Spring
- trousers or jeans;
- a T-shirt or blouse;
- a light sweater;
- a jacket;
- comfortable shoes.
Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches rules
Live ratings checked 16 Oct 2026
- CasualSightseeing cruises, day or night
- Smart-casualBateaux Mouches at lunch
- Smart dressBateaux Mouches evening dining
- FormalBateaux Parisiens 8:30 p.m. dinner
What Should You Wear on a Seine River Cruise?
For a standard sightseeing cruise, there is usually no special dress code. Wear the comfortable clothes you would use for a day of sightseeing in Paris and dress for the weather.
A dinner cruise can be very different. Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches, two of the best-known dinner-cruise operators, require or expect smarter clothing for their evening dinners, and some casual items can get you refused at the gangway. Here is what that means in practice.
The short answer
- Sightseeing cruise: casual clothes are fine, day or night.
- Lunch cruise: smart-casual is the safe choice.
- Evening dinner cruise: dress smartly, and check your operator's list of banned items.
- Premium dinner or a special occasion: lean towards elegant.
Booking the 8:30 p.m. Dinner? Pack Something Formal
Pick a date to see the dinner services and menu options.
Port de la Bourdonnais · Eiffel Tower
Formal dress at 8:30 p.m.
Port de la Bourdonnais · Eiffel Tower
Paris: 3-Course Dinner Cruise on the Seine with Live Music
Why this one: the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise is the one where clothes matter most. For the 8:30 p.m. service the operator requires formal dress and turns away jeans, sports shoes, shorts and caps, a stricter list than the Bateaux Mouches one. It is rated 4.7/5 from 8,948 reviews on GetYourGuide and boards at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
A glass-roofed restaurant boat with a three- or four-course menu chosen from set options and a live singer through the evening.
- Boards at Port de la Bourdonnais, beneath the Eiffel Tower
- 8:30 p.m. service: no jeans, sports shoes, shorts or caps
- Menu options and drinks change the price
The calendar sells both the earlier service and the 8:30 p.m. one. The formal rule is published for the 8:30 p.m. dinner, so check which service you are booking before you pick your outfit.
Is There a Dress Code for a Seine Sightseeing Cruise?
Normally, no. A one-hour sightseeing cruise is an informal tourist trip.
Before you board you may have spent the day:
- visiting museums;
- walking around Paris;
- climbing the Eiffel Tower (a reserved Eiffel Tower ticket is rated 4.7 from 7,742 reviews, from $47);
- exploring Montmartre;
- travelling with children.
Nobody expects you to change just to board a sightseeing boat. Practical clothes matter more than elegant ones. Think:
- jeans;
- trousers;
- shorts in warm weather;
- a T-shirt;
- a sweater;
- a casual dress;
- trainers;
- comfortable walking shoes.
Your main concern is usually temperature and wind, not formality.
What should you wear on a daytime Seine cruise?
The same clothes you would wear for sightseeing around Paris that day. By season:
Summer
- a dress;
- shorts;
- lightweight trousers;
- a shirt or T-shirt;
- comfortable shoes;
- sunglasses.
Autumn
- trousers;
- a sweater;
- a light coat or jacket;
- closed shoes.
Winter
- a warm coat;
- a sweater;
- a scarf;
- gloves;
- warm footwear.
Even when Paris feels comfortable on the streets, the Seine can feel cooler. A moving boat is exposed to the wind, especially on an open upper deck.
A classic day cruise: the Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise, 4.4 from 6,150 reviews, from $19. Come as you are.
Around the River in Paris
A sightseeing cruise slots easily into a day at the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, or an afternoon in Montmartre, and an evening on the water pairs well with dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. These are the Paris tours and tickets travellers are booking right now.
Pоwered by GetYourGuide
Is It Cold on the River, and What Should You Wear at Night?
It can feel colder than you expect, and a night sightseeing cruise still needs no formal clothes.
Is it cold on a Seine River cruise?
The chill is most noticeable:
- after sunset;
- in spring;
- in autumn;
- in winter;
- on an open upper deck.
