Bateaux Mouches Sightseeing Cruise on the Seine from Pont de l'Alma, $19
Quick answer
The Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise is a 1-hour Seine round trip from the Pont de l'Alma, from $19 per person, on an open-date ticket.
Boats run 10:00 to 21:30, commentary plays on your own phone, snacks cost extra, and GetYourGuide rates it 4.4/5 from 6,100+ reviews.
Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches
Bateaux Mouches® Sightseeing Cruise on the Seine
4.4 (6,150) · from $19
The Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise is a one-hour Seine round trip from the pier beside the Pont de l'Alma, sold here from $19 per person (about €16.88) with a ticket that has no fixed date or time.
The detail that changes the decision is how late the last boat leaves. The listing gives 10:00 to 21:30 as the range, so in June and July every sailing leaves in daylight, while from August the last one is after sunset. An open-date ticket is a gift for planning, as long as you pick the slot. Compare it with other boats on the Paris boat tours hub, or return to the home page.
| Operator | Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches, sold through GetYourGuide |
|---|---|
| Boat | Main deck with large windows (heated in winter, air-conditioned in summer, per the operator) and an open upper deck with a 360-degree view; capacity not stated |
| Price | From $19 per person (about €16.88 at the 16 October 2026 rate) |
| Duration | 1 hour, returning to the point of departure. The listing's "365 days" is how long the ticket stays valid |
| Departures | Several a day between 10:00 and 21:30; the listing does not split this by season |
| Pier | Port de la Conférence, 75008, at the Pont de l'Alma · Bateaux Mouches pier, Port de la Conférence, on Google Maps |
| Route | Pont de l'Alma, Musée d'Orsay, Conciergerie, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Île Saint-Louis, Pont des Arts, Hôtel de Ville, Pont Alexandre III, Eiffel Tower |
| Commentary | QR code to a web app on your own phone, 12 languages, with GPS; bring headphones |
| Food and drinks | Snacks for sale on board; nothing included |
| Access | Wheelchair accessible per the listing |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before |
| Rating | 4.4/5 from 6,100+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What does the Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise show along the Seine?
The Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise passes Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay in 60 minutes, then returns to the Alma pier.
- Pont Alexandre III - the ornate bridge near the start; the listing counts it among the sights.
- Musée d'Orsay - the former railway station on the Left Bank; Musée d'Orsay on Google Maps.
- Louvre and Pont des Arts - the palace river facade and the footbridge beside it; Louvre Museum on Google Maps.
- Conciergerie, Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame - the medieval prison and the cathedral at the centre of the city.
- Île Saint-Louis and Hôtel de Ville - the residential island and the city hall.
- Eiffel Tower - the closing sight on the way back; Eiffel Tower on Google Maps.
The listing's itinerary repeats the Conciergerie and puts the stops in a loose order, so treat the list as the sights you pass, not a fixed sequence. The commentary arrives through your phone, which matters: one October reviewer said they had no information on the sights, which suggests the app was not used.
538 ha is the area of the Paris, Banks of the Seine World Heritage property, inscribed in 1991.
Where does the Bateaux Mouches boat leave from?
The boat leaves from the Bateaux Mouches pier at Port de la Conférence, down the ramp beside the Pont de l'Alma on the Right Bank, in the 8th arrondissement.
Bateaux Mouches pier, Port de la Conférence, on Google Maps The listing gives two metro options: line 9 to Alma-Marceau, or line 1 to Champs-Élysées - Clémenceau. Free parking is offered about 20 metres from the boats for the length of the cruise, which is unusual in central Paris.
| From | To | Distance | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma-Marceau metro station (line 9) | Bateaux Mouches pier | 404 m | 5 min |
Walking directions: Walking route on Google Maps. A reviewer in October 2026 says the boarding point was easy to find and that showing the reservation on the app was enough to board.
How long is the cruise and when does it sail?
The cruise lasts about one hour and the listing says departures run several times a day from 10:00 to 21:30, on a ticket without a date or time.
