No visit to Paris would be complete without a cruise along its famous river.

A walk down a steep flight of stone stairs will lead you to narrow cobbled pathway, giving you a closer look at the Seine. Houseboats, floating restaurants and sight-seeing boats sail along with some of its occupants cheerfully waving to those watching on the banks of the river. The only thing better than watching, is to hop onto the river yourself.

If you’re new to Paris it’s probably best to take a simple guided river tour without any fancy extras as it will give a detailed overview of the city and these normally cost around €13-€16 each. You can always have a more luxurious ride later on in your trip if you wish.

As you glide across the river you’ll circle the two natural islands of the Seine: lle de la cite and lle Saint-Louis and pass some of the most famous landmarks of Paris. Such as the beautiful Notre Dame cathedral, the Musee d’Orsay which interestingly was a railway station before it was converted into a museum, and of course the most famous landmark in France – the Eiffel Tower. The view from the boat is unbeatable as you can see the Tower in all its glory.

Along the way, you’ll also see a great number of bridges. There are thirty-two bridges in Paris and this is the best way to see them as you get a sense of their full beauty and scope. Some of the more famous bridges are: Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge and a great inspiration to many poets and artists alike, and Pont Alexander III. It is often considered as the most eye-catching and ostentatious bridge in Paris and is a fine of example of the Art Nouveau style.

When the tour guide has finished giving you the history of the city in French, English and Spanish and the boat has docked, you’ll be eager to tackle more of this magical city.