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Pont de la Tournelle

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Pont de la Tournelle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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15 Most Stunning Bridges You Should See in Paris

Photo by Moonik on Wikimedia Commons

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1. pont neuf, and the tip of île de la cité.

Practical information

Address: 75001 paris, france, bridge type: arch bridge , deck arch bridge, metro station: pont neuf, 2. alexander iii bridge.

address: Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris, France

Bridge type: arch bridge, metro station: the invalides station, 3. pont des arts, the love lock bridge of paris.

address: Pont des Arts, 75006 Paris, France

Bridge type: footbridge ,  arch bridge, metro station: st michel notre dame station, 4. pont de bir hakeim.

Bridge Bir-Hakeim – by DXR – Wikimedia Commons

Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons

address: Pont de Bir-Hakeim, 75015 Paris, France

Website: puente de bir hakeim, metro station: bir-hakeim, 5. pont d’iéna.

address: Pont d’Iéna, 75116 Paris, France

Bridge type: arch bridge, metro station: champ de mars tour eiffel station, 6. pont saint-michel.

Pont Saint-Michel – by Julie Anne Workman – Wikimedia Commons

address: Pont Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, France

Metro station: the cluny – la sorbonne station, 7. passerelle simone-de-beauvoir.

address: 75012 Paris, France

Website: passerelle simone-de-beauvoir, metro station: quai de la gare, 8. pont de l’alma, its zouave, and the flame of liberty.

Practical infomation

Address: pont de l’alma, 75008 paris, france, bridge type:   arch bridge ,  girder bridge, metro station: alma-marceau, 9. pont mirabeau and its statues.

address: Pont Mirabeau, 75015 Paris, France

Website: pont mirabeau, metro station: javel, 10. passerelle léopold-sédar-senghor.

address: Léopold Sedar Senghor, 75001 Paris, France

Metro station: assemblée nationale, 11. petit pont.

address: Petit Pont – Cardinal Lustiger, 75005 Paris, France

Metro station: saint-michel notre-dame, 12. pont de la tournelle.

address: Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris, France

Bridge type:   arch bridge, website: pont de la tournelle, metro station: cardinal lemoine station, 13. passerelle debilly.

Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France , CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

address: Passerelle Debilly, 75007 Paris, France

Bridge type:   footbridge ,  arch bridge ,  through arch bridge, website: passerelle debilly, metro station: iéna station, 14. pont au change.

Joe deSousa , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

address: Pont au Change, 75001 Paris, France

Metro station: saint-michel, 15. pont charles-de-gaulle.

Dinkum , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

address: 66 Quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris, France

Website: pont charles-de-gaulle, metro station: gare de lyon station.

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Anissa is a student at Sciences Po, where she takes social sciences and political science lessons. She lives on the Left Bank, but she also enjoys spending time in the Parisian gardens with a good book, between two shopping sprees in the thrift shops.

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Saint Geneviève Statue at the Pont de la Tournelle

Poor Geneviève. Welcoming the guests entering the capital, she is ignored by the Parisian who, like Notre Dame de Paris , only see that the gross and straight back. A sculpture that even its author, Paul Landowki, despised, heartbroken by the order that he had never really accepted.

But this culture raising up on the pont de la Tournelle, is perhaps one of the most important symbol of Paris: Genevieve is the Patron Saint of the capital.

The Pont de la Tournelle

Built in 1928 on the remains of wooden bridges collapsed, the Pont de la Tournelle bridge takes its name from an old tower of Philippe -Auguste Wall which stood on the Left Bank.

The project, to emphasize the asymmetry of the bridge, planned to sit on top of the southern stack a statue of St. Genevieve. A work entrusted to Paul Landowki, French sculptor who realized a few years later one of the most famous statues in the world: Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

While Bridge plans are validated, Landowski questioned the direction of St. Genevieve , he would like facing Notre Dame. After long negotiations, the initial project will be ordered. To the great displeasure of the artist, a notes found attesting it :

(14/08/1928): “After the Bridge Tournelle […] Still bad impression. This is a completely botched work. “ (20/06/1943): “How sorry I am, when I stroll around, to see that awful pillar of my poor saint Genevieve! “. (Landowski – sculptural works – Michèle Lefrançois)

The sculpture depicts Geneviève protecting a child – Paris – child protecting himself a nave, historical symbol of the capital .

The legend of St. Genevieve

Born in 423 in Nanterre, Genevieve was the daughter of a city magistrate. Fervent believer from an early age, she recovered after her father’s death this charge and move to Paris. When she was 20, she will be ordered by the Bishop of Paris “Consecrated Virgin”.

In 451, Attila and the Huns crossed the Rhine to invade Gaul . They plunder Metz, Reims, and head to Paris. Parisians, scared by the legend of the barbarian warrior, decided to leave the city. Geneviève,  on the contrary,  urges Paris to fight.

Miracle, Attila and his troops finally go through Troyes, then head to Orleans. Paris has been finally saved by the prayers of the young and courageous Genevieve…

History also tells that Attila was not interest in Paris, but wanted to besiege the rich and big city of Orleans. But who cares, a legend was born!

That’s why St. Genevieve still looks at the east, towards Attila troops who miraculously bypassed Paris. To the great misfortune of Paul Landowski …

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Pont de la Tournelle – Paris bridge – Facts

Pont de la tournelle.

The Pont de la Tournelle links the Ile St-Louis to Quai de la Tournelle on the Rive Gauche.

It is aligned with the Pont Marie , its counterpart on the north bank of the island.

The Rue des Deux Ponts links the two bridges.

A first wooden bridge, built in the 14th century, connected the Left Bank to the Ile Notre-Dame.

This islet was one of the two islets that merged in order to form the current Ile St-Louis.

The terrible floods of 1651 swept away most of that wooden bridge.

Christophe Marie, the developer of the Ile St-Louis, replaced it in 1656 with a stone bridge.

However, this six semicircular-arch bridge proved to be quite a hindrance in terms of fluvial navigation.

It was widened in 1845 but it was eventually demolished between 1918 and 1921.

The engineers Deval, Lang and Retraint built the current Pont de la Tournelle in 1928.

The bridge is 120 m long by 23 m wide; two small lateral arches flank a large and low central arch.

Stone blocks conceal the reinforced concrete structure.

One of Philippe Auguste’s Wall watch towers left its name to the bridge.

This square tower or Tourelle became eventually known as Tournelle .

It commanded the river Seine upstream and protected Paris from any westwards incursion.

Statue of Sainte-Geneviève by Landowski

In 1928 the City of Paris commissioned the sculptor Landowski with the creation of the statue of Sainte-Geneviève to adorn the bridge.

The sculptor represented the patron saint of Paris as a young woman protecting a child holding in his arms a vessel, the symbol of Paris.

He sculpted the 5,40m high statue directly from a 14m high monolith.

He wanted to sculpt a shorter statue and place it facing Notre-Dame Cathedral downstream, but he had to comply with the requests of the City of Paris.

The statue had to face westwards to symbolically shield the city from any danger coming from upstream; it also had to be tall enough to be seen from far away.

The statue was erected on the spot where the saint’s shrine was temporarily kept in 885 before it was transferred to Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church .

Metro: Pont Marie on Line 7 Coordinates: Lat 48.850341 – Long 2.355269

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Knowing Paris by Its Bridges

Spanning the Seine, of steel, stone and wood, the city’s many bridges offer lessons in history, architecture — and romance.

The seal of City of Paris on the Viaduc d'Austerlitz, one of 37 bridges spanning the Seine within its confines.  Credit... Joann Pai for The New York Times

Supported by

By Elaine Sciolino

• Published Nov. 4, 2019 Updated Nov. 5, 2019

Sometimes, when sleep eludes me in the dark hour before dawn, I make my way to the Pont de la Tournelle, the 400-foot bridge that links the Île Saint-Louis to Paris’s Left Bank. I plant myself at its midpoint, face west and wait. Before me is the skeletal back of Notre-Dame, shrouded in darkness.

I watch as the sky moves from blue-black to deep blue velvet to soft gray, then light blue. The delicate architectural details of the cathedral gradually reveal themselves, until finally, the early morning sun bathes them in warm orange hues.

The back side of Notre-Dame is the creation of Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, the young architect in charge of the cathedral’s restoration in the 19th century. It looks nothing like the grandiose main entrance, whose hundreds of Medieval stone carvings make it one of the most recognizable images of Paris around the world.

The view from behind is different from what it was just a few months ago. During the great fire of April 15, 2019, the cathedral lost the spire that Viollet-le-Duc erected, and sections of the roof are hidden under protective scaffolding. But the structure still shows its splendor at night, the flat, dark silhouette of its flying buttresses visible through the trees.

[Notre Dame holds a special place in memory. Read our writers’ reactions to the fire.]

I am never alone when I come here. Sitting atop a tall, stark pylon on the southeastern bank of the bridge is the 1928 statue of Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. The fifth-century saint is portrayed as a young woman, her hands on the shoulders of a child who represents the city. During her lifetime, Geneviève predicted that Attila and his Mongol hordes would spare Paris from massacre and destruction; after she was proved right, she was heralded as the savior of Paris. These days, she looks out on the water — and perhaps down on me — like a silent protector.

The Seine begins to awaken at dawn. The first barges of the morning move downstream. The river police begin their patrols in fast-moving inflatable boats. The garbage trucks rumble along the quays picking up the refuse from the revelry the night before. Dogs bark. Crows caw.

I have found on the Pont de la Tournelle a special place and time in which to make Paris my own.

All that contemplation whets my appetite, and from here, I walk along the quay on the Left Bank until I reach Le Depart Saint-Michel, a 24-hour café-brasserie. A touristy place to avoid at lunch and dinner, it is a great place for people-watching over an omelet and an espresso at early rush hour and a fitting way to savor the magic of a Seine River bridge at dawn.

Study Paris through its bridges, and you have a mosaic of the city’s history and architecture.

There are 35 bridges crossing the eight-mile span from one end of Paris to the other, starting at the Pont National upstream to the Pont du Garigliano, the last bridge as the river moves to the sea (the number is 37 if you count the Boulevard Périphérique, the utilitarian highway that rings the city and crosses the river upstream at Charenton/Bercy and downstream at Saint-Cloud/Issy).

Unesco celebrates 23 of the city’s bridges in its designation of the banks of the Seine — from the Pont de Sully, near Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Pont d’Iéna, at the Eiffel Tower — as a World Heritage cultural site.

The bridges stretch themselves over the river as if they are posing for passers-by. Every one of them has its own story, structure, purpose and character. Four are footbridges; two carry Metro trains. Twenty-six welcome both motorists and pedestrians; three are even more ambitious, with car and pedestrian lanes and Metro or tram tracks.

Some bridges are named for French military victories. Bir-Hakeim memorializes the Libyan oasis where Free French forces repulsed two German enemy divisions in 1942; Iéna and Austerlitz were sites of Napoléon’s triumphs; and Alma, a Crimean War victory. Others are named after famous people: a king (Louis-Philippe), an engineer (Christophe Marie), a president of France (Charles de Gaulle), and a president of Senegal (Léopold-Sédar-Senghor).

Painters like Matisse and Monet, photographers like Willy Ronis and Henri Cartier-Bresson felt compelled to capture the bridges — and their reflections in the Seine’s slow-moving water — in their art. Several years ago, Richard Overstreet, a painter living in Paris, rented a panoramic camera and for months photographed the bridges in their long and narrow splendor. “The bridges came alive for me,” he said. “They became the perfect artist’s models, still and constantly vibrant, stretched out in perfect repose across the Seine.”

The bridges have even been memorialized in song. In the United States, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Eartha Kitt and the Kingston Trio all sang about the Seine. In 1955, Dean Martin turned a 1913 French song “Under the Bridges of Paris” into an unambiguous opération seduction:

How would you like to be Down by the Seine with me Oh, what I’d give for a moment or two Under the bridges of Paris with you

In Billy Wilder’s 1954 romantic comedy “Sabrina,” Audrey Hepburn explains to a skeptical Humphrey Bogart the magic of a walk past the bridges of Paris: “You find one you love and go there every day with your coffee and your journal and you listen to the river.”

Indeed, there is only one way to discover the bridges of Paris: on foot. With good walking shoes, you can make it east to west, from the first to the last bridge, in a day, stopping for lunch at a riverside cafe midway.

[Read The Times’s review of the author’s new book, “The Seine: The River That Made Paris.”]

A bridge named for Simone de Beauvoir

I recommend starting at Paris’s newest bridge, a pedestrian span built in 2006 and named after the 20th-century feminist, novelist, and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, slightly downstream of the Périphérique’s crossing at Charenton/Bercy. Asymmetrical and eclectic, it is an arched and suspension bridge in one; it has no pillars or visible supports, although it stretches over one of the widest stretches of the Seine.

The heart of Paris is still the Île de la Cité, the island in the middle of the river where Paris was created in ancient times. There, at the foot of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), is the Pont d’Arcole, the site of the last scene of the 2003 film “Something’s Gotta Give.” Jack Nicholson, thinking he has lost Diane Keaton, stumbles out of a restaurant near the Hôtel de Ville and onto the bridge. An accordionist plays “La vie en rose.” A tourist boat aglow in white lights cruises below him. He gets teary-eyed. It starts to snow. She arrives in a taxi to confess that she still loves him. He tells her, “If it’s true, my life just got made …. I’m 63 years old, and I’m in love — for the first time in my life.” They kiss.

Even the most fantastic love scenes in the movies seem plausible standing on a Parisian bridge.

Nearby, the Pont Saint-Louis connects the Île de la Cité and the smaller Île Saint-Louis. It is a short, unexceptional bridge, but serves as an intimate stage for musicians, especially Americans playing jazz, jugglers, actors and mime artists.

A half a mile west is Paris’s oldest bridge, paradoxically named the Pont-Neuf, the “new bridge” at the tip of the Île de la Cité, and more or less the center point of the Seine’s course through the city. A 17th-century triumph of design and technology, it was the first bridge in Paris to be built entirely of stone and featured pedestrian walkways. It was built without the houses that lined earlier bridges and cluttered the views. In constructing it through and on both sides of the island, Henri IV created an intimate, permanent bond between Parisians and the lifeblood of their city, the Seine.

This bond still exists. Behind a statue of Henri IV on the bridge are staircases that descend two flights. They open out onto a spit of land at the westernmost tip of the Île de la Cité, the Square du Vert-Galant. Unlike most Paris parks, it is open to the public all night long. When the river is high, the branches of the weeping willow planted in cobblestones at the tip of the square caress the surface of the Seine. You can come close enough to reach out and touch the water.

A quarter mile to the west, at the Louvre , is the Pont des Arts, a wood-slatted, iron pedestrian bridge that links the museum to the Institut de France, home of the Académie Française , on the other side of the river. A magnet for picnickers, it was once the place couples proclaimed their love by attaching metal padlocks. But the spindly, fragile footbridge was too weak to bear the weight of all this love. The city of Paris lined the bridge barriers with lock-resistant Plexiglas, and couples moved east to the Pont Neuf, until its barriers were replaced with corrugated plastic. But the love locks still sprout on odd spaces — between barriers on bridges, on lampposts and on heavy iron mooring rings all along the river.

Heading downstream, history buffs might like to walk over the Pont de la Concorde which joins the Place de la Concorde with the National Assembly. The bridge was built during the French Revolution using stones of the demolished Bastille, “so that the people could forever trample on the old fortress,” according to Rodolphe Perronet, the bridge’s engineer.

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The most elegant bridge in Paris

Then comes the most elegant of Paris bridges: the Pont Alexandre III, a belle epoque confection linking the Invalides to the Champs-Élysées. Built for the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, it was named in honor of the father of the visiting Russian czar, Nicholas II. Sculptures of full-figured, bare-breasted nymphs look out at the river from their perches at the bridge’s center. Gilded candelabra, trumpet-blowing angels, lion-taming cherubs, dolphins, starfish, sea monsters and birds proclaim joy. Faust, a nightclub, sits underneath the bridge on the Left Bank.

