www.paris-things-to-do.co.uk - Things to do in Paris

A cruise on the River Seine in Paris

A River Seine cruise is a great way to see parts of Paris as many of the most famous landmarks can be seen from the river.

You can pick up a River Seine cruise at a number of points along the river. Bateaux Mouches operates from Pont de l'Alma (Metro: Alma Marceau on line 9), Bateaux Parisians and Vedettes de Paris operates from Pont d'Iena, opposite the Eiffel Tower (Metro: Bir Hakeim on line 6 or Trocadeo on line 9) and Vedettes du Pont-neuf operates from Square du Vert-Galant, by Pont Neuf (Metro: Pont Neuf on line 7).

Paris sightseeing cruises usually take a little over an hour depending on the river flow and water traffic. The River Seine is a popular thoroughfare on both banks the north bank is known as the right bank or Rive Droit and the south bank is the left bank or Rive Gouche respectively.

Travelling on the River Seine you can obviously see some of the bridges of Paris like Pont Alexandre III, Pont au Change, Pont Royal, Pont du Carrousel and the footbridge Pont des Arts as well as some Parisian landmarks like the Grand Palais, Notre Dame Cathedral and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

The views of the Eiffel Tower from the river are particularly attractive. When it is dark the tower is illuminated, and there are special light displays lasting for 10 minutes at the start of each hour.

On the south / left side you can see in the distance the golden dome at the Hotel des Invalides and the Musee d'Orsay - formerly a mainline train station.

On the north / right side you can see the Assemblée Nationale - The lower house of the French parliament. The Conciergerie - the only remaining part of the oldest palace in Paris. The Louvre museum - originally a fortress, later a palace, before becoming a museum and Obelisk and fountain of Place de la Concorde.

Passing by islands like the Ile de la Cité and Allée des Cygnes with its 35 foot high Statue of Liberty.

Lunch and dinner River Seine cruises are also available.