Paris

Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour

Paris, France
Likely to Sell Out

From $24.53

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

See Paris’s iconic landmarks and lesser-known gems from the water on this 2.5-hour combo cruise down the River Seine and Canal Saint Martin. Glide past riverside monuments like Notre Dame and the Louvre, and then explore a side of Paris many tourists miss as you float through the tunnels, bridges and locks of the city’s historic canal system. Live onboard commentary from your guide illuminates the story of these picturesque waterways built by Napoleon. Choose from several daily departures to suit your sightseeing schedule.
  • Combined Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour
  • Cruise along the Seine River past Paris' riverside monuments
  • Behind-the-scenes view of Paris from its ancient canals and locks
  • Choice of morning and afternoon tours
  • Illuminating commentary from your expert guide

What's Included

  • Cruise
  • Live onboard commentary
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop off
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

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End points

This activity ends in a different location. See details below:
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What To Expect

Get a perspective on Paris unseen by many visitors on this river and canal cruise. Make your way to the departure point near either the Musée d'Orsay or the Villette Basin (depending on departure time selected), and settle into a seat in the inside cabin or outside deck of a specially designed sightseeing boat. 

As you cruise down the gentle currents of the River Seine, admire some of the city’s most iconic monuments including the Louvre Museum, Institute of France, the ancient city center of Ile-Saint-Louis and the legendary Notre Dame Cathedral. Onboard, enjoy live commentary provides interesting background on passing attractions. 

Enter the mouth of the narrower Canal Saint Martin to begin a cruise through a historic canal system built under the direction of Napoleon in the early 1800s. Travel through a dimly lit tunnel beneath the French Revolution site Place de la Bastille, emerging onto a romantic watery boulevard. Learn the history behind old, authentic Parisian neighborhoods as you travel through a series of locks and lovely footbridges. 

The 2.5-hour tour concludes at either the Musée d'Orsay or the enchanting gardens of the Villette Basin.

Musee d'Orsay (Pass By)

Place de la Bastille (Pass By)

Canal Saint-Martin (Pass By)

Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris (Pass By)

Louvre Museum (Pass By)

Parc de la Villette (Pass By)

Seine River (Pass By)

Cite des sciences et de l'industrie (Pass By)

Ile Saint-Louis (Pass By)

La Geode (Pass By)

Paris Canal (Pass By)

Bassin de la Villette (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 90 travelers
Operated by Paris Canal

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
IanHouston
A truly different and wonderful.experience. The guide was excellent and kept us informed for the full 2.5 hours. Would definitely recommend this activity.

Reviews

3.5
1,090 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,090 reviews
Mediocre tour the last 15 minutes were great
DARREN_H, Apr 2024
The first two thirds of the tour were incredibly long and painful. That said, the people that ran the tour did the best they could, but it took painfully long for the elevators to drop the boat down to the various levels. The last 15 minutes were outstanding
Riding the City of Light Waterways
Harriet_J, Apr 2024
A wonderful adventure into a part of Paris we had never seen in our many visits. Enjoyed the appropriately funny commentary.
Beautiful unexpected and educational experince
henriette_b, Apr 2024
Everything on this trip was great. It is a Nice little boat. We had a great guide , fluent and entertaining in french and english. The canal runs through yet another fascinating part of Paris, and you experience Locks and tunnels from the Napoleon times. Spiced with history.
Original cruise was cancelled and transferred to another cruise which was canal only. A bit disappointed.
Janet_R, Apr 2024
The beginning was ok but the second half was just housing. Don't want to comment further. End of story.
Only half of cruise
scott_s, Apr 2024
Could not go on the river. Only canals. Not worth the price. I understand it is out of your control but you should refund at least half the costs
Too many canal locks, not enough sights
kenneth_p, Apr 2024
The tour guide spoke in English and French, but spent more time in French, and in having to cover both language's, I feel we missed some of the sights (we are going by while he says it in French and we already past it when he switches to mention it in English). His attempt at humor fell flat as well. You could offer English only tours or at least specify that the guide will be doing it bilingually, if not.
Canals and sienne cruise
Lawrence_W, Dec 2023
Great views with excellent commentary by the crew Everything was exactly as represented by the ad information
River
Chali_H, Nov 2023
Tour was very good. However drops off in different part of city which is not clear in description. Staff was not extremely helpful in how to return. Advise only for seasoned travelers who can navigate metro lines.
Disappointed
Heidi_F, Nov 2023
Felt this tour was a bit of a waste of time. Didn’t really see too much of interest and spent most of the time in the locks between parts of the canal, which I understand must be there but that took 90% of the time while then seeing not much. Also worth mentioning you get dropped off in a different spot to where you leave which we didn’t realise.
We loved the canal trip,...
Gerald_I, Nov 2023
We loved the canal trip, moving through the neighbourhoods on a quiet boat, learning about life there. Wonderful time
Lovely boat trip
Frances_S, Oct 2023
Lovely boat trip, so much to see. A voyage through a part of Paris we've not seen before. Loved the locks and the scenery. Commentary was excellent - the young man had such an extensive knowledge.
Beautiful Seine
John_M, Oct 2023
The Seine is a beautiful river and has a good deal of lovely historical buildings to admire. This makes the River Cruise a must do event in Paris. The Tunnels are extremely interesting and the experience is helped by a good and friendly guide. The canals are quiet and peaceful but the number of locks you have to go through makes the second part of the adventure slightly boring. Overall though, good to do the trip.
Lovely trip
Kevin_D, Oct 2023
Lovely way to spend a few hours waiting for the Ireland Scotland rugby kick off on a sunny Paris afternoon
Hidden gem tour
Sara_F, Sep 2023
Best thing on the water here in Paris. Smaller craft, not crowded… who wants to cram onto a boat with 200 people.. not us! Really interesting tour. Make sure you go to the quai and not the museum.
Lovely trip, good...
Jason_B, Sep 2023
Lovely trip, good commentary, great weather. Overall, a really enjoyable experience.. Lovely to travel through the locks and hear about their history as well as travel along the river
leisurely cruise around...
Fiona_S, Sep 2023
leisurely cruise around Paris, The canals were very interesting, and got to see more than just the usual main tourist sites. Guide was interesting and entertaining. highly recommended
Terrible!
Laura_B, Sep 2023
Getting off the boat. I had no idea that most of the time would be going through the nine locks. There was only 20 minutes left to be on the Sienne.
The guide was not very...
Ronni_S, Sep 2023
The guide was not very informative We did not enjoy and couldn’t wait for the ride to end Not the best tour!
Do not recommend - until there are clearer instructions re the different meeting points
Gary_C, Sep 2023
Very disappointed. The directions/instructions for the meeting point were very very unclear and were different for different departure times and as a consequence we missed the tour. Other participants who met at the (wrong) meeting point also missed the tour.
Peaceful on the Canals
Sandra_M, Aug 2023
The tour was peaceful and quiet and the commentary was interesting and informative. Perhaps some ideas on how to get back to the centre of Paris would have been useful for tourists as we had no idea where we were when we disembarked.
...

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