The Pont Alexandre III is so emblematic of Paris that when mayor Anne Hidalgo led a campaign to promote her city as the site for the 2024 Summer Olympics, she built a 12-meter diving board on the bridge and a floating running track alongside it to stage a show of Olympic sporting events. The Eiffel Tower was strategically visible in the background for the perfect photo frame.

The city of Paris also spends millions of dollars every year to light up its river banks, and at night, the bridges look like bright necklaces strung across the river. They show off the two schools of lighting: the Paris school, which bathes its subjects in warm, even light, and the Lyon school, which uses small spotlights to highlight details for dramatic effect. The decorations of Pont Alexandre III are lit with the pointillism of the Lyon school. So are the arches and hanging lamps of the Pont de Bercy, the high-relief sculptures on the Pont d’Austerlitz, and the medallions on the N monograms, in honor of Napoléon III, on the Pont au Change.

Gary Zuercher, a retired businessman and a lifelong photographer, was so passionate about the way the bridges look at night that he spent more than five years photographing them in black and white for a 190-page coffee-table book, “The Glow of Paris.” Because Paris isn’t fully dark in the summer months until about 11 p.m., he did most of his work during the winter. “I wanted to present the majesty of the Paris bridges in their most alluring setting,” he said. “Nighttime.”

By day, tourist boat rides on the Seine are interesting, of course, but at night, they become voyages of discovery. I take visitors on the Vedettes de Paris , a small bateau-mouche, because if we arrive early enough, we can nab a spot in the front of an upper deck. When the boat passes under the bridges, we can see how the lighting from underneath reveals the curves and angles of their underbellies.

Tour guides on the bateaux-mouches will tell you that the Pont Marie is the lovers’ bridge. The story goes that if you make a wish as the boat slips under the bridge and keep the wish secret, it will be granted. One summer night, I took two female college students for a boat ride. As we approached the bridge, a recording announced: “If you’re with the person you love, kiss him or her under the bridge, make a wish, and your wish will come true.” One of the students closed her eyes and made a wish, even though her boyfriend was an ocean away.

A bridge beloved by artists

There are glorious bridges that spring into view when you least expect it. One that is worthy of discovery is not in Paris itself, but near the town of Chatou about 10 miles west of Paris.

I found the bridge as I was rowing one Sunday afternoon in a 100-year-old two-seat wooden boat along the Seine with Kareen Sontag, a member of the Sequana Association , a three-decade-old club dedicated to restoring, rebuilding and exhibiting some of the most important boats to have plied the waters of the Seine between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I could hear the grinding of Kareen’s seat as she plied each stroke, the plop of her oars when she dipped them sharply in the water, and the gurgle of water against the hull as the boat moved forward.

“You are not in the suburbs of Paris; you are in a green forest,” she said. “Look at the river and the green trees rising above in the distance, and you are in the world of 100 years ago.” She rowed past decrepit barges and houseboats docked on the banks. She stopped as we were about to row under a three-arched iron and stone railway bridge that once carried trains along its route. Kareen told me it was famous in painting and literature as a symbol of modernity, as the railroad was the means by which 19th-century Parisians came to the local river communities to enjoy their leisure time.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted the bridge in 1881, almost completely hiding it behind chestnut trees in bloom with big pink flowers. He put the bridge far in the background of one of his best-known works of the same period, Luncheon of the Boating Party. Guy de Maupassant evoked the bridge in his short story “Femme Fatale,” describing a line of rowboats speeding along the Seine and “growing progressively smaller till they disappeared beyond the railway bridge and into the distance.” The bridge was photographed in black and white in the early 20th century for postcards.

Kareen was right. I was indeed in the world of 100 years ago.

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Elaine Sciolino is a writer for The New York Times and a former Paris bureau chief, based in France since 2002. Her new book, "The Seine: The River That Made Paris" was published in October 2019.  She is the author of four previous books, including “The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue des Martyrs,” a New York Times best seller. In 2010, she was decorated a chevalier of the Legion of Honor, the highest honor of the French state, for her “special contribution” to the friendship between France and the United States. More about Elaine Sciolino

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Paris' Pont des Arts: The Complete Guide

One of Paris' Most Beautiful Bridges

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Pont des Arts

One of the loveliest of Paris' many bridges, the Pont des Arts is a photogenic delight. It's appeared in countless films, including one that shares its name. Connecting the central courtyard of the Louvre Palace on one side of the Seine River to the prestigious Institut de France on the other, the bridge seems to embody the city at its most elegant.

Tourists regularly flock to the pedestrian-only bridge, or passerelle , to take pictures of light reflecting off of buildings onto the gentle waters below. Clouds scattering on the horizon to reveal the Eiffel Tower in the near-distance also make for iconic shots. It may not be the most off-the-beaten-track place in the capital , but everyone should probably visit it at least once.

The Pont des Arts is a relative newcomer to the Parisian landscape. Emperor Napoleon I commissioned a metallic pedestrian bridge in around 1802. Consisting of nine arched structures, it would be Paris' first of its kind made of metal — a preview, perhaps, of the modern city to come. It was initially meant to resemble a suspended garden, lined with greenery, flowers and equipped with benches for passersby to enjoy. Initially, pedestrians had to pay a small fee to cross or sit on it. These days, of course, it's free to visit.

Following World War I and II, the bridge suffered structural damage from aerial bombing and boat accidents. After engineers deemed it unsafe in the late 1970s, it was closed to the public for a number of years. The city decided to reconstruct it, reopening the Pont in 1984. The new bridge is nearly identical to the Emperor Napoleon's, but only features seven arches instead of the original nine.

Since then, it's become one of the city's most popular spots for picnics, romantic views, and even art exhibitions: numerous painters and photographers chose to set up on the Pont to work on new landscapes and showcase their work.

The bridge became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, along with the rest of the banks of the Seine from the Ile Saint Louis to the Eiffel Tower.

Lovelocks: Controversy & Dismantling

Many couples visiting Paris still look forward to placing a metal padlock, or "lovelock" on the Pont des Arts to celebrate an anniversary or other romantic moment. Unfortunately, the city banned this practice in 2015 and completely removed around one million locks from the bridge. They were endangering the structural integrity of the bridge and caused damage to part of it.

The city mayor, Anne Hidalgo, added three glass panels to the bridge to discourage visitors from placing further padlocks on it. Tourists are now requested to simply take "romantic selfies" on and around the Pont, reminded that the lovelocks are a danger to the beauty and integrity of the historic bridge.

What to Do on the Pont des Arts

There's plenty to do and see on and nearby. Here are just a couple of ideas for making the most of your visit to the iconic bridge.

Enjoy a Dusky Picnic on the Bridge: During the summer, it's a daily occurence to see the whole bridge taken over after dusk with groups of friends enjoying picnics or glasses of wine. It's no wonder: the views and light shimmering on the water are both superb.

Don't be shy: stock up on delicious, typical Parisian fare such as fresh French bread and cheese, fruit and wine and stake out a corner of the bridge on the early side so you make sure you get a spot.

Bring a blanket and a small paring knife (both available at many city supermarkets like Monoprix and Carrefour) to make yourself more comfortable and able to enjoy your meal. You can check out our guide on where to find picnic goodies in Paris . Read up on the best bakeries in Paris for ideas on where to stock up on delicious breads, baguettes and authentic French pastries.

Take a Romantic Stroll at Sunrise or Sunset: When you visit the Pont, you'll soon understand why couples formerly elected it to place their lovelocks on it. This is a truly romantic spot: you've got the Eiffel Tower glimmering in the background, light hitting the waters of the Seine in just the "right" ways — and a sense of spaciousness that nevertheless feels intimate. We recommend you choose a stroll around the Pont at sunrise or sunset for the ultimate romantic moment together. If you're after real privacy, choose the early morning. You can then go find some pastries nearby and continue your romantic walk around Paris as the city wakes up.

Admire Views of the Louvre & the Institut de France: Bring your favorite camera and take shots of the postcard-perfect scenery you're afforded from the bridge. From this vantage, you can take lovely shots of sights including the Louvre Palace (the central courtyard from the Seine-River side) as well as the Institut de France , where scholarly societies such as the Académie Francaise have their headquarters.

Location and How to Get There

The Pont des Arts connects the right bank and the left bank of the Seine river, and the Palais du Louvre buildings to the Institut de France. It also bridges the 1st and the 6th arrondissements (districts) of Paris .

The easiest way is to get there is to take the Metro to the Pont Neuf station (Line 7) and follow signs to the bridge. Alternatively, you can get off at Metro Chatelet in central Paris (served by multiple metro, bus and RER commuter-line trains) and take a leisurely stroll. Walk west along the banks of the Seine and the Quai de la Mégisserie, pass the Pont Neuf bridge, and continue along the Quai du Louvre and the Quai Francois Mittérand to reach the bridge.

From the left bank, you can get off at the Solférino Metro stop (Line 12) and walk to the riverside, heading east down Quai Voltaire to reach the bridge.

What to Do Nearby

Especially if you're visiting Paris for the first time, this can be a good focal point for exploring several iconic tourist attractions in the French capital.

Head over to the Louvre Museum and the adjoining Tuileries gardens for a morning or afternoon of fantastic art galleries, a glimpse at Paris' medieval and royal history and a stroll through stunning green lanes, flowerbeds and statuary.

Pop over to the rive gauche ( left bank ) to take in the world-famous impressionist art collections at the Musée d'Orsay , where masterpieces from Renoir, Monet, Manet, Pissarro, Dégas, and countless others await.

Finally, cut away from the riverbanks for a spell to the fascinating St-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood.

Famous for its sidewalk cafés once frequented by writers and philosophers and 6th-century medieval Abbey, visitors now covet it for its fantastic art galleries, chic boutiques and gourmet goodies from chocolates to croissants.

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A Self-Guided Tour of Parisian Architecture

Paris' Pont Neuf: The Complete Guide

The Champ de Mars in Paris: The Complete Guide

The Top 12 Things to Do Around the Eiffel Tower

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The Seine River in Paris: A Complete Guide

One Week in France: The Ultimate Itinerary

The Top 10 Things to Do in Paris's Saint-Germain-des-Prés District

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The Top 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France

Vedettes du Pont Neuf Boat Cruises on the Seine in Paris

Savvy Travel Advice

Seine River Cruises in Paris: How to Choose the Best Seine Cruise Boat Tour

Last updated: February 17, 2024 - Written by Jessica Norah 103 Comments

A Seine river cruise is a very popular way to see Paris, and one we always recommend to visitors to the city. These short river cruises allow you to take in many of the highlights of the city—the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc.—as you float along the Seine River.

Many of Paris’s most famous and important buildings, bridges, and attractions can be seen from the river. The river viewpoint also allows you to gain some good insight into the city’s history, evolution, and architecture. In fact, the banks of the Seine in Paris were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

We have taken many Seine river cruises over the years on multiple visits to Paris with a lot of different companies, and we always recommend one to friends and family when visiting Paris.

However, deciding on the right cruise may be difficult as there are several companies that provide similar tours along the Seine River.

In this article, we’ll give you the details on the most popular sightseeing boat tours in the City of Light and help you decide which one might be best for you. We’ll also provide you with a list of Seine dinner cruises and companies offering private Seine river cruises for those looking for a special evening out. We’ll also let you know which ones we chose and why for our own Seine river cruise experiences.

Table of Contents:

Seine River Cruises: Main Paris Sightseeing Boat Companies

There are a lot of similarities in many of the Seine river boat cruises that offer larger scale cruises along the Seine.

First, most Seine cruises last about an hour in duration and stop and end at the same point unless otherwise noted. They also all complete approximately the same circuit although you can check for the exact map for each by going to the companies’ websites. Most companies operate sightseeing river cruises in Paris year-round.

In addition to regular sightseeing cruises, the majority of these companies also operate dinner cruises on the Seine (as well as other meals and special event cruises) if you are looking for a meal on board.

While you can buy tickets for most cruises the same day in-person near the dock, you may be able to save money by purchasing in advance. Often tickets are valid for 3 months to 1 year following purchase allowing you to choose the time and date of your Seine cruise. If you purchase a ticket or voucher online, be sure to print it out and take it with you to claim your ticket at the dock.

Some of the companies offer cruises seasonally whereas others operate year-round. Those that operate year-round often offer less frequent cruises in the low season. High season is generally from April to September and low season is from October to March.

Below we summarize the departure points, type of commentary or narration provided, cost of tickets, how to buy the tickets, and other points of interest about each company that offers Seine cruises. This list is in alphabetical order: 

1. Bateaux Mouches Seine Cruise

This is the oldest company operating cruise boats on the Seine River, starting service after World War II, and these boats have become somewhat of a symbol of Paris. Bateaux Mouches has some of the biggest boats which are easy to spot because they are big, double-decker open-top boats with orange seats.

The sightseeing cruises last approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Departure Points(s)

Leaves from Pont de l’Alma (right bank) in the 8th arrondissement.

Pre-recorded narration is provided in several languages, including English, over the boat speaker system. They also provide printed handouts in 22 languages.

Pricing & Tickets

Current prices (as of June 2023): adults are 15 euros, children age 4 to 12 are 6 euros, and children under age 4 are free.

You can buy tickets online (use our link for a small discount) , by phone, or at the dock. If you purchase your ticket online, you can collect your ticket before boarding at the Pont de l’Alma at the Compagnie des Bateaux-Mouches kiosk. You will just need to present your transaction number and proof of booking.

Accessibility

Step-free access is available and the bottom floor of the boats is wheelchair accessible. The boat configurations vary, but there are approximately 10 stairs to access the second floor and it is not accessible to wheelchairs.

Access to toilets on board the boats requires navigating stairs, but there are wheelchair-accessible toilets available near the docking area. Priority access for disabled guests is available.

Other Points

• Website: https://www.bateaux-mouches.fr
• Also provide lunch, dinner, and special events cruises.

These boats are probably the most popular on the Seine as they are the biggest and you don’t usually need a reservation to get on them. However, this makes them very popular with tourist groups so be prepared to share the boat with hundreds of other visitors.

The open-top is great in good weather and provides unobstructed better views than some of the other boats operated by other companies without the extra deck. However, in bad weather you’ll be forced into the glassed-in bottom half of the boat.

Narration is provided but it can be difficult to hear if the boat is busy or the weather is bad. 

2. Bateaux Parisiens Seine Cruise

Bateaux Parisiens have a large fleet of medium-sized boats. Most of the boats they use for sightseeing cruises have lower enclosed decks and an upper uncovered deck. This is probably the second most popular company on the Seine.

The sightseeing cruises last approximately 1 hour.

Leaves from the Port de la Bourdonnais (near the Eiffel Tower, on the left bank) in the 7th arrondissement -OR- from Quai de Montebello (near the Notre Dame) in the 5th arrondissement.

If you depart from near the Eiffel Tower , narration is provided through individual audio devices available in 14 languages on the lower part of the boat. A live guide is also available for questions.

If you sit on the upper part of the boat, the boat has recently started asking customers to download a free audioguide app on their smartphones rather than giving out individual audio devices. The app commentary is available in multiple languages, but you will need a smartphone and set of headphones or earbuds to listen.

If you depart from near Notre Dame then there is live commentary provided by a live guide in 3 languages (including French and English).

Current prices (as of June 2023) are 18 euros for adults, 9 euros for children age 4-13, and children under age 4 are free. 

Tickets can be purchased online , by phone, or at the ticket offices near the boats.

** DISCOUNT : If you plan to depart from the Eiffel Tower, you can save an extra 2 euros off your ticket price for any trips departing from the Eiffel Tower by booking your ticket online here .**

Note for PARIS PASS holders: Currently, a free Bateaux Parisiens Seine river cruise is included as part of the Paris Pass . Check the website or guidebook for most up-to-date info but Paris Pass holders can currently collect their free ticket by presenting their Paris Pass at the ticket window at Pier 3 at the Eiffel Tower departure port.

Read our review of the Paris Pass for more information, and take a look at our suggested 3 day Paris itinerary that includes this ride.

Step-free access via a ramp is available at the Eiffel Tower stop, and the bottom floor of the boats is wheelchair accessible. Access to toilets on board the boats requires going up and down stairs, but there are wheelchair-accessible toilets available at Le Bistro Parisien, the company’s restaurant near their Eiffel Tower dock.

