Paris, France
Seine River Cruise and Paris Illuminations Tour
Location: Paris, France
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
It’s no wonder they call it the City of Lights — Paris is especially enchanting in the evening. On this illuminations tour, admire top Paris attractions from two perspectives, starting with a lamp-lit cruise along the Seine past the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Then take a nighttime city tour to see the Champs-Elysées, l’Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais, Rue de Rivoli and much more (itinerary is reversed in the winter). Choose a standard coach tour or small-group minivan tour for a more personalized experience.
During the summer months (April – Oct), when it doesn’t get dark until later, you’ll start with a Seine cruise and end with an illuminations tour. You’ll follow the reverse itinerary in the winter months (Nov – March). Below are sample summer itineraries. Choose a standard or small-group tour.
Seine Cruise and Standard Tour by Coach
After pickup from the central Paris meeting point, you’ll be taken to the Bateaux Parisiens boarding point for your 1-hour narrated cruise along the Seine. Sit back and admire the waterfront sights including the Eiffel Tower and Il de la Cité, where you’ll see Notre Dame and the Conciergerie.
Back at the dock, you’ll be escorted to a coach for your 1.5-hour illuminations tour. Learn about the history of Paris’ most famous monuments as you ride through the glittering city past the sights you saw on the Seine plus the Opéra, Rue de Rivoli, the Louvre, Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, Pont Neuf, St-Germain-des-Près, the Champs-Elysées, l’Arc de Triomphe and more.
You can then choose to be dropped off at the central meeting point or the Opéra area, filled with great restaurants and bars to continue your night out in Paris.
Seine Cruise and Small-Group Tour by Minivan
You’ll be picked up from your central Paris hotel and taken to the Bateaux Parisiens boarding point, where you and your group will join others on a sightseeing boat to enjoy a 1-hour narrated cruise.
Follow with a city illuminations tour by 8-passenger minivan, ensuring a more personalized and intimate experience. Starting at Place Vendome, admire Paris’ beautifully illuminated historical monuments, museums, boulevards and neighborhoods as you ride to the Opéra, Rue de Rivoli, the Louvre, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame, Place de la Concorde and the Grand Palais and Petit Palais.
Cross Pont Neuf to St-Germain-des-Près and then venture down the Champs-Elysées to l’Arc de Triomphe, looping back to Trocadéro and the glittering Eiffel Tower, then to Les Invalides, Madeleine Church and Place Pigalle. At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
