BATOBUS vs. metro for getting around Paris

We%26#39;re staying a week in Paris during July very near Notre Dame. I see the Seine BATOBUS makes fairly regular stops up and down the river.

Would this be a reasonable substitute to the Metro for locations near the banks, like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, etc.? I thought if it wasn%26#39;t horrible, the boat trips might offer a pleasant alternative form of transport.

Any comments or experiences with using the boats as taxis?

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The Batobus is anything but horrible and the travelling back and forth is very, very pleasant!

We do exactly as you suggest, when going out to the Eiffel/ Trocadero/Les Invalides and even Champs Elysees we alway take the %26#39;water taxi%26#39;.

Would it be quicker by metro? You betcha, but we don%26#39;t go to Paris to be in underground tunnels and we%26#39;re never in a hurry.

From where you are you can walk to the Louvre.

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BATOBUS makes for pleasant %26#39;..excursions..%26#39; and will handle the most basic transportation for areas immediately along its %26#39;..circuit..%26#39; of the Seine...but it is NOT a practical substitute for the regular public transportation system--RER, Metro, Buses. As you might expect, of necessity, its potentail %26#39;..route..%26#39; is somewhat limited. And frequency between boats can run as much as 30 mins.

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In additin to the limitations KDKSAIL mentions, another problem with the Batobus is that even in the summer months it only runs from 10:00 until 21:30 and so is not useful for the first part of your day%26#39;s sightseeing nor for getting anywhere after dinner. (Outside the three summer months the hours are considerably shorer, the service being particularly curtailed in the evening.)

Along most of the route covered by the batobus I think visitors are missing a lot by not walking.

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I don%26#39;t get the whole Batobus thing, really. If you want to cruise the Seine then take a bateau for less money. I prefer the metro or bus to actually *get* somewhere.

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Another issue with Batobus is the one we encountered last year. We had that 2 day use all you want pass and we were going to until we caught it at the Eiffel Tower stop and 2 stops later, after sitting for about 20 minutes it announced that there was an accident on the River and all river traffice was halted and we had to return to the nearest last stop. Which effectively put a stop to our batobus plans that day.

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I agree, travelnutty. And I prefer to walk when the distances are not too great and I am not in a hurry...

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