Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux

Start your evening at Vert-Galant Square, the tiny park at the tip of the Île de la Cité, just under Pont Neuf. From the statue of Henri IV in the middle of the bridge, walk down the stairs to the riverbank where your boat is waiting.

As you leave Pont Neuf, you circle Île de la Cité, where Paris was born. From the water you can see the medieval towers of the Conciergerie, the Courthouse and the elegant riverfront façades – like sailing around an open-air history book.

Gliding along the south bank of the island, you’ll enjoy a clear, unobstructed view of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Even under restoration, its flying buttresses and towers are one of the most powerful symbols of Paris, and the river is the perfect place for photos away from the crowds.

The cruise continues past Île Saint-Louis, lined with 17th-century mansions and calm quays. This is one of the most romantic corners of Paris: warm apartment windows, tiny balconies and reflections of the façades in the Seine.

Further west, the immense façade of the Louvre stretches along the river, facing the domed French Institute on the Left Bank. Between them, the Pont des Arts footbridge offers one of the best viewpoints in Paris – from the boat you can see all three in a single glance.