Seine River Cruises & Paris Boat Tours

🏛️ History of the Seine: the river that gave life to Paris

There’s more to the Seine River than just a symbol of Paris. It’s the historic and cultural lifeblood of France. Stretching 775 kilometers, it begins in Burgundy and flows through northern France until it reaches the English Channel at Le Havre.

For nearly two millennia, starting with the Roman Empire, the Seine played a vital role in the rise of Lutetia, the ancient name of Paris. It offered a natural path for trade, defense, and growth, eventually turning its banks into the city’s core. Landmarks like Notre-Dame (1163), Pont Neuf (1607), and the Eiffel Tower (1889) rose along its shores.

Today, the Seine cuts through Paris, crossed by 37 iconic bridges that connect the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) to the Right Bank (Rive Droite), and link the islands of Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis, the birthplace of Paris. Each bridge has its own story:

• Pont Neuf, the oldest, despite its name meaning “New Bridge”
• Pont Alexandre III, the most ornate, built for the 1900 World’s Fair
• Pont des Arts, once filled with love locks, a romantic favorite
• Pont de Bir-Hakeim, known for its iron design and Eiffel Tower views
• Pont Marie, built in the 17th century and still in use today

Across France, the Seine is crossed by more than 300 bridges, but nowhere is its beauty more alive than in Paris, where it becomes a blend of history, elegance, and postcard-worthy scenes.

📝 Since 1991, the banks of the Seine in Paris have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to their exceptional concentration of landmarks.

🚤 A Seine River cruise is more than sightseeing. It’s a journey through the city’s soul, one ripple at a time.

🚣‍♀️ See the city’s past from the river: explore our curated Seine cruises with panoramic views and romantic sunset rides that bring the river's story to life.

🛎️ Choose from our selection of hotels along the Seine, hand-picked to give you the full experience of staying in the heart of Paris.

👉 Book now and start your journey through the living history of the Seine.