• Website: https://www.bateauxparisiens.com/
• They offer lunch, dinner, and special events cruises. They also offer a special family-oriented cruise (offered in French only) that includes music and children’s activities.

If you choose Bateaux Parisiens and don’t have a strong preference regarding boarding location, I would choose the Eiffel Tower departure point as you’ll save with our discount , making this what we think are some of the best value Seine River cruises available.

If you plan to sit on top, be sure to download the cruise app onto your smartphone and bring your headphones or earbuds if you want to listen to the commentary.

3. Batobus Seine Cruise (well, sort of…)

These are hop-on/hop-off boats that make a circuit with 9 separate stops, all near major tourist destinations (e.g., Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre). The Batobus is not really intended for a sightseeing cruise but can still be a good economical choice if you also want to use the Batobus for transportation.

If you use the boat to do a sightseeing tour, the full circuit takes about 2 hours. It stops about every 15 minutes.

Departure Point(s)

Boats leave from 9 different stops near the following sites: St-Germain-des-Prés, Notre Dame, Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs-Elysées, Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, and Beaugrenelle.

The boats stop at each stop every 20 to 25 minutes depending on the season.

There is no narration during these boat tours as they are designed as a boat taxi service rather than an actual cruise. Staff members are on board, however, and can answer questions in both English and French.

For a 1-day pass current prices (as of November 2022) for adult passes (age 16+) are 20 euros and child (age 3 to 15) passes are 10 euros. Children under age 3 ride for free. For a 2-day pass, adult passes are 22 euros and child passes are 11 euros.

Tickets can be purchased online , at any of the 9 Batobus stops, tourist information offices, or at the Paris L’Open Tour Boutique (3 rue Auber, 75009 Paris).

Step-free access via a ramp is available only at the Eiffel Tower stop, and the bottom floor of the boats is wheelchair accessible. However, many of the other stops require steps or have cobbled walkways. There are no toilets on board these boats. Wheelchair accessible toilets are available near their Eiffel Tower dock.

I would not recommend Batobus for those in a wheelchair unless you plan to stay on the boat for a round trip ride as only the Eiffel Tower stop is easy to access for wheelchair users. Since there is no guided commentary on board, you are probably better off choosing another boat company.

Other Notes

• Website: https://www.batobus.com/
• There are no toilets on board these boats.

While these boats are meant to function as water buses they can still be a good choice for some views of Paris from the river. For some people who don’t want to use the bus system or metro, these can be an especially great and economical option.

For instance, a 1 day pass allows for unlimited transportation for an entire day and you can use the Batobus as a bus during the day and then sit back and enjoy the full circuit at night. Just note that if crowded these boats can get quite hot in the summer heat, but can be nice and warm on cool days as they are heated.

Please note that depending on where you want to go, there may be some walking involved to get there from the port stop. For instance, the stop closest to the Eiffel Tower requires a 15-minute walk to get to the monument from the boat stop.

4. Canauxrama Seine Cruise 

Canauxrama is one of the top companies for providing canal tours around Paris , but they also provide scenic tours along the Seine River as well as a combined canal and river cruise. The Canuaxrama boats vary a bit but all have a closed bottom deck and an open-top deck.

The main Seine River sightseeing cruises are 2 hours long and combine a canal cruise with a Seine River cruise.

There are a number of departure points depending on which cruise you take, so it is important to check which is right for the cruise you choose.

Some cruises, specifically the combined Seine River and Canal St. Martin cruises for example, departs from the intersection of Rue Jean Poulmarch and Quai de Valmy.

Specific Seine River cruises leave from Ile de la Cité near 19 Quai de l’horloge in the 1st arrondissement.

Canal cruises leave from the intersection of Rue Jean Poulmarch and Quai de Valmy .

Live narration on board by guide in French and English.

The 2 hour combined Seine River and Canal St. Martin cruise tickets are currently (as of June 2023) 22 euros for adults, 10 euros for children age 4-12, and free for children under 4. 

It is recommended that reservations should be made in advance for all cruises.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance , or at one of their two ticket offices at the Marina Arsenal or Bassin de la Villette.

Access to the Canauxarama boat boarding points require going up or down several steps and sometimes cobbled walkways. There are also steps (up to 6 steps) on some of the boats that passengers would need to be able to climb.

There are no ramps for wheelchair accessibility. However, some people with greater mobility who are in manual wheelchairs and have a person accompanying them to help them navigate the stairs and walkways, may be able to do these cruises. Mobility scooters are usually too heavy to be moved onto the boats.

There are no wheelchair-accessible toilets on board or near where the boats are docked.

• Website: https://www.canauxrama.com/en/
• The cruise described is generally only offered in the evening.
• Snacks and drinks (including alcohol) are available for purchase at the onboard bar.
• The company offers a wide variety of different types of cruises that include the Seine as well as a number of other waterways (mainly canals) in or near Paris, however, some of these cruises are not available year round.
• If you are interested in learning more about taking a Paris canal tour, check out our experience taking a Canauxrama cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin .

Canauxrama is better known for its canal cruises than Seine cruises; however, the company was purchased by Vedettes du Pont Neuf in 2007 which operates Seine cruise boats. If you are looking for a longer cruise (1.5 hours and longer) that does not include dinner, this is a good price.

The cruises that combine the Seine River and Canal St. Martin includes the unique experience of learning a bit about locks as the boat passes through a lock as transitions between the canal and the Seine River. Many people also appreciate the option to purchase snacks or drinks during the cruise. 

However, if you are looking for just a 1-hour, less expensive tour of the Seine, try another company. The longer cruises may be too long for younger children.

Also be sure to note the departure points and arrival points for the cruises as some leave from central Paris near the Notre-Dame Cathedral whereas others leave from the 12th arrondissement. Some cruises also do not have the same start and finish points. The Port de Paris-Arsenal is a bit further from the center of Paris than most of the other companies, but this may end up being great for those staying closer to the 12th arrondissement.

Another option if you are interested in combining a Seine River cruise and Canal Saint-Martin cruise is this 2.5 hour cruise with Paris Canal that includes a 1-hour Seine River cruise and then 1.5 hour canal ride. It departs from near the Musée d’Orsay (ends at Parc de la Villette).

5. Vedettes de Paris Seine Cruise

Vedettes de Paris operates smaller sized boats along the Seine River. The boat configurations differ a bit but each holds approximately 250 people for the regular Seine cruises.

The regular sightseeing cruises are 1 hour in length. They also offer short 30 minute stopover cruises that go between the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral, as well as longer round-trip cruises that last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The company also offers a special family-friendly cruise that is geared specifically to children and families.

Boats for the 1 hour cruise leave from Port de Suffren (near Eiffel Tower) in the 7th arrondissement.

Most boats now include an audio guide that will play in several languages including Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. But some boats still have live narration on-board by guides in French and English on some cruises.

The 1-hour non-stop Discovery sightseeing cruise is currently (as of June 2023) 20 euros for adults, 9 euros for children age 4-11, and free for children under 4. 

There is also an evening aperitif cruise , including a choice of a glass of wine (€24.5) or glass of champagne (€29). It’s also available without a drink for €20.

There is also a 1-hour family cruise offered that is geared to children and families, with a live guide in both French and English.

Tickets can be booked in advance online here , or purchased at the Port de Suffren port office.

Access to the Vedettes de Paris boats are now wheelchair accessible since they got a new pontoon platform in 2020. Those in wheelchairs can now embark and disembark with step-free access. On board, passengers can sit in a regular seat or move around the boat in their own wheelchair.

Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available on board the boat and in the boarding area. There is a dedicated disabled parking space.

• Website: https://www.vedettesdeparis.fr/
• Paris de Vedettes offers dinner and themed cruise options with snacks. They also offer a special children’s cruise.
• Snacks and drinks (including alcohol) are available for purchase onboard. You can also eat at the affiliated seasonal restaurant near the boat dock called Le Cafe des Vedettes. Sometimes there is a special deal if you combine a menu and a sightseeing cruise.
• The boat configurations differs depending on the boat, but all appear to have some indoor and outdoor seating. You can see some photos of each boat on the website.

Paris de Vedettes offers pretty much the same standard 1-hour cruise of the Seine as most of the other companies; however their boats are smaller than many of the other companies.

Boats with top decks allow for better viewing and pictures, but during cold weather everyone will be forced into the covered spaces. Live narration can be difficult to hear, especially near the engine and on top deck if crowded.

6. Vedettes du Pont Neuf Seine Cruise

Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf operates a small fleet of small and medium sized boats and have been operating tourist cruises since the 1960’s. The company offers some of the least expensive Seine River cruises. 

The basic sightseeing cruises are 1 hour in length.

Boats leave from the Square du Vert Galant near the Pont Neuf on the tip of the Île de la Cité (within walking distance of Notre Dame)

Narration is provided by live guides who give commentary in both French and English. You can also download the company’s free app that provides commentary in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese.

The website says the tickets (as of June 2023) are regularly 15 euros for adults and 9 euros for children 4-12. However, they often have a discount if you purchase the tickets online from their website . 

Tickets can be purchased online or at the port in person before the cruise.

The Vedettes du Pont Neuf boats have a ramp for access and can accommodate step-free access and passengers with wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The access ramp is located a little further beyond the stairs and staff can help assist in finding the best place to board and exit.

However, it is advised that you call in advance before booking if you need the ramp to ensure access on your planned date of travel.

There are no wheelchair accessible toilets on board or near where the boats are docked.

• Website: http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/
• Two of the boats currently have two decks with an open upper deck, but all boats allow for open-air and inside covered seating.
• Vedettes du Pont Neuf bought Canauxrama in 2007, so you may see boats with signage from both companies.
• The company now offers lunch and dinner cruises as well

If you are looking for the cheapest Seine River tickets, Vedettes du Pont Neuf is probably the best choice if you take advantage of their online deals. They also offer a great central location if you are going to be near Notre Dame.

If you choose this company, take some time to explore the Square du Vert Galant before or after your cruise as it can be a peaceful little green patch on the tip of the island.

Live narration is provided by real guides; however, both sound quality and guide quality can vary. You also have the option to download the commentary in advance and listen to it during your trip with your own smartphone and headphones.

7. Bateaux de Paris Seine Cruise

Bateaux de Paris is the newest company to offer regular Seine River cruises. Although the company primarily does private events, one of its smaller boats is used for seasonal tourist sightseeing cruises. The boat is one of the smallest boats offering regular cruises and easy to spot with its bright orange color.

The company only operates cruises between April and September and does not offer them daily.

The sightseeing cruises are 1 hour and 15 minutes long. They also offer shorter one-way cruises and cruises that include stopovers at the Eiffel Tower.

Leaves from near the Pont Saint-Michel (12 Quai des Orfèvres) in the 1st arrondissement in Paris.

No narration or commentary is offered on the basic cruise. However, you can add a handheld audioguide with commentary for 3 euros.

Current prices (as of June 2023): adults are 15 euros, children age 4 to 12 are 7 euros, and children under age 4 are free.

Tickets are also available for half cruises and cruises that do stopovers at the Eiffel Tower.

You can buy tickets online . Be sure to bring your booking confirmation to the cruise departure point.

Boat access requires being able to climb up and down a set of stairs so you need to be at least somewhat mobile to do the ride. There are approximately 30 steps from the dock to the boat. For those who can handle the steps, wheelchairs and walkers can be accommodated on the boat and there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet aboard the boat.

• Website: https://www.bateauxdeparis.net/
• Snacks and drinks are available for purchase on board the boat
• Sightseeing cruises only operate between April and September

Bateaux de Paris is the newest company to begin operating regular sightseeing tourist cruises on the Seine. It currently has only one boat that offers these cruises and it only operates seasonally.

The boat is one of the smaller boats on the Seine and also one of the least known, so it can be a good one if you are looking for a cruise with fewer people. The prices, if you don’t want the optional commentary, are some of the lowest.

The boat is covered on top but open on the sides to allow for good viewing. Because the chairs are set up facing one direction, we’d definitely recommend taking the full cruise so you get a chance to fully see both sides of the river bank. You can also walk along the deck.

If you want commentary during the cruise, you can hire the optional audioguide. We recommend bringing along your own headphones or earphones so you can better listen to the commentary.

Seine River Dinner Cruises in Paris

If you are looking for a special way to experience Paris, you may want to consider a Seine River dinner cruise. Many visitors want to see Paris at night from the river while having dinner on a cruise.

These cruises typically take place on boats that have a special glass enclosed restaurant area, so you can watch the scenery but are protected from the wind and rain. Some of the cruises are only for those dining onboard and some also carry regular sightseeing guests as well.

In addition to dinner cruises, some cruise companies offer brunch, lunch, and special themed cruises that also serve food. During holidays (e.g., Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Bastille Day), you’ll find a number of special cruises and menus being offered. The cost of a meal cruise generally ranges from about 50 € to 200 € per person. Lunch and brunch cruises are usually less expensive than dinner cruises and specialty themed cruises.

Some Seine River cruises packages are sold that include a Seine River cruise plus other attractions such as a visit to the Eiffel Tower , a private car tour, or the Moulin Rouge . These can be group experiences or, more commonly, private experiences. For example this evening tour (choice of dinner at Eiffel Tower or on the cruise) includes a Seine dinner cruise, Eiffel Tower visit, and Moulin Rouge show.

Note that almost all the cruises can accommodate vegetarians. But if you have a more specialized dietary preferences or allergies (e.g., gluten-free, vegan, etc.), you will want to check in advance to make sure it can be accommodated.

There are over a dozen companies offering Seine River cruises with dinner, but we’ll provide a list of some of the best-rated ones to help you narrow down your search. Be sure to read recent customer reviews to find the one that is the best cruise for you. We also have a complete guide to our favourite Seine River dinner cruises to help you choose one.

Seine River Lunch Cruises

If you’d rather have a meal in the daytime (better for sightseeing), there are several Seine lunch cruises to choose from, here are the ones we’d recommend checking out:

• This 2 hour lunch cruise by Bateaux Parisiens offers 3-course à-la-carte meal (choice of dishes), live music, wine and coffee, and choice to upgrade food and drink options. Vegetarian option available. Cruise departs from Port de la Bourdonnais (near Eiffel Tower).
• This 2 hour lunch cruise aboard La Marina de Paris offers a 3-course à-la-carte lunch  and coffee aboard boats with large panoramic windows for great views. Wine package (“drinks package) can be added for extra 10 euros per person. Vegetarian options available. Departs from Port Solferino (near the Musée d’Orsay).
• This 1.5 hour Sunday champagne brunch cruise is provided on Captaine Fracasse which is a company that specializes in meal cruises on the Seine. Brunch includes a mix of sweet (e.g., croissant, pain au chocolat , apple turnover, crepes, fruit) and savory items (e.g., eggs Benedict) that are freshly made on board to eat while enjoying the scenery . A 1/2 bottle of Champagne plus fruit juice and hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) are also included. Only available on Sundays. Departs from Ile aux Cygnes, just off Bir-Hakeim bridge (near Eiffel Tower).

Seine River Dinner Cruises

Dinner is the most popular time to eat on a Seine River cruise and there are a lot of options out there. Here are the ones we’d recommend checking out:

• This dinner cruise by Bateaux Mouches is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes long and provides a 4-course meal and live music. Two menu choices offered with 1 glass of champagne and 1/2 bottle of wine per person. Vegetarian option available. Smart dress code enforced. Wheelchair accessible. Tours depart from Port de la Conférence (5 minute walk from Pont de l’Alma).
• The well-rated dinner cruises by Bateaux Parisiens offer different cruise lengths, seating options, and menus (choice of dishes) across different price points. There is an early evening cruise that is 1 hour and 15 minutes (least expensive option) and a longer evening cruise that is 2.5 hours long that includes live music. Vegetarian option available. Smart casual dress code. Cruise departs from Port de la Bourdonnais (near Eiffel Tower).
• This 2 hour dinner cruise aboard La Marina de Paris offers a 3-course à-la-carte dinner with option to add a glass of champagne and 1/2 bottle of wine per person. Vegetarian options available. Departs from Port de Solferino, 1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur 75007 (near the Musée d’Orsay). We have done this dinner cruise and enjoyed it.
• This 2 hour dinner cruise by Captaine Fricasse offers a 3-course meal that is freshly cooked onboard the boat. Plant based menu available on request. Upgrades are available to add Champagne and drinks to the reservation or can order from the beverage menu. Tours depart from Île aux Cygnes, middle of the Bir-Hakeim bridge in the 15th arrondissement. We really enjoyed this dinner cruise when we did it.
• This 1 hour 45 minute dinner cruise by Paris en Scène serves a 3 course dinner (choice of main) in a casual bistro-like setting with all dinner chairs facing windows for a good view. Meals are freshly prepared on board. Champagne and wine options available. Vegetarian option available. Cruises  depart from Île aux Cygnes, middle of the Bir-Hakeim bridge in the 15th arrondissement.

