Cheap hotels near The Seine in Paris, France

Ah, the Seine. Few cities are as synonymous with their river as Paris is with the gently curving waterway that divides it not between north and south, but between "Right Bank" and "Left Bank." Paris was founded on the Seine, as the city’s first settlements were located on Ile de la Cité—one of the river’s two major islands, along with Ile St-Louis.

Today, Parisians can cross from Right Bank to Left Bank on one of 37 bridges found within the city limits, the oldest of which is the Pont Neuf, at the tip of Ile de la Cité. River cruise boats, called "bateaux-mouches," are a popular attraction, and provide an interesting viewpoint from which to see the many sights of Paris that line the Seine.

The "quais"—the streets or walkways that run alongside the river—are popular places to go for a stroll. The string of book sellers, called the "bouquinistes," that line some quais provides a romantic vision of literary Paris.

Cheap hotels near the Seine: Since riverfront property comes at a premium, it’s not all that easy to find a budget hotel right on the water. Go a couple blocks in, and your options will greatly increase.

The popular and affordable Hotel Henri IV will put you right on Ile de la Cité, while the rest of the options seen below are just a short walk to the river. If you really want that spot right on the Seine, though, the Hotel du Quai Voltaire saddles right up to the famous waterway, for prices that aren’t too exorbitant.