Did you know the banks of the Seine River, Canal Saint-Martin and the Bassin de la Villette turn into a Parisian beach resort each summer? Ever since 2002, when Mayor Bertrand Delanoë launched the first “Paris Plages” for all of the Parisians who couldn’t join the annual exodus from the city for the summer, it has become a beloved annual event, free and open to everyone, copied by cities all over the world.
In this Article
New for 2025
After a slightly reduced edition during the 2024 Summer Olympics, the “beaches” of Paris Plages are back in full swing for the 2025 season from July 5th through August 31st in three locations: Rives de Seine (Central Paris along the Right Bank of the Seine), Canal Saint-Martin (10th arrondissement), and Bassin de La Villette (northeast Paris at the top of the Canal St Martin). Here are a few new features for the 2025 edition:
- As part of this year’s cross-cultural celebration of Brazil, Paris Plages will showcase Brazilian beach culture. There will be Brazilian food stands, batacudas, open-air Brazilian film screenings, exhibitions by contemporary Brazilian artists João Farkas and Luiz Braga, and appearances by the official sponsor of Paris Palges, the Brazilian football star Raï.
- The sandy beaches are back! After the absence of sand from Paris Plages for environmental (and budget) reasons over the past few seasons, this year the City of Paris is bringing it back to the beach along the Rives de Seine from the Pont au Change to Pont Neuf. Afterwards, the sand will be “recycled” for use in construction sites around Paris.
- The big news for summer 2025 is that Parisians will once again be able to enjoy the pleasures of swimming in the Seine River, free of charge, exactly 100 years after it was banned! The three swim sites are: Bras Marie (Paris Centre, the only one directly connected to Paris Plages), Bras de Grenelle (shallow enough for kids, Paris 15th) and Quai de Bercy (the largest site, Paris 12th). See below for more details.
Paris Plages – Rives de Seine
This is the “original” Paris Plages with its chaise lounges, palm trees, and water misters. Located on the historic quays in central Paris on the Right Bank (from Quai du Louvre to Quai Henri IV) this is now known as Les Berges or Parc Rives de Seine on the Right Bank. Although a bit crowded on sunny afternoons, this part of Paris Plages is ideal for lounging, DJ music sets (and dancing in the evenings), and beautiful views of Paris. Click to see full-sized images:
There’s a new sand beach from the Pont au Change to Pont Neuf, two areas with misters to cool off, foosball tables (aka “babyfoot” in French, daily from 1-7pm), six pétanque courts, art expositions, an open-air library, a giant chess board, Swedish Gym (Saturdays 10:30am-12:30pm and Mondays 6:30-8:30pm), tai chi (daily 10amnoon), play areas for kids, and beach volleyball on the newly “forested” square in front of the Hôtel de Ville. And all of these activities are 100% free!
Sprinkled throughout are different lounge chairs, picnic tables, al fresco cafés, and refreshment stands. The car-free quays are popular with runners, cyclists, and skaters of all ages as well as strolling beach bums, so watch your back (and your bags…yep, pickpockets).
Swimming in the Seine at Bras Marie
The only Seine swimming spot directly on Paris Plages, the Bras Marie site is at the foot of the Pont Sully, facing the Ile-St-Louis. It will likely be the most crowded, so get there early if you hope to be able to take a dip!
- Open Monday–Saturday 8am–11:30am, Sunday 8am–5:30pm (closed if weather or water conditions are bad, check here)
- Swim area: 70m/230ft x 20m/65ft
- Capacity: 150 people
- Open-air swimming zone marked off with buoys; river boat traffic is paused during swimming hours.
- You must be able to swim, be at least 14 years old, and be at least 1.40m/4.6ft tall. Lifeguards are on duty at all times. Everyone is provided with a flotation buoy you’re required to wear (attached by a belt around the waist).
- There are no individual changing rooms, so come in your bathing suit or swim shorts (swimming in street clothes isn’t allowed). Small lockers are available for your belongings.
