Bateaux-Mouches

Bateaux-Mouches are excursion boats cruising along the Seine through central Paris, giving you open views of the city from the water. Open upper decks, enclosed lower decks, and wheelchair access make the boats suited to different ways of seeing the river and its landmarks.

The route reveals both the Left Bank and Right Bank, with sights including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. Cruises typically last about an hour and include live or recorded commentary, while evening trips use lights to illuminate the monuments. Lunch and dinner cruises add seasonal dishes prepared by onboard chefs, with wine, mineral water, tea, and coffee available. Some boats carry up to one thousand passengers, and private hire allows them to host celebrations.

These vessels first became popular during the eighteen sixty-seven exhibition, when steamers carried visitors along the Seine. Their most distinctive modern detail is the combination of an open sky above and Parisian landmarks unfolding on both banks.