The difference does not have to be dramatic. Even a light wind can make an hour sitting outside feel much cooler than walking around Paris. For an evening sightseeing cruise, bring one extra layer.
What should you wear on a Seine cruise at night?
On a normal night sightseeing cruise you still do not need to dress formally. Wear whatever suits the weather. A typical outfit:
Women
Jeans or trousers, a top and a jacket.
Men
Trousers or jeans, a shirt, polo or sweater, and a jacket.
Trainers are fine on a standard sightseeing cruise. Sailing after dark does not turn the boat into a formal dinner, and that distinction matters: a night sightseeing cruise is not a dinner cruise. If you are still choosing between the two, our guide to the Paris Seine river cruise at night compares them.
Casual clothes welcome: the Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise, 4.3 from 6,316 reviews, from $20, or the Evening River Cruise with Music, 4.4 from 26,102 reviews, from $29. Both are sightseeing cruises, not restaurant boats.
Is There a Dress Code for a Seine Dinner Cruise?
Often, yes. The big operators' evening restaurant cruises expect noticeably smarter clothes than their sightseeing boats.
The two operators below publish different rules, so check the exact one you book instead of assuming every Seine dinner cruise works the same way.
The Bateaux Parisiens dress code
For its 8:30 p.m. Dinner Cruise, Bateaux Parisiens states that formal dress is required and lists these as not allowed:
- jeans;
- sports shoes;
- shorts;
- caps.
That is stricter than many travellers expect. You do not need to dress extravagantly, but you do need to leave the obvious sightseeing clothes behind. We would wear:
Men: trousers, a shirt and smart shoes.
Women: a dress, smart trousers or a skirt, an elegant top and smart footwear.
Book it: Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise, 4.7 from 8,948 reviews, from $133.
The Bateaux Mouches dress code
Bateaux Mouches treats lunch and the evening differently. At lunch, smart-casual dress is appreciated. In the evening, smart dress is required, and these are not accepted for evening dining:
- sportswear;
- flip-flops;
- Bermuda shorts;
- baseball caps.
Its dinner menu pages go further and state a formal dress code, and the management reserves the right to refuse access to respect the other dinner guests. Proper trousers and smart footwear are the safest choice.
Book it: Bateaux Mouches 4-course dinner cruise, 4.5 from 4,745 reviews, from $132.
For every dinner boat compared on menu, pier and price, see our guide to the best Paris dinner cruises, and for the two big operators side by side, Bateaux Mouches vs Bateaux Parisiens.
What Does "Smart Dress" Mean on a Paris Dinner Cruise?
Think of it as dressing for a good restaurant in Paris.
You do not normally need:
- black tie;
- a tuxedo;
- an evening gown;
- a cocktail dress.
A safe standard looks like this:
For women
- a dress;
- smart trousers;
- a skirt;
- a blouse;
- an elegant top;
- a smart jumpsuit;
- clean, polished shoes or boots.
For men
- smart trousers;
- chinos;
- a collared shirt;
- a polo shirt;
- a jacket or blazer if you like;
- smart shoes.
A tie is generally unnecessary unless you want to dress more formally.
What You Can and Cannot Wear on a Dinner Cruise
The questions people ask most, item by item. On a sightseeing boat, none of these rules apply.
Can you wear jeans on a Paris dinner cruise?
It depends on the operator, which is why generic "smart casual is fine" advice is risky. Bateaux Parisiens says jeans are not allowed on its 8:30 p.m. Dinner Cruise, so even dark, expensive jeans are a bad idea on the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise at that hour.
Bateaux Mouches asks for smart evening dress and bans sportswear, flip-flops, Bermuda shorts and baseball caps; its list does not mention jeans. If you want one outfit that works on both of the big dinner cruises, choose proper trousers.
Can you wear trainers on a Seine dinner cruise?
Check the operator. On the 8:30 p.m. Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise, sports shoes are not allowed. On sightseeing cruises, trainers are normal.
A useful rule: trainers for the sightseeing boat, smarter shoes for a formal dinner. Elegant flats, boots or dressier shoes all work, and nobody needs uncomfortable high heels.
