PalenQ

Night or day cruise on Seine? Both are great but I think after dark when the famous landmarks and bridges are sublimely illuminated is best but opinions will vary on that.

tracilee

St. Cirq, you made my evening! So happy to share a tip with you especially given all the great info I’ve gleaned from you over the years. I feel like I got an A+ from my favorite professor!

kerouac

I would have to vote for a day cruise on the Seine -- you can see a lot more. While the nighttime floodlights on the boats and the illuminated monuments themselves are dramatic, they make you miss the little details along the river.

If ever you take the Bateaux-Mouches for a cruise (I still think they give the best cruises), don't make the mistake that I made the last time with friends. We took the first boat of the day and found outselves sharing it with about 15 busloads of Chinese tourists. While this is extremely entertaining in itself, there is also an annoyance factor and I am frankly amazed that nobody fell off the boat, nudged by a selfie stick. The next boat leaves just 30 minutes later and is comparatively empty.

ssander

I believe that Vedettes du Pont Neuf is the only provider that allows you to buy an advance discount ticket without specifying a date & time. You just show up at the gate and turn in your voucher for a real ticket. Very important if weather is bad.

At least it was the only provider last time we looked.

ssander

ssander

Also...as everyone else has said, Day 1 is probably not doable.

• I assume your on an overnight flight, since you say you're arriving in the morning. Allow at least two hours to get from your seat in the plane to your hotel, likely more.
• You'll need to eat after you drop your bags at the hotel. Even if you had breakfast on the plane (not very filling and an hour before landing), you won't be at your hotel till nearly lunch time.
• You have about 45 min-1 hr of travel time between the three, unless you really know your way around and already have bought Metro/bus tickets...and I'm not counting St Eustache.
• All three will likely have lines...even with special entry tickets to the museums (are there such things?), you still have to get through the security lines in all three sights.
• That leaves probably four to six hours to see ND and two major art museums? While jet-lagged? I do not recommend it.

OK...maybe I'm overdoing my skepticism...but you should at least re-think that first day.

ssander

PalenQ

Official Web Site of Batobus de Paris

A different type Seine cruise - get on and off at several stops all day. go at day or at night or both.

StCirq

The Batobus is not a cruise. It's a water taxi. It's expensive. There is no narrative. There is often a lengthy wait at the stops. It is entirely possible to walk between its stops faster than the boat takes you. Some people love it. I think it's a total gimmiky waste of time and money.

PalenQ

TripAdvisor folks rates Batobus very high and comments mainly say there was few problems St-Cirq mentions.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...de_France.html

Anway just presenting alternatives but no not a cruise with commentary, etc.

StCirq

I am often at odds with Trip Advisor and don't apologize for it.

janisj

>>A different type Seine cruise -<<. >>Anway [sic] just presenting alternatives but no not a cruise . . . << So which are you saying it is - a cruise or not a cruise??

​​​​​​​(it isn't BTW)

PalenQ

Well both jan - you could cruise up or down Seine or use it as transportation. Don't give commentary so not the same as other boats but again an option.

TPAYT

I’ll go out on a limb here with a restaurant. We really enjoyed a late lunch here. The food was excellent, the room beautiful, the service perfect. Yes, it’s a tourist spot but guess what, we’re tourists. Check it out.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...de_France.html

nukesafe

If you don't mind a ten minute walk, we have always enjoyed Au Bougnat Au Bougnat, bistrot de tradition Paris which is at the other end of the island from the boat landing, a couple of blocks from Notre Dame. You can hear the bells. It is not fancy, but the food and service have always been great, IME. BTW the building was built for the dimensions of those who use the church, so watch your head as you move through the doorway from the bar to the restaurant.

TPAYT

nukesafe.......Au Bougnat is always one of our go to places. The food & service is great but it is a very, very small, plain room. Just sayin’

burta

StCirq's mention of Le Christine reminded me of the wonderful dinner we had there last July. Recommend it highly.

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en...oiowCnoECAoQCQ

nukesafe

You are right, TPAYT, Au Bougnat is tiny and plain, but it seemed to be what the OP was after, i.e., something not too expensive, but memorable, after the boat ride on the Seine on day two. We have never walked away from there with anything but a satisfied smile on our faces, and with our credit card not bleeding.

foolforfrance

TArrived Paris yesterday, 8/30 at 7 am on overnight flight. To our hotel in Saint Germain via taxi by 8:30a. Stored bags. Had coffee and croissant and headed to Vedettes du Pont Neuf for first boat at 10:30a. Attempted to purchase 10E tix via cell phone but it appeared not to go through. So we bought tix on-site for 14E. We asked person at ticket booth if she could check Whether our online transaction went through...it had...so she refunded the 14E purchase.

Boat tour our and narration in French and English was very enjoyable. I have done the night tour previously and it enjoyed it as well, but like day better for seeing the sights along the Seine.

We then walked to Luxembourg Gardens and enjoyed its beauty and did some people watching. Next up was lunch at Galette Cafe adjacent to our hotel. Our group was not overly ambitious so opted to nap from 2:30-5.....and what a good idea that was!

So there you have our Day 1! You can definitely cram more in than we did. We all agreed to no museums on our jet-lagged first day. It is also a nice option that Vedettes du Pont Neuf offers an online 12E untuned ticket.

TPAYT

foolforfrance........I suggest you start your own thread with a Trip Report sign with it. Just repeat your 1st day as you have it here and go from there.

Sounds like a perfect first day. That 2 hr. Afternoon nap is a must for us after the many hrs. In transit. Then after dinner & a somewhat early bedtime you will be good to go tomorrow.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip report.

olivier_fontenay

Don't do too much. On day 1, I would walk to the Louvre through Saint-Germain des Pres and Passerelle des Arts, visit the Louvre, then walk to Saint-Eustache and Forum des Halles for shopping. Back to your hotel, see Notre-Dame on the way. On day 3, focus on Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre and skip Versailles altogether.