Published on
September 30 2026
From Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, French schools break for the Toussaint holidays, the autumn half-term. If your family is visiting Paris during these two weeks, it is a good time to see the city from the water. Throughout the holidays, Canauxrama's boats on the Canal Saint-Martin and the Seine are decorated for Halloween.
Why autumn is a great time to visit Paris with kids
The summer crowds have gone, and the plane and chestnut trees along the canal are turning gold and copper. Two weeks give you time to mix museums, parks and walks without rushing. The holiday ends with Halloween, which falls on Saturday 31 October this year.
Family days out along the Canal Saint-Martin
The Canal Saint-Martin links two neighbourhoods with plenty for families to do. A cruise lets you visit both in one day, with no metro changes needed.
Start at Arsenal. Spend the morning at the Jardin des Plantes and the Grand Gallery of Evolution, two favourites with young explorers. Then cross the Pont d'Austerlitz to the Port de l'Arsenal for the 2:30 pm departure.
Finish at La Villette. The Parc de la Villette has wide lawns and playgrounds. It is also home to the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, whose children's areas make it a reliable choice when the weather turns.
On the canal: locks, bridges and a secret tunnel
The Old Paris Cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin covers the canal's 4.5 km in 2.5 hours. Along the way, it passes through:
- 8 locks
- 2 swing bridges
- the Crimée lift bridge
- the vaulted tunnel beneath Place de la Bastille
Children get to watch the boat sink slowly inside a lock chamber and then glide under the Bastille in the half-light, which they usually find exciting. Canauxrama's crews have been handling these manoeuvres for over 40 years. A live guide provides commentary throughout, and a covered lounge keeps everyone dry on rainy days.
From the canal to the Seine's great monuments
To continue onto the Seine, take the Canal Saint-Martin & Seine combined cruise. In 2 hours, it links the canal with views of Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. It drops you on the Île de la Cité, a good starting point for a walk through historic Paris.
A Halloween touch on board
During the holidays, our regular cruise boats are dressed up for Halloween. Every child on board receives a mask to colour in during the trip and take home.
Celebrate a birthday on the water
Is your child's birthday during the half-term? Our boats can be privately hired for a birthday cruise in Paris, for a party they won't forget.
Published on
September 7 2026
To mark the European Heritage Days, Canauxrama is running a brand-new themed cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin on September 19, 2026, devoted to film and photography. Departure at 9:45 am from the Port de l'Arsenal aboard the Marcel Carné, for a 2h30 cruise up to the Bassin de la Villette.
A canal that shaped cinema:
Few Parisian waterways have fed the cinematic imagination as richly as the Canal Saint-Martin. Its locks, cast-iron footbridges and cobbled quays have provided the setting for works that have themselves become part of our heritage — from Marcel Carné's Hôtel du Nord to Amélie. For the length of a cruise, Canauxrama retraces this thread between river heritage and visual memory, lingering on the viewpoints that have drawn directors and photographers over the decades.
The route follows the canal's historic course, dug under Napoleon I and opened to traffic in 1825, passing through several locks and beneath the Bastille vault — a technical manoeuvre the Canauxrama crew has been performing for decades, and still one of the highlights of any trip along the Canal Saint-Martin.
For this edition, take your seat aboard the Marcel Carné — a choice that is no accident: the boat is named after the director of Hôtel du Nord (1938), one of the most iconic films shot on this canal. And you will be joined by Jeanne, our artist deckhand guide, who will accompany you throughout the trip with extracts screened on board, setting the filmed canal alongside the canal as it is lived today.
Key information:
Date: September 19, 2026 (European Heritage Days)
Theme: film and photography on the Canal Saint-Martin
Boat: the Marcel Carné
Departure: 9:45 am, from the Port de l'Arsenal
Arrival: Bassin de la Villette
Duration: 2h30 of cruising, subject to navigation conditions
Price: €23 per adult, €13 per child
Booking: online, on the Canal Saint-Martin — Old Paris cruise
Published on
August 31 2026
Canauxrama is proud to have put its 40 years of navigating the Canal Saint-Martin and the Canal de l'Ourcq to work for the 19th edition of Été du Canal, organized by Seine-Saint-Denis Tourisme from June 27 to August 9, 2026. Our expertise in Parisian canal cruises and unconventional cruises in Paris made it possible to run the river shuttle services connecting Parc de la Villette to Pantin, Bobigny, Bondy, and Aulnay-sous-Bois, which recorded record attendance this year: more than 28,000 passengers carried, with peaks of 3,800 travelers per day.
This expertise also played a central role in the event's themed cruise programming, ranging from Street Art discovery tours and heritage itineraries to a brand-new film cruise to the Canal de l'Ourcq's filming locations.
A wonderful edition, one that confirms Canauxrama's unique standing among the most distinctive and original river operators in the Paris area, just months ahead of Été du Canal's 20th anniversary in 2027.
Published on
August 14 2024
Canauxrama is honored to have participated in the majestic opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games! Our boats proudly sailed on the Seine, transporting Olympic delegations in an unforgettable celebration.
Le Gavroche had the privilege of hosting the Refugee Olympic Team, who brilliantly won a medal at these Games, symbolizing hope and resilience.
On board Henri IV, the United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, which won an impressive total of 5 medals, and Eritrea were able to parade on the waters of the Seine, offering a moment of pride and unity.
L'Arletty sailed with the delegations from Kosovo, proud of its 2 medals, Kuwait, Laos, and Lesotho, proudly carrying the colors of these nations on the most beautiful avenue in the world, the Seine.
