Where the concierge points people first
- Marin d'Eau Douce — Small electric boats on the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th, driven by you with no license needed. A slow, cheerful afternoon along the canal with a picnic aboard. (48.8858, 2.3734)
- Location de Barques du Lac Daumesnil — Rowing boats on the lake in the Bois de Vincennes, around the two islands. The simplest boat trip in Paris, and a fair-weather one, so check it is running before you go. (48.8330, 2.4101)
- Paris Nautique — Paddle, kayak and sailing on the Bassin de la Villette, for people who would rather work for it than sit at a tiller. (48.8494, 2.3697)
- Yachts de Paris — Crewed boats on the Seine for private groups. You choose the evening and the menu; somebody else holds the license and steers. (48.8475, 2.3639)
The rest of the boat rental in Paris — every one we hold
- Bateau Daphné (48.8521, 2.3494)
- Bateaux de Paris (48.8435, 2.3692)
- Business Boat (48.8512, 2.2832)
- Classic Boats Paris (48.8680, 2.2815)
- Defim Permis Bateau (48.8516, 2.2840)
- Filovent (48.8344, 2.2425)
- Fluvial Service (48.8371, 2.3833)
- GlobeSailor (48.8909, 2.3192)
- Le Diamant Bleu (48.8684, 2.2813)
- Le Diamant Bleu (48.8211, 2.3955)
- Marina Vela (48.8301, 2.2837)
- Nautic Experiences (48.8761, 2.3260)
- Paris Boat Prestige (48.8812, 2.3496)
- Paris Seine (48.8490, 2.2893)
- Péniche Alizé (48.8415, 2.3716)
- Peniche l'Aabysse (48.8326, 2.3800)
- Port de Joinville le pont (48.8674, 2.3204)
- Seine Évènements (48.8214, 2.2624)
- SEINE RECEPTIONS - Paris en croisière (48.8355, 2.4034)
- Villegagnons-Plaisance (48.8422, 2.3245)
- Yacht Joséphine (48.8630, 2.2963)
Six horsepower is the line
French law requires a permis plaisance to drive any pleasure boat whose engine is over 6 horsepower (4.5 kW). Under that, and in unpowered boats you row or paddle, no license is needed, which is why the self-drive boats on the canals are small and deliberately slow. The Seine through central Paris carries heavy commercial traffic, so self-drive rental in the city mostly lives on the Bassin de la Villette and the park lakes; the big boats on the river come with a skipper. Licence schools in the list, such as Defim Permis Bateau, teach the inland option.
Questions people ask
Can you rent a boat in Paris without a license?
Yes, if the engine is 6 horsepower or less, like the electric boats at Marin d'Eau Douce on the Bassin de la Villette, or a rowing boat on the Lac Daumesnil.
How many boat rental companies are there in Paris?
Num's directory maps 25 boat rental and training businesses in Paris and nearby towns.
Where can you row a boat in Paris?
On the lakes of the city's two big woods, including the Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes, through Location de Barques du Lac Daumesnil.
Ask Num for a boat you can take out without a license in Paris
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