While researching transportation in Paris, we discovered the hop-on-hop-off water taxi service called Batobus. Opting for this instead of the usual Seine River cruises, which are typically packed with hundreds of travelers, turned out to be a fantastic decision. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
We divided our sightseeing over four days, using Batobus, Big Bus tours, and public transportation (buses and metros). We considered factors such as walking distance, travel time between spots, stairs, and operating hours.
Batobus offers 1 or 2-day passes. We purchased a 1-day pass for a total of €59 (€23 per adult and €13 per child) in May 2024. Although you can buy passes in advance, we booked ours online the same morning. Tickets can also be purchased offline, though they cost slightly more than the online prices. For more details on operating hours (which vary by season), cancellation policies, stop details, and FAQs, visit their website: The only Hop On Hop Off on the Seine river – Batobus.
On the second day, after breakfast, we walked from our hotel to the bus stop ‘Place de Clichy’ to catch bus no. 80 (heading to Porte de Versailles), which dropped us at Rond-point des Champs Élysées. We then walked towards the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, located opposite each other. Although we didn’t plan to visit them inside (the Grand Palais was under maintenance), their marvelous architecture is worth seeing from the outside.
The Grand Palais and The Petit Palais
The Grand Palais and the Petit Palais are historic and iconic exhibition halls and museum complexes built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair). The Grand Palais is renowned for its impressive glass-domed roof. Both palaces are prime examples of Beaux-Arts architecture. The Petit Palais characterizes a grand entrance flanked by columns, an ornate iron and glass dome, and extensive decorative details.
After a quick photo session, we reached the Batobus stop at Place de la Concorde, located just below Pont Alexandre III, to start our Seine River hop-on-hop-off exploration.
Within 10 minutes, the water taxi arrived. We scanned our tickets and boarded the boat. that had plenty of seating, an open space at the back to stand, a vending machine, display screens, and staff announcing the next stop in French and English.
We got off at the Eiffel Tower but didn’t go near it. Instead, we took pictures with the Olympics countdown clock and hopped back on the same boat at the last minute. From the Eiffel Tower, we dropped off at Batobus – Invalides, directly opposite our boarding stop.
Les Invalides
Officially known as Hôtel National des Invalides, it is a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments related to the military history of France. It is also the burial site of some of France’s war heroes, most notably Napoleon Bonaparte. Established in 1670 by Louis XIV as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, the site includes the Army Museum, the Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides, and the Dôme des Invalides, which houses Napoleon’s tomb under its grand golden dome. Les Invalides stands as a significant historical and architectural landmark in Paris, reflecting the city’s rich military heritage.
We then walked towards the Hôtel National des Invalides to admire its beauty and historical architecture. Along the way, people were enjoying a picnic or having lunch in the garden.
Feeling hungry, we headed to Chapon et la Chocolaterie de l’Eglise, one of the places on our “Desserts to Try in Paris” list, which was a 15-minute walk away. There, we enjoyed the most delicious chocolate mousse. Next, in search of a place for lunch, we found a café, Le Royal Orsay, located just behind the Musée d’Orsay, where we tried French onion soup, pizza, and beer.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is situated on the left bank of the Seine River. Housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900, the museum opened in 1986. It holds an extensive collection of art from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, photography, and decorative arts.
Key highlights of the Musée d’Orsay include masterpieces by French artists such as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh. The museum is particularly renowned for its extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, making it a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts. The building is an architectural marvel, blending elements of a grand railway station with modern museum facilities.
After exploring the area around the museum, we went down to the Batobus Station – Musée d’Orsay to catch the next boat. We hopped off at Batobus Station – Hotel de Ville to visit Place de l’Hotel de Ville
Place de l’Hotel de Ville
The square is named after the nearby Hôtel de Ville, which is the City Hall of Paris, an architectural landmark that houses the local administration. The current building, completed in 1882, showcases Neo-Renaissance style and has been the seat of the municipality of Paris since 1357.
The square has witnessed many key events in Parisian history, including public executions during the Middle Ages and the French Revolution. Today, it’s a vibrant space hosting various public events, festivals, and ice skating in the winter. It is also a pedestrian-friendly area with cafes, shops, and entertainment.
When it started drizzling, we returned to the stop. As it began to rain heavily, we waited under Pont Louis-Philippe until the boat arrived. We decided to take a full circuit, enjoying the ride for over an hour before getting off at Place de la Concorde.
We spent the evening as planned, walking down the famous Champs-Élysées, trying the famous macarons from Ladurée, and taking the Night Tour with Big Bus. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog, where we will share our experiences of the same.
For more information on BatoBus, check out this video by Les Frenchies.
Bato bus plan curated by us:
| Stops | Points of Interest | Walking Distance from the stop (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Trocadero | The Arab World Institute | 7 |
| Museum of Natural History | 7 | |
| The Pantheon | 19 | |
| Musee du Louver | Pompidou Center | 11 |
| Place des Vosges | 14 | |
| Place de l’Hôtel de Ville | 7 | |
| Lourve | Hotel de Ville | 4 |
| Palais Royal | 10 | |
| Jardin des tuileries | 7 | |
| Place de la Concord (START & END) | Arc de triomphe | 30 |
| Musee du Louvre | 3 | |
| Pont de l’Alma | 13 | |
| Place de la Concorde | ||
| Pont Alexandre 3 | ||
| Tour Eiffel | Tour Eiffel | 2 |
| Trocadero | 10 | |
| Aquarium de Paris | 7 | |
| Invalides | Hotel National des Invalides | 14 |
| Musee Rodin | 14 | |
| Grand Palais, Petit Palais | 9 | |
| Musée d’Orsay | Musée d’Orsay | 2 |
| Musee Maillol | 12 | |
| Saint German des Pres | Assemblée Nationale | 3 |
| Saint-Germain-des-Prés | 8 | |
| Jardin du Luxembourg | 15 | |
| Notre dam | Notre dam | 6 |
| Pont des Arts | 7 | |
| Sainte Chapelle | 8 |
You may also like to read how we skipped the Eiffel Tower queue to have better views of Paris from the Montparnasse Tower.
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Paris.
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