Seine River Cruises: Private Boat Cruises

Most visitors to Paris want to join one of the regularly scheduled group Seine river boat cruises from one of the companies above. However, if you are looking for a special private or semi-private Seine cruise, this can also be arranged.

Most of the previously mentioned companies offer either a semi-private cruise option (e.g., a private area, restaurant, room, or terrace of a boat) or a fully private cruise option (an entire boat just for the exclusive use or you and your group).

Private Seine river cruises are great options for special celebrations, weddings, marriage proposals, large families, holiday parties, tour groups, or corporate travel events. Meals, drinks, and entertainment can also be arranged on most semi-private and private Seine cruises.

Costs for a fully private cruise generally start at about 200 € for an hour for 2 persons or a family and can go well above 2,000 € depending on the duration and type of cruise experience you want.

Here is a list of companies that offer semi-private or private boat tours along the Seine. First, here are those companies which specialize in private Seine cruises which are probably the best fit for those looking for a private experience as a couple, family, or small group.

• Lakana Paris Cruise – This company offers a 2.5 hour private boat cruise on the Seine for up to 4 guests. It is small company run by Gaël and Raphaël. This is the private cruise company Laurence and I have personally used and can recommend. Note that the cruise departs from outside central Paris (easily accessible from central Paris by bus and metro).
• Green River Cruises – This company offers boats that can accommodate 1 to 11 persons, and have set prices for cruises from 1 hour to 3 hours in duration. This is perfect for couples, families, and small groups. 
• River Limousine – This company offers private boat rides in a custom-designed Venetian boat for small groups of 1 to 6 persons. Perfect for couples and families. 

The rest of the cruise companies (most of which also offer regular sightseeing cruises) specialize in renting for private hires for larger groups, weddings, and corporate events.

• Bateaux Mouches – This famous Seine river boat company offers a variety of private hire options for up to 350 guests for personal or corporate events.
• Bateaux de Paris – This company currently has 3 boats and rents 2 out for exclusive use and can accommodate up to 250 people.
• Bateaux Parisiens   – Bateaux Parisiens offers semi-private experiences to smaller groups (2 to 50) as well as entire private boat hires for larger groups that can accommodate over 100 people.
• Batobus – A Batobus boat can be hired for private use and can seat up to 180 persons. These hires are geared towards shorter corporate hires.
• Canauxarama – This company offers boats for private use along both the Seine River as well as the Canal St Martin. Boats can accommodate between 50 to 200 guests.  
• Vedettes de Paris – This company offers boats that can accommodate 30 to 250 persons for events, cocktail hours, and sit-down meals and can do a variety of semi-private (part of a boat or lounge) to private options. 
• Vedettes du Pont Neuf – This company offers various options and can accommodate 30 to 200 people depending on the boat and type of event.
• Yachts de Paris   – This company operates a fleet of yachts and barges for private use in Paris which range from small to large boats, which can arrange sailings for groups from 2 to 800 people!

How to Choose Your Seine Cruise

So there you have it, the details of seven different companies that operate Seine river cruises in Paris, plus a list of companies that offer dinner cruises and private Seine River cruises!

Summary of Seine River Cruise Factors to Consider 

So how can you use all the above information to decide which Seine cruise might be the best for you? This is a matter of deciding on what is most important to you regarding the cruise. Main factors you probably want to consider:

• Location of port departure
• Price of tickets
• Narration type and languages
• Accessibility (for those with physical mobility limitations)
• Length of trip
• Size of boat
• Do you want to pay extra for a meal, themed cruise, or private cruise?
• Do you plan to purchase a pass, such as the Paris Pass , that includes a Seine cruise?

If you are short on time in Paris and interested in seeing a lot of highlights in one day (and do a Seine River cruise), we recommend this full day walking tour . It includes a Louvre tour, visit to Eiffel Tower, Seine River cruise, view of Notre Dame, and visit to Montmartre.

Best Time of Year to Take a Seine River Cruise in Paris

Most companies operate Seine River cruises year round. The high season for the companies is generally April to September with these being the most popular times to take a river cruise in Paris. Most companies have more frequent departures and more boats operating during the summer months.

Obviously the cruises are more pleasant, especially if you want to sit or stand outside, during the warmer months. It can be too cold or windy to sit outside during the winter months. If you have a flexible schedule, I’d try to go on a day without rain forecast.

The boats can become crowded, especially in the summer months and around school holidays. The first and last cruises of the day are often less crowded. If you are in Paris during a busy time of year, we recommend making sure you go to the port well in advance of your desired cruise departure to get your ticket and be among the first in line to get aboard.

Note that the cruises cannot operate in severe weather so during storms they are often canceled. They also cannot operate if the river levels get too high or low. Between November to April in particular, the water levels can often get too high making it difficult or impossible for them to go under some of the bridges, causing cruises to either stop operating or modify their sailings.

Seine River Cruise Tips

Once you know the cruise you want to take and have booked your tickets, here are some things to remember:

• We recommend booking your ticket in advance for any of the Seine cruises as the prices online may be discounted. However, for most of the general sightseeing cruises you can normally buy same day tickets in person at the dock. But for the meal cruises and any special event cruises, it is generally necessary to book in advance and have a reservation.
• Many of the Seine River cruise companies have very similar names. Be sure you know the exact name of the company you book your ticket with so you don’t get confused when trying to find the departure point. Even if you book the ticket through a third-party seller like Viator, you’ll want to know the boat company’s name.
• Make sure you know the location of the departure point and leave some time to find it. Many people have difficulty finding the cruise departure points since they are often not at an exact address. Most of the ticket kiosks are located along the riverside quays so you will need to be looking right along the river. You will often need to walk down a set of stairs to reach the riverside quays and find the boat docking location.
• Most boat companies ask that you be at dock and get your ticket at least 30 minutes before your departure. But this varies by company and the type of cruise.
• Many of the boat companies offer smartphone applications that you can download with the cruise commentary in various languages. If you wish to do this, be sure you bring your fully-charged smartphone and have headphones with you . You can download the app before your cruise or once you are there. In some cases, this is now the only option on some cruises for commentary.

Our Seine River Cruise Experiences in Paris

For my first Seine River boat tour in 2012 with then partner Ethan, we prioritized location, followed by price, and then narration. After researching the options ourselves, we personally chose Vedettes du Pont Neuf for an evening cruise along the Seine for a few reasons.

First, it was within a 5-minute walking distance of where we were staying in Paris. Second, it provided the best prices and we booked tickets in advance online for only 16 euros total for the two of us. These tickets also gave us a lot of flexibility regarding when we used them as they were good for one year following purchase.

Third, the live narration was preferred by us over pre-recorded narration although honestly it rained (unfortunately!) and it was difficult to hear the guide during parts of our cruise because of the rain. Finally, we were not interested in any sort of meal or specialty cruise and the no-frills cruises provided by this company was a good fit for us.

Overall, we were very satisfied with our choice as the only major problem was that it started to rain during our cruise. I would definitely recommend trying to do the cruise when you have good weather if you can.

Then in 2017 I decided to do another Seine river cruise with Laurence as he had never done one before. This time we chose the Bateaux Parisiens. Our decision was made simple on this visit as we were traveling with the Paris Pass and we were able to get free tickets with our pass for this cruise.

The main departure point for this cruise is next to the Eiffel Tower which is convenient if you are planning to do a cruise before or after a visit there. See our Eiffel Tower tips for making the most of your visit to the Tour Eiffel!

This time the weather cooperated and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the views. Towards the end we also moved inside and listed to the commentary. The Bateaux Parisiens boats are larger than those by the Vedettes du Pont Neuf and it was more crowded than my first experience but there was plenty of space to sit and move around. 

Hope this guide was useful in helping you select the Seine cruise that was the best fit for you during your trip to Paris. Essentially no matter which Seine cruise you choose, you are going to see the same scenery!

If you are planning to travel to Paris in the future, you might want to save this article by pinning it to Pinterest to read again later:

Have you taken a Seine cruise during a trip to Paris? Let us know what company you chose and let us know your feedback and tips for other readers trying to decide on a boat tour.

Have a question about taking a Seine River cruise or another question about traveling in Paris? As always, all questions and comments are welcome.

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BabaWaga Post author

May 19, 2023 at 5:26 am

Hi Jessica and Laurence, just wanted to send a little message of thanks: randomly found your blog post whilst researching Seine cruises for an approaching visit to Paris and can honestly say I didn’t need to go any further, your wonderfully informative article covered it all. Thank you so much! We have opted for the Vedettes de Paris sightseeing tour with our children as nice & close to the Eiffel tour where we are booked in to visit later that same day (I ordered the onboard champagne as a surprise for my hubs!)

As we will have a bit of time between disembarking and the Eiffel visit we’re looking for somewhere to stop by for lunch? Is there anywhere you would recommend nearby – cafe’s, restaurants all considered. Many thanks and warmest regards.

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

May 21, 2023 at 9:46 am

Hi BabaWaga,

So happy to hear that our Seine River cruise post was helpful in choosing a cruise company and booking a cruise. I am sure you will have a good time.

Yes, the locations near the Eiffel Tower make it really convenient to visit the tower afterwards. The Champagne I am sure will be a nice surprise. On tip is that I would recommend being early to make sure you locate the correct boarding spot (a few cruise companies board near there so it can be a bit confusing) and to be near the front of the line for your booked or preferred cruise time so you have more choice of seating.

So to be honest, there is not a lot of places I would really recommend there. But one nice (and inexpensive & kid-friendly) experience if the weather is nice is to get sandwiches or buy ingredients for a picnic (or buy them before your cruise) and have a picnic lunch on the Champs de Mars with a grand view of the Eiffel Tower. There are some benches there as well as areas of the grass that you are allowed to sit on (parts were closed when we were last there a couple of weeks ago but there was still plenty of space open). Just be sure to bring something to sit on and something to pack away your rubbish until you find a bin. I did this with my own family a couple of weeks ago and it was really nice.

Hope that helps and wishing you and your family a lovely trip to Paris!

Best, Jessica

Okon Post author

November 9, 2022 at 7:06 am

Great information at one spot! My spouse and I are planning a first-time Paris tour in the Spring, 2023, the tour that will include a dinner cruise on the Seine. Some of the luxury tour boats we see in pictures look like cattle boats. We’d like a boat which is less cram and with a seat/table choice. What interests us most in your presentation is the mention that Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise has seat/table choice options. I wonder if there are other companies with that offer. Any more information in this regard will be highly appreciated.

November 10, 2022 at 10:23 am

So glad that you and your spouse are vising Paris for the first time in the Spring. Such a wonderful city 😉

So yes, the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruises on the Seine do offer you a seating/table choice. But so do most of the other dinner cruises. I would recommend trying to get a table for 2 persons only with a window view. Some boats only have window views, but many have a middle row of tables as well.

Captaine Fracasse is another company that focuses only on lunch and dinner cruises and is often rated as having some of the the best food on the Seine.

But if you are really wanting a true luxury cruise and want a more private experience, you’ll probably want to book a private cruise if you have that kind of budget. In all the cruises they do try to pack in tables to get in the most guests for the given floor space.

As all the main companies are serving 50-100 guests a 3-course meal in a 1.5 to 2.5 hour period on a boat. The food and service was good in our experience and we enjoyed the dinner cruises we’ve taken, but it is not necessarily a luxury experience. All the dinner cruises are fairly similar. So you’ll want to go in with realistic expectations I think to enjoy the cruise as you are paying for being able to enjoy dinner while floating on the Seine.

Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have any further questions as you plan your trip to Paris.

jeff cabine Post author

April 6, 2022 at 4:37 am

I found it interesting when you said the boat layouts vary, but there are around 10 stairs to the second story, which is not wheelchair accessible. I used to think differently and now it makes more sense my disabled friend should love this trip to have fun. What you said about seine tours was really interesting to me.

April 6, 2022 at 7:19 am

Yes, I think you are referring specifically to the Bateaux Mouches boats as their boats are wheelchair accessible to get onto and the ground floors are accessible. But as you note, many of their boat have a second story which requires going up a set of stairs so are not accessible for those in wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

There are a few different Seine River cruises that are wheelchair accessible which is great. It is always a good idea to double check with any of the boat companies in advance of your visit as sometimes construction, docking, etc. issues can temporarily impact accessibility even if the boat itself is accessible.

Wishing you and your friends a great trip to Paris, Jessica

Jenn Post author

February 16, 2022 at 6:59 am

I just wanted to say thank you for including detailed accessibility information on your blog post. It is so helpful to me and almost no one includes actionable accessibility information. Thank you so much!!

February 16, 2022 at 7:05 am

You are very welcome, and I hope the information is helpful in choosing a Seine boat cruise company in Paris. The information was accurate pre-COVID so you may want to double check before booking with any company if the info is not noted when booking as I know some companies are running fewer boats now and have had to make some changes. But I think most of the information should still be valid.

Wishing you a great trip to Paris and just let us know if you have any questions!

SA NY Post author

November 11, 2021 at 12:22 am

Awesome info! Thanks for sharing this information on Paris cruises with us.

November 11, 2021 at 4:07 am

You’re welcome SA, and just let us know if you have any questions about choosing or booking a Seine cruise in Paris!

Jessica Post author

October 25, 2021 at 7:06 pm

Thank you for your helpful guidance! We will be in Paris for Bastille Day on July 14, 2022. Any suggestions for a Seine river boat cruise where we can watch the fireworks?

October 26, 2021 at 6:37 am

Hi Jessica,

Yes, Bastille Day is a great time to be in Paris if you enjoy celebrations and festivities. A couple of the cruise companies usually offer Bastille Day cruises in the evening, such as this particular dinner cruise which includes a special 6-course dinner with wine and Champagne.

I haven’t seen an announcement about the specific plans for Bastille Day in 2022, but the river is typically an excellent place from which to watch the illuminations and fireworks in central Paris. Normally the main fireworks are shot off from the Eiffel Tower and you get a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower from the river. There will be both tourist cruises out as well as lots of small private boats to watch the fireworks.

Just note that for a holiday like this prices are going to be higher both for Seine cruises but also for dinner around that time period because of the holiday as many restaurants will be serving special menus. But it is a great time to be there. Just be sure to book well in advance for any cruises, activities, or dinners!

Mel Danbrook Post author

August 31, 2021 at 10:42 pm

Hello! We will be arriving in Paris on September 18/21. (arriving around 12:30pm) We only have that afternoon and evening to try and see a few sights (taking the train the following morning to Switzerland). Seeing the Eiffel Tower is on our list – the idea of a short Seine River cruise to try and see a little more of the city is intriguing! What would be a good river cruise option that leaves/returns close to the Eiffel Tower – probably one with a meal option as we would be looking to have dinner somewhere anyway. Any suggestions on options that will allow us to see a little more of the city in a short time frame would be wonderful! Cheers

September 1, 2021 at 11:56 am

Yes, it would be pretty easy to combine a visit to the Eiffel Tower and a Seine River cruise into one afternoon/evening. A few of the cruises leave near the Eiffel Tower. So one good option is the Bateaux Parisiens (listed above) which leaves from the Port de la Bourdonnais (a 5 minute walk or less from the Eiffel Tower). There is a discounted ticket for that one available here .

Another option might be take the Batobus hop-on hop-off boat cruise as that will allow you to get on and off the cruise as you wish. The Eiffel Tower is one of its stops. You can see more about it here .

