Every summer, Paris Beaches - or Paris Plages, as they're called in French - pop up along the banks of the Seine River, the Bassin de la Villette, and Canal Saint-Martin, transforming the riverside into a city resort with beach chairs and umbrellas, gardens, cabanas, three large swimming pools, and even rumors of swimming in the Seine River this year!
Pop-up bars, planned and impromptu concerts, dancing on the quais, sand-filled pétanque courts for boules, cafes, and ice cream stands along the water and on river-side barges add to the festive ambiance.
All activities are free - and you'll find plenty to choose from, including lots of things for families: swimming pools, movies, water sports, games, petanque, concerts, pedal boats, kayaks, canoes, art exhibits, plus lots of spots just for relaxing.
Paris Plages spans a two-month period from early July through late August or early September.
This year includes the usual locations along the Seine River banks in the 1st, 4th, 6th, and 7th arrondissements in central Paris, the immensely popular Bassin de la Villette in the 19th where the swimming pools and most of the water sports take place, and the newest "beach" area along both sides of Canal Saint-Martin.
Take a look at our guide to fun things available to do at each Paris Plages location.
You can find all the details about opening dates (plus any updates) in our July and August events articles.
Paris Beaches along Parc Rives de Seine on the Right and Left Banks
Along both sides of the Seine River in the heart of the city, Paris Plages transforms the entire Parc Rives de Seine - a beautiful park created from a former highway - into a scene from the French Riviera with beach chairs, colorful umbrellas, palm trees, and entertainment.
On the Right Bank, the Paris beaches stretch from the Pont Neuf bridge close to the Louvre to the Pont de Sully bridge just a few blocks from Place de la Bastille.
Along the Left Bank, the beach runs from the Pont de l'Alma bridge near the Eiffel Tower and Branly Museum to the Pont Royal bridge next to the Orsay Museum (almost opposite from the Louvre).
In the past, thousands of tons of sand were trucked in for the event each year, only to be removed at the end of the summer.
Grass and trees now replace the sand as a more environmentally-friendly, literally "greener," approach, and the whole area has become a year-round park.
On the Right Bank, the seasonal beach focuses on tranquility and enjoying the sun. Tall potted palm trees add to the tropical ambiance.
Even if you have just a few minutes to spare, relax in a chair or recliner while time slows down a bit.
If you have a little more time, stop by one of the pop-up bars or small cafes and buy a glass of wine and perhaps a snack. Find a comfortable place to sit, and gaze across the water at one of the best views in Paris.
Closest Metro stations to Right Bank beaches: Pont Neuf, Pont Marie, Sully-Morland
The Left Bank beach, sometimes called Les Berges des Seine, is where to go for games, activities, art displays, a climbing wall, lively restaurants and bars, and dancing by the water (although dancing also takes place on the Right Bank).
You'll find many kids' activities here as well, plus wide paths for running, biking, and skateboarding.
The Left Bank beach also provides deck chairs and plenty of other spots to relax with a book or a picnic.
Hungry? Try the lively pop-up restaurants offering casual food, wine, beer, and ice cream at outdoor picnic tables - or look for Rosa Bonheur, a floating restaurant on a barge near the Pont Alexandre III bridge.
Modeled after a guinguette - 18th century outdoor bars featuring cheap wine, food, music, and dancing, Rosa Bonheur serves up excellent pizza cooked on the terrace in the world's 8th largest wood-fired pizza oven, and of course, music and dancing.
Concerts by mostly local groups take place on a waterfront stage.
Closest Metro stations to Left Bank beaches: Invalides, Assemblée Nationale
Closest RER: Pont d l'Alma, Invalides, Gare du Musée d'Orsay
Paris Beaches at Bassin de la Villette
Bassin de la Villette, a broad expanse of water about half a mile long connecting Canal Saint-Martin with Ourcq Canal in the 19th arrondissement, boasts four large Paris Plages swimming pools floating within the canal itself open daily from 11am to 8:30pm. To ensure safety, only 200 people can use the pools during the same time slot, and each pool is disinfected between time slots.
Each pool has a different water depth to accommodate young children, people with reduced mobility, and swimmers of all abilities.
With free admission and plenty of lifeguards, showers, and changing rooms, the pools are a huge hit on hot summer days.
Even more important, they showcase the city's delivery on its promise to clean up formerly-filthy urban waterways to be safe for public swimming.
Elsewhere around the Bassin, you'll find plenty of other waterfront activities offered free of charge - pedal (ie, bicycle) boats, paddle boats, ziplines, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and various activities and workshops.
Look for the new climbing wall!
Instructors will be on hand throughout the day and evening help you have a fun and safe experience.
Waterfront cafes line the beