Riding Along the Seine on the Batobus

 

I found yet another way to avoid the Metro and see Paris.  I spent the day on the Batobus.  It was like walking in another person's shoes and seeing the city, or should I say sitting in another person's boat.  It was Paris from an entirely different perspective.

Paris became smaller and more tranquil, where lovers linger along the banks of the Seine or those wanting solitude sit under a tree with a book.   It was a sunny and warm day, and I took two trips  around the Seine without getting off, just sailing under the bridges and past the many monuments, buildings and churches.  One thing is certain, if you don't already love Paris, you will once you see it this way. 

The Batobus is a budget-friendly transportation option.  Your ticket is good for the entire day, or you can get a 2-day, 5-day, or even a year-long pass.  You can do the "hop on/hop off" thing or keep going around and around the Seine.

The Batobus is a better value than the Bateaux Mouches and other boats like it.  Their tickets are for just one trip around the Seine.   The one drawback to the Batobus is that the seating area is enclosed, so if you want to take pictures, you need to stand in the back.  I did both, one trip around when I stood in the back and took all the photos I wanted, then another trip around the Seine, relaxing and watching Paris go by.  This is as good, if not better, than sitting at a cafe in Paris.

The Batobus has 5 stops along the Seine (Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville, and Jardin des Plantes).  You can buy tickets at each stop and hop off, see the sites, and hop back on when you're ready to move on to the next stop.  If you have a Navigo card, which I talk about here, you get a reduced price. (Be sure to show the card and ask for the discount.) Price for a 1-day pass is 12 euros (8 with a Navigo), for a 2-day pass is 16 euros (11 with a Navigo), and for a 5-day pass is 19 euros (13 with a Navigo).  All information for the Batobus you can find here.

Comments

[Jozee Pizzurro]

Lovely pictures from the River Seine.

[Jozee Pizzurro]

You did it again. Wonderful descriptions to go along with the fabulous photo's. I can hardly wait to get on the Batobus on the River Seine and see it through your eyes. By the way, will you be putting your blogs in book form? I would the first in line to purchase that book.