But there are a few options. Most of the normal sightseeing cruises lasts about 1 hour. There are also dinner cruise options available as well which will be longer and in the evening. But since you are wanting to see the city, I’d probably recommend taking a sightseeing one in the daytime so you can more clearly see the landmarks along the river.

Hope that helps! Jessica

Tavish Post author

July 17, 2021 at 9:06 pm

Could you suggest the best option for a longer night time dinner cruise. My daughter just graduated and has never been to Europe, I had hoped to do this on our first evening, but the cost for a nice meal and a window seat seems to be in the 500$ range, and the reviews of the meals are awful, they say there is no customer service, and that many times the boats did not leave the dock without being offered a refund either. Time is not an issue, budget is, but mostly I want to start off her adventure with a really positive experience. The alternative idea was to try to get an earlier dinner at a really good restaurant (I dont know where), and then a nighttime cruise to see the lights and sites. I worry dinner would be too slow, and we would be pressured to get to the boat on time and it would ruin the meal. I would appreciate any guidance/suggestions. Thanks so much.

July 18, 2021 at 4:20 am

For the dinner cruises, you do need to get to the boat on time. You actually need to get there a bit early to make sure you have time to check-in and board. If you miss the boat, you simply miss it. Many people who leave poor reviews had trouble finding the boat, so I’d leave plenty of time for this as if you are not used to looking for addresses along the river, it can take awhile to find the correct spot.

Almost all the dinner cruises last about 2 hours and this was more than enough time for us to enjoy 3 courses. So I don’t think you’d feel rushed in terms of eating. But you do of course do some of the sightseeing while seated and eating your meal.

I am not sure how many people you are booking for but you should be able to easily find an option for $100 per person or less. You do have to pay more for extras like a guaranteed window spot, flowers, Champagne, etc. But for 2 persons on the cruise we did , seem to be currently ranging from $150 to $250 for 2 persons, depending on the extras.

Some of the dinner cruises and regular Seine river cruises are currently not running due to the pandemic so that is something to keep in mind as well as there are fewer choices at the moment than 2 years ago.

Captaine Fracasse is probably the cruise best known for having better food. But I would recommend not booking for the meal itself but for the overall experience, we had good food on our cruises but it was not amazing. Most of their evening cruises are 2-hour dinner cruises.

But if you are looking for the option to order what you want à la carte and the level of service that you can get at a nice restaurant on land, you may be better suited to do the dinner at a restaurant and then get a regular evening cruise to see the sights at night. If you go that route, I’d consider what cruises can work and then find a restaurant within walking distance, a short metro, or taxi ride away from the departure point. If doing a regular sightseeing cruise, your ticket is usually good all day so you have the flexibility of when you get to the boat, you just need to get there well before their final departure time.

Sarah Post author

November 26, 2020 at 5:29 am

Oh, you know, once l used the service of Bateaux Mouches Seine Cruise. Water and everything that connected to it is my passion, even in Amsterdam l was sailing on a boat 3 times during 1 week of stay. Enjoyable. Thank you, guys, for this article!

November 26, 2020 at 6:35 am

Glad you enjoyed your Bateaux Mouches cruise on the Seine while you were visiting Paris — sounds like you really enjoy river cruises!

Nancy Post author

February 15, 2020 at 2:53 pm

We will be in Paris June 8, 2020. We are coming in for the afternoon from Charles De Gaulle Airport. We would like to take the evening cruise at 21:00. Since we aren’t staying in Paris and need to get back to the airport after the cruise, what cruise line and departure point would you recommend? We would also like to sit on the top deck outside. Thank you so much for any information you can give us!

February 16, 2020 at 3:24 am

I think the best cruise probably depends on what else you plan to do in Paris and how you plan to return to the airport. So for instance if you plan to visit the Eiffel Tower (or something nearby), you could do that, and then walk from the tower to a boat departure point. Two of the main places where the Seine River cruises leave (and return) are near the Eiffel Tower and near Notre-Dame.

Most of the cruise companies will have a 21:00 (9:00pm) departure time in June as that is a very popular time of year for the cruises. Many of the cruise companies depart every 30 minutes. Most cruises are 1 hour in duration. You have many choices for cruises.

I would suggest maybe checking out Vedettes de Paris or Bateaux Parisiens as they both leave from near the Eiffel Tower and I think most (if not all) of their boats have top decks with outdoor seating. They normally have departures every 30 minutes in the summer. If you buy a voucher online, it is good for the full day and then you can exchange it at the company ticket booth for when you want to take the cruise.

Note that all of the boat companies have multiple boats and the boats can have different deck and seating configurations so you can’t guarantee a particular boat. It also might not be possible (or desirable) to sit outside if the weather is bad. If there is a type of seat you want, I’d get into line early to be among the first to board for your departure.

If you are planning to go directly to CDG airport after the cruise, you could then walk to the metro station, take Line 6 to RER B. RER B will take you directly to the airport. Or, of course, you could catch a taxi to the airport.

February 16, 2020 at 12:11 pm

Thank you so much! We will take your advise. You have a lot of good information on your web site! Nancy

Davina Cipriano Post author

January 3, 2020 at 5:47 pm

My daughter and I will be coming to Paris in March. When we purchase the ticket do we have to purchase for the exact date we plan on using it? We are going to be in Paris for a little over a week. Or do can we purchase the ticket and use it on the day that works best for us? I notice online it make you pick a day but then says its good for like 6 months.

January 3, 2020 at 6:57 pm

Hi Davina, Sounds like a great trip. For the Seine river cruises, it depends on the cruise company and which cruise you want to take. But yes some of the companies that have the regular daily sightseeing cruises allow you to buy a ticket and then use it for any date and time for a certain period of time (6 months, 1 year). So I am not sure which company you are referring to specifically, but if the ticket says it is valid for 6 months, then I am sure it is valid. Feel free to follow-up with the cruise company and I’m happy to double-check for you. Best, Jessica

Lauren Levy Post author

December 14, 2019 at 5:51 pm

HI! We’ll be in Paris in December and want to take a river cruise with teenagers. Thinking we’ll do an evening cruise sans the food. But we want to take a boat out and around the sister of the US Statue of Liberty. What cruise do you suggest? Is it pretty to see this at night or should we regroup and do this during the day instead? Thank you!!

December 15, 2019 at 10:33 am

Yes, unfortunately, many of the boats do turn around near the Pont d’Iéna after passing the Eiffel Tower, which is just before they get to the Liberty of Statue replica statue. For instance, the Bateaux Parisiens course map shows that its longer lunch, dinner, and festive cruises go past it but not the regular 1 hour sightseeing cruises.

The 1.5 hour Canauxarama sightseeing cruise does go there, probably because it is a bit longer, so that might be the best cruise for you if you don’t want a meal.

From the boat, you can see if just after you go under the bridge Pont de Grenelle, it is located just at the tip of the Île aux Cygnes (Island of the Swans). The statue is probably easiest to see and photograph during the day, but they do light it up at night so you can see it at night as well. When you view the front of it from the boat, you can also see the Eiffel Tower in the background.

You can also walk over by bridge to the Île aux Cygnes as well if you find yourself in that area and want to see the statue up close.

Celeste Post author

December 8, 2019 at 3:35 pm

My daughter and I will be in Paris in late December. Given that it will be cold and possibly rainy, do you have a recommendation? We simply want to see the sites (no meal necessary). Also, are the river cruises impacted by the current strikes? Thank you!

December 9, 2019 at 6:56 am

Hi Celeste,

Yes, I think all the regular Seine cruise boats have ample enclosed/covered as well as open-air space, so any of them should be OK in case of rain/cold. But definitely dress warmly as the air moving through the boats will make them feel a bit colder. We’ve personally used Bateaux Parisiens and Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf and I’ve sat inside on both (once during rain).

I’d recommend going during the day as it will be warmer and you can see more – at night you can see the lights and the Eiffel Tower lit up, but you can’t see the rest of the sites very well.

I don’t believe the Seine River cruises are being affected by the current strikes in Paris, but the strikes are having a huge impact on the metro, suburban trains, and traffic. Hopefully they will end before your trip, but if not, you’ll need to allow more time to get around.

Hope that helps, and just let me know if you have further questions.

Cindy Post author

October 16, 2019 at 3:06 pm

I’m so confused. 2 of us will be travelling to Paris in May 2020, which Seine River cruise would you recommend for us and which canal cruise would you recommend? Is a canal cruise worth doing? Thank you

October 17, 2019 at 10:47 am

It really depends on the type of cruise you are looking for and I review all the major companies that offer Seine cruises above. Do any sound better to you than the others?

If you are just wanting a sightseeing cruise (no meal) and don’t have a particular price point or concern for where it departs, I would say Bateaux Parisiens is a good one to consider. We’ve done it and it is a standard and popular sightseeing cruise that offers daytime and evening cruises. Cruises last about 1 hour. It has both covered and open seating and you can listen to narration on your phone (pre download app to phone) or in the bottom part of boat using wired in wands. You can read more and book ahead here .

If you are interested in also doing a canal cruise. I would consider combining a Seine River cruise and Canal Saint-Martin cruise, you might consider t his 2.5 hour cruise with Paris Canal that includes a 1 hour Seine River cruise and then 1.5 canal ride. It departs from near the Musée d’Orsay and ends at Parc de la Villette (it is NOT a round-trip cruise).

If you have limited time in Paris and are not overly interested in the canal, then I’d say to just do the Seine River cruise. I’ve done the canal cruise and enjoyed it but the canal section is much slower as it has to slowly go through each lock and there are no major attractions to see unlike the Seine River portion which goes past places like Notre Dame, Musee d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower.

BTW, if you plan to purchase the Paris Pass , then a Seine River cruise is included so don’t book separate tickets.

Hope that helps, Jessica

October 17, 2019 at 5:10 pm

Thank you for the great advice.

Cassim Degani Post author

May 25, 2019 at 8:23 am

Will like to take the Siene cruise on the historical boat on June 5th during midday

May 25, 2019 at 8:29 am

Hi Cassim, Which cruise company do you plan to take? You can book your ticket online in advance or just show up a little early and buy it at the dock. You can often save a few euros by booking in advance, depending on the cruise company, so that is generally what we recommend. Also in summer, although boats have large capacity they can sometimes book out in advance. Enjoy your Seine cruise. Best, Jessica

Patty Post author

May 10, 2019 at 1:10 pm

Thank you for this review. We will be in Paris in two weeks and wanted to take an anniversary dinner cruise. This will help me out a lot to make a final decision.

May 12, 2019 at 11:58 am

Hi Patty, Glad you found our article helpful, and I’d read over the reviews for the dinner cruises and pick one that sounds like a good fit. Wishing you a wonderful anniversary in Paris 😉 Best, Jessica

Bob Post author

February 25, 2019 at 7:24 pm

Excellent info, thank you so much for sharing a great article. We are in Paris for a week (first time, probably only time) and we having a hard time deciding between day and night. Do you think it would be worth it to take a day and evening Seine cruise? Thanks for any input.

February 26, 2019 at 6:49 am

Hi Bob, Yes, I think that if you want to see the views from the river both during the day and night, then taking two cruises may be a good choice for you since you have a full week in Paris. I would not recommend this if you had only a few days. You might consider doing one of the cruises as a meal cruise (lunch or dinner) and then one just as a sightseeing cruise to change it up a bit. Enjoy your time in Paris. Jessica

Peter Post author

February 20, 2019 at 6:52 am

Great advice. I’ve had the pleasure of staying at a hotel near this river where I could jog from Notre Dame to the Eifel Tower. It was a wonderful trip.

February 20, 2019 at 7:23 am

Hi Peter, Yes the area along the Seine River in central Paris is great and you are able to see a lot of the most notable attractions from a Seine River cruise which is nice! Best, Jessica

jdawg Post author

January 29, 2019 at 11:51 am

Thanks you for the comprehensive article.

Trying to narrow down and decide which to take. My wife and I will be traveling with out 7 & 9 year old kids.

Would you recommend an evening / nighttime cruise or daytime?

Also thinking that the 2 hour tour might be too long for the kids?

Thanks again!!

January 29, 2019 at 12:31 pm

Hi there, Yes, I agree that I would choose one of the 1 hour cruises as 2 hours may be too long for the kids (and perhaps some adults).

If looking for a cruise (not a hop on hop off) I’d skip Batobus. If cost is a factor Vedettes du Pont Neuf usually offers the lowest priced online tickets. But I’d also let location guide you if none stand out to you and a few of the companies leave from the Eiffel Tower and a couple from Notre Dame so that might help narrow down which might fit better into your itinerary.

Day or night is hard and we’ve done both. Both are enjoyable in different ways. The highlight of the evening cruises for most is seeing the illuminated monuments, particularly the Eiffel Tower sparkling but you can see a bit more in the day time. If traveling in winter, I’d definitely make sure you have a boat with indoor seating. I’d maybe ask your kids opinions and let them choose between night and day 😉

Enjoy your Seine cruise and time in Paris! Jessica

Marlene Post author

December 15, 2018 at 11:45 pm

I just wanted to let you know simply how much I appreciated the time you took to write this useful post on Paris cruises. It is so complete and helpful, and as my father travels with either a cane or wheelchair, the accessibility information was essential and something we did not find elsewhere. Thanks so much for your excellent travel blog!

December 16, 2018 at 5:23 am

Hi Marlene, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and we are so happy to hear that you found our information helpful. We hope that it has helped you decide which Seine river boat cruise is best for you. Yes, it can be difficult to find a river cruise that is accessible but there are a few boat companies that make this possible for those using canes or wheelchairs. Wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris! Best, Jessica

Sharon Post author

October 22, 2018 at 11:05 pm

This article was very helpful! It really narrowed down the options. Thank you!

October 22, 2018 at 11:07 pm

Hi Sharon, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and we love to hear our post was helpful. Just let us know if you have any questions about Seine cruises in Paris! Best, Jessica

Ro Post author

October 21, 2018 at 3:30 am

Any offer vegan food on the dinner cruises?

October 21, 2018 at 8:34 am

Hi Ro, Most offer meat options as mains, but most also offer a vegetarian option. A few can do vegan options by request. I know Paris en Scene offers the option for a vegan menu on their Seine dinner cruises, but you need to make the request to the company after you make a dinner cruise reservation. Here is an example of one of their dinner cruises. Best, Jessica

Bill Post author

August 6, 2018 at 1:35 pm

Can you provide any information on wheelchair accessibility? There is a lot of very general information available on the cruise websites but very little specifics. My wife travels in a wheelchair buy is able to manage a few steps. Are there steps to board the boat? (and how many?) Is there a lift to the top deck? Are toilets available and are there steps involved? Thank you for any information you can provide.

August 6, 2018 at 2:13 pm

Yes, the cruise boat operators unfortunately do not share much info on accessibility (France is notoriously bad about this). I don’t know a lot about the accessibility of the boats but many do have stairs and I doubt any of them have lifts. The other issue is that most companies have several boats, and not all are of the same design.

I actually researched this a bit for another reader who emailed last week which Seine cruises were wheelchair accessible. It seems like the best chance is going to be from one of the cruises that leave from near the Eiffel Tower as these are the most popular and appear to have the most services and there is at least once access ramp here.

I would recommend calling the company you are most interested in to check specifically about accessibility and the specific needs you may have, but here is the info I found on the main Paris Seine River cruise company websites:

-Here is what the Bateaux Parisiens website says: “Bateaux Parisiens welcomes people with reduced mobility. For safety reasons, the number of seats may be limited depending on the configuration of the boat. Access to toilets on our boats is only by stairs. PMR toilets are available at Bistro Parisien, our restaurant dock, pontoon n ° 2.”

-Here is what Batobus website says: “Can disabled people in wheelchairs board the Batobus? Because of the many steps leading to the quays and/or the boats, only the Eiffel Tower stop has wheelchair access. NOTE: access to this stop is via a ramp that is also used by vehicles.”

-Here is what Canauxrama says: “The access to the boats is problematic for people with wheelchairs, especially at the Marina Arsenal since it is entirely paved. Plus there are stairs on some of our boats. Only the persons with manual wheelchairs can do the cruise on the Saint-Martin Canal if they are accompanied with people who can help them. It is the same problem for the cruise on the Marne River, because there are stairs at the landing stage in Joinville le Pont.”