That freedom has a catch the listing does not spell out. Open tickets mean queues build at the sunset slots, and one reviewer arrived just before sunset and waited about 30 minutes for the next boat. Here is how the 21:30 last departure meets sunset through the year, assuming the same hours every month, which you should confirm with the operator.
| Month | Sunset | 21:30 boat leaves | What the last boat shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5:23 PM | +4h07 after sunset | Dark |
| Feb | 6:12 PM | +3h18 after sunset | Dark |
| Mar | 6:56 PM | +2h34 after sunset | Dark |
| Apr | 8:43 PM | +47 min after sunset | Dusk to dark |
| May | 9:27 PM | +3 min after sunset | Sunset-time boat |
| Jun | 9:57 PM | -27 min before sunset | Daylight only |
| Jul | 9:51 PM | -21 min before sunset | Daylight only |
| Aug | 9:08 PM | +22 min after sunset | Just after sunset |
| Sep | 8:05 PM | +1h25 after sunset | Dark |
| Oct | 7:03 PM | +2h27 after sunset | Dark |
| Nov | 5:12 PM | +4h18 after sunset | Dark |
| Dec | 4:56 PM | +4h34 after sunset | Dark |
In June and July the last boat leaves 21 to 27 minutes before sunset, so there is no truly dark sailing. In May the 21:30 boat leaves 3 minutes after sunset. The Bateaux Mouches site lists a separate dinner product with evening departures, but gives no seasonal sightseeing timetable.
- Ticket validity: the listing's duration field says 365 days; I read it as the validity of the open ticket.
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before.
- Parking: free at the pier during the cruise.
What is on board and what is included?
The $19 fare covers the one-hour cruise, a heated or air-conditioned main deck with large windows, the upper deck and the commentary app; snacks cost extra and hotel transfers are not offered.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| 1-hour cruise from the Alma pier and back | Included |
| Main deck with large windows and open upper deck | Included |
| Open-date, open-time ticket | Included |
| Commentary in 12 languages, by QR code on your phone, with GPS | Included |
| Snacks | For sale on board |
| Hotel transport | Not included (the include list shows it, but the exclusions field says otherwise) |
| Swimwear | Not allowed |
The listing contradicts itself on hotel transport, listing it as included and as not included. For a boat that leaves from a public pier, I trust the exclusion.
Is the Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise worth it vs other Seine boats?
At $19 it is the cheapest one-hour Seine boat I list, and the open-date ticket makes it the easiest to fit around weather, which matters more than the 1 dollar saving.
| Boat | Price | Length | Ticket | Rating (GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise (this page) | $19 | 1 hour | Open date and time | 4.4/5, 6,100+ |
| Bateaux Parisiens 1-hour cruise | $20 | 1 hour | Date and slot | 4.4/5, 91,800+ |
| Bateaux Parisiens illuminations cruise | $20 | 1 hour | Date and slot; valid 30 days | 4.3/5, 12,400+ |
| Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise | $128 | 2.5 hours | Fixed 8:30 PM departure | 4.5/5, 4,700+ |
My pick for a flexible first visit is the Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise on the best-weather evening of your trip, and the Bateaux Parisiens illuminations cruise if you want to start at the Eiffel Tower. For a meal, look at the Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise or the Seine boat tours in Paris list. If you want to hop on and off, the Batobus pass works differently. See the Paris boat tours hub.
The operator's own site shows ticket prices "from" €20 and €17 without labelling them, while its FAQ text quotes a different, lower figure. I could not reconcile them, so rely on the price at checkout.
When is the best time to take the Bateaux Mouches boat?
