeing, and it lacks basic amenities like an audio guide, toilet, bar, or vending machines.
The ship, designed more for transportation than sightseeing, is a single-decker accommodating up to 150-200 passengers. In other words, it lacks a top deck and there are no 360° panoramic views.
The main deck has a wacky seating arrangement, with seats facing every direction. The worst offenders are the seats in the middle of the ship, which offer virtually no views whatsoever.
The ship has a small open-air area in the rear, where people flock to shoot unobstructed photos of the Eiffel Tower or get some fresh air.
The views are rather limited even if you sit next to windows since you’re limited to seeing one bank of the Seine or the other.
Because the ship has lots of glass panels, if the Sun shines from a bad angle, not only it does it get hot, but you won't see anything either.
The cruise follows a standard itinerary between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge, encompassing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Overall, I recommend skipping this cruise and instead using the metro for transportation and opting for a proper sightseeing cruise for a better experience.
Video: Batobus River Cruise Review
Take a look at this short video I made to get an accurate feel of the cruise:
About Batobus
Batobus, established in 1989, offers a hop-on hop-off river service along the Seine in Paris, featuring nine stops at major attractions. It operates a fleet of eight boats with a capacity of 200 passengers each and additional boats holding 150 passengers.
What's Included
- A 60-minute Seine river cruise with NO audio guide.
- Food or drinks are NOT available onboard.
- You can embark/disembark as many times as you’d like since this is an unlimited hop-on, hop-off cruise.
💡 Other popular ecruises and bundles from Batobus:
1. Batobus/Tootbus Hop-on Hop-off Bus 🚍🚏 with Seine River Cruise
Before the Cruise
Assembly Area
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- There's no one major boarding area. Batebus has 9 stops next to every major attraction along the Seine, where you can embark/disembark as you please.
Boarding
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- I’ve only been to the Notre Dame stop — not sure how the others are. There’s an indoor ticket office there, but otherwise, it’s an open-air area with Batobus flags.
Getting There
- 🗺️ Meeting point: Port de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France
- Note: Batobus has several stations along the Seine, as you'd expect from a hop-on hop-off company.
During The Cruise
The Ship
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- The ship is a relatively small single-decker with a 200-person capacity.
- This ship isn’t great for sightseeing compared to every other cruise I tried. There aren’t any 360° views either since there’s no top deck.
The Lower Deck
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- The ship has mostly indoor seats, but they open the windows in the warmer season, which is nice since even in October, the sunlight can be blinding and it can be hot inside.
- The seats face every direction, some with virtually non-existent panorama (i.e. the middle seats, as seen in the photo above).
- This reinforces the idea that this boat is designed for transportation rather than sightseeing.
- The side glasses are transparent, while the roof panels are opaque.
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- There’s a small open-air area in the back.
The Top Deck
- Unlike most Seine river cruises, Batobus ships are single-decked, meaning there's only a ground floor deck.
Cruise Itinerary & Views
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- The cruise follows a standard itinerary, covering the area between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge.
- Key landmarks along the route include the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Palais Bourbon, Musée d’Orsay, Institut de France, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Conciergerie, the Louvre, the Obelisk, the Grand Palais.
Audio Guide
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- Batobus does not offer audio guides or commentary. However, an employee announces stops in English and French.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: Departures run frequently from 10 am to 5 pm (Mon-Thu) and 10 am to 7 pm (Fri-Sun), allowing for flexible arrival times — simply show up when it's convenient for you.s Not Operate Every Day of The Week
❌ Only Avai - 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Not available ❌
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: No ❌
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0-2), 13€ tickets (age 3-15) ✔️
- 🚗 Parking: Depends on which of the 9 stops you want to park near.
5. St. Martin Canal Cruise (Paris Canal)
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Pros:
✔️ Great All-Around Experience
✔️ Slow Paced Experience
✔️ Covers Unique Itinerary (St. Martin Canal)
✔️ Great Live Commentary by Experienced Guide in English/French
✔️ Bar Available On Board
✔️ Covers Part of The Seine Until Orsay Museum
Cons:
❌ The Location is Hard to Reach
❌ No Covered Waiting Area
❌ Does Not Operate Every Day of The Week
❌ Only Available at 10 am/2.30 pm
❌ The Upper Deck Seats Are Side-Facing
❌ The Ship is Decent but Slightly Dated
❌ The Ride is a Bit Too Long (2-2.5h)
❌ Does Not Cover the Eiffel Tower
Summary
Paris Canal’s St. Martin Canal cruise offers a distinctive 2.5-hour experience, starting from Parc de la Villette and ending at Musée d’Orsay.
This journey avoids mainstream Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, instead offering a more authentic view of the city through the St. Martin Canal.
The cruise ship, though slightly dated, accommodates 500 passengers and features a double-decker design.
The lower deck provides indoor seating and a small bar, while the upper deck offers a panoramic view of the surroundings.
The seating, more comfortable on the top deck, includes benches and chairs, with some premium spots in the captain’s heated cabin.
