Best Cruise Stop Excursions in Paris: Making the Most of Your Port Day

Are you on a Northern Europe cruise, wishing to visit Paris?

The good news is that you can.

The bad news is that you’ll only have a few hours in Paris, as the bus round trip takes about 6 hours.

Paris’s Port of Call, Le Havre

Le Havre, located on France’s northern coast in Normandy, serves as the primary cruise port of call for passengers wishing to visit Paris.

Despite being approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the capital, many cruise lines market Le Havre as the “Gateway to Paris,” offering excursions to the City of Light.

The journey from port to Paris typically takes 2-3 hours each way by bus or train. This is why you should plan carefully to maximize this limited time.

Organized Shore Excursion or Independent Travel?

While this distance can be a real challenge for cruise passengers hoping to experience Paris, organized shore excursions efficiently handle transportation logistics, allowing travelers to make the most out of their time.

If you’re an experienced traveler, knowing how to catch a train, how to buy tickets and book experiences online, you’ll probably be fine doing your own thing. Speaking some French would also help you move faster.

On the other hand, booking a cruise stop excursion to Paris would allow you to relax and enjoy it to the full, without any worries other than taking photos of all of those amazing landmarks.

Best Paris Shore Excursions from Le Havre

Here’s a list of the best Paris shore excursions from Le Havre.

All you need to do is to click through the links below, pick your date, and then book your trip. You’ll get all necessary details from the operator of each activity.

Should you book your Paris cruise stop trip from this article, the operator will pay me a small compensation for my work of researching and putting together this list, at no cost to you.

1 – Deluxe Paris Shore Excursion with Seine Cruise -> click here for details

A Seine cruise is the best way to experience Paris when you only have a few hours on your hands.

This excursion includes the following:

• Pick up and drop off at the port
• In Paris: professional licensed local tour guide
• Modern, air-conditioned shared bus transportation
• 1-hour river cruise on the Seine passing by Notre Dame, Eiffel, Louvre (water levels permitting)
• Complimentary typical French pastries baked by the organizers’ team
• Toast with French sparkling wine at the end of the tour
• Guaranteed return to ship on time
• Full refund if your cruise ship cannot dock
• Free time for a snack or souvenir shopping at Champs Elysees (subject to ship docking times&traffic)

Check out your desired date and book your excursion here.

As you can see from the photo below, a boat trip on the river provides you with excellent views of the Eiffel Tower and not only.

 

2 – Le Havre to Paris: Eiffel, Champs-Elysees, River Cruise & Extras -> click here for details

This is another shore excursion that takes you on a river cruise.

Here’s what’s included:

• Guaranteed return to ship on time
• Full refund if your ship cannot dock
• Restroom stops during transfers and the tour
• Modern, air-conditioned shared bus transportation
• Pick up and drop off at cruise ship port of Le Havre
• For shared tours: English-speaking tour guide *please note the guide only joins the bus in Paris
• 1-hour scenic Seine River Cruise with audio commentary on board
• Free time for a snack or souvenir shopping (duration is subject to traffic and ship docking times)
• 24/7 Customer support, assistance with other arrangements and tours
• English speaking hosts welcoming our passengers at the port
• Complimentary typical French pastries baked by our team with love
• Toast with French sparkling wine at the end of the tour

Check out the latest price and the available dates here.

3 – All-in-One Paris from Le Havre Shared Round-trip Transfer -> click here for details

This is a “Paris on your own” trip. You get the return air-conditioned bus transfer Le Havre – Arc de Triomphe Paris, and 4-5 hours to do whatever you wish in the city.

You can choose to board one of the river cruises, to visit a couple of museums, to enjoy a meal at one of the many brasseries, or simply to walk along the beautiful streets to take photos.

Your driver will wait for you at Arc de Triomphe to take you back to Le Havre.

Click here to check out the details and to book your date.

 

4 – Private Tour of Paris in a Convertible Citroën 2CV -> click here for details

How would you like to visit Paris in a vintage convertible?

The driver will take you from a location you choose when you book, and will show you the main things to see in Paris. Here’s what you’ll pass by:

• Place de la Concorde
• Hôtel de Crillon and the obelisk from Louxor
• Champs-Elysees
• Arc de Triomphe
• Tour Eiffel / Invalides
• The Pont d’Iéna
• Avenue de Suffren
• Pont Alexandre III
• Grand Palais
• La Madeleine, the church of high-society weddings (as in the novel “Bel Ami” by Guy de Maupassant)
• Palais Garnier
• Place-Vendome
• Rue Saint Honore, the street of fashion and design, but also where Molière was born in 1622
• Palais-Royal, the former residence of Cardinal Richelieu and home to the Ministry of Culture and the Council of State, with a beautiful 17th-century garden
• Louvre Museum
• Musee d’Orsay
• Assemblee Nationale

Click here to see more details and to book your tour.

5 – Paris One-Hour Private Photo Shoot -> Click here for details

Why not take advantage of your cruise and get a professional photo shoot in Paris?

Here’s what you get:

• 30 professionally edited, high-quality photos sent by email via WeTransfer
• On average +150 unedited images from your photo shoot, delivered via email through WeTransfer
• 1-hour stroll and unforgettable photo poses around your chosen iconic location
• Tips for an enjoyable photo session and varied poses
• Warm-hearted professional photographer

Not included but available upon request: Decoration for wedding proposal: LED ‘Marry Me’ letters, red carpet, sparklers, roses, LED candles, Champagne bottle

Click here to see more details and to book your photo shoot.

Iconic Landmarks: The Must-Sees

Let’s see now what kind of landmarks to add to your bucket list.

Eiffel Tower

No visit to Paris is complete without taking a photo or three of the Eiffel Tower.

Unfortunately, the long waiting times make it difficult to climb to the top while on a cruise stop excursion. Besides, you need to buy your tickets online in advance.

There’s no skip the line, regardless of the type of ticket you buy.

I’d skip this and enjoy other things during such a short visit.

The best you can do is to wander the streets around the Eiffel Tower to capture some photos. Also, consider walking to the Bir Hakeim bridge to enjoy even more photo opportunities featuring this iconic landmark.

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral

While interior access remains limited following the 2019 fire, the exterior façade and surrounding Île de la Cité area are still worth exploring. The access is free, but the lines are long, so you may want to skip this visit, in order to enjoy more of Paris.

Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie

The nearby Sainte-Chapelle’s stunning stained glass windows make an excellent alternative. You can buy a combo-ticket for La Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle.

Click here to see more details and to book your guided tour of Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle. Just be careful when you pick your time, not to miss the return to your cruise ship.

The Louvre: Home to thousands of masterpieces including the Mona Lisa, this museum requires strategic planning. Focus on a specific wing or collection rather than attempting to see everything. The museum’s “Masterpieces Trail” highlights key works for time-conscious visitors.

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Montmartre is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris. You can easily spend 1-2 hours walking along cobblestone streets, enjoying the Paris panorama from Butte de Montmartre, or visiting the Sacre-Coeur basilica.

Canal Saint-Martin

Escape the tourist crowds with a stroll along this picturesque waterway lined with boutiques, cafés, and locals enjoying the Parisian atmosphere.

Jardins des Tuilleries

These manicured gardens feature beautiful sculptures, fountains, and the opportunity to watch Parisians enjoying their leisure time.