- Showers – mandatory before swimming – are available, along with access to toilets, a first aid station, and areas to sunbathe.
Video: Heather Goes for a Swim on Opening Day
Two Other Swim Spots on the Seine
- Bras de Grenelle (Quai de Grenelle, 15th arrondissement) Near Île aux Cygnes with a view of the Eiffel Tower, this family-friendly site with a shallow swimming area (60m/197ft x 20m/65ft) has floating pontoons, a shaded solarium, and access to free kayaking nearby. It has a capacity of 200 people (150 in the water). There are lifeguards, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and lockers for your clothes. Open Mon–Fri 10am–5:30pm; Sat 10am–4:45pm; Sun 10am–noon, 12:30pm–2:15pm, and 4:45pm–5:30pm. UPDATE: this spot will remain open until September 7th.
- Quai de Bercy (12th arrondissement) The largest swim area is located below Bercy Park across from the BnF (Mitterrand National Library) with a capacity for 700 people (300 in the water) has a solarium deck, changing rooms, restrooms, and a staffed first aid post. This is probably the least “photogenic” of the swimming areas, but you’re close to Bercy Village (next to Bercy Park) and the floating péniche bars across the river on the Quai François Mauriac (13th arrondissement), both popular hangouts for the locals. It has two fully-enclosed pools to separate swimmers from the boating traffic: one 35m/115ft x 12.5m/41ft and a second at 67m/220ft x 11m/36ft. Open daily 11am–9pm. UPDATE: this spot will remain open until September 14th from 8am-8pm, and the weekend of September 20-21.
Eating & Drinking
Dining options rage from snack bars and ice cream stands to café barges and restaurants such as Les Maquereaux, Péniche Marcounet, and Les Nautes (near Pont de Sully), which will feature a menu by Brazilian chef Alessandra Montagne Gomes. There will also be Brazilian food stands overlooking the beach volleyball courts in front of the Hôtel de Ville from July 12th through August 20th.
There are plenty of places to picnic if you bring your own food/drink. Happily, there are also free public restrooms so you can stay hydrated without fear.
Open-Air Cinema July 31-August 2
This summer’s Paris Plages film festival celebrates Brazilian films, with free screenings three nights starting at 7pm on the ramp just below the Quai des Célestins (spaces limited, get there early). There will be a short film followed by the featured film. Note they will all be in Portuguese with French subtitles! See the scheduled films here.
Paris Plages – Bassin de la Villette
The Bassin de la Villette is the widest section of the Canal St-Martin just outside the Parc de la Villette. This is the place to come to escape the biggest crowds on Paris Plage, and to take full advantage of water sports and swimming areas. Like the other Paris Plages site, there are lounge chairs, pétanque, foosball, snack bars and barge cafés, tai chi (weekends 10am-noon), and plenty of kids activities (including a free merry-go-round, trampolines, and a zipline across the canal, all daily from 1-7pm), although in a less picturesque scenery than you’ll find on the Seine (some areas are downright scruffy, if festive). Just like last year, there are first-aid classes by the Secours Populaire and lifeguarding workshops “Geste qui Sauve”.
Unlike the Paris Plages on the Seine, this one has no grassy or sand areas, and all of the chairs seem to be the foldable fabric and wood ones. There were also far fewer picnic tables specifically for Paris Plages, but the length of the Canal and Bassin de la Villette is pretty much always meant for picnics (happily there are water fountains and public restrooms at Paris Plages, which are lacking elsewhere along the water).
Swimming & Water Sports on the Bassin de la Villette
There are four swimming pools right on the water at Quai de la Loire, open daily 10am-9pm with a one-hour break for cleaning 1-2pm. You’ll find showers, lockers, bathrooms, and lounge chairs.
