How a Seine cruise works
The classic Seine cruise is a sightseeing ride of about one hour with commentary or an audio guide. You board at a pier, the boat sails along the river and it comes back to the same pier. The Bateaux Parisiens ride from the Eiffel Tower makes no stops in between. Boats run by day and into the evening, and the three operators below leave from three different places in the city.
Adult prices in 2026 run from €15 to €20, depending on the operator and on whether you buy online or at the pier. Children pay roughly half. This page compares the options, gives the timetables for autumn and winter 2026 and lists what to check before you pay. For evening rides see the night cruise page, and for a meal on board the dinner cruise page.
Three operators compared
Prices in 2026 for the standard one-hour ride. Check the booking page for your date.
| Operator | Departure | Adult | Child | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bateaux Parisiens | Ponton 3, Port de la Bourdonnais, at the Eiffel Tower | €18 online (struck-through €20) | €9 for ages 4–11; free under 4 on the Eiffel Tower ride | Metro line 6 Bir-Hakeim, line 9 Trocadéro, RER C Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel |
| Bateaux-Mouches | Port de la Conférence, at the Pont de l'Alma | €20; the web page shows from €17 | €10 for ages 4–12; free under 4 | – |
| Vedettes du Pont Neuf | 1 Square du Vert-Galant, tip of the Île de la Cité below the Pont Neuf | €15 timed e-ticket; €17 at the pier | €7 online; €9 at the pier | Metro line 7 Pont Neuf, line 4 Cité, line 1 Louvre-Rivoli |
A "from €9" headline for the Bateaux Parisiens ride is the child fare, not the adult one. The web price of €17 at Bateaux-Mouches is a current offer against a €20 comparison price, so do not count on it for every date. Bateaux-Mouches and "Bateaux Mouches" are the same company.
Our picks: Seine cruises
A one-hour cruise, a guided trip with a live guide and a longer ride on the Seine and the canal.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Seine and Canal Saint-Martin cruise
A two-and-a-half-hour cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin and the Seine, with commentary in French and English.
Check availability →
One-hour Seine cruise from the Eiffel Tower
A one-hour cruise with commentary through a smartphone app in 11 languages. Drinks and snacks are not included.
Check availability →
Guided Seine cruise from the Vert-Galant
A live guide in English and French, an open terrace and a toilet on board, with a limited number of passengers. Food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →Seine cruises in Paris
One-hour sightseeing cruises, evening rides and cruises with dinner, with live prices and availability. Check the departure point of each product.
Timetables for autumn and winter 2026
Timetables change with the season, and the last departure on your date can differ.
Eiffel Tower pier
From 28 September to 1 November 2026 the first departure is at 10:00. The last is at 22:00 from Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and at 22:30 on Friday and Saturday. From 2 November to 18 December 2026 boats run from 10:30 to 21:40 Monday to Thursday, and on Friday the last is at 22:00. The timetable has longer gaps and is not a steady half-hour service. Check weekends and public holidays separately.
Pont de l'Alma pier
From April to October boats leave every 30 minutes between 10:00 and 22:00, with an extra 22:30 departure on Saturdays in October. From November to March they leave every 45 minutes between 10:15 and 21:30. School holidays can change this.
Vert-Galant pier
The one-hour ride runs by day and in the evening, with commentary in French and English. The first departure is daily at 10:30. Check the current timetable for the last departure on your date.
Where each pier is
The Eiffel Tower pier and the Pont de l'Alma pier lie in the west of the city. The Vert-Galant pier is in the centre, at the tip of the Île de la Cité, a short walk from the Pont Neuf. The island holds Notre-Dame, and the Île de la Cité guide covers what to see there. The Louvre is on the right bank nearby, with its own Louvre guide.
Parking at the Eiffel Tower pier is limited and paid, and the operator gives coaches priority. It points drivers to the public car park at the Musée du Quai Branly. Taking the metro or the RER is easier. See also the page on Eiffel Tower cruises.
Tickets and what to check
Five points that change a trip.
Booking ahead
At Bateaux-Mouches a reservation is not required for the sightseeing ride when you travel in a group of fewer than 150 people. The operator suggests buying 15 to 20 minutes before departure. Tickets stay valid for one year. The Bateaux Parisiens ride from the Eiffel Tower has no fixed time slot.
High water
The captain can change the route when the river is high, and the authorities can limit navigation in exceptional cases. Read about it on the best time page.
Summer rules
For the bathing sites there were special navigation rules from 4 July to 30 August 2026. Read more on the swimming page.
Day or night
The same ride looks different after dark. The night cruise page explains evening departures and the Eiffel Tower lights.
Alternative: the Batobus
If you want to get off at the sights rather than return to the pier, compare the Batobus.
Seine river cruises: frequently asked questions
How long is a Seine river cruise?
The standard sightseeing ride lasts about one hour. Dinner cruises are longer, between 1 hour 15 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes. See the dinner cruise page.
How much does a Seine cruise cost?
For the one-hour ride, adults pay €15 to €20 in 2026 depending on the operator. Children pay €7 to €10. Check whether the price is for online booking or for the pier.
Do I need to book in advance?
Not always. Bateaux-Mouches does not require a reservation for groups under 150 people on the sightseeing ride. A timed e-ticket from Vedettes du Pont Neuf is cheaper than a ticket at the pier. Check availability for your date.
Does the boat stop anywhere?
The Bateaux Parisiens ride from the Eiffel Tower makes no stops and returns to the departure point. If you want to hop off, use the Batobus.
Are there cruises in winter?
Yes, with shorter hours. Bateaux-Mouches sails from 10:15 to 21:30 every 45 minutes from November to March, and the Eiffel Tower pier lists winter departures from 2 November. Check the timetable for your date.
Which pier is best for a first visit?
That depends on where you stay and what you want to see. The Eiffel Tower pier is easy to reach by metro line 6 or 9 and RER C. The Vert-Galant pier is central. See where to stay for areas near each pier.