One of several popular operators offering sightseeing boat cruises on the Seine river, the Bateaux Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf company is named after the eponymous, elegant bridge in central Paris and offers simple, one-hour cruise tours with audio commentary available in 12 languages. Major sights and attractions include the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, the Invalides, and the Louvre Museum. Overall, the basic tour gives you a glimpse of around ten major monuments.
While the Vedettes does not offer lunch or dinner cruises like competitors Bateaux-Mouches or Bateaux-Parisiens, it remains one of the more solid choices for a simple cruise tour of Paris and its most recognizable attractions and monuments. I always recommend that first-time visitors to the city of lights consider a boat tour: it's a relatively economical, relaxing, and simple way to get an overview of the monuments situated along the Seine, learn a bit about Paris history, and, well, just enjoy the ride and fresh air.
Pros:
Cons:
Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf's fleet of four boats seat between 72 people for the smaller cruiser and 550 people for the largest one, and offer panoramic views of the city.
Tel: +(33) 01 46 33 98 38
E-mail: info@vedettesdupontneuf.com
Visit the official website
For more information on sights and attractions you'll see on the tour, visit this page.
While the Vedettes does not offer lunch or dinner cruises like competitors Bateaux-Mouches or Bateaux-Parisiens, it remains one of the more solid choices for a simple cruise tour of Paris and its most recognizable attractions and monuments. I always recommend that first-time visitors to the city of lights consider a boat tour: it's a relatively economical, relaxing, and simple way to get an overview of the monuments situated along the Seine, learn a bit about Paris history, and, well, just enjoy the ride and fresh air.
Pros:
- No reservations required
- Shows you some of the city's essential attractions in only an hour
- A good choice if you want to stay near the Paris city center
- Snacks and drinks available on board at the Captain's bar
Cons:
- No lunch or dinner cruises available
- Cruise includes fewer attractions than many competitors
- Only one boarding point available
Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf's fleet of four boats seat between 72 people for the smaller cruiser and 550 people for the largest one, and offer panoramic views of the city.
Practical Information and Contact Details
Boats dock and launch near the Pont-Neuf bridge, at Square du Vert Galant in the 1st arrondissement. Tours last approximately one hour. No reservations are necessary, but in peak months they are highly recommended (you can reserve online here).Tel: +(33) 01 46 33 98 38
E-mail: info@vedettesdupontneuf.com
Visit the official website
Tickets and types of cruises:
As mentioned above, Vedettes du Pont Neuf offer only simple commented cruise tours at this time. For a complete list of current prices, see this page. For current departure times, see this page. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted.Commentary Languages Available
Commentary is available in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, and Danish.What You'll See on the Tour
The Vedettes du Pont Neuf sightseeing cruise takes you along a circuit on which you can see the following sights and attractions:- Eiffel Tower
- Invalides
- Palais Bourbon
- Musee d'Orsay
- Assemblée Nationale
- Palais de Justice
- Ile de la Cite
- Ile St-Louis
- Institut de France
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Conciergerie
- Hotel de Ville
- Musee du Louvre
- Concorde
- Grand Palais
- Arc de Triomphe
- Palais de Chaillot
- Bibliotheque Nationale de France
For more information on sights and attractions you'll see on the tour, visit this page.