Since 1949, the Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches has been a true Parisian institution, at the origin of cruises on the Seine river.

Winding through the historic heart of Paris and past its most iconic monuments, the river Seine is the perfect, watery vantage point for taking in the sights of the French capital. Step aboard a sightseeing boat for a narrated cruise as you uncover landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre.

Make your way to the Pont de l'Alma on the Right Bank and step aboard the spacious sightseeing vessel, grabbing a map and then settling into a chair on the open-air deck or beneath the glass roof of the upper seating area. Take in unobstructed views as the boat drifts off down the slow-moving river, following the route on your map.

Snap photos of the Eiffel Tower—the city's icon—and look to the other side of the river to the fountains and grand architecture of the Trocadéro and Palais de Chaillot. Spot the gilded dome of Les Invalides and the elegant glass-and-iron architecture of the Grand Palais, and pass the barges tied up alongside the Place de la Concorde with its towering obelisk.

Admire the luminous clocks adorning the facade of the Musée d'Orsay, check out the modern glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre, and see the imposing architecture of the Palais de Justice and the Hôtel de Ville. Before looping back to your starting point, pass through the oldest part of the city as you cruise by the turrets of the Conciergerie, the grand Gothic facade of Notre Dame, and the charming waterfront apartment buildings of the Île Saint-Louis.