Seine River Cruise Departure Points

Pick the perfect starting point for your River Cruise adventure!

The most popular docks Port de la Bourdonnais and Port de Suffren are at the foot of Eiffel Tower.

Learn about the docks that are available for different Cruises, how to access and directions for each departure point.

Docks and Options

There are two types of departure points for Seine  River Cruises: 

• Permanent docks 
• Hop-on and Hop-off locations

Permanent docks give fixed beginning and finishing sites, whereas hop-on-hop-off Cruises let passengers board and depart at different spots along the route.

Permanent Docks

Seine  River Cruises has many permanent docks in Paris, each giving a distinct experience and convenient access via public transportation:

Eiffel Tower

For a dramatic entry, various Cruise operators offer departures from the Port de la Bourdonnais and Port de Suffren, just beneath the Eiffel Tower. 

This is great if you want to snap stunning views of the Iron Lady as you set sail or if you’re staying near the Champs de Mars. 

Bateaux-Parisiens and Vedettes de Paris are the two popular Cruise operators that use Port de la Bourdonnais and Port de Suffren as departure places.

Here is a quick glance at Cruise operators and their departure points with the service they offer:

Operators	Departure Points	Type of Cruise
Bateaux Parisiens – S.E.V.P.T.E	Port de la Bourdonnais	Sightseeing Cruises
Bateaux Parisiens – Seino Vision	Port de la Bourdonnais	Dinner Cruise, Lunch Cruise
Vedettes de Paris	Port de Suffren	Sightseeing Cruise

Port de la Conférence

Port de la Conférence, located near the Pont de l’Alma bridge, serves as a starting point for Bateaux-Mouches excursions. 

This spot is easily accessible from the Alma-Marceau metro station and offers spectacular views upstream to the Eiffel Tower.

The following are the Cruise operators and their departure places with the service they provide:

• Operator: Bateaux Mouches 
• Departure Points: Port de la Conférence Get Directions
• Type of Cruises: Sightseeing Cruise

Accessing Eiffel Tower Departure Points

This guide provides simple access to both Port de la Bourdonnais and Port de Suffren, the Eiffel Tower’s Cruise departure ports and the Port de la Conférence. 

Prepare for a comfortable ride with thorough directions to neighboring metro stations, bus lines, and even the Batobus water taxis!

Port de la Bourdonnais

This is the departure point for the Bateaux Parisiens Cruise, located right by the Eiffel Tower. Here’s how to get there:

• Metro: The closest metro station is Bir-Hakeim (Line 6).
• Bus: Take buses 42, 72, 82 or 92.

Port de Suffren

This departure point is located near the Alma Bridge and offers Cruises on some of the smaller boats. Here’s how to get there:

• Metro: The closest metro stations are Alma-Marceau (Line 9) and Ecole Militaire (Line 8).
• Bus: Take buses 42, 72, 82 or 92.

Port de la Conférence

Port de la Conférence is another popular departure point for Seine  River Cruises in Paris. Here’s how you can get there:

• Metro: The closest metro station is Pont de l’Alma (Line 9).
• RER: The RER line C also stops at Pont de l’Alma, offering a wider connection across Paris.
• Bus: Take buses 42, 63 or 82 

Hop-on Hop-off Docks

The Batobus network provides a unique Seine  River experience, with nine scheduled stops distributed throughout the Riverbanks. 

This hop-on/hop-off structure allows you to choose your own schedule, getting off to tour major sites such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame, and the Jardin des Plantes at your leisure. 

Here is an overview of Cruise operator and their different departure places:

Operators: Batobus

Departure points: 

• Eiffel Tower – Port de la Bourdonnais
• Musée d’Orsay – Quai de Solférino
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés – Quai de Malaquais
• Notre Dame – Quai de Montebello 
• Invalides – Port des Invalides
• Jardin des Plantes – Quai Saint-Bernard
• Hôtel de Ville – Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville
• Louvre – Quai du Louvre 
• Place de la Concorde – Port des Champs-Elysées

Type of Cruise: Hop-on and Hop-off Cruise

Beyond the Usual Docks

A few more departure points cater to specialized Cruise styles, offering a little off-the-beaten-path experience.

Canal St-Martin Cruises

If you want to combine the elegance of the Seine  with the hidden treasure of Canal St-Martin, the Paris Canal provides Cruises that leave from Porte de Pantin and Port of Solférino.

Operators	Departure Points	Type of Cruise
Paris Canal	Porte de Pantin	Cruise on the Saint-Martin Canal + the Seine  River
	Port of Solférino	Seine  River + Canal Saint-Martin Cruise

Ile de la Cité

Cruises dedicated to seeing the ancient Ile de la Cité island, which contains Notre Dame, may depart from around Port Neuf.

• Operator: Vedette du Pont Neuf 
• Departure Points: Portneuf
• Type of Cruise: Sightseeing Cruise

Accessing the Usual Docks

Learn about the public transportation options available to get to the regular docks.

Porte de Pantin

• Metro: Take Line 5 to Porte de Pantin station. The departure point is a short walk from the station.
• Bus: Take buses 48, 145, or 148 to Porte de Pantin.
• Tram: Take Tram T3 to Porte de Pantin.

Port de Solférino

• Metro: Take Line 12 to Solférino station. The departure point is a short walk from the station.
• Bus: Take buses 69, 72, or 84 to Pont de Solférino.

Port Neuf

• Metro: Take Line 7 to Pont Neuf station. The departure point is a short walk from the station.
• Bus: Take buses 24, 48, 85, or N14 to Pont Neuf.

Perfect Departure Point for You

The best departure points depend on your Cruise type, hobbies, and intended experience.

• For a classic sightseeing tour with renowned vistas, choose the permanent ports at the Eiffel Tower.
• Choose a hop-on, hop-off option from any of the Batobus stations for flexibility and the freedom to visit numerous sights.
• For a one-of-a-kind canal experience, look for Cruises departing near Rue Jean Poulmarch that mix the Seine  and Canal St. Martin.
• For an emphasis on the Ile de la Cité, search for Cruises starting from the 1st arrondissement near Notre-Dame.

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