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River Seine

River Seine Tours

265 Tours & Activities

Day Cruises

46 Tours & Activities

Cruises & Sailing

96 Tours & Activities

Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour

Paris, France
Likely to Sell Out

From $24.61

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Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Paris Tours
All Paris Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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)

Orsay Museum : Departure or arrival point of the cruise

Place de la Bastille (Pass By)

Your boat will pass under the Bastille Square

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.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

very worthwhile trip down the canal and into the river Seine.
Reviews
3.5
950 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 950 reviews
Canal is amazing
bradbradfisher, Nov 2022
This cruise took us via canal to areas of Paris we didn't know existed. To be honest, we didn't realize how extensive and interesting the canals are. Only negative was the loudspeaker on the boat which made it difficult to clearly hear the guide.
1 traveler found this review helpful
The only negative was...
James_F, Oct 2022
The only negative was that hearing the guide in English was very difficult. Also, the bathrooms did not work.
2 travelers found this review helpful
It was the last day of...
Clara_C, Sep 2022
It was the last day of our trip and the boat motor wouldn't start so the trip was cancelled. I looked forward to the trip as a friend had told me how great it was.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Not worth it except if you do your research ahead of time about the lockes and the canals.
Stacy_H, Aug 2022
Didn’t get to see any highlights in the Seine. Couldn’t hear the guide. Out of many beverages and I wouldn’t do it again
2 travelers found this review helpful
Off the beaten track, and so worth it!
Maureen_P, Aug 2022
Going through the locks and the tunnels of the canal was an amazing experience! We had no idea that they even existed. Definitely got us out of the usual tourist trappings and saw some new and interesting things. The narration was very informative, and the guide was very patient and answered all our questions.
Great Canal and Lock tour
David_P, Aug 2022
Very relaxing tour. The canals and locks were the highlight of the cruise. A little hard to hear the tour operator but overall good experience.
Lovely cruise
IanHouston, Jul 2022
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.
Poor directions to the pickup spot
Lucian_V, Jul 2022
We were not able to find the pick up spot. Poor directions with loose landmarks. Huge park. We wasted out time and money.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Comfortable boat and v...
Amy_d, Jul 2022
Comfortable boat and v nice, friendly, staff. A beautiful trip - but be aware there are several locks which take time to pass through.
La Villette is DANGEROUS. Lucky I didn’t get mugged or worse
Miryam_R, Jun 2022
Please do not book this trip for the 230 departure location. It is in a very dangerous area which is not even technically Paris anymore. Very difficult to locate the departure location and you will likely get mugged on your way there if not worse. I had to call an Uber to rescue me because there was no way I was walking back through all of that. My last night in Paris was a nightmare because of this. I used the contact your tour guide option because being in a foreign country I don’t have normal cell service. Please be careful and look up the area yourself. I have my backpack with me and I am just so lucky and thankful that nothing happened to me. Even the Uber driver told me I should never have gone there alone. And he was the fourth Uber I called because everybody kept canceling on me. I never took the tour because the tour guy never responded and now Viator won’t refund saying I never contacted them even though I showed him them screenshots. I’m just happy I was able to leave unharmed. La Villette is the most dangerous area I have ever stepped foot in, and I’m from Chicago.
Disappointment
Juni_P, Jun 2022
The river was great, the tunnel and the locks interesting. The guide was miserable. Mostly you did not hear him and when you did his voice was blurry and monotonous. A great drawback for the trip.
Off the beaten track
Nancy_T, Jun 2022
The knowledge and humor of the tour guide. The depth of the locks. This was a wonderful, relaxing way to learn so much about the city away from the usual tourist sites.
A long afternoon...
RAY_B, Jun 2022
It was hard to find the departure place and we found the Canals Tour to be quite boring since it took forever to go through the locks. In addition, our view was largely graffiti and some homeless people sleeping on the shore. The staff tried their best to make it interesting.
River Perspective
Wanda_H, May 2022
We loved seeing Notre Dame and other sights from the river and then experiencing the canal. We learned and saw so much more. Highly recommend. We sat up front in the bow through the tunnel and all the locks and dams, what a great perspective.
Seine River cruise & locks
Shannon_E, May 2022
Seeing the sites of Paris from a boat was fun even though the guide was hard to hear over the noise of the boat & the other guests talking. Basically knew what he was referring to and it was such a beautiful day. If you like going through locks, this is definitely the tour for you!
Highly recommended
Janet_A, May 2022
Great guide, very knowledgeable. Gave a very interesting commentary. Saw a different part of Paris and learned some interesting things.
No Viator Again
James_P, May 2022
Missed our train due to a dead body on the tracks.So missed the boat and Viator would not give a refund. Have used Viator many times. But never again. Jim Pa tten,MD Westwood,Ma USA
The back Canals of France
Peggy, May 2022
Going thru the locks. The neighborhoods were beautiful. Very informative guide.I loved the metal canal bridges.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Great experience, tour...
JUSTYNA_P, May 2022
Great experience, tour guide speaks French and English lots of funny stories and excellent knowledge, beautiful scenery great day
Great afternoon in the...
Valerie_M, Apr 2022
Great afternoon in the sunshine. Lovely views. Wonderful moments going through the tunnel and emerging into the Seine
...

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Product code: 3001CRUISE

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