Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour

This two and a half hour cruise on the River Seine and the Canal Saint Martin gives a unique view of Paris. You will experience both the grandeur of the Seine and the quiet intimacy of Paris' network of inner-urban canals, created by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 1800s. Along the way, your informative guide-interpreter will provide illuminating insights into the history of Paris and its canals.

Your River Seine cruise begins near the Musée d'Orsay and sweeps you past a parade of monuments: the Louvre Museum, the Institute of France, the spires of Notre Dame Cathedral and tiny Ile Saint Louis, before arriving at the entrance of the Canal Saint Martin.

The first section of the canal takes you through an eerily lit tunnel which passes under the Place de la Bastille. Emerging from the tunnel you will discover the most romantic "boulevard" in Paris - the Canal Saint Martin's three miles of pure poetry. Reflected in the canal's waters you'll see old swing bridges, half-moon footbridges and the abundant foliage of horse-chestnut trees.

A trip along the Canal Saint Martin reveals a side of Paris that tourists don't usually get to see. The canal winds its way through a series of 19th-century locks and enchanting old areas of Paris until, 26 meters above the Seine, the canal reaches the Villette Basin. Here you will pass the raised Crimea Bridge before arriving at La Villette Park, where the Science Museum, the Geode and enchanting gardens await you.

Note that the morning tour begins near Musée d'Orsay and ends at Bassin de la Villette. In the afternoon the schedule is reversed, beginning at Bassin de la Villette and ending near Musée d'Orsay.