-I could not find NO accessibility information on the Vedettes de Paris , Bateaux Mouches , or Vedettes du Pont Neuf websites.

I would love to know what you find out if you contact the companies about this and I would love to hear about your experiences to update this article and better help future readers. I will note that the other reader I was talking to said that the company he contacted did not respond to his email, so calling is probably the best way to get an answer from some of them.

Hope this helps! Jessica

Regina Post author

June 21, 2018 at 8:25 am

What is the temperature month of October ? What would be a nice romantic dinner an Eiffel dinner or Seinne river cruise ?

June 25, 2018 at 1:19 am

In October the weather in Paris is often cool but not cold, although it can be warm. Rain is definitely a possibility. I’d check the forecast closer to the time. I’d just check the forecast that morning and dress appropriately. You’ll be covered and warm at a Eiffel Tower restaurant or a Seine River dinner cruise (just make sure it offers indoor or covered dining area) so the weather should not matter too much. I think both would be nice. I have eaten in the Eiffel Tower and most tables have a nice view over the city (I’d request one when you make your booking). But on the boat you are on the water with the ever-changing scenery of Paris and you have the Eiffel Tower as a beautiful backdrops.

There are a few restaurants on the Eiffel Tower (e.g., 58 Tour Eiffel and Le Jules Verne) and the most well known is probably Le Jules Verne which offers fine dining. Note that the prices here are high as you are paying more for the location and view than the food here. It is a nice experience but expensive.

The Seine River dinner cruises are likely going to be less expensive than a dinner at the Eiffel Tower but may not offer as many options or be as nice as a restaurant. You can check out compare some of the dinner cruise options here .

If budget is a factor, I’d consider visiting the Eiffel Tower first and then doing a dinner boat cruise in Paris. Many of the cruises leave near the Eiffel Tower. That sounds like a very nice romantic evening that combines both the Tower and the cruise 😉 But either way, I am sure you’ll have a wonderful evening, just be sure to book in advance.

Hope this helps, and wishing you a romantic trip to Paris! Jessica

Mae Post author

June 5, 2018 at 9:29 am

Hello there. I’m so thankful I found your blog. This is very helpful. It’s my first time visiting Paris this July. I was wondering if you think it will be a good decision to do the cruise in the evening. I have a Paris Pass, btw. Will the ticket for the cruise that’s included in the Paris Pass allow me to do the Seine cruise in the evening? How long does the cruise take?

June 6, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Glad you found our articles helpful in planning your Paris trip 😉 A night cruise can be nice, we particularly like getting on the boat just before sunset. But we’ve also done them during the day and at night to see the lights – any time is nice really as long as the weather is good 😉

Currently, Paris Pass holders can claim a free ticket for a Seine River cruise with Bateaux Parisiens. The cruises take approximately 1 hour. The current schedule shows that these tours depart every 30 minutes between April-September from 10:00 to 22:30. So yes you can definitely do a night cruise if you wish.

But you can consult the Bateaux Parisiens website or this page for the Paris Pass information on the cruise for more details and the latest updates before your trip.

Hope this helps and wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris!

Laura Post author

April 15, 2018 at 6:36 pm

Very helpful article! Thank you! I think I would looking at Vedettes du Pont Neuf due to location. I leave in may, can’t wait!

April 17, 2018 at 10:49 pm

Hello Laura, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and enjoy your trip to Paris and your Seine river cruise!! Best, Jessica

Michael Barnes Post author

April 15, 2018 at 12:09 pm

Hi – great blog, so thanks for the time you’ve taken to share what you’ve learned. Question, though – in this page about the river cruises, you mention that the Paris Museum Pass included a particular sightseeing boat tour, but your page about the Museum Pass says that no boat tours are included. Looking at the Museum Pass’ own website, it looks like there is no longer a boat tour included. Is that now correct?

April 15, 2018 at 12:12 pm

I think I just answered my own question – here you’re referring to the Paris Pass, not the Paris Museum Pass. Thanks.

April 17, 2018 at 10:47 pm

Hi Michael, Yes, the Paris Pass and Paris Museum pass are separate passes although the Paris Pass includes the Paris Museum Pass as well as several other attractions, including the Seine cruise. Best, Jessica

April 17, 2018 at 10:46 pm

Hi Michael, Glad you found the post helpful. Yes it is the Paris Pass (not the Paris Museum Pass) which includes a Seine River cruise and the information is still correct as of today. Enjoy your time in Paris! Best, Jessica

Norma Post author

March 23, 2018 at 5:54 am

Amazing post here, Thank you so much for taking the time to write about and compare all the Paris river trips. I think I am going to do a dinner cruise on the Seine!

March 23, 2018 at 7:00 am

Hi Norma, Great, glad you found it helpful and wishing you a lovely dinner river cruise in Paris 😉 Best, Jessica

Philippe Post author

March 7, 2018 at 2:53 am

Your article was very helpful! Thank you so much! 🙂

March 7, 2018 at 7:45 am

Hi Philippe, You’re very welcome 😉 Enjoy your trip to Paris. Best, Jessica

hind idris Post author

March 4, 2018 at 1:24 am

thank you for the kind info on seine river boats really thank u

March 4, 2018 at 6:03 am

Hi Hind, You are very welcome 😉 Hope you have a fantastic time in Paris. Best, Jessica

Chartres Post author

January 17, 2018 at 11:29 pm

Thanks for this amazing blog about boat cruises in Paris. Very helpful!

January 18, 2018 at 6:31 am

Glad you found it helpful, wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris!

Andrew Drogby Post author

December 1, 2017 at 4:55 am

Hi thanks for this article about the river cruises in Paris . I tried Bateaux Parisiens after reading your article. My experience was great. And I wanted to share it with you… If you go in Paris in winter especially I advise you the illumination cruise. It s cold during the winter but you will be able to feel all the romanticism of Paris city. After 5 pm the darkness come over the city and the buildings around the Seine river are illuminated. This emphasizes the character of the city . Be sure to bundle up otherwise you will be a Mr Freeze!

December 2, 2017 at 12:37 pm

Hi Andrew, Glad that this article helped you choose a Seine river cruise, and glad you had a great time with Bateaux Parisiens. Yes, warm layers are definitely a must on river cruises, especially in the winter, when it can get pretty cold outside in Paris!! Stay warm and enjoy the rest of your winter trip to Paris! Best, Jessica

Sacha Post author

June 22, 2017 at 1:25 am

Good & helpful information on Seine river boats!!!

June 22, 2017 at 10:19 am

Hi Sacha, Glad you found our Paris article on Seine river cruises helpful, and thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a comment 😉

John Post author

June 14, 2017 at 8:38 am

I have a few safety tips for the Seine river boat cruises. Watch out for your stuff at all times. Check whether all your bags are present throughout the entire trip. Be extra vigilant when changing locations and boats to avoid loss or theft. While these tips are important, there’s nothing like experience to help ensure a safe voyage.

June 15, 2017 at 10:19 am

Hi John, Thanks so much for sharing these safety tips for the Seine Cruise boat tours in Paris! Best, Jessica

Nicolleen Post author

May 5, 2017 at 6:40 am

I really thank you for your amazing write- up. It really did helped in making my mind up with regards to the Seine river boat company that I needed, You should write more since you are doing such an impressive job!!! Thank you once again

May 5, 2017 at 12:55 pm

Hi Nicolleen, Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad that our article helped you choose the Seine cruise tour that was a best suited for you! Enjoy your trip to Paris. Best, Jessica

alicia Post author

May 2, 2017 at 8:32 pm

FYI all the children’s cruises are in French

May 4, 2017 at 1:50 pm

Hi Alicia, Thanks for this information!

Note: She is referring to the fact that Vedettes de Paris have recently introduced special children’s boat cruises on the Seine for children (mostly for school groups, reservation required) and they are currently only available in French as of May 2017.

sai kapoor Post author

February 1, 2017 at 8:21 am

We are planning for a short trip to paris, your article was very helpful in planning our trip. Thank you

February 2, 2017 at 4:25 am

Hi Sai, Glad to hear this and thanks for taking the time to comment. I hope you found the perfect Seine Cruise boat for you and that you have a lovely trip to Paris! Best, Jessica

Mohammed Post author

July 19, 2016 at 8:51 pm

I really thank you for your amazing write- up. It really did helped in making my mind up with regards to the Seine river boat company that ! needed, You should write more since you are doing such an impressive job!!! Thank you once again

travelcats Post author

July 21, 2016 at 4:49 am

Hi Mohammed, glad the post was useful to you and thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment. Enjoy your trip to Paris! ~ Jessica

Gulzar Post author

June 25, 2016 at 5:49 am

Thank you for the write up. This really made it easier choosing the Seine cruise for my upcoming trip to Paris.

June 25, 2016 at 8:02 am

Hi Gulzar, Great, glad this was information was helpful in helping your choose the best Seine river cruise for you. Have a great trip to Paris! ~ Jessica

Shannon Post author

May 27, 2016 at 3:58 pm

Wow, I am planning our 21 day European vacation and know that I want to do a cruise on the Siene River. I have been overwhelmed at the choices and trying to figure out which company to go with. Thanks for writing this article! It includes all of the major companies that have come up during my research. Since we are staying near the Eiffel Tower, I will take location into consideration, however I do like the idea of a live guide.

May 27, 2016 at 6:43 pm

Hi Shannon, Thanks for taking the time to write a comment, we greatly appreciate it and it makes our day to know we are providing useful and helpful travel info! I hope you have a great European vacation and best of luck on choosing a Seine river cruise; I am sure you’ll enjoy any cruise on the Seine. Paris is a wonderful city! Happy travels, Jessica

Ginn Post author

January 21, 2016 at 5:26 am

Very good info, im glad that i found your blogpost here. I was trying to google which boat offer an open deck

January 21, 2016 at 6:13 am

Hi Ginn, Glad you found the post on Seine river cruises helpful. As you can probably see by looking at the photos, almost all of the boats have some open deck seating. I would just avoid the Batobus as it is not very open and is not really designed for sightseeing (it is a hop-on/hop-off boat). I think you should be fine with any of the other companies, and just try to get in line early to make sure you get the type of seat on the boat you want. Enjoy your time in Paris! ~ Jessica

Devon Post author

November 7, 2015 at 10:55 am

This is a great post. I’ve been writing similar one during my trip around the world and I’m happy to use yours. I’ll be on the Seine tomorrow!

November 8, 2015 at 3:35 am

Hi Devon, glad you liked the post and hope it helped you choose a Seine cruise in Paris that is right for you. You are happy to link to our post in your own post about the Seine. Enjoy Paris, I look forward to visiting again next month! ~ Jessica

Mike Post author

October 15, 2015 at 7:03 am

Hey, yes cruising in the Seine river certainly one of the best thing to do in Paris. I have tested many of them. I think the best one certianly the cruise between Normandy and Paris. (the impressionist road by the river). I also like dinner cruises in Paris, it’s a good way the visit the French capital. We I have some visit (familly or friends) I generally book a simple cruise with bateau. For originality ,you can also try the canauxama in the Canal St Martin.

October 24, 2015 at 7:08 am

Hi Mike, yes, I also really enjoyed the cruise on the Canal Saint Martin which is a nice thing to do if you have already done a Seine river cruise in Paris. You can read about our experience on the canal cruise here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/2014/02/16/canal-cruises-paris-boat-ride-canal-saint-martin/

Meghan Post author

October 16, 2013 at 12:10 pm

I wish I could remember with which company I went on a boat cruise when I was in Paris. But I do remember it was a great way to rest our feet after tromping around the city and up the Eiffel Tower!

October 16, 2013 at 4:55 pm

Yes, it is definitely great to get an hour or two off your feet after a lot of walking!

MOl S Post author

October 16, 2013 at 4:28 am

Excellent! I’ll definitely take a cruise on the Seine the next time I’m in Paris

October 16, 2013 at 5:19 pm

Yes, hope you enjoy it!

Missy Homemaker Post author

October 12, 2013 at 9:44 am

I am just loving reading about your travels! I’ve nominated you for a Sunshine Award. You can read about it on my post today 🙂

Vanessa Morgan Post author

October 7, 2013 at 3:45 am

Beautiful photos of Paris and great information.

October 7, 2013 at 8:44 am

Thanks Vanessa!

Kate Post author

October 6, 2013 at 11:59 pm

I never took advantage of a boat tour on the Seine because I used to walk past it so frequently and saw a lot of parts of it in my time living in Paris. I had some friends that did and said they enjoyed it. But I think it’s different when you are just visiting I guess, less time to see things.

October 7, 2013 at 8:43 am

Yes, what I think is interesting about the cruises is they give you a different perspective of the buildings and scenery from the water than from the banks.

Miwa Post author

October 6, 2013 at 4:00 pm

New follower! Your blog is amazing! Such great photos and detailed info. I will definitely keep this post bookmarked for the next time I’m in Paris. (Not sure when that’ll be but hopefully soon!)

October 6, 2013 at 4:09 pm

Thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the post. Paris is a special place for us as it was my first international trip when I was 16 and about 10 years later the first place Ethan and I visited together as a couple. Look forward to checking out your blog as well.

Suzanne Lucas Post author

October 5, 2013 at 8:02 am

Although I’m sure the rain wasn’t the greatest for your cruise, I must say the picture of the Eiffel tower through the rainy window is stunning. Paris is definitely on my must-see list. Thanks for the insight.

Stopping in from the Happy Kids Blog Hop.

October 6, 2013 at 12:06 pm

Yes, between the rain and having to keep the windows closed during about half the cruise, it did put a bit of a damper on the cruise but we came prepared with a travel blanket, jackets, and rain ponchos and made the best of the trip. We’d love to do it again with the rain!

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15 Famous Paris bridges to explore

This is my guide to the most famous Paris bridges, taking you to 15 of the best bridges along the river Seine in the heart of the French capital. There have been bridges in Paris…

About the author: David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian with 30+years experience exploring Europe. His work regularly appears in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Guardian.

This is my guide to the most famous Paris bridges, taking you to 15 of the best bridges along the river Seine in the heart of the French capital.

There have been bridges in Paris for over 2,000 years, and the oldest still standing, the Pont Neuf, is over 400 years old. It’s one of the best-known bridges in Paris, but some of the most beautiful Paris bridges are more recent, dating from around 1900.

I cover most of the famous Paris bridges in the city centre, between the Ile Saint-Louis in the east and the Pont de Grenelle in the west, three bridges past the Eiffel Tower. I also point you in the direction of places to see near these wonderful bridges.

Table of Contents

Famous Paris Bridges – An Introduction

There are a total of 37 bridges in Paris over the river Seine.

Most of the famous bridges in Paris in this article – with the exception of the Bir-Hakeim and Grenelle bridges – are included in the Paris Banks of the Seine UNESCO World Heritage Site , along with many of the famous buildings along the riverfront.

Bridges over the Seine have been in use since pre-Roman times, and the oldest standing bridge in Paris dates from 1607. The oldest bridges in Paris spanned the narrowest parts of the river, connecting the Ile de la Cité with the Left and Right Banks.

Several Paris bridges were built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including those around the Louvre. Two of the best bridges in Paris – Pont Alexandre III and Bir-Hakeim – were built in the early 20th century, towards the end of the Belle Epoque period.

As well as being beautiful places to visit, these famous Paris bridges have fascinating histories, from tales of East German Stasi spies to a notorious massacre in 1961.

These are the most famous and beautiful bridges in Paris.

1. Pont Alexandre III

Possibly the most beautiful bridge in Paris, Pont Alexandre III is stunning.  Built for the 1900 World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle), it evokes the Belle Epoque, with its ornate Art Nouveau lamps and statues of nymphs and cherubim.

It is a magnificent sight, and also one of the best viewpoints in Paris, with the golden dome of the Invalides and the Eiffel Tower visible from it.

The Pont Alexandre III is named after Tsar Alexander III, underlining a military alliance between France and Russia at the time. Ironically this most extravagant of bridges is named after a man who had little time for such artistic frippery, who preferred to emphasise his ordinariness rather than taking much interest in the arts.

