Booking choice: The one-hour sightseeing cruise, from $21 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Bateaux Parisiens sells its classic one-hour sightseeing cruise on its own website and through resellers such as Viator. The price difference is small, so the real questions are which age band you fall into, whether you need a time slot, and what the ticket does and does not include.
Official fares below are from the Bateaux Parisiens website; the Viator price is the live from-price in USD, which moves with the exchange rate and the season.
The quick answer
Bateaux Parisiens charges 18 euros per adult online (20 euros regular) and 9 euros for children aged 4 to 11 online (10 euros regular); under-4s ride free. On Viator the same cruise is from $21, about the same money, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The ticket is for a date, not a time: board any departure that day.
How much is a Bateaux Parisiens ticket in 2026?
The one-hour sightseeing cruise costs 18 euros per adult online and 20 euros at the regular rate; children aged 4 to 11 pay 9 euros online or 10 euros regular.
Children under 4 ride free. Meal cruises are priced separately and cost much more, because they include a seated meal and drinks.
| Ticket | Adult (12+) | Child (4 to 11) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official, online | 18 euros | 9 euros | Online-only discount on the operator's site |
| Official, regular | 20 euros | 10 euros | The standard fare |
| Viator ticket | From $21 | Shown at checkout | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Under 4 | Free | Free | No ticket charge |
Same money as the official site, plus free cancellation: check your date before you plan the rest of the day.
Check dates for the one-hour sightseeing cruiseWhat ages count as child and adult?
Adults are 12 and over, children are 4 to 11, and children under 4 ride free.
Bring ID for older children if they look close to 12. On the meal cruises the rules are different: the operator charges every seat, including young children, so there is no free age on a lunch or dinner cruise.
Do you have to book a time slot?
No: the sightseeing ticket is for a date, not a time, so you show your voucher at the quay and board any departure that day.
Boats leave every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the season: roughly every half hour from spring to the end of summer, and about hourly in winter. The one exception to watch is July 14 (Bastille Day), when the last departure is at 5 pm. Sunset departures fill first, so arrive a little early if you want a seat on the top deck.
Is it cheaper to buy direct or on Viator?
Buying direct online is marginally cheaper at 18 euros; the Viator ticket is from $21, which is about the same money once converted.
What you get for the small difference is flexibility: Viator refunds you in full if you cancel up to 24 hours before, and your booking sits alongside the rest of your trip. If you know your date for certain and want the lowest possible price, the operator's online fare is the one to beat.
Not sure about the weather? The Viator ticket cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the one-hour sightseeing cruiseWhat does the ticket include?
A one-hour loop from the Eiffel Tower and back with a recorded audio guide in 14 languages, available on board or on your own phone.
The boat turns around after about half an hour and comes back along the other bank, passing the Invalides, Pont Alexandre III, the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, the Conciergerie, Notre-Dame and Ile Saint-Louis. There are no stops. Food and drinks are not included (there are vending machines on board), and the souvenir photo taken at boarding is sold separately. Guests often say the on-board audio is hard to hear, so bring earphones and use your phone.
Where do you board, and how early should you arrive?
At Port de la Bourdonnais, on the riverbank at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, 75007 Paris; the sightseeing boats use pontoon 3.
The nearest stations are Bir-Hakeim (Metro 6), Trocadéro (Metro 6 and 9) and Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel (RER C). Allow 15 to 20 minutes to get through the crowds around the tower. Only small bags are accepted: the operator no longer takes suitcases, even in the cloakroom.
Going up the tower too? This combo pairs a guided visit to the second floor with a one-hour cruise on the same day.
Explore the Eiffel Tower and cruise comboWhen is the best time to go?
Late afternoon into sunset for the light, or the first departures of the morning for the fewest people.
A departure 30 to 45 minutes before sunset gives you golden light on the way out and the monuments lit on the way back. If you are out after dark, time it so you are near the tower at the top of the hour, when it sparkles. See the night cruise guide for the timing.
What other Bateaux Parisiens tickets are there?
Lunch and dinner cruises from the same quay, a Bistro Parisien dinner-and-cruise package, and a separate Notre-Dame departure with live commentary.
The Notre-Dame cruise is priced higher (30 to 39 euros on the official page) and its tickets are time-stamped and non-refundable. For a meal on the water, compare the lunch cruise and the dinner cruise.
Want a proper meal on board? The lunch cruise is the best-rated Bateaux Parisiens cruise, with wine and a window view.
Explore the lunch cruiseFrequently asked questions
Is the Bateaux Parisiens ticket valid all day?
Yes. The sightseeing ticket is for a date, not a time slot, so you can board any departure that day. The Notre-Dame departure is the exception: its tickets are for a set time.
Do babies need a ticket for the sightseeing cruise?
No. Children under 4 ride free on the sightseeing cruise. On lunch and dinner cruises, every seat is charged.
Can I cancel my Bateaux Parisiens ticket?
On Viator, yes: you get a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before. The Christmas cruise and the Notre-Dame departure are non-refundable.
Is food included on the sightseeing cruise?
No. There are vending machines on board for snacks and drinks. Book the lunch or dinner cruise if you want a meal.
Ready to book
Choose your cruise
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Bateaux Parisiens Seine Sightseeing Cruise
- One-hour sightseeing cruise from the Eiffel Tower and back
- Audio commentary in 14 languages on board or on your phone
- Covered glass lower deck and an open upper deck
Seine Lunch Cruise with Live Music
- Lunch cruise from the Eiffel Tower (boarding pontoon 5 or 7)
- Three or four course seasonal menu, depending on the option
- Wine or Champagne by option, water and coffee or tea
Seine Dinner Cruise with Live Music
- Dinner cruise from the Eiffel Tower, 8:30 pm departure
- Three or four course gourmet menu chosen by option
- Wine, Champagne or kir by option, water and coffee
