Bateaux-Mouches

Bateaux-Mouches is the best-known name in Seine cruising, so much so that Parisians often use the word bateau-mouche for any sightseeing boat on the river. The company has operated from the Port de la Conférence, on the Right Bank by the Pont de l'Alma, since the middle of the 20th century, and its large, glass-sided boats are a familiar sight between the Eiffel Tower and the islands.

The standard sightseeing cruise follows a loop along the river, passing the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, the Conciergerie and Notre-Dame, then circling the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis before returning to the Pont de l'Alma. Commentary explains the bridges and monuments along the way. Beyond the sightseeing cruise, the company offers brunch, lunch and dinner cruises, with meals served on board while the boat follows the same route, as well as private hire for events. Evening cruises are particularly attractive, as the bridges and monuments are lit up and the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour after dark.

The cruises suit first-time visitors, families with children, older travellers and anyone who wants an easy overview of the city without walking. The sightseeing cruise is one of the simplest ways to see many of the main landmarks in a short time, and it works well on a first evening in Paris. The dining cruises are more suited to couples and special occasions, with a dress code and prices that reflect the experience.

Tickets for sightseeing cruises can be bought online through the official website or at the pier, and departures are frequent, especially in the high season. Dining cruises should be booked in advance. Arrive about 15 minutes before departure. The upper open deck is the best place for photographs in fine weather, while the covered lower deck is warmer in winter and when it rains. Buy only from the official website or the ticket office to avoid resellers.

The Port de la Conférence is on the Right Bank, just east of the Pont de l'Alma, at the foot of the Avenue Montaigne. Alma–Marceau station on metro line 9 is about five minutes' walk away, and Pont de l'Alma on RER C is just across the bridge. The Champs-Élysées, the Palais de Tokyo and the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris are close by.