Can you wear shorts?
On a summer sightseeing cruise, yes. For an evening dinner, we would avoid them. Bateaux Parisiens bans shorts at its 8:30 p.m. dinner, and Bateaux Mouches does not accept Bermuda shorts for evening dining.
If your day pairs sightseeing in shorts with a formal dinner cruise, leave time to go back to your hotel and change.
Are flip-flops allowed?
For sightseeing, generally yes, if that is what you are comfortable in. For dinner, do not risk it: Bateaux Mouches lists flip-flops among the items not accepted for evening dining. Even where an operator says nothing about them, flip-flops are too casual for a premium evening dinner.
What about sportswear?
Leave it for the sightseeing boat. Bateaux Mouches does not accept sportswear for evening dining, so we would avoid:
- tracksuits;
- sports shorts;
- gym clothes;
- football shirts;
- athletic outfits;
- obvious leisurewear.
What about baseball caps?
Take them off for dinner, or better, leave them at the hotel. Bateaux Parisiens bans caps at its 8:30 p.m. dinner and Bateaux Mouches does not accept baseball caps for evening dining. On daytime sightseeing cruises, caps are fine.
Do you need a jacket for a dinner cruise?
Neither big operator lists a jacket as a requirement. A blazer looks right on a premium dinner cruise, but this is not a black-tie evening. Smart trousers, a collared shirt and smart shoes will normally look appropriate, and a blazer makes the outfit more polished. In colder months you will probably have a coat as well.
Do men need a tie?
Normally, no. The two operators' published rules ask for smart or formal clothes and list banned casual items, but neither mentions a tie. Wear one if you are celebrating, if you enjoy dressing formally, or if the dinner is part of a particularly special evening. Otherwise a good shirt is enough.
Do women need to wear a dress?
No. A dress is an easy option, but smart trousers with a blouse or an elegant top work just as well. The aim is not to look as if you have come straight from the gym, the beach or a very casual sightseeing day, and a simple outfit can look just right.
Can you wear heels?
Yes, but you do not need to. Very high heels can be impractical, because you will:
- walk to the pier;
- use ramps;
- board the boat;
- possibly climb stairs;
- walk back through Paris afterwards.
Smart flats, low heels or elegant boots are much easier. Comfort still matters.
Lunch Cruise vs Dinner Cruise Dress Code
Lunch is generally less formal than dinner.
Bateaux Mouches puts it plainly: smart-casual is appreciated at lunchtime, and smart dress is required in the evening. A lunch cruise is often one stop in a full sightseeing day, while an evening dinner cruise is sold as a restaurant meal and a night out.
For lunch, something like chinos and a polo, or a casual dress and flats, is usually fine. For an evening dinner, go one step smarter.
A lunch cruise to compare: the Bateaux Parisiens lunch cruise from the Eiffel Tower, 4.7 from 5,401 reviews, from $92. The Bateaux Mouches lunch cruise is not sold on GetYourGuide.
What to Wear on Other Kinds of Seine Cruise
What should you wear on a champagne cruise?
A normal champagne sightseeing cruise generally does not require formal dress. We would choose smart casual because it suits the occasion:
Women: a casual dress, trousers and a blouse, or smart jeans depending on the cruise.
Men: chinos or jeans with a shirt or polo.
"Champagne cruise" is a broad label, though. If yours turns out to be a restaurant cruise or a premium evening event, check that operator's rules. Our champagne cruise guide explains the different types.
No dress code: the live-guided cruise with Champagne, 4.4 from 448 reviews, from $37.
What should you wear on a sunset cruise?
A standard sunset sightseeing cruise has no special dress code. Temperature is the bigger issue: even after a warm afternoon it can turn noticeably cooler once the sun goes down. Bring:
- a light jacket;
- a cardigan;
- a sweater;
- a scarf in cooler seasons.
That matters most if you want to stay on the open deck for photographs. Our Paris sunset cruise guide covers timing.
Casual is fine: the day or sunset cruise with a drink and dessert, 4.3 from 4,776 reviews, from $24.