The best time is the 18:30 to 19:30 band in autumn, when sunset is at 19:03 on 15 October and the sights are lit on the way back, and June to August for warm weather on the upper deck.
| Month | Avg high °C | Rain days (≥1 mm) | Sunset | On the open deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.0 | 17 | 5:23 PM | heavy coat, gloves for the open deck |
| Feb | 8.1 | 8 | 6:12 PM | heavy coat, gloves for the open deck |
| Mar | 13.4 | 7 | 6:56 PM | warm jacket, scarf |
| Apr | 19.1 | 7 | 8:43 PM | light jacket for the upper deck |
| May | 21.3 | 9 | 9:27 PM | light jacket for the upper deck |
| Jun | 26.9 | 10 | 9:57 PM | sun hat, water; the open deck has little shade |
| Jul | 25.3 | 15 | 9:51 PM | sun hat, water; the open deck has little shade |
| Aug | 26.4 | 6 | 9:08 PM | sun hat, water; the open deck has little shade |
| Sep | 20.1 | 11 | 8:05 PM | light jacket for the upper deck |
| Oct | 16.0 | 10 | 7:03 PM | light jacket for the upper deck |
| Nov | 11.4 | 12 | 5:12 PM | warm jacket, scarf |
| Dec | 9.1 | 8 | 4:56 PM | heavy coat, gloves for the open deck |
The table is last year's measured weather, not a forecast. The operator's description says the main deck is heated in winter and cooled in summer, so rain days matter less than on an open-deck boat. A reviewer who boarded at 18:30 in October saw the sights before and after sunset.
What do passengers say about this cruise?
Passengers call it a pleasant, easy cruise with good views, and the best-liked slot is after sunset; the 10 reviews I could read are all five-star, so the sample is positive-only.
- Night views: three of ten visible reviews recommend a sailing after sunset.
- Boarding: one reviewer boarded straight away by showing the reservation on the app.
- Waits: one reviewer waited about 30 minutes for the next boat near sunset; the platform's summary of 300 reviews mentions queues and boarding order at peak times.
- Information: one reviewer felt there was no information on the sights, while another found the explanations useful.
Sub-scores: guide 4.1, transportation 4.5, value for money 4.4.
Who should skip this cruise?
Skip it if you want a live guide, a meal, a hotel pickup or a start at the Eiffel Tower, because this is a one-hour self-service audio cruise from the Alma pier.
- Dinner: book the dinner cruise instead.
- Several sights in a day: the Batobus pass lets you get off.
- No phone or headphones: the commentary needs your own device.
- Summer darkness seekers: in June and July all sailings leave in daylight.
How do you book the Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise?
Tickets start at $19 per person (about €16.88); dates, slots and the final price show at checkout.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat tour in Paris?
For a flexible one-hour ride I'd book this $19 Bateaux Mouches cruise because the ticket has no fixed date; for a meal I'd pick a dinner cruise instead.
Which is better, Bateaux Parisiens or Bateaux-Mouches?
They are close: Bateaux Parisiens starts at the Eiffel Tower and Bateaux Mouches at the Alma pier, both are one hour, and this ticket costs $19 against $20 and has no set date.
How much does a river cruise cost in Paris?
This cruise costs from $19 per person, about €16.88; the Batobus pass is from $26 and dinner cruises start around $73.
Where is the Bateaux Mouches pier?
It is at Port de la Conférence beside the Pont de l'Alma, a 5-minute walk from Alma-Marceau metro on line 9.
What time does the last Bateaux Mouches sailing leave?
The listing gives 21:30 as the end of the departure range, but does not say if it changes by season, so confirm the slot when you book.
Can I take the cruise after dark?
Yes from August to May, because the 21:30 boat leaves after sunset; in June and July every sailing leaves before sunset on the 15th.
Do I need to choose a date and time?
No, the listing says the ticket has no set date or time, so you can pick a sailing at the pier.
How is the commentary delivered?
By a free web app: scan the QR code on board and listen on your own phone in 12 languages, so bring headphones.
Is a river cruise in Paris worth it?
For $19 and one hour I think it is worth it on a first trip because it passes the main sights without the queues of a museum.
Is hotel pickup included?
No, hotel transport is listed as not included.
Is the boat wheelchair accessible?
The listing says wheelchair accessible, but it does not describe the ramp or deck access, so ask the operator.
Sources: Listing data: GetYourGuide product 735394 (checked 2026-10-17). Operator: bateaux-mouches.fr, read 2026-10-17. Heritage area: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Weather: Open-Meteo. Sunset: sunrise-sunset.org API. Holidays: Nager.Date. FX: Frankfurter API. Walks: OSRM on OpenStreetMap data.
