Seine River Cruise - Sightseeing
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Seine River Cruise Sightseeing - by Bateaux Parisiens on Google
Description
There are several operators of Sightseeing cruises on the Seine River from the center of Paris. This review is for the 60mins cruise with audio-commentary from Bateaux Parisiens (meaning Parisian boats) leaving from the Eiffel Tower. The trip covers a lot of Parisian landmarks such as the Grand Palais, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame de Paris, les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower where it departs from and returns to after looping around Ile St-Louis.
Access & Transport
Boarding is at Port de la Bourdonnais (at the foot of the Eiffel Tower), at pontoon no. 3. The closest metro and train stations are Bir-Hakeim and Champs de Mars (RER C), respectively. Trocadero and Pont de L'Alma are also within walking distance. There are some bus stops along quai Branly and Avenue de Iena (across the Iena bridge). The most practical parking is Tour Eiffel - Quai Branly.
Instructions & Recommendations
The company uses 8 boats for the sightseeing cruises, so the frequency is relatively high: every 30mins to 60mins depending on the time of the day and the season. Best to pick a day with good visibility, if possible, but the cruise would still be enjoyable with light rain. We would recommend combining this activity with a visit of the Quai Branly Museum or Eiffel Tower and then a walk over to the Trocadero.
Environmental & Social
The company has lofty ambitions (clean energy and recyclable boats) but not much details to back it up - for the time being the boats still run on fossil fuels. Neutral from a social perspective.
Conclusion
The "bateaux mouche" sightseeing cruises have been a staple of the capital for decades and continue to be a highlight for many visitors who enjoy the concept, the views and the service. We recommend this original way of discovering the city that provides not only a different perspective but also makes one realize the sheer density of beautiful buildings and monuments in Paris. The Bateaux Parisiens is one of the largest and most reliable operators but most of them should be satisfactory.
Key positive
Family-friendly activity
An efficient way to take in many landmarks for those short on time
Reasonably priced
Key negative
Experience can be impacted by the weather, high water levels or other selfish passengers
Not possible to go into too much details about all the monuments in 60 mins, so it may feel rushed
Suitability
Suitable for all ages and accessible for customers with reduced mobility (subject to a cap per boat)
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 25m
est. visit time:1h 30m
Monday10:30 - 22:00
Tuesday10:30 - 22:00
Wednesday10:30 - 22:00
Thursday10:30 - 22:00
Friday10:30 - 22:00
Saturday10:30 - 22:00
Sunday10:30 - 22:00