Activities

Whether you’re just visiting Paris or you live here, taking a ride on the Seine River with the kids on one of the famous Paris boats is a great way to spend part of an afternoon. These famous boats may go by the name vedettes, bateaux-mouches, or peniches and there are a variety of options out there from different starting points. Yet all generally highlight the main landmarks from the Eiffel Tower area to a bit beyond Notre Dame Cathedral. Yet two that I recently took and enjoyed are highlighted here. A standard ride that doesn’t include dinner will take about an hour, so it’s great to couple it with another activity. Two of my favorite boat rides that I’ve been on within the last year are as follows. Leaving from near the base of the Eiffel tower, Vedettes de Paris (https://www.vedettesdeparis.fr) will allow you to catch a boat eastbound past Notre Dame and back. The tour I joined was given by a live guide who speaks both English and French. Yet there’s also an option on the boat to scan a QR code and get the tour and a language of your choice. The audio guide covers the main landmarks along the river with additional historic information as well. This story is a particularly good option on a sunny afternoon. Arrive as soon as boarding starts so you can get the best seats on the side for an unobstructed view and photo taking. Remember that the boat will turn around and retrace most of it’s path, so if you are on the wrong side for that perfect picture, it will probably come back around. The best seats on a dry and warm day are on the upper deck, but if it’s sunny I’d recommend bringing a baseball cap along to keep the sun out of your eyes. Snacks and beverages are available for purchase on the boat and bathrooms are available as well. Explore some of the Eiffel tower area highlights before and after the boat tour. The Vedettes de Pont Neuf (https://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/home/) bridge tour, leaving from Pont Neuf, highlights the 37 bridges and footbridges that cross the Seine River in Paris, as well as general information about the museums and monuments along the way. This tour is also in both French and English with has a much larger boat than the one above. Try to catch the tour around sunset to not only get the Eiffel tower with nice evening lighting, but also to see the lights from the many bridges illuminate the intricate arches above and create a romantic evening, even with the kids in tow. The little ones will enjoy shouting for their echo when they enter the big bridges and waving at the sightseers on the banks. It’s a great evening for everybody. Snacks and beverages are available for purchase on the boat and bathrooms are clean. If you’re looking for a more complex tour, or perhaps something with a meal, there’s a wide variety of options available from these companies. Perhaps a snack cruise, a dinner cruise, a happy hour cruise? Check their websites for times, prices, and locations.