An interesting feature of this cruise is the option to start either from Parc de la Villette or Musée d’Orsay the Seine.
The itinerary is rich in local charm, navigating several canal locks and a mile-long tunnel, presenting a side of Paris less seen by tourists.
The live audio commentary in English and French, delivered by an experienced guide, adds depth to the experience.
Despite its no-frills approach and the sometimes long waiting times at canal locks, Paris Canal’s cruise offers a unique and intimate glimpse into the heart of Paris, making it a worthwhile experience for those looking to explore beyond the typical tourist path.
Video: Paris St. Martin Canal Cruise Review
Take a look at this short video I made to get an accurate feel of the cruise:
About Paris Canal Co.
Paris Canal, established in 1977, specializes in diverse cruises on the Seine, the Marne, and the Paris canals. With a dedicated team and 40 years of history, they offer sightseeing trips, group cruises, and private events, focusing on more unique, lesser-known parts of Paris.
💡 For clarity's sake, here are all the cruises on the St. Martin Canal:
1. St. Martin Canal Cruise TO Musée d'Orsay (2.30 PM)
2. St. Martin Canal Cruise TO Musée d'Orsay (10 AM)
3. St. Martin Canal Cruise FROM Musée d'Orsay (10 AM / 2.30 PM)
Before the Cruise
What's Included
- A 2.5-hour long St. Martin canal cruise with drop-off at Musée d’Orsay. In other words, you won’t see the Eiffel Tower from this cruise.
- There’s live English/French narration on board.
- Food or drinks are available at the onboard bar.
Assembly Area
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- Paris Canal cruise starts from Parc de la Villette in the 19th district. There’s a park nearby which is worth exploring, so I’d come an hour earlier to do so.
- Alternatively, you can embark at the Musée d’Orsay and sail up the St. Martin Canal. Booking this is possible on Viator, but not on GetYourguide.
Boarding
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- There’s no major boarding infrastructure at Parc de la Villette, as this is quite a niche boat tour. It’s open air, but you can take shelter under nearby buildings if the weather is bad.
Getting There
- 🗺️ Meeting point: 211 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, France
- Note: It's possible to have this trip in reverse e.g. boarding on the Seine and disembarking on Parc de Villete (Canal St. Martin). Note that the ticket is one-way only.
During The Cruise
The Ship
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- The ship is a large, no-frills and slightly dated double-decker with a 500-person capacity. As always, for the best views and comfortable seating, head to the upper deck.
The Lower Deck
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- Most of this deck has indoor seating with feeble-looking yet surprisingly sturdy but uncomfortable front-facing seats with backrests. You can’t see much from here and forget about 360° panoramic views.
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- The outdoor section at the back and front of the ship does have better views, but alas, there are only a few cold metal seats available.
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- There is a clean toilet and a small bar serving hot drinks and snacks on this level. Additionally, there’s a staircase in the center that leads up to the Captain’s cabin.
The Top Deck
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- The upper deck offers a 360° panoramic view of the St. Martin Canal and the surrounding cityscape. The only imperfection is that all of the seats are facing the sides instead of the front.
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- There are three different types of seating options available.
- The first type is two rows of bench-style seating (on the sides), followed by two rows of mixed benches and ordinary chairs in a 50/50 ratio in the center.
- All of these were more comfortable than the seats downstairs.
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- Bonus: There are a handful of seats available in the captain’s cabin, which is heated! I really appreciated this feature during the cold weather in November.
Cruise Itinerary & Views
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- Unlike most other cruises, Paris Canal’s cruise takes place on the St. Martin Canal, starting from Parque de la Villette and concluding on the Seine by the Musée d’Orsay.
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- You will experience several canal lock crossings and a mile-long tunnel.
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- I found the cruise to be much more interesting than the Seine, and the surrounding cityscape was more charming, authentic and offbeat.
- However, there was considerable waiting at the canal locks, where you transition from one section of the canal to the next.
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- Note: The itinerary doesn’t cover the Eiffel Tower.
Audio Guide
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- Paris Canal’s cruises offer a live audio commentary in English and French, performed by an experienced guide who provides informative and interesting insights and is also available to answer questions.
Quick Facts
- 📅 Schedule: 10:00 and 14:30. Please check the schedule as they do not run every day.
- 🎟️ Ticket type: Mobile/printed
- 🌐 Wifi: Available ✔️
- 💨 Open air section: Available ✔️
- ❄️/🌡️ Aircon: Available ✔️
- 🐶 Animals: Not allowed (except service animals) ❌
- 🚬 Smoking: Not allowed ❌
- ♿ Wheelchair accessible: Not accessible ❌
- 🚻 Restroom: Yes ✔️
- 👶 Baby stroller accessible: Accessible (️infant seats also available) ✔️
- % Children discounts: free for infants (age 0-3), 15-20€ tickets (children, teenagers and seniors) ✔️
- 🚗 Parking: Paid parking available near the meeting point ✔️