Paris is a place that really is dependent on your tastes. I went on this particular trip with a large group of people--about half of them leaving the city telling everyone it was the best place they'd ever been, and the other half saying they hated it and wished they could have spent more of that time in another city.

But whichever side of that argument they fell on, pretty much all of them agreed on one thing: the boat ride down the Seine was one of the best, if not the best, things they did while in Europe. I think that Paris is a city like Barcelona, where you really need your own time and pace to appreciate the city as you see fit. If you get rushed through to all the museums and the sights, you really do miss something, and as it's a busy and crowded city anyway, it begins to become a hassle rather than an adventure. But whatever kind of trip you do find yourself on when you reach Paris, this one bit is something you can enjoy at your leisure.

There are lots of boats and tours to choose from; I would recommend checking the Paris Tourist website for prices and times. The one we took left just after sunset across from the Eiffel Tower. I rushed onto the boat after taking a frantic roll of film at the Eiffel Tower, sat down with a sigh, and realized I'd not sat down in almost 20 hours. And then I looked up as the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower began to light up and the lights began to glow on the water up and down the river, with soft French music playing softly while people loaded onto the boat, and then I did something I almost never do: I put the lens cap back on my camera, put it in my bag, and leaned my head on my hands to enjoy the ride. Some of my friends came back from that trip with stunning photos from that boat ride, but I don't regret my stopping to enjoy it for a moment.

It's a quiet 1-hour ride where you get to set yourself apart from the bustle of the city for a moment and watch it in luxuriant passing. The buildings you pass along the way are stunning, with what could only be French architecture; the music plays softly; and you get to see the locals walking arm-in-arm along the water's edge without having to edge past them. It was stunning, and something that a simple 500-word review could never do justice. If you're in Paris, don't miss this bit. It's something you won't ever forget.

Still, it is worth taking a look at Paris from the Seine. Great views of the buildings lining the river and, of course, a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower from the river. The dock was just below the Eiffel Tower, so there was a chance to do both a cruise and a climb up the tower.

This trip was absolutely beautiful. We were cruising the river just as the sun was setting, and the city lights were beginning to shine. We saw Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, La Sarbonne University, Invalides, and many other historical buildings. The inside of the boat was heated and had large windows while the outside was subjected to the chilly air as the boat moved along the river. Despite the chilly air, I spent much of the cruise outside with my video camera filming the sights. I highly recommend seeing Paris this way.

We departed from the dock and headed east and went around the island where Notre Dame is built. After going around to the back side of Notre Dame, then we went over to the west to view some of the famous sights of Paris.

As we traveled down the river, a taped recording described in English and French what we were looking at on either side. The boat was covered so we could be inside where it was warm and dry, but I was also able to go outside to take pictures.

This tour took us past the Musee du Louve, Orsay, and L'Orangery, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Assemblee Nationale, Hotel des Invalides (Napolean's Tomb), and Tour Eiffel. We went at a leisurely pace and felt very relaxed as we floated down the river. It was a change from the fast paced Metro or walking around the city dodging cars as we crossed the street.

Although this is a "touristy" thing to do, we thought it was very worthwhile and would recommend it as an alternative to other transportation in order to see many sights at one time.

The cruise we took began at the ultimate in Paris’ sights, La Tour Eiffel itself. A quick glance up at the tower (which we’d already had a look at), and we were ushered onto the boat, a large one with wooden benches (peeling paint and all, but with a quaintness about it which was quite beguiling). It was a wonderfully sunny day, and the hour-long cruise remains one of my best memories of Paris.

The cruise took us along very interesting territory - we saw, on either side of the river, the Eiffel Tower , the Palais Royale and the Louvre ; the golden statue of the flame (a replica of the flame held by the Statue of Liberty - to commemorate French-US friendship); L’ Hôtel des Invalides , L’ Obelisque Egyptienne, Saints-Chapelle, Nôtre Dame, the Musée d’Orsay , and more. Name a Parisian attraction, and chances are you’ll be able to see it from the boat you’re on.

The view’s gorgeous, with even the bridges being works of art. One of the most ornate bridges is Pont Alexandre III , inaugurated by the Tsar Nicholas II. It’s heavily carved, with huge human figures in the center, and a fair amount of gilt. The oldest is Pont Neuf (strangely enough; `neuf’ means `new’!), and the most romantic, or so they say, is Pont Marie . It’s said that if, when passing under it for the first time, you close your eyes and make a wish, it’ll come true. I wished that the camera I’d lost the day before would reappear by magic - but it didn’t, so there!

Near Pont Sully , the boat rounded the curve of an island and headed back. At the turn is a house which used to be once inhabited by Chopin, Mozart and Goethe (presumably at different times?). Further on, at Pont de L’Alma (built to commemorate a French victory over the Russians during the Crimean War), a soldier, called the Zouave, has been carved on one side of the river. The Zouave is generally used as a watermark - the highest the water has been is up to his chin.

On the whole, it's a neat way of seeing Paris - historic, interesting, and worth every franc you spend on it.