
Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour
Traveler rating
3.6/5
Based on 1,230 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour worth booking?
Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour is a 2.5-hour experience in Paris, France, from $29 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.6/5 rating across 1,230 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 3.6/5 (1,230)
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- From
- $29 per person
Cruise the waters of the River Seine before enjoying a unique view of old Paris from the Canal Saint Martin. See many of the major attractions of Paris from the water including Notre Dame and The Louvre. Pass through tunnels, locks and under bridges as you cruise through some of the Parisian neighborhoods less popular with tourists and explore the city from the water. Choose a morning or afternoon departure to best fit your schedule. For Christmas Holidays, we offer the breakfast the morning, and a snack on the afternoon. Children will enjoy make up activities the afternoon ! It is a special offer ! Book Now !
What you get
About this experience
Cruise the waters of the River Seine before enjoying a unique view of old Paris from the Canal Saint Martin. See many of the major attractions of Paris from the water including Notre Dame and The Louvre. Pass through tunnels, locks and under bridges as you cruise through some of the Parisian neighborhoods less popular with tourists and explore the city from the water. Choose a morning or afternoon departure to best fit your schedule. For Christmas Holidays, we offer the breakfast the morning, and a snack on the afternoon. Children will enjoy make up activities the afternoon ! It is a special offer ! Book Now !
What's included
Included
- Live onboard commentary
- Cruise
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
What you'll see and do
Musee d'Orsay
Orsay Museum : Departure or arrival point of the cruise
Pass by without stopping
Place de la Bastille
Your boat will pass under the Bastille Square
Pass by without stopping
Canal Saint-Martin
Sail on this amazing canal and discover Paris in a different way ! Discover : locks, footbridges liftbridge and the most beautiful monuments by the Seine... and of course history of the city along the water
Pass by without stopping
Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris
The best point of view : on board our boat sailing on the Seine river
Pass by without stopping
Louvre Museum
View of the Louvre Museum from the Seine river
Pass by without stopping
Parc de la Villette
Boarding or arrival of the cruise
Pass by without stopping
The Seine
A boat trip on the Seine from Orsay Museum to Arsenal Marina
Pass by without stopping
Cite Des Sciences Et De L'industrie
Our departure point is just in front of the Cité des Sciences
Pass by without stopping
Ile Saint-Louis
Discover l'ile Saint Louis from the Seine
Pass by without stopping
La Geode
Our cruise departure or arrival point is just in front of La Geode
Pass by without stopping
Paris Canal
Our office is located near the Bassin de la Villette
Pass by without stopping
Bassin de la Villette
You will discover the Bassin de la Villette and have a view on la Rotonde de la Villette, Crimée liftbridge and Paris Plages
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Paris
DEPARTURE AT 02.30PM from Parc de la Villette. METRO is Porte de Pantin (line 5) As soon as you exit the metro, walk straight on through the park, past Grande Halle de la Villette, until you get to the canal. The departure will be on the left, opposite the restaurant 211. White and blue boat
Meeting point
Paris
DEPARTURE AT 10.00AM from Port de Solférino/Quai Anatole France. The closest metro is Solférino (line 12) As soon as you exit the metro, join the Orsay museum. When you have the Orsay museum on your back, go downstairs at the level of the Seine, and walk on the left. White and blue boat Paris Canal
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
If you start the cruise at 2.30pm from the Parc de la Villette you arrived at 5.00pm to the Musée d'Orsay
Ends at
If you start the cruise at 10am from the Musée d'Orsay you arrived at 12.30pm to the Parc de la Villette
Options you can book
10:15 AM La Villette departure
Starting point: Paris Canal Parc de la Villette, 211 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, France
2:30pm La Villette Departure
2:30pm departure from Parc de la Villette arriving at Port de Solférino at 5pm. Starting point: Paris Canal Parc de la Villette, 211 Av. Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, France
10am Orsay Museum Departure
10am departure from Pont de Solférino arriving at Parc de la Villette at 12:30pm.
3pm Orsay Museum Departure
3pm departure from Pont de Solférino arriving at Parc de la Villette at 5:35pm. Starting point: 12 Port de Solférino, 75007 Paris, France
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, fr
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Paris Canal
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,228 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
1,228 verified traveler reviews for Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Fabulous scenery, history and engineering,
This is a different kind of day trip, as it is entirely on the river and the canal. I was fascinated by the engineering and the intentions of bringing the canal through Paris. It snakes its way up to La Villette, which was a derelict area (an old abattoir and remains of earlier dirty/smelly industries) and is now parkland and new buildings as housing for music and museums. Lucky with sunshine, most people enjoyed the upper deck scenery, and/or went down to experience close-up the gushing of water into each canal. It's a photogenic trip, of mature trees, footbridges and varying water width. There is a long tunnel with light pools from above, dangling with ivy. Some people were bored with the whole thing, possibly because they had no understanding of the locks, or the history of La Villette, but might just have enjoyed the ride and appreciated the scenery ! This trip is good value for whatever aspect of it you like. The bi-lingual guide was thorough, pleasant, made us laugh, and outlined the evolution of the canal.
via Tripadvisor
A great way to see another side and historic part of Paris
A great way to see another side and historic part of Paris. The host was very knowledgeable of the waterway and the history of the area and equipment. A must do
via Viator
Pleasant boat tour along Seine and Canal
Pleasant boat tour along the river Seine and Canal St Martin. Started from the quai near Musee d’Orsay and ended by Villette Park. Small bar at the back of the boat for drinks and snacks. The chairs were placed in rows “loose”/unconnected to the boat so the space could also be used for dining or other events. The guide provided commentary in French and English. Occasionally he got distracted after providing the information in French so we didn’t get that information in English, but he generally did a good job.
via Tripadvisor
Fabulous start to a Paris trip
Bring sun protection and sit on the upper deck. You can buy snacks on board. People start queueing about 30 minutes before departure time. We did the afternoon trip and Parc de la Villette was lovely plus it meant a grand entrance to the Seine. It might have been impacted by the noise of the other tourists but the commentary was difficult to hear. However the crew were lovely and were happy to answer questions. We sat inside because it was very hot and the experience was great. I think it would have been even more spectacular from the upper deck...on a cooler day.
via Viator
Nice day for a boat cruise
If you leave from Port Solferino by Musee D'Orsay, look for Paris Canal boatslocked. museum side. We made the mistake of crossing the bridge and didnt see the boat until we were on the other side where the house boats were docked.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 431
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Paris.
How much does Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour cost?
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Prices start at $29 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Paris usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour take?
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Plan for about 2.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Paris is not rushed.
Is Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.6/5 across 1,230 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Paris, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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Around 431 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Paris can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Paris and add a light layer if any part of the 2.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Paris within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Paris?
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Paris rewards travelers who book ahead. The headline museums sell timed entry weeks out, the best food walks cap at eight people, and the Seine cruises that are worth doing are the ones that leave after sunset. Everything below is scored by the Outty Ranking so you can tell a genuine local favorite from a coach-tour filler in a single glance. On Outty we rank every Paris experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based), Louvre Museum Premium Guided Tour 6 GUESTS MAX Entry Included, Louvre Museum Essential Guided Tour Semi Private 6 GUESTS MAX. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
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April to June and September to October, when queues thin out and terraces stay open late. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Paris?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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Included: Live onboard commentary; and Cruise. Not included: Gratuities; Hotel pickup and drop off; and Food and drinks, unless specified. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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DEPARTURE AT 02.30PM from Parc de la Villette. METRO is Porte de Pantin (line 5) As soon as you exit the metro, walk straight on through the park, past Grande Halle de la Villette, until you get to the canal. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour offered in?
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It is offered in English and French. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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Across 1,230 reviews averaging 3.6 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour?
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There are 4 options to choose from, including 10:15 AM La Villette departure, 2:30pm La Villette Departure, 10am Orsay Museum Departure, 3pm Orsay Museum Departure. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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