Paris: Seine Cruise and Macaron Tasting by the Eiffel Tower

The best part is the contrast: Paris’s grand riverside landmarks pass by from a boat, then you get two macarons from a neighborhood shop near the Eiffel Tower. I like the one-hour length for a quick city overview, and the freedom to choose when to use your macaron voucher during the shop’s opening hours.

The main catch is timing. You visit the cruise and the bakery separately, and queues for the boat can stretch during busy periods. Plan the bakery stop before it closes at 6:30 p.m., and leave room for a wait at the pier.

Key points to know before you go

• The cruise lasts one hour and passes Paris landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre.
• Two assorted macarons are included, collected at MAKDAMIA, 13 Rue de Monttessuy.
• The cruise and bakery are separate stops, and you make your own way to each address.
• Boat departures vary from 30 minutes to one hour apart, with longer waits possible in peak season.
• Bring a charged smartphone and headphones if you want to use the audio commentary.
• The $21 price is appealing for a short outing, especially if you want a river view and a small local food stop in one booking.

A river view with a sweet stop

This is a compact Paris outing rather than a guided tour with a set route on foot. You get a one-hour cruise with Bateaux Parisiens, then two assorted macarons from MAKDAMIA, a shop a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. The two parts are close enough to pair conveniently, but they are not joined by a guide or a group meeting point.

That flexibility can be a real plus. You can fit the cruise around the rest of your day, then collect your macarons any time during the shop’s opening hours on your booked date. But it also means you need to manage the timing yourself. There is no single place where everyone gathers to start both activities.

The experience is listed at $21 per person. That is a reasonable price for a one-hour river trip plus a small bakery treat, particularly if you are short on time or want an easy break between sightseeing stops. Think of it as a light introduction to the city, not a full meal or an in-depth guided visit.

Finding the pier and bakery

The cruise leaves from Port de la Bourdonnais, pier 3, under the Bateaux Parisiens name. The macaron tasting is at MAKDAMIA, 13 Rue de Monttessuy, in the 7th arrondissement. Both stops are near the Eiffel Tower, and the addresses are provided separately because you visit them on your own.

Check your cruise ticket for the departure time. Boats run at intervals that vary through the day, from about every 30 minutes to every hour. In peak season, there may also be a queue before boarding, so arriving with no spare time can turn a relaxed outing into a dash.

The bakery has its own schedule: the macaron tasting is available daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The voucher is valid only on the date of your cruise, but you can use it at any time during those shop hours. If you plan to take an evening cruise, collect the macarons first. The shop’s closing time comes earlier than the activity’s general listed window of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You are responsible for getting to each stop, so check both addresses before setting out and keep your booking details handy. The instructions and tickets are designed to make the two-part plan easy to manage, but it is still a self-guided activity.

One hour on the Seine

A river cruise is a useful way to see several famous sights without walking between them. From the water, Paris’s landmarks line the banks in a different order and at a slower pace. The route includes views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre, all landmarks that can take much longer to visit individually.

The boat trip lasts about an hour. That is enough time to get a broad sense of the city’s riverfront, but it is not a stop-and-explore tour. You remain on board, so don’t expect to visit the cathedral or enter the Louvre as part of this ticket. The value is in seeing their riverside settings and getting a fresh angle on familiar Paris sights.

Where you sit can shape the trip. One useful tip is to choose a seat on the far side when you enter, as that may give you better views along the route. If the weather is sunny and clear, the open upper deck can be a good choice for unobstructed sightlines. On a rainy day, or if you prefer shelter, you can sit inside.

The boats hold up to 300 people in good weather and 120 in rainy weather, when capacity is reduced to comply with rules. That is a sizeable boat, not an intimate ride. During busy periods, expect the boarding area to feel crowded and allow extra time. One-hour waits have happened, so don’t schedule another fixed appointment right after the cruise.

Boat departures vary, and the time printed on your ticket is the detail to follow. Outside food and drinks are not allowed on board, so treat the included macarons as a separate bakery stop rather than snacks to bring onto the boat. The boats are non-smoking. Animals are not permitted, except for animals accompanying visitors with disabilities.

A simple audio guide, with a backup plan

The cruise is described as informative, and audio commentary can help you connect the sights with what you are seeing. For the audio website, bring a charged smartphone and headphones. They are listed as items to bring, and headphones also make it easier to listen in a shared space.