What should you wear on a winter Seine cruise?
Layers. A good winter sightseeing outfit:
- a thermal or warm base layer;
- a sweater;
- a coat;
- a scarf;
- gloves;
- warm shoes.
You may spend part of the cruise indoors, but the clearest views are often outside, and you do not want to skip the open deck because you dressed for a heated museum. For a winter dinner cruise, wear smart clothes under your coat.
What should you wear in summer?
For a daytime sightseeing cruise: lightweight clothes, breathable fabrics, sunglasses and comfortable footwear. A hat helps on an exposed upper deck.
For an evening dinner cruise, hot weather is no excuse for beach clothes. Even when Paris is very warm, the premium dinner operators can still turn away shorts, flip-flops and sportswear. Choose lightweight smart clothes instead:
Men: lightweight trousers and a linen or cotton shirt.
Women: a summer dress, a skirt or lightweight smart trousers.
Going Straight From Sightseeing to a Dinner Cruise
A very common Paris plan: Louvre → Eiffel Tower → dinner cruise, without going back to the hotel.
The easiest answer is to wear something in the day that also works in the evening. For example:
Women
- comfortable smart trousers;
- a blouse;
- smart flats;
- a light jacket.
Men
- chinos;
- a collared shirt;
- comfortable but smart shoes.
That lets you walk around Paris all day without arriving at dinner in gym clothes. If you are spending the morning on a guided Louvre masterpieces tour (4.7 from 7,023 reviews, from $66) and your dinner operator bans jeans or trainers, check before you leave the hotel in the morning.
Can you bring a change of clothes?
Of course, but carrying smart clothes around Paris all day is not always convenient. If your hotel is reasonably close, going back to change makes sense, especially before a premium late dinner cruise. It also gives you a chance to:
- rest;
- freshen up;
- change shoes;
- drop off shopping bags.
For a special evening, that is usually more enjoyable than rushing to the pier after eight hours of sightseeing.
Refused Boarding, Children and Special Occasions
Can you be refused boarding for the wrong clothes?
Potentially, yes. With some operators this is a rule, not a style tip. Bateaux Mouches states that its management reserves the right to refuse access in order to respect its other dinner guests, and Bateaux Parisiens publishes a list of clothing not allowed at its formal 8:30 p.m. dinner. If you have paid a substantial amount for dinner, there is no reason to take the risk: dress one level smarter than you think you need.
Do children have to dress formally?
Operators rarely expect young children to dress like adults at a formal event. On a premium dinner cruise, though, we would still avoid:
- sportswear;
- beach clothes;
- flip-flops;
- very casual athletic outfits.
Something neat and comfortable is right. If in doubt, ask your operator.
What should you wear for a proposal or anniversary cruise?
This is the occasion to dress up beyond the minimum. Not because the operator demands it, but because:
- you will probably take photographs;
- the cruise is part of the occasion;
- it makes the evening feel more special.
For a proposal, think about what you are doing before and after the cruise too. A formal outfit can be perfect on board and awkward for several hours of walking beforehand.
Sightseeing vs Dinner Cruise: Dress Code Summary
| Cruise type | What to wear | Example on GetYourGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Day sightseeing cruise | Casual | Bateaux Mouches sightseeing cruise, from $19 |
| Night sightseeing cruise | Casual, plus a layer for the weather | Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise, from $20 |
| Sunset cruise | Casual or smart casual | Day or sunset cruise with a drink and dessert, from $24 |
| Champagne sightseeing cruise | Smart casual is nice, usually not required | Live-guided cruise with Champagne, from $37 |
| Lunch cruise | Smart casual | Bateaux Parisiens lunch cruise, from $92 |
| Early dinner cruise | Smart or smart casual, depending on the operator | The earlier service on the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise |
| Premium evening dinner cruise | Smart to formal | The 8:30 p.m. Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise, from $133 |
| Proposal or anniversary cruise | Smart or elegant | Any of the dinner cruises above |
Safe outfit ideas
If you are unsure, these combinations are hard to get wrong.
