Contrary to popular belief, there are not only cruise boats on the Seine. Indeed, the capital’s river may be renowned for its bateaux-mouches, on which you can take a guided cruise. However, this river highway linking the Paris region with the port of Le Havre, France’s second-largest economic port, is home to a large number of boats with very different functions. From accommodation to goods transport, discover the types of boat that ply the Seine.

Housing boats

You’ve probably seen them on a walk along the quays or during a cruise in Paris. Commonly known as barges or technically self-propelled, houseboats offer their inhabitants an atypical place to live. According to Voies Navigables de France (VNF), in 2019 there will be no fewer than 1,800 stationary boats, 80% of which will be used for residential purposes on the Seine, and 1,300 in the Ile de France region alone. The most common houseboats are of the ‘Freycinet’ type, around 40 metres long and 5 metres wide. These boats can have up to 200m2 of living space. They are part of the landscape and scenery of the banks of the Seine, far from the stress of city life and close to nature.

Freight boats

In 2021, 22 million tonnes of goods were transported by inland waterway on the Seine, linked in particular to major construction projects in the Paris region (Grand Paris Expresse, Olympic Games 2024, among others), the transport of containers, agricultural materials and sometimes certain types of waste. Transporting goods via the Seine saved 23,860 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 1 million lorries off the roads.

Riverboats and tourist boats

The best-known boats are those that run tourist cruises on the Seine. Better known as bateaux-mouches, they allow you to visit and enjoy the monuments by day or night, on guided cruises, aperitif cruises or dinner cruises, with your partner or family.

With no fewer than 38 cruise companies in Paris, tourism is a major part of river traffic on the Seine. The first visits appeared at the Universal Exhibition in 1867, when the famous ‘bateaux mouches’ were introduced.

Within this typology, there are sub-categories of boats offering different types of cruising, notably because of their size.

Flat-bottomed boats or barges

The péniche is the most widely used of all river boats. They are also the best known, as the first examples were the famous bateaux-mouches imported from Lyon’s ‘La Mouche’ district. These boats can take more people on board, and offer both guided cruises and dinner cruises, as well as panoramic views of the monuments of Paris.

Fantasy boats

The paddlewheel boat, imported from the United States, will take you on a slower ride from another age, with paddlewheels that push the water forward. They are regularly used for events and dinner cruises because of their unusual appearance.

Hull boats

Formerly military ships, they were used as reconnaissance vessels in ports. Now on the Seine, they can also be used to enjoy the monuments from the river, day and night. Their smaller size offers a more intimate, human-scale experience for tourists. This is particularly true of the Vedettes de Paris boats, which offer guided cruises and aperitif cruises for young and old alike. Like the barges, these boats offer a panoramic view for all passengers.

Trimarans et catamarans 

Small, two-hulled boats, they are often used as river buses, allowing customers to make several stops along the way.

Small private boats

You may have noticed them over the last few years: small boats are all the rage on the Seine. Whether they’re electric or internal combustion engine-powered, their speed and size are perfect for people who want to enjoy a special moment. With a capacity generally not exceeding 12 people, they are ideal for trips with friends, family or lovers, without other people on board. Often more expensive than the more traditional guided cruises, this option allows you to get away from the traditional circuit and stop for longer at your favourite monuments.