Seine River Cruises

The Eiffel Tower, which is not only the most well-known landmark in Paris, but also a universal symbol of France is 324-metre in height. The Eiffel Tower held the title of world's tallest structure until 1929. The tower's location on the Champs-de-Mars esplanade, which overlooks a broad meander of the River Seine, gives it a commanding view of the city. The Eiffel Tower is stunning at any time of day, but it truly comes into its own at night when thousands of bright lights outline the massive metal structure and enormous beacon at its peak. When taking the Seine River Cruise and Eiffel Tower tour you shouldn't miss the lights of the Eiffel Tower shining which occurs for 5 minutes every hour starting after the nightfall till 1am.

In 1900, for the Exposition Universelle, the Grand Palais and its smaller sister, the Petit Palais, were constructed at this bend in the Seine. Their glass domes and ornate facades have made them iconic Paris landmarks for decades. From the river, you can see two of the city's most recognisable landmarks at a glance.

The columned façade and enormous metallic glass roof of the Grand Palais are examples of Art Nouveau, which was popular at the time. Big bronze chariots drawn by horses stand at each of the palace's four corners. The glass dome atop the Petit Palace is reminiscent of the larger, more impressive stone dome atop Les Invalides on the opposite bank of the river. At night, when the glass ceilings reflect the statues below, both palaces take on an even more breathtaking appearance.

The Musée d'Orsay, which is one of the most well-known museums in Paris, can be found across the Seine from the Louvre and is also a world-famous attraction in its own right. One of the most recognisable structures on the opposite bank of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower is this fine and symmetrical north façade, which dates back to 1900 when it was constructed as a train station. You can tell which one is the larger of the two clocks on the front because it looks like the one from the movie Hugo. The trains stopped running in 1939, and the Musée d'Orsay, which barely avoided demolition at the time, didn't open to the public until 1986, housing the world's finest collection of Impressionism, as well as notable works of Art Nouveau and Nabis.

Notre Dame Cathedral stands out for its breathtaking architecture and picturesque setting. Notre Dame Cathedral, at a height of 70 metres, has been one of Paris's tallest and most precious structures for centuries. The cathedral is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, and visitors come from all over the world to see it. It is still widely considered one of the finest examples of mediaeval architecture in all of Europe.

The revolutionary mediaeval architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral sets it apart as an extraordinary historical site. Every inch of this cathedral radiates with the brilliance of the Gothic flying buttresses technology.This magnificent structure was begun in 1163 and completed some 200 years later with the help of thousands of architects, stonemasons, and carpenters. All of the heavenly light that enters the cathedral is diffused through the stained glass windows, which are works of art in themselves. In the evening, when the votive candles are lit, the atmosphere takes on a more solemn, religious tone.

This tiny island in the middle of the Seine is home to some of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. One of the best ways to take in the city of Paris's most recognisable landmarks, you'll have the river all to yourself if you choose to do so from the Seine. The iconic Notre Dame, one of the largest and best Gothic cathedrals in the world, is located at the eastern end of the island. The cathedral's size and design are best appreciated from across the river.

Take note of the twin towers, where the equally renowned bells and the hunchback, Quasimodo, make their home, as well as the flying buttress framework and central spire that rise 93 metres. You can also see the many chimaeras and gargoyles that decorate the roof. On this central island, you'll also find the Conciergerie, a former royal palace that was converted into a prison and torture chamber in the 14th century.

The magnificent Louvre museum was once a mediaeval fort and is now the largest museum in the world. Among the more than five thousand works of art housed in the Louvre are the famous Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. The pyramid-shaped entrance to the museum is also an architectural marvel. It is a brilliant combination of old and new, especially when compared to the surrounding classically-styled buildings. Queen Catherine de Medici's 1560 plan for the highly decorative Tuileries Gardens, further down the river, has provided Parisians with a massive recreational space for centuries. From the river, the geometric pattern and long rows of trees look especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow and orange.