Sightseeing cruise
Women: jeans, a top, trainers and a jacket.
Men: jeans or chinos, a T-shirt or polo, trainers and a jacket.
Dinner cruise
Women: a midi dress, flats or low heels and a jacket; or smart trousers, a blouse and smart shoes.
Men: smart trousers, a collared shirt and smart shoes, with an optional blazer.
What not to wear on a premium dinner cruise
To stay within the rules of the stricter operators, avoid:
- sportswear;
- tracksuits;
- gym clothes;
- sports shoes or trainers where they are banned;
- flip-flops;
- shorts and Bermuda shorts;
- baseball caps;
- jeans where they are banned.
The current Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches rules make clear that some of these can stop you boarding a formal evening service.
The Seine Cruise Dress Code in One Rule
Do you need to dress like a Parisian?
No. You do not need a new wardrobe or a Paris-fashion costume, only clothes that match the setting: comfortable and practical for sightseeing, neat, smart and restaurant-ready for dinner. That is enough.
Final verdict
The Seine River cruise dress code depends almost entirely on the kind of cruise. On a normal sightseeing cruise, wear comfortable clothes and think about the weather. On a lunch cruise, smart-casual is safe. For an evening dinner cruise, dress with more care.
Bateaux Parisiens requires formal dress for its 8:30 p.m. dinner cruise and does not allow jeans, sports shoes, shorts or caps. Bateaux Mouches requires smart evening dress and does not accept sportswear, flip-flops, Bermuda shorts or baseball caps.
If you are unsure, the easiest rule is: sightseeing, dress for the Paris weather; dinner, dress for a nice Paris restaurant. On a premium dinner cruise, slightly smarter clothes are far better than arriving in something the operator may refuse.
These rules come from the operators' own pages: the Bateaux Parisiens FAQ, the Bateaux Mouches cruise information page and its Discovery dinner menu, checked in October 2026. Operators can change them, so read your booking confirmation before you dress.
Seine Cruise Dress Code FAQ
Is there a dress code for a Seine River cruise?
Standard sightseeing cruises generally have no dress code. Dinner cruises can have specific rules, particularly the evening restaurant services.
Can I wear jeans on a Seine cruise?
Yes on an ordinary sightseeing cruise. Bateaux Parisiens says jeans are not permitted on its 8:30 p.m. Dinner Cruise, where formal dress is required.
Can I wear trainers on a Seine cruise?
Trainers are normal on sightseeing cruises. Bateaux Parisiens does not allow sports shoes on its 8:30 p.m. Dinner Cruise.
Can I wear shorts on a Seine cruise?
Yes on a casual sightseeing cruise in warm weather. Not on the evening dinner cruises: Bateaux Parisiens bans shorts on its 8:30 p.m. dinner, and Bateaux Mouches does not accept Bermuda shorts in the evening.
What should a man wear on a Seine dinner cruise?
Smart trousers, a collared shirt and smart shoes are a safe choice. A blazer is optional.
What should a woman wear on a Seine dinner cruise?
A dress, a skirt and blouse, a smart jumpsuit, or smart trousers with an elegant top all work.
Do I need a suit for a Paris dinner cruise?
Usually not. Smart clothing is enough unless your particular event asks for something more formal.
Do men need a tie?
Normally not. The published rules of the two big dinner operators ask for smart or formal dress and list banned items, but neither mentions a tie.
What is the Bateaux Mouches dress code?
Smart-casual dress is appreciated at lunch and smart dress is required in the evening. Sportswear, flip-flops, Bermuda shorts and baseball caps are not accepted for evening dining.
What is the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise dress code?
For the 8:30 p.m. Dinner Cruise, formal dress is required, and jeans, sports shoes, shorts and caps are not allowed.
What should I wear on a Seine cruise at night?
On a standard sightseeing cruise, casual clothes are fine. Bring an extra layer, because the river feels cooler and windier after dark.
What should I wear on a sunset cruise?
Comfortable sightseeing clothes, plus a jacket, cardigan or other layer for when the temperature drops after the sun goes down.