Keep your expectations practical: digital commentary may not always match your location perfectly. If the audio does not sync well, you can still enjoy the river views without it. I would treat the commentary as a bonus, not the main reason to book.

The trip works well as a visual introduction, especially if you are new to Paris or have only one day to get your bearings. It is less suited to anyone who wants a detailed live explanation throughout the ride. No guide names are provided, and this activity does not include a named guide or a walking tour.

Two macarons at MAKDAMIA

The food portion is deliberately small: each person receives two assorted French macarons. They come from MAKDAMIA, a nearby neighborhood bakery, rather than from the boat. The tasting gives the outing a local stop and a taste of French pastry without turning it into a full food tour.

The shop is close to the Eiffel Tower, making the voucher easy to pair with sightseeing in the area. You can visit any time during its opening hours on the tour date, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. That window gives you flexibility, but the voucher cannot be saved for another day.

Expect a straightforward collection rather than a seated tasting with a long explanation of ingredients or technique. The two macarons are included; any extra food or drink is not. If you have a large appetite or want a broader sampling of French sweets, you will need to buy more separately.

The bakery can be busy, and service may feel a little disorganized when there is a crowd. Staff are described as friendly, but it is sensible to allow a few minutes for the stop rather than assume you can walk in and out instantly. The macarons themselves have earned particular praise for their quality, and the small portion keeps the outing focused and easy to fit into a day.

What the $21 price gets you

At $21 per person, the main value is the combination. You get a one-hour cruise and two macarons in one booking, with both stops close to the Eiffel Tower. If you already planned to take a Seine cruise, the pastry adds a modest extra pleasure. If you were considering buying the two separately, this package offers a convenient way to bundle them.

The price does not include a meal, drinks, transport to the pier, or hotel transfers. Nor does it promise a private boat, a small group, or a specialist guide. That is why I would judge it as a low-frills sightseeing option with a sweet extra, not a premium cruise or a culinary tour.

The most valuable part may be the time saved. A one-hour cruise lets you see several landmarks from the river without building a long walking route, and the bakery stop is nearby. For a short visit, that can be a welcome balance of sightseeing and rest. For a longer stay, you may prefer to book a cruise at the time that best suits your plans and explore Paris’s food scene more broadly.

You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Those terms are useful if your plans may shift, but check the selected date and cruise time before you go. The macaron voucher is tied to that same tour date.

Who will enjoy this outing most

I would recommend this for first-time visitors who want an easy overview of the riverfront, families looking for a short activity, or anyone with a busy itinerary who would welcome an hour off their feet. The cruise offers a change of pace, and the bakery stop gives you a small local treat without taking over the day.

It can also work for a one-day visit. A short river trip is a practical way to see several major sights from one vantage point, while the macarons make the outing feel more personal than a plain sightseeing ride. If you are taking the cruise with family, the boat can also offer a seated rest between more active plans.

I would think twice if you dislike queues, need a quiet small-group setting, or want a tightly guided experience. The boat can carry hundreds of people, wait times can rise in peak season, and the audio commentary may not always keep pace with the route. The two stops also require you to keep track of your own timing.

For the smoothest outing, check your ticket’s departure time, aim to board with extra time to spare, and collect your macarons before the shop closes. Bring headphones and a charged phone if you want the audio, and keep the bakery and pier addresses accessible on your device.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want a short, good-value Seine cruise near the Eiffel Tower and like the idea of adding two quality macarons without planning a separate food stop. The one-hour ride gives you a useful look at the city from the water, while the bakery voucher adds flexibility.

Skip it if you expect a private or deeply guided tour, or if a long boarding queue would spoil your day. With realistic expectations, this is a simple Paris pairing: river views, famous landmarks, and a small sweet finish.

FAQ

How long is the Seine cruise?

The cruise lasts one hour.

Which landmarks can I see from the boat?

The cruise passes landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre.

How many macarons are included?

Each person receives two assorted French macarons.

Where do I go for the cruise?

Go to Port de la Bourdonnais, pier 3, for Bateaux Parisiens.

Where is the macaron tasting?

The tasting takes place at MAKDAMIA, 13 Rue de Monttessuy, 75007 Paris.

When can I collect the macarons?

The tasting is available daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The voucher is valid on your tour date and can be used any time during the shop’s opening hours.

What should I bring?

Bring headphones and a charged smartphone.