Paris on a river cruise: a self-guided city game from the Seine quay

Yes, Paris works well on a river cruise; Seine cruises usually begin or end here with overnight stays. Ships mostly moor at Port de Grenelle or Port de Javel Bas in the 15th arrondissement. Our scavenger hunt starts at the Eiffel Tower, about 1 km on foot from Port de Grenelle or one RER C stop from Javel. It takes about 3 hours and ends at Notre-Dame. Verdict: easy, with RER C running straight back towards both quays.

From Port de Grenelle or Port de Javel Bas to the Eiffel Tower

1. Check your cruise documents for the quay. Most Seine ships use Port de Grenelle by the Pont de Bir-Hakeim or Port de Javel Bas on Quai André Citroën, and some lines only learn their berth on the day, so follow the meeting point in your travel documents.
2. From Port de Grenelle, take the ramp next to the port sign up to the Pont de Bir-Hakeim and walk along the river on Quai Branly to the Eiffel Tower, about 1 km away.
3. From Port de Javel Bas, about 2 miles (3 km) from the tower, take RER C from Javel one stop to Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel, on the west side of the tower. Allow about 15-20 minutes door to door.
4. A taxi from either quay to the Eiffel Tower takes about 10 minutes. Once there, open the World City Trail app and start the hunt.

A Paris river cruise day, hour by hour

1. 0:00Off the ship and on foot, by RER C or by taxi to the Eiffel Tower.
2. 0:20Start the scavenger hunt at the Eiffel Tower, then the Trocadéro, the Pont de l'Alma and the Pont Alexandre III.
3. 1:10The Petit Palais and Grand Palais, the Place de la Concorde, the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Tuileries Garden.
4. 2:00The Palais-Royal, the Louvre and the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
5. 2:50The Pont Neuf, the Conciergerie and the Sainte-Chapelle, then the finish at Notre-Dame.
6. 3:30RER C from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame back to Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel or Javel, and on board at least an hour before all-aboard time.

Tips for Paris when time is short

• Getting back from Notre-Dame is simple: RER C runs from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame via Musée d'Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l'Alma and Champ de Mars – Tour Eiffel to Javel, straight back towards both quays.
• Check which quay your ship uses: Port de Grenelle is within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, Port de Javel Bas is better reached by RER C.
• Some lines do not know their berth in advance and may move ships during the day; always follow the meeting point in your travel documents.
• The route is long, about 6 km, but flat, following the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to the islands; RER C runs parallel along the left bank if you need to cut a section short.
• If your ship stays overnight, split the hunt over two days: pause after the Louvre and continue the next morning, as the ticket has no time limit.
• No entry tickets are needed, as every stop is seen from outside, so you do not lose time in queues.

Why a self-guided game works on a port day

• You start when you step off the ship, not at a fixed tour time, and nobody waits for a group.
• Everyone in your party can follow on their own phone with one booking reference.
• You can stop for lunch or a swim and carry on later, and end the game whenever you need to head back.
• Google Maps guides you from stop to stop, and the game needs no entry tickets.

Paris river cruise: questions

Pick your Paris game

Port and transport details checked in November 2026. Docking positions and timetables change, so always check your ship’s all-aboard time and your cruise line’s port information before you set off.