There are two shallow kiddie pools, a small pool that’s 1.2m/4ft deep and a larger pool for experienced swimmers that’s 2m/6.5ft deep. They’re free, but can only hold 500 swimmers. The pic above is one of the official photos on a sunny day. I took the photos below on a slightly cooler and overcast day a few moments after the pools just opened:
In the afternoons (1-7pm) you can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and inflatable spheres (for kids) for free. In addition to paddle boats, you can also see the electric boats available for rental year-round (in the photo below) from Akwa Experience.
Dancing Sessions at La Villette
From salsa and reggaeton to hip hop and folk dancing, this summer there will be free dance classes for anyone interested in joining the fun! Daily from 5-8pm
- Monday : Swing and roots jazz
- Tuesday : Rock dancing
- Wednesday : Latino fitness
- Thursday : Oriental dance
- Friday : Brazilian dance
- Saturday : Afro-Colombian rhythms
- Sunday : “Bal Popular” dancing
Paris Plages – Canal Saint-Martin
The banks of the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement will be transformed into the “Parisian Croisette” for the second consecutive year (in reference to the famous beach promenade in Cannes). Much smaller in scope than the other Paris Plages sites, it’s still a nice place to relax, with deckchairs and parasols set up all along the canal, artisan ice cream stands, and photo exhibitions. CLick the photos above to see full sized.
There will also be open-air expositions of Brazilian photographers Maureen Bisilliat, Luiz Braga, and João Farkas, major artists in contemporary Brazilian photography, along the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin (from116 Quai de Jemmapes) and in the Jardin de Villemin – Mahsa Jîna Amini (14 rue des Récollets, 10th).
Swimming in the Canal Saint Martin
After two successful years testing the water, open swimming sessions on the Canal Saint-Martin are back in 2025 from from July 6th to September 7th every Wednesday and Sunday, when all boat traffic is temporarily paused. The access deck is located in front of the Centre Paris Anim’ Espace Jemmapes at 116 Quai de Jemmapes.
- Open every Wednesday (noon-3:30pm) and Sunday (1-5pm)
- The swimming capacity is limited to 300 people at a time.
- A lifeguard will be on duty, but the supervision of children under 10 years old and/or less than 1.20m/4ft tall is mandatory by an accompanying adult.
- Swimming attire is mandatory (swimming shorts permitted, street clothes are not).
- Free and accessible to all, there are also showers (required before and after swimming), changing rooms, and restrooms in the Centre Paris Anim’ Espace Jemmapes.
- In case of bad weather, health or safety risks , swimming will be canceled. Water quality is posted daily here (in French).
Some Rules & Advice
Parisians are actually pretty relaxed, so you can bring your dogs, your own food for a picnic, and even alcohol (unless you’re misbehaving). However (buzz kill alert): No topless bathing, g-string bikinis, or loud music allowed. Smoking is no longer permitted in public beaches and parks as of July 1st, but as this is a new rule, it might not be widely respected. Note that no one is allowed to take photos of the children’s play area (there are signs); in fact, just don’t take photos of any kids that aren’t your own.
Finally, be careful of pickpockets (like at any public beach), don’t forget your sunglasses, and get there early if you want a good spot!
Practical Info
Free entry. Open daily July 5th through August 31st, from 10am-6:30pm (until 8pm at La Villette). Free restrooms and water fountains throughout (tissues and a reusable water bottle recommended). There are info kiosks at both Paris Plages sites and orange-shirted “Plagistes” strolling the grounds if you need directions. The official Paris Plages information website is www.paris.fr/paris-plages-2025 but they haven’t yet created an English version.
More on Paris Plages
- Relaxing at Paris Plages while Gearing up for the Rentrée: commentary on the “Back-to-School” mood in Paris by Scott Carpenter
- The Seine before Paris Plages: historic photos of the Seine River
I’ve been to the Bras Marie a couple of times to have a beer and watch the river traffic. Did not know that the place has a specific name.
Fun video, Heather! Did you have your glasses on in the beginning?
Yes, I actually just forgot to take them off, and once I realized it (just before I got in the water), I just kept them on. I figured they would dissuade me from dunking my head under the water. 😉