The Louvre Museum and Seine River Cruise in Paris: A Complete Guide

The spectacular city of Paris is a top destination for travelers from around the world. Known for its world-class museums, restaurants, and historical sites, there’s plenty to see and do. One of the most popular things to do in Paris is a combination of a visit to the Louvre Museum and a Seine River Cruise. This combination allows visitors to experience the iconic city of Paris at its best. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Louvre Museum and Seine River Cruise in Paris.

What is the Louvre Museum?

The Louvre Museum is one of the oldest and most renowned art galleries in the world and it is one of the most popular attractions in Paris. Located in the Palais du Louvre, a former royal palace, the museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, covering over 650,000 square meters with more than 35,000 objects on display. The permanent collection spans over 8,000 years of history and contains works from some of the most well-known artists in the world including Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and more.

What is a Seine River Cruise?

A Seine River Cruise is one of the best ways to get to know the city of Paris and experience its beauty. The cruise takes you along the river as it meanders through the city past some of Paris’ most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods. You’ll get to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Le Marais, Île de la Cité and more. The cruise lasts for about an hour and is a great way to get an overview of the city.

How to Visit the Louvre Museum & Seine River Cruise in Paris

Whether you’re visiting Paris for a day or a week, taking a trip to the Louvre Museum and Seine River Cruise are a must-do activities. Your visit can be tailored to your interests and time constraints. Here’s what you need to know when planning your trip:

1. Buy tickets in advance

To visit the Louvre Museum and take a Seine River Cruise, you must purchase tickets in advance. For the Louvre Museum, you can purchase tickets online through their official website here. For the Seine River Cruise, you can purchase tickets online through GetYourGuide. Be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time as both attractions are very popular and tickets can sell out quickly.

2. Consider timings

The Louvre Museum is open from 9am-6pm on Monday-Saturday, and from 9am-9:45pm on Wednesday and Friday. It is closed on Sundays and some holidays so be sure to check before you go. The Seine River Cruises last one hour and depart throughout the day starting at 9:30 am and ending around 7 pm depending on season. Regardless of timings you choose it’s a good idea to aim to arrive in the morning to avoid lines and large crowds, especially if you are planning on visiting both attractions in one day.

3. Plan your routes

The Louvre Museum has multiple entrance points and you can enter either through the entrance along the Cour Napoléon or through the underground entrance near Carrousel du Louvre Metro station. The Seine River Cruises depart from multiple points along the river including Pont de l’Alma, Port de la Bourdonnais, pont Neuf, and Port d’Austerlitz.

4. Dress comfortably

Both attractions require a decent amount of walking so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes that are appropriate for spending a whole day outdoors in Paris.

5. Have your travel insurance & documents up to date

When visiting any foreign country it’s important to make sure that your travel insurance and other necessary documents are up to date before making your trip.

The Louvre Museum in Paris

The Louvre Museum is home to some of the most iconic works of art ever created and seeing them up close and personal can be a truly extraordinary experience. It can be quite overwhelming trying to take it all in so it’s recommended that you plan ahead and do some research about what exhibits you want to see before your visit as there’s just too much for one visit alone. Be sure to allow enough time to explore as you won’t be able to see it all in one day.

Before entering, be sure familiarize yourself with the museum’s layout as it can be quite confusing at times. The museum is spread out over three main wings including Richelieu (Home to Italian paintings, Roman antiquities, Greek sculptures and French paintings), Sully (Home to Egyptian antiquities and Islamic art), and Denon (Home to sculptures). Each wing has several galleries so be sure to pick up a map at the entrance so you don’t get lost.

When visiting it’s also important to keep in mind that photography rules vary from object to object so be sure to check before taking photographs or videos as some pieces may not allow either of these.

Seine River Cruise

Taking a Seine River Cruise is a great way to get an overview of Paris as it allows you to see many landmarks from a different perspective than what you would normally see on foot. The river cruises last about an hour and during that time you’ll get close up views of landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, Hôtel des Invalides, Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, Conciergerie, musée national des monuments français and more so be sure to bring your camera along so that you can capture all these moments!

The cruise boats are very comfortable with seating indoors as well as outside so regardless of weather conditions, you’ll be able to enjoy it at its fullest. Some boats are also equipped with audio guides allowing you to learn more about each destination while admiring them from across the river without disturbing other passengers on board.

The views on board also make it a great place for romantic moments so if you’re traveling with someone special then this might be the perfect experience for you two! Plus it makes for great photos that you can take home with you!

Final Thoughts

Visiting both the Louvre Museum and taking a Seine River Cruise are two staple experiences for any traveler visiting Paris. Taking advantage of both attractions will ensure that you get an amazing overview of this beautiful city as you get up close with its iconic landmarks. Be sure to purchase tickets for both attractions ahead of time as both tend to sell out quickly due to their popularity.

If you’re looking for an immersive experience taking in all that Paris has to offer then consider booking this combination tour which includes admission tickets to both attractions plus round-trip transportation from your hotel or apartment in Paris! It’s a great way to take care of everything without having to worry about planning out your own visit!