Nearest Metro: Invalides (lines 8 and 13, and RER line C) or Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13)

2. Pont Neuf

The Pont Neuf, despite its name (which means ‘new bridge’) is the oldest of our famous Paris bridges.  It’s not the oldest crossing (see the Petit Pont below) but the oldest continuously standing bridge. It’s also one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris, especially when lit at night.

The Pont Neuf Paris bridge spans the Seine in two sections – from the Right Bank to the Ile de la Cité and again from the island to the Left Bank. It crosses the island at one of its narrowest points. If you want to see the full length of the Pont Neuf you need to walk onto the next bridge downstream, the Pont des Arts.

Work started on the Pont Neuf in 1578, and it took until 1607 to complete this handsome stone arched bridge.  It was rebuilt in the mid-19 th century, and the original mascarons – stone heads – were replaced, and some can be seen in the Musée Carnavalet in the nearby Marais district.

A large equestrian statue of King Henri IV stands on the island between the two sections of the Pont Neuf.  What we see now is a replacement, the original having been destroyed during the French Revolution.  Just behind the statue there are two steep staircases leading to the Square du Vert Galant , one of the most romantic parks in Paris. 

Nearest Metro : Pont Neuf (line 7)

3. Pont des Arts

The Pont des Arts bridge in Paris is one of the most romantic in the city. It’s also one of the most recent of our famous Paris bridges – I saw it being rebuilt in 1982, on my first visit to the city as we drove from Notre Dame to the Louvre.  

Also known as the Passerelle des Arts, it has only ever been a footbridge. It was completed in 1804 when Napoleon Bonaparte was still in power, and lasted until 1979, when it collapsed after one of many boats crashed into it.

The new Pont des Arts Paris is as elegant as its predecessor. It was built by Louis Arretche (whose previous project had been the amazing Church of St Joan of Arc in Rouen, Normandy) between 1981 and 1984. Arretche did not follow the original design, opting to have seven arches instead of nine.

The Pont des Arts has a particularly beautiful setting, with the Louvre to the north and the domed Institut de France to the south.

This beautiful bridge has amazing views, with the Ile de la Cité in one direction and the Eiffel Tower in the other. It’s undoubtedly one of the most romantic bridges in Paris, and a tradition began around 2008 whereby couples would leave a ‘love lock’ on the bridge, locking it to the parapet and throwing the key into the Seine.

However, the immense weight of the locks – it’s believed there were up to a million – was causing structural problems, ultimately causing a section of the parapet to collapse. Leaving love locks has since been actively discouraged!

Nearest Metro: Louvre-Rivoli (line 1)

4. Bir-Hakeim Bridge

Originally known as the Pont de Passy (after the suburb on the east side of the Seine), the Pont de Bir-Hakeim is, for me, a contender for the accolade of most beautiful bridge in Paris along with the Pont Alexandre III.

I’ve always thought it has an exotic beauty about it. Bir Hakeim bridge is unusual in that it is on two levels. The lower level is for road traffic and pedestrians, and the second level, held up by a gorgeous, elegant steel colonnade either side of the central archway, carries line 6 of the Paris Metro.

The Bir-Hakeim Bridge was named after a battle in Libya in 1942, when Free French forces fought a rearguard action against General Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Although Rommel’s forces were to eventually capture Tobruk, the heroic fight of the French meant that the Germans had to postpone plans to attack Malta and French morale received a huge boost.

I think Bir-Hakeim bridge is one of the most beautiful locations in Paris. The views through the colonnade to the Eiffel Tower are among the best you’ll find anywhere in the city.

Also take a look at the northern side of the bridge, where a striking statue, France Renaissante , points your gaze back upstream to the Eiffel Tower. Unquestionably ione of the best hidden gems in Paris.    

Nearest Metro: Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel (RER line C)

5. Pont de Grenelle Bridge

Relatively few visitors make it as far downriver as the Pont de Grenelle. It’s beyond the reach of the majority of Paris boat trips, and the sights thin out by this stage as well. The most compelling reason to visit the Pont de Grenelle is to see the most famous replica of the Statue of Liberty in Paris . It’s located beneath the south side of the bridge, on the narrow man-made island Ile aux Cygnes, which stretches as far as the next bridge, the Bir-Hakeim Bridge.  

The bridge was rebuilt in 1966, replacing the original which had been there since 1873.  In 2016 it was renamed the Pont de Grenelle – Cadets de Saumur, after students at the Saumur Cavalry School who made a brave stand against Nazi invaders in June 1940. 

The best view of the Statue of Liberty is from the next bridge downstream, the Pont Mirabeau – from there you see Lady Liberty beneath the most famous Paris icon of all, the Eiffel Tower.

Nearest Metro: Javel-Andre Citroen (line 10 or RER line C)

6. Passerelle Debilly

One of only three pedestrian bridges in Paris, the Passerelle Debilly was built for the 1900 World’s Fair, providing an additional crossing over the Seine to the exhibition grounds. 

It consists of a single metal through-arch and was designed by architect Louis-Jean Résal. Remarkably he also contributed to the design of the Pont Alexandre III, two bridges upstream.

The two bridges are vastly different in style – when I first walked across this footbridge in the late 1980s I assumed it had been built in the previous 20-30 years. I’d suggest it looks fairly modern even now, so it was a great many years ahead of its time.

The Passerelle Debilly was also a regular rendezvous point during the Cold War, particularly for spies from the former East Germany (GDR).  It’s hard to imagine it now, standing there enjoying one of the best Eiffel Tower views in the city, but Stasi agents would have stood there too, the ‘sword and shield’ of the Socialist regime. One of their number was found dead on the Debilly bridge a few days after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Nearest Metro : Iena (line 9)

7. Pont de l’Alma – Alma Bridge

The Pont de l’Alma – named after a battle fought during the Crimean War in 1854 – was built shortly afterwards, and remained in place for over a century. It was eventually replaced by the wider present structure in the early 1970s.

The bridge’s most intriguing feature is the statue of the Zouave, a French infantryman, which acts as an unofficial flood marker when water levels are high. If the water rises above his knees, the river needs to be closed to all vessels.

It has become one of the most famous bridges in Paris because of its proximity to the location where Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car accident in 1997. The accident occurred in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel on the north side (Rive Droite) of the river when the driver of her vehicle lost control of it.

The Flame of Liberty, a full-size replica of the original in New York City, stands close to the site of her fatal accident. It was installed ten years before her death, but has become a de facto memorial to her over the ensuing years. The square next to the Flame has since been renamed Place Diana.

Nearest Metro : Alma-Marceau (line 9) or Pont de l’Alma (RER line C)

8. Pont de la Concorde

The Pont de la Concorde is the busiest of the famous Paris bridges we describe, carrying much of  the swarm of traffic that sweeps across the Place de la Concorde every couple of minutes.

It’s another fine arched Parisian bridge, partly constructed with stones from the Bastille prison whose destruction on 14 th July 1789 marked the beginning of the French Revolution. It had been started two years before in 1787, and was completed in 1789.

Napoleon Bonaparte insisted on erecting statues of famous French generals on either side of the bridge, and these were later replaced with twelve different figures. These proved too weighty for the bridge, and they were eventually removed to Versailles.

Nearest Metro: Concorde (line 1)

9. Pont Royal

The Pont Royal (Royal Bridge) is the third oldest bridge in Paris, built between 1685 and 1689 to link the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens with the Quai de Flore and the Musée d’Orsay on the Left Bank.

It was financed by King Louis XIV , and replaced an earlier ill-fated wooden construction which suffered numerous catastrophic mishaps during its few decades history.

It’s one of the most graceful of the Seine river bridges in Paris – try to see it towards sunset or lit up at night to appreciate it most.

Nearest Metro : Tuileries (line 1) or Musee d’Orsay RER line C.

10. Pont du Carrousel

The next bridge upstream is the Pont du Carrousel, a triple-arched bridge linking the Louvre with Quai Voltaire. It’s also close to the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, from which it gets its name.

This famous Paris bridge was originally built between 1831 and 1834, from cast iron and timber. However,  the deterioration of the wooden components of the bridge – and the fact that the bridge was too narrow to hold traffic in both directions – led to the decision to replace it with a new concrete structure in 1930.

The new Pont du Carrousel was built a few metres from the original to allow more height for passing river traffic. Some of its original features, including the four corner statues of the Seine, Paris, Industry and Abundance, were retained.

Nearest Metro : Louvre-Rivoli (line 1) is 500 metres away.  Buses 69 and 72 run along the north side of the river, while the 27, 39, 87 and 95 services stop on the Left Bank (south side).

11. Pont Saint Michel

The Pont Saint Michel links the Place Saint Michel and Latin Quarter with the Ile de la Cité. It’s a picturesque stone arched bridge with a wonderful view of the twin towers of the west front of Notre Dame.

The first crossing at this location was completed in 1387, and after structural damage was later, surprisingly, replaced by a wooden bridge. This didn’t last either, and another stone bridge was added in the early 17 th century. This in turn was replaced by the present bridge was completed in 1857.

Pont Saint Michel has perhaps the saddest history of all famous Paris bridges, as it was the scene of the 1961 Paris Massacre. Many protesters, mainly Algerians, were killed on the bridge by brutal police. Some were beaten to death, while many others were forced over the parapets of the Pont Saint Michel into the river, where they drowned.

Pont Saint Michel leads to Boulevard du Palais, the location of the Palais de Justice and another of the most famous churches in Paris , La Sainte Chapelle .

Nearest Metro: Saint Michel – Notre Dame (line 4) or RER line C.

12. Pont Notre Dame

Pont Notre Dame bridge may be the siter of the very first river crossing in Paris connecting the Rive Droite (Right Bank, or north side of river) with the Ile de la Cité. It’s possible that a bridge was there even before the arrival of the Romans, and the latter built a stone bridge which lasted until 886 AD. This ancient bridge was known as the Grand Pont (‘Large bridge’).

Several iterations of the bridge followed over the ensuing millennium. Houses lined the bridge until the mid-18 th century when they were demolished, partly because they were a health hazard.

The 19 th century version proved to be quite a capable hazard all by itself, causing 35 accidents in less than 20 years.  This led to the decision to replace it with the present metal version, which was completed in 1919.

Nearest Metro:  Hotel de Ville (lines 1 and 11)

13. Petit Pont

The ‘Small Bridge’ is indeed smallest of our famous Paris bridges, and has a long, eventful history. It is believed to have originated in Roman times, when Paris was known as Lutetia Parisiorum, linking the Ile de la Cite with the Left Bank.

The Petit Pont has been disaster-prone, having been repeatedly destroyed by floodwaters and, in one case, fire.

The present single-arch stone bridge dates from 1853, and it forms part of one of the best views in Paris, with the west towers of Notre Dame Cathedral behind the bridge.

It leads onto Rue de la Cite on the island, which in turn continues to the Pont Notre Dame (see above) on the north side of the island. On the Left Bank it leads onto Rue du Petit Pont and the Latin Quarter, with the churches of Saint Severin and St Julien le Pauvre within a two-minute walk of the bridge.

Nearest Metro: Saint-Michel Notre Dame line 4 or RER line C.

14. Pont Saint-Louis

The Pont St-Louis is probably the most utilitarian and least glamorous of our famous Paris bridges, but it’s well worth taking the time to walk across it at least once.

The footbridge links the two islands in the centre of Paris, the Ile de la Cité and the Ile Saint Louis. As with many of our bridges in Paris, there have been several earlier bridges on the same site. The original crossing, the Pont Landry, was built in 1630.

Quai d’Orleans, on Ile Saint-Louis, is one of the most romantic streets in Paris, with handsome Parisian townhouses on one side and one of the best views of Notre Dame on the other.

Nearest Metro: Cite (line 4)

15. Pont de la Tournelle

The Pont de la Tournelle is a stone arched bridge connecting the Ile Saint Louis and the Left Bank. It’s also one of the best viewpoints in Paris, with a stunning view of Notre Dame, which looks incredible at sunset and dusk, especially in summer.

The first bridge on the site was completed in 1620, but a familiar tale of natural disasters followed – ice and flooding among them. The 1654 version of the bridge lasted until 1918, and was replaced by the present structure in 1928.

The most prominent feature on the bridge is the statue of St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris buried nearby in Saint Etienne du Mont Church. The ‘tournelle’ in the bridge’s name is most likely derived from ‘tourelle’, a square tower on a long-gone medieval fortress close to the river.

Nearest Metro: Cardinal Lemoine (line 10), Pont Marie or Sully-Morland (both line 7) are all around five minutes’ walk away.

Explore more of our Paris articles here:

• Visiting Sacré Coeur – exploring the famous Byzantine basilica of Montmartre
• Abbesses Metro – the most beautiful Metro station in Paris
• Parc Monceau Paris – gorgeous folly-filled park near the Arc de Triomphe
• The Pantheon Paris – the complete guide to the national mausoleum of France
• Saint Germain des Pres – the oldest church in Paris, and one of the most beautiful
• Saint Sulpice Paris – splendid Left Bank church full of art treasures
• Rue de l’Abreuvoir – one of the most beautiful streets in Paris
• Rue St Rustique – gorgeous hidden ancient street in Montmartre

And discover some of our other articles on bridges around Europe:

• 20 Most Beautiful Bridges In Europe
• 18 Famous Bridges in London To Explore
• 8 Beautiful Bridges In Prague – With Amazing Views

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

Cruises on the Seine in Paris since 1959

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• 1h daytime or evening discovery cruise
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La Parisienne Champagne & Macarons Cruise

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1 HOUR SIGHTSEEING CRUISE ON THE SEINE BY DAY OR NIGHT

Cruises in paris, “ discover our daytime and evening 1-hour cruises with commentary, departing from the île de la cité in the heart of the city every day approximately every 1/2h from 10:30am until 10:30pm... ”, book your tickets.

Time-stamped e-ticket

Adult : 14 € * 16€ Child : 8 € 10€

Open ticket valid for 1 year

Adult : 15 € * 16€ Child : 8 € 10€

Take advantage of our discounted rates for groups!

• from 10 to 40 people: 11 €/pers 15 €
• from 41 to 60 people: 10 €/pers 15 €
• more than 60 people: 9 €/pers 15 €

The times displayed may vary depending on availability

* Olympic Games (July 27 to August 11, 2024): Special pricing

Boarding point

Circuit map.

Your cruise

A unique experience: Sail along the most beautiful avenue in Paris...and perhaps even in the world, rediscovering its monuments and bridges from an angle only possible from the Seine, all illuminated in the evening. From the Louvre Museum to Notre-Dame Cathedral, passing by the Eiffel Tower, your one-hour cruise starts and ends at the Pont-Neuf, on the Ile de la Cité, in the heart of historic Paris.

Live commentary in French and English: Our guide will make you discover a little-known Paris through numerous historical or more unusual anecdotes in a relaxed and totally exotic atmosphere.

Our Free Mobile App also gives you access to these commentaries in real time in Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese and other languages.

Download and print the tour route with comments in one of the following languages (PDF) :

The glittering Eiffel Tower: As night falls you can enjoy the spectacle of the glittering Eiffel Tower - all our evening timetables are designed so that we sail in front of the Tower as it is lit up and glittering (once per hour, timetables depend on season).

Our boats: All our boats have an open top deck to enjoy the first rays of sunshine whatever the season. A covered and heated interior space remains available in most of our boats to face the harshest of elements in the cosy comfort of our panoramic lower decks.

Easy access by metro and RER: RER: Châtelet or St-Michel, Metro: Pont Neuf (M°7), Louvre (M°1) or Cité (M°4)

Vedettes du Pont Neuf offers exceptional promotions on tickets purchased online* as well as discounts with our partners . Reduce paper consumption and avoid queuing at the cash desk by booking your ticket online*, guaranteed seat on board.

Fill in the form Fill in the form by choosing your preferred option, the date, the departure time if relevant and the desired number of passengers.

Confirm Fill in your information and validate the order.

Make payment Pay for your order by debit or credit card on the secure interface.

Keep or print Keep the ticket sent by email on your smartphone or tablet, or print the Internet ticket containing your order number and your QR Code.

Come along in person Come along in person with your digital or printed ticket to the Vedettes du Pont Neuf and enjoy your cruise.

* You can choose between 2 ticket options:

The time-stamped ticket which is only valid for the selected departure The "Open" ticket gives you access to all our "discovery cruises", the validity of the ticket is 1 year from the date of issue, without reservation or confirmation, subject to availability.

OTHER CRUISES

Our boat and its bar welcome you during this unique 1 hour cruise in Paris; the soft musical atmosphere on board will plunge you into the magical atmosphere of Paris at the end of the day; the first drink (champagne, wine, beer or soft drinks) is included.

Champagne Relax cruise on our brand-new 100% electric boat

A friendly 1h30 cruise on the Seine with a free drink! Make yourself comfortable on board our new electric boat and discover Paris and its monuments.

Snack cruise on the Canal St Martin

A romantic and unusual walk of about 2H30 on the Canal Saint Martin, to discover the incredible underground tunnel only accessible by boat, the functioning of the locks and the swing bridges: the "Paris of the Parisians", passing in front of Arletty's Hôtel du Nord, "atmosphere, atmosphere!

Cruise on the Canal Saint Martin and the Seine

Discover Paris differently! Let yourself be surprised by this unique and atypical cruise which combines the charms of the Canal Saint-Martin, the heart of Paris for Parisians, and the Seine of historic Paris.

From our exclusive embarkation points, the Ile de la Cité or the Port de l'Arsenal at the foot of the Place de la Bastille, sail off to discover a magical Paris. Enjoy a glass of champagne and a trio of macarons from the sun deck with its panoramic view, or in the covered dining room of our human-sized boat. You can enhance your cruise with an optional charcuterie and cheese board (+13€).

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• Monuments et attractions touristiques

Ponts de Paris

La Seine traverse et divise Paris à différents endroits dans la capitale. Plus de 30 ponts et passerelles se succèdent sur quelques 13 kilomètres le long du fleuve : des plus anciens construits en pierre  en passant par les plus sobres faits en métal , le paysage ne manque pas de diversité.

Nous vous avons élaboré un bref historique des ponts les plus intéressants à voir dans la ville :

Pont Alexandre-III

Le Pont Alexandre-III est très certainement le plus beau pont parisien . Le pont, inauguré à l’occasion de l’Exposition Universelle de 1900, se situe entre l’esplanade des Invalides , le Grand et le Petit Palais .

Le pont est constitué d’un seul arc en acier, ce qui a représenté un véritable défi pour l’époque.

Le décor de ce pont est absolument spectaculaire avec ses quatre colonnes de 17 mètres de haut, ornées de chevaux ailés dorés sur la partie supérieure .

Ses magnifiques candélabres noirs, chérubins et autres éléments décoratifs font de ce pont, un véritable chef-d’œuvre architectural que les jeunes mariés choisissent généralement comme décor pour réaliser leurs photos de mariage.

Pont de l'Alma

Le Pont de l’Alma n’est pas l’un des plus beaux ponts de la ville, il ne s’agit pas non plus du plus long ni du plus ancien , mais les Parisiens se servent de ce pont pour contrôler les crues du fleuve .

On mesure l’importance des crues grâce à la statue du zouave du pont de l'Alma. Lorsque ce personnage a les pieds dans l'eau, il faut commencer à s'inquiéter ! Durant l’inondation de 1910 – également appelée « la crue du siècle » - la Seine a connu une montée des eaux telle que la hauteur du fleuve a atteint les épaules du zouave.  

Aujourd’hui, les touristes s’approchent également du pont pour visiter le tunnel où la Princesse Diana a perdu la vie . Au-dessus du tunnel se trouve la Flamme de la Liberté , un monument offert par les Américains à la France, pour la remercier d’avoir restauré la Statue de la Liberté . Pour beaucoup, la flamme sert aujourd’hui de lieu de recueillement pour les admirateurs de la princesse défunte.

Orné de magnifiques candélabres noirs et de presque 400 mascarons (masques grotesques sculptés), le Pont Neuf, situé à la pointe ouest de l’ Île de la Cité , est le l’un des plus beaux ponts de la ville .

Paradoxalement, le Pont Neuf est le plus vieux pont de Paris et il est également le plus long pont de la ville avec une longueur de 232 mètres.

Construit entre 1587 et 1607, il a été le tout premier pont de pierre à avoir été construit à Paris – les ponts antérieurs étaient tous construits en bois.

Le pont a constitué une véritable prouesse pour l’époque, puisqu’il s’agit du premier pont de Paris à avoir traversé entièrement la Seine , en reliant de part et d’autres, les deux rives du fleuve et la partie la plus à l’ouest de l’ Île de la Cité . De plus, les premiers trottoirs pour piétons ont été aménagés sur ce pont, ainsi que des petits balcons au-dessus de chaque pile.

Cela peut aussi vous intéresser

Château de Versailles

Avec une imposante architecture et plus de 800 hectares de jardins, le Château de Versailles allie histoire et culture, et  est l'un des lieux les plus visités de France.

Tour Montparnasse

Mesurant 210 mètres de haut, la Tour Montparnasse offre l’une des meilleures vues sur tout Paris depuis ses hauteurs. Du haut de sa terrasse, il est possible de contempler les monuments les plus importants de Paris.

Cruise routes, times and prices

Here is some information on the usual routes taken by the Seine river boats, as well as departure and arrival times and the prices of the different cruises available.

The Bateaux-Mouches pier is located very close to the Pont de l’Alma on the Port de la Conférence. The boats depart from there and travel up the Seine towards Notre Dame de Paris, passing by the Louvre Museum, the Town Hall and the Conciergerie. The boat turns around near to the Arab World Institute. Passing via the Monnaie (Paris Mint), down a small arm of the Seine between the Ile de la Cité and the Left Bank, gives you a close-up view to admire the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The cruise continues alongside the Musée d’Orsay and the National Assembly towards the Eiffel Tower. Please note that the captain may change the route depending on the height of the Seine.

Boat Trip on the Seine

Times and durations.

High season (April to September) Cruise times / schedules : Departures every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 10.30 p.m.

Low season (October to March) Cruise times / schedules : Departures every 45 minutes between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Cruise lasts approximately 1 hour 10 mins.

• adult : 15€
• Children (under 13 yrs) : 6€
• Children (under 4 yrs) : Free
• group / School group : Contact us

Lunchtime cruise

IMPORTANT: Operated on Saturdays and Sundays Boarding at Pont de l’Alma between 12.00pm and 12.15pm. Departure at 12.30pm and return to the quay at 2.15pm. Cruise lasts approximately 1 hour 45 mins. Smart-casual dress appreciated.

Douce France Menu adult : 85.00 € / adult child (4-12 years) : 39.00 € / child (4-12 years)

Dinner cruise

IMPORTANT: Operated daily. Boarding at Pont de l’Alma – Paris, 8^th arrondissement, between 8pm and 8.30pm Departure at 8.30pm Return to the quay at 10.45pm Cruise lasts approximately 2 hours 15 mins Smart wear is required

Dinner menu - 6pm early bird Service adult : 90.00 € / adult child (4-12 years) : 39.00 € / child (4-12 years)

Prestige dinner menu adult : 120.00 € / adult child (4-12 years) : 39.00 € / child (4-12 years)

Excellence dinner menu adult : 165.00 € / adult child (4-12 years) : 39.00 € / child (4-12 years)

Get a Yes in Paris - Marriage Proposal adult : 340.00 € / adult

Formalities and dress code

At lunchtimes, smart-casual dress is appreciated.

In the evenings, smart dress is required. We will not allow on board any passengers wearing sportswear, flipflops, bermuda shorts, baseball caps... The Management reserves the right to refuse access out of respect for its guests.

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Pont de l’Alma: The Historic Parisian Bridge’s Significance

The Pont de l’Alma (Alma Bridge) is a bridge in Paris, France that connects the Left Bank to the Right Bank across the Seine River. The name comes from the Russian Alma River, linking the Left Bank to the Right Bank.

The Pont de l’Alma is a historically significant bridge in Paris, France, spanning the Seine River. Constructed in the mid-19th century, the bridge was named to commemorate the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War, a decisive victory for the Ottoman-Franco-British alliance against the Russian army in 1854.

It has been a prominent location in Paris’ history, including close to where Princess Diana lost her life in 1997 at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.

Table of Contents

What is Pont de l’Alma (Alma Bridge)?

Historical overview, architectural design, notable events at pont de l’alma, visit to the pont de l’alma tunnel, nearby places to stay, stay at hotel de l’alma, things to do near pont de l’alma, the eiffel tower, notre dame cathedral, the louvre museum, the palace of versailles, where is the pont de l’alma tunnel.

The Pont de l’Alma has undergone numerous transformations and renovations to accommodate the city’s evolving needs. Today, it stands as an important symbol of Parisian history and a testament to the achievements and architectural prowess of the French people.

Pont de l’Alma is a bridge in Paris best known for being the site of Princess Diana’s tragic car accident. The bridge was originally built to commemorate the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War, but it has become an unofficial memorial for Princess Diana since her death.

Visitors to Pont de l’Alma can see replicas of the Statue of Liberty’s golden torch at the north end of the bridge, and there are also several restaurants and cafes nearby. If you have time, you can even take a meal boat trip down the river to experience Paris from a different perspective.

Located between the 7th and 8th arrondissements, the bridge connects notable landmarks such as the Palais de Tokyo, Quai de Branly, Place de l’Alma, and the Champs-Élysées.

Nearby transportation options include the Métro Line 9’s Alma-Marceau station on the right bank and the Pont de l’Alma railway station on Line C of the Réseau Express Régional (RER) system, situated in the 7th arrondissement .

The Pont de l’Alma is a road bridge that spans the Seine River in Paris, France, and is one of the more historical bridges in Paris . It holds a significant place in the history of the city due to its unique origins, changes, and features.

The bridge was named after the Battle of Alma, which took place during the Crimean War in 1854. At that time, the Ottoman-Franco-British alliance achieved a decisive victory over the Russian army.

Commissioned by Napoleon III, the construction of Pont de l’Alma was completed in 1856. The original structure, however, underwent several changes over time, resulting in the present-day bridge, which is quite different from the initial design. Despite the changes, the bridge still showcases a few interesting elements that reflect its rich past.

One such feature is the statue of the Zouave soldier. It is the only remaining statue out of the four statues that originally adorned the bridge. The Zouave serves as a symbol of the battle for which the bridge was named and also acts as an indicator of water risings during floods.

In addition to its historical significance, the Pont de l’Alma offers an exceptional viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower for tourists and locals alike. However, the bridge gained a more somber reputation in 1997 due to the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident nearby.

It was first inaugurated in 1856 by none other than Napoléon III. However, it has undergone a few changes since then, and today, it’s not nice to look at. Nevertheless, it does have some interesting features – namely, the statue of the Zouave .

This is the only one of the four soldiers that initially decorated the bridge. Pont de l’Alma is also a popular measurement for how high the Seine has risen.

The Pont de l’Alma is a Paris, France, road bridge that spans the Seine River. This bridge was constructed in 1854 under the orders of Napoleon III to commemorate the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War. It is located in the western part of Paris and connects the Paris Sewer Museum and the Musée du Quai Branly .

The Pont de l’Alma featured four piers supporting a three-arch structure in its original design. However, due to structural concerns and navigation improvements along the Seine, the bridge was redesigned and reconstructed in the 1970s. The current bridge consists of a single pier made of a single metal arch, reinforcing the overall structure and allowing for better passage of boats beneath it.

An interesting element of the Pont de l’Alma is the Zouave statue, a tribute to the French infantry during the Crimean War. Originally placed on one of the bridge’s piers, it now stands near its right bank abutment, becoming an unofficial indicator of the Seine’s water level during floods.

Over the years, the Pont de l’Alma has also been a significant point of interest for its association with historical events and popular culture. Most notably, the bridge gained worldwide attention in 1997 due to its proximity to the tragic car accident that resulted in the death of Princess Diana.

See Related : Arc de Triomphe: Exploring the Iconic Paris Arch

The Pont de l’Alma, located in Paris, France, has a rich history and has been the site of numerous notable events. One significant point in its history is its connection to the Crimean War. The bridge was commissioned by Napoleon III and commemorated the French victory in the Battle of Alma, which took place near the Russian Alma River.

Recently, the Pont de l’Alma and its nearby tunnel became notorious for the tragic death of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash at the tunnel in 1997.

As Princess Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, traveled through the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, their car crashed, resulting in their untimely death. This event brought worldwide attention to the Pont de l’Alma and became an unofficial memorial for Lady Diana.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Flame of Liberty , a full-scale replica of the torch held by the Statue of Liberty, became a focal point for public mourning. Situated just above the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, the monument wasn’t initially intended to be related to Princess Diana.

However, her supporters left commemorative messages and items at the site, eventually transforming the area into a significant memorial in honor of the late Princess.

Throughout the years, the bridge has also played a practical role in the city. The original bridge gauged water levels near the Seine River’s barriers, especially during flooding.

The Zouave statue, which once stood on the bridge, was used as an informal measurement tool by locals. When the Seine’s water level reached the feet, it indicated that walking paths nearby were closed. The river was deemed unnavigable when the water hit the statue’s thighs.

The Pont de l’Alma has maintained its importance as a historical site and a practical transport connection in Paris. Events that occurred on or near the bridge serve as reminders of the French capital’s rich history and resilience.

See Related: Le Zouave du Pont de L’Alma

Pont de l’Alma Tunnel is located nearby and has become synonymous with the tragic car accident in 1997 that took the life of Princess Diana. The tunnel’s significance has shifted from being a mere transport route to a place of remembrance for this haunting event.

You can also explore nearby attractions when visiting the Pont de l’Alma area and the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. The Paris Sewer Museum and the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac provide additional historical and cultural context to your visit. The Cathédrale de la Sainte-Trinité and the Musée des Egouts are just a few minutes away from Pont de l’Alma.

See Related: Hôtel Exelmans

When visiting the historic Pont de l’Alma in Paris, France, one nearby accommodation option is the Hotel De L’Alma. This hotel is located near the famous bridge, making it a convenient choice for travelers interested in exploring this notable landmark.

Hotel De L’Alma offers a variety of room options to suit different guest preferences. These include single, double, and triple rooms designed with style and comfort. Each room has modern amenities, such as free Wi-Fi, ensuring guests stay connected during their Parisian getaway.

Hotel De L’Alma is a short walk from Pont de l’Alma and provides easy access to other iconic Paris attractions. Guests staying at the hotel will find themselves within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and the  Louvre Museum , making it an ideal base for exploring the City of Lights.

In terms of dining options, the hotel provides a daily breakfast buffet where guests can start their day on the right foot. For those interested in experiencing the local cuisine, the surrounding area has various cafes, bistros, and fine dining establishments.

The Pont de l’Alma is also a historical landmark. In 1997, Princess Diana died in a car accident near the bridge. This event caused an outpouring of grief worldwide, and the Pont de l’Alma has become a symbol of Princess Diana’s life and legacy.

If you’re interested in learning more about this event, be sure to visit the nearby Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Looking for things to do near Pont de l’Alma? Here are some popular attractions:

See Related : Best Boat Tours in Paris, France

One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Eiffel Tower is just a short walk from Pont de l’Alma. Be sure to take your camera – the views from the top are incredible!

This historic cathedral is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. It’s located on the Île de la Cité, just a short bike ride from Pont de l’Alma.

The Louvre Museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, the Louvre is a must-see for any visitor to Paris. It’s located on the Right Bank, just across the River Seine from Pont de l’Alma (Alma Bridge).

Just a short train ride from Paris, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from the city. Be sure to explore the beautiful gardens and grounds and the opulent palace.

Whether you’re interested in history, art, or simply taking in the sights, Pont de l’Alma is a great destination for any visitor to Paris. Be sure to add it to your itinerary!

The Pont de l’Alma tunnel is in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It is situated along the Seine River and connects the Champ de Mars on the Right Bank with the Alma Bridge on the Left Bank . The former Pont d’Alma tunnel was named for its location at the Alma Bridge.

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Paris: the pont neuf and the ile de la cité.

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