Here’s What it is Really Like on a Paris Private River Cruise
In this video we take a private river cruise in Paris on a small boat with a few friends and fans, instead of a big tourist boat packed with hundreds of strangers. If you are thinking about booking a private Seine cruise for a group, a celebration or just a sunny afternoon with wine and charcuterie, this shows you what the experience is really like.
Our route on the Seine
We left the dock near Gare d’Austerlitz and headed downstream toward the islands, past the Eiffel Tower to the Statue of Liberty replica, and back. Along the way we pointed out:
- Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame
- The tip of the island at Square du Vert-Galant, with its famous weeping willow
- Pont Alexandre III, our favorite bridge, with its gilded horses and the Grand Palais behind it
- Place de la Concorde, where Marie Antoinette was executed and where the Olympics opening events took place
- The houseboats and the riverside lounge chairs along the old port
- The Eiffel Tower reveal, and the small Statue of Liberty at the end of the island
Private boat vs. big tourist boat
The big sightseeing boats are a great value at around 20 per person when we filmed, but you sit among many other people with a recorded or live commentary. Our boat held around 10 to 12 people, and the price we were quoted was about 350 for the boat. Split between a group of friends, even four or six people, it becomes surprisingly reasonable for a much more relaxed and personal ride. If you want flexibility instead, the Batobus works like a hop-on hop-off bus on the river, with nine stops and one-day or multi-day passes.
Our verdict
We loved it. Sun on the deck, a glass of wine, a charcuterie board and the bridges of Paris rolling by: for us this is a wonderful way to discover the city, especially with friends.
You can book a private Seine river cruise here, and for the rest of your trip, our Paris Guide Bundle has everything we recommend. We also share our favorite Paris guided tours and day trips from Paris.