Bateaux Mouches is the oldest and largest sightseeing cruise operator on the Seine, running since 1949 from a pier near the Pont de l'Alma. The standard cruise runs about 70 minutes, longer than most competitors' routes, and the company also runs a weekend lunch cruise and a nightly dinner cruise with four different menu tiers.
Bateaux Mouches departs from a pier at the Port de la Conférence, right next to the Pont de l'Alma, close to the Eiffel Tower. The standard sightseeing cruise runs about 70 minutes and covers more distance than most competing cruises, since it heads all the way past the Arab World Institute before turning back. Recorded commentary points out the landmarks along the way.
Beyond the standard cruise, Bateaux Mouches runs several other formats:
Sightseeing Cruise
The standard 70-minute route, departing throughout the day and evening, year-round.
LunchBox Cruise
A sightseeing cruise ticket combined with a takeaway sandwich meal, picked up at a counter on the quay before boarding. Four sandwich options are available, including a vegetarian one.
Champagne Cruise
The standard sightseeing cruise plus a 20cl bottle of Champagne for two, collected from the onboard shop after the turnstiles. Available year-round, day or evening.
Lunch Cruise
A weekend-only sit-down lunch, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes, with a single set menu.
Dinner Cruise
A nightly evening sailing, about 2 hours 15 minutes, with four menu tiers to choose from — details further down this page.
What You'll See With Bateaux Mouches
Schedule & Prices
Sightseeing Cruise Departures
| High season (April – October) | 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM, every 30 min (11:00 PM Thu/Fri/Sat in July–August; until 10:00 PM from 29 August to 1 November) |
| Low season (November – March) | 10:15 AM – 9:30 PM, every 45 min (every 30 min from 4:00 PM; extra 10:00 PM sailing during school holidays) |
Sightseeing Cruise & Add-On Prices
| Adult | 20.00 € |
| Child (under 13) | 10.00 € |
| Child (under 4) | free |
| LunchBox Cruise, per person | from 29.00 € |
| Champagne Cruise, per person | from 30.00 € |
Lunch Cruise (Saturdays & Sundays only)
Boarding 12:00–12:15 PM, departs 12:30 PM, returns to the dock around 2:15 PM. Smart-casual dress appreciated.
| Douce France Menu, adult | 90.00 € |
| Douce France Menu, child (4–12) | 45.00 € |
Dinner Cruise (Daily)
Boarding 8:00–8:30 PM, departs 8:30 PM, returns to the dock around 10:45 PM. Smart dress required.
| Early Bird Menu (6 PM service), adult | 90.00 € |
| Discovery Menu, adult | 99.00 € |
| Prestige Menu, adult | 135.00 € |
| Excellence Menu, adult | 170.00 € |
| Any dinner menu, child (4–12) | 45.00 € |
| "Get a Yes in Paris" marriage proposal package, adult | 360.00 € |
Groups of more than 14 people must agree on a single fixed menu in advance.
What's Included
Included
- About 70-minute sightseeing cruise on the Seine
- Recorded commentary in multiple languages
Not included
- Food and drinks (unless booking the lunch or dinner cruise specifically)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Live guide (commentary is pre-recorded, not narrated live)
The Route
Boarding and departure point, at the Port de la Conférence.
The boat heads upriver past the Louvre's river facade, the Paris city hall, and the medieval towers of the Conciergerie.
The cruise turns around near the Institut du Monde Arabe, the furthest point upriver on the route.
On the way back, the boat passes through a narrower arm of the Seine between the Île de la Cité and the Left Bank, giving a closer view of Notre-Dame than the outbound route.
The former railway station turned museum, followed by the seat of the lower house of French parliament.
The cruise ends back near the Eiffel Tower, close to the starting pier. The captain may adjust the route depending on the Seine's water level.
Departures
Daily, every 30–45 min depending on season
Tips for Your Cruise
Lunch cruise only runs on weekends
Unlike the dinner cruise, which runs every day, the lunch cruise operates Saturdays and Sundays only. Plan accordingly if a midday cruise is part of your schedule.
Dress code is enforced in the evening
Smart dress is required for the dinner cruise; sportswear, flip-flops, shorts, and baseball caps aren't allowed, and staff can refuse boarding on that basis.
Choose your dinner menu by budget, not just appetite
All four dinner menus include the same cruise and route; the difference is the food itself and, at the higher tiers, seating. The child rate is the same across every menu tier.
Meeting Point
Treffpunkt: Port de la Conférence, Pont de l'Alma, 75008 Paris, France
Boarding is at the Port de la Conférence, right next to the Pont de l'Alma. Sightseeing cruise passengers can arrive shortly before departure; lunch and dinner cruise guests should check the specific boarding window on their ticket, since those cruises board 15 to 30 minutes before departure and require smart or smart-casual dress.