Finally, Marcel Carné transported athletes from Tajikistan, who won 3 medals, Taiwan with 7 medals, as well as those from Tanzania and Chad, adding a vibrant and diverse touch to this international celebration.
You can also follow in the footsteps of this historic ceremony and the Olympic torch relay by boarding our Seine cruises and Canal Saint Martin cruises, to relive the emotion and magic of the Olympic Games in the heart of Paris.
Published on
August 14 2024
On the very last day of its long journey across France, from May 8th to July 26th, 2024, the Olympic flame boarded another boat from the Canauxrama fleet, the Rocca V, just a few hours before the opening ceremony, to make its way down the Canal Saint-Martin. Accompanied by a joyful team of 20 torchbearers who took turns along the picturesque route between Parc de la Villette and the mysterious Richard-Lenoir vault, the flame crossed a lifting bridge, two swing bridges, four double locks, and a 24-meter descent, highlighting the magic of the Canal Saint-Martin.
Published on
July 29 2024
On July 26, 2024, the day of the Olympic Games opening ceremony, CANAUXRAMA shone brightly. Our company distinguished itself not only during the nighttime parade but especially by carrying the Olympic flame along the picturesque Saint-Martin Canal.
Our entire fleet - l'Arletty, Marcel Carné, Henri IV, and Gavroche - proudly participated in the opening parade, illuminating the Parisian waters. However, it was the Rocca V that had the honor of carrying the flame and its guardians. Departing from Parc de la Villette, our boat majestically navigated the canal, transporting about fifteen torchbearers. The journey concluded under the Bastille vault, where the flame vanished from the media's view, adding a touch of mystery to this historic event.
This day will remain etched in CANAUXRAMA's history, a testament to our commitment to Paris and the Olympic spirit.
Published on
July 23 2024
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will be held on Friday, July 26th. A team from TF1 was able to board our electric boat, Rocca II, which will participate in this event on the Seine, where every detail is meticulously arranged. Vigilance is necessary due to the high level of the Seine. Despite this, everything is organized with precision and geometry. The President of Canauxrama, Ghislain de Richecour, and the boat's crew members took part in the report.
This will be a unique opportunity to showcase our enthusiasm and hospitality to the world.
Published on
July 11 2024
On July 26, 2024, the Olympic Flame will light up Paris and, for the first time, take to the famous Canal Saint-Martin. This emblematic canal, with its picturesque locks and romantic bridges, will be the scene of a historic moment.
The crossing of the Canal Saint-Martin by the Olympic Flame symbolizes the meeting of the spirit of the Games and Parisian heritage. The canal, which winds its way through some of the capital's most charming districts, will provide a unique and memorable backdrop for this exceptional event.
Locals and visitors alike will be able to admire the Flame reflected in the canal's calm waters, creating unforgettable memories. The Canal Saint-Martin, already famous for its peaceful promenades and picturesque views, will for one afternoon be the center of the Olympic world, capturing the essence of Paris and the sporting spirit in one magnificent scene.
Discover this route on our Canal Saint-Martin Discovery Cruise.
Published on
May 6 2024
Canauxrama is proud to announce the participation of four of its iconic boats - Arletty, Marcel Carné, Henri IV and Gavroche - in the opening parade of the Olympic Games. They will represent Paris and our Company in a spectacular parade, underlining our passion for river tourism and our commitment to excellence.
A few days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, which will take place on the Seine, take advantage of our exceptional cruises to experience the magic of the Seine as it crosses Paris on the route the athletes will take.
Published on
July 18 2023
3 of our boats: Henri IV, Arletty and Marcel Carné took part in the first rehearsal of the 2024 Olympic Games opening parade on the Seine.
The objectives of this parade were to test the "manoeuvres", the "distances" between boats, the "duration" of the parade and the "video capture". First aid exercises were also carried out to simulate a distress situation. The precisely orchestrated test parade was a unique opportunity to appreciate the scale of the event and the enthusiasm of Parisians for the Games.
We are delighted to be able to count ourselves among the principal operators of this 'historic' moment on the Seine.
Published on
November 22 2022
Canauxrama offers you a return cruise to the Stade de France
For the first day of the Autumn Nations Series 2022, it was not one but two boats from our fleet that made the trip to embark supporters and rugby enthusiasts to the Stade de France.
Accompanied by an orchestra or in an intimate reception, our customers were able to sail on the Saint-Denis canal leading them to the stands.
In order to avoid the hassle of leaving the stadium and partying, one of our customers has chosen to come back on our boat, a guaranteed fire atmosphere!
For the next matches, do as our customers do, opt for boat transport!
Published on
July 4 2022
On 26 June, Olympic Day was celebrated around the Stade de France in Saint-Denis to prepare for the 2024 festivities.
Our boat, the Gavroche, was entirely decorated in Olympic colours, and a concert of drums and percussion enlivened its journey from Paris to Saint Denis along the canal.
To the rhythm of the drums, the party began to the applause of the Parisians!
Published on
March 29 2022
3 CANAUXRAMA boats attended the victory of the French rugby team on 19 March 2022.
The team members took our boats from La Villette to discover the Saint-Denis canal to the Stade de France with dinner on board.
In honor of witnessing their victory, Canauxrama has designed a specific route for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games to welcome athletes and tourists from all over the world.
Celebrate with us the victory of the French team on the Saint-Denis canal!
Atypical cruises to discover the magic of the parisian canals
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