Things to Do & Seine River Tours — Attractions & Tips 2025
Plan your perfect Seine cruise: top piers, landmark highlights, smart timing, photo spots, and local add-ons to make the most of your day in Paris.
Browse Seine River CruisesLandmark Highlights on the Seine
Eiffel Tower & Champ de Mars
Classic departure from Port de la Bourdonnais. Golden-hour views are unmatched; stay for the hourly sparkle after dusk.
Musée d’Orsay
Pass the Beaux-Arts station turned museum; Left Bank façades look best from the open top deck.
Louvre & Pont des Arts
Glide by the former royal palace and the artists’ bridge—great angles of the Cour Carrée and colonnades.
Île de la Cité & Notre-Dame
See the Conciergerie and Notre-Dame’s towers; the boat’s curve gives dramatic views of flying buttresses.
Pont Alexandre III
Ornate nymphs and gilded statues mark Paris’s most photogenic bridge—keep cameras ready.
Île Saint-Louis
Elegant quays and townhouses slide by; pair your cruise with a riverside gelato stop nearby.
Things to Do Before or After Your Seine Cruise
Trocadéro Terrace
Pre-cruise photos with the tower framed perfectly; walk down over Pont d’Iéna to the pier.
Sainte-Chapelle
Five minutes from Pont Neuf pier; stained-glass glow pairs beautifully with an evening sailing.
Latin Quarter Walk
Stroll cobbled lanes and riverside bouquinistes; rejoin at Saint-Michel for cafés and crêpes.
Orsay or Louvre Combo
Do a museum + cruise ticket to save time and retrace riverfront history from art to architecture.
Sunset Picnic
Pick up baguette & cheese for a simple picnic at Square du Vert-Galant on Île de la Cité.
Arc de Triomphe View
Climb before dusk, then head to an evening cruise for lights—an iconic one-two punch.
Dining & Drinks Near the Piers
By the Eiffel Tower
Quayside bistros and boat bars around Port de la Bourdonnais; perfect for a pre-sail apéro.
Pont Neuf / Île de la Cité
Hidden cafés in side streets off Rue de Harlay; grab coffee then board at Square du Vert-Galant.
Alma & Invalides
Left Bank brasseries with river views; great after-dark when bridges are illuminated.
Smart Tips for 2025
Best Time
Arrive 20–30 minutes early for top-deck rail seats; sunset to night offers prime photos.
Choose Your Side
Departing from the Eiffel pier, sit starboard first for Louvre & Île de la Cité angles on the outbound leg.
Weather & Comfort
Light rain cruises run; bring a layer for breeze. Lower salons are heated/covered in cooler months.
Tickets & Combos
Mobile vouchers accepted by most operators. Dinner cruises have fixed check-in windows—don’t be late.
Accessibility
Many boats offer ramp access; check lift/restroom details in advance. Crew assist on boarding.
Family Friendly
Pick earlier evening slots to balance daylight views with city lights—great for kids’ attention spans.
Ready to Sail the Seine?
Lock in a sunset or night slot, pick your pier, and enjoy Paris from its most beautiful viewpoint—the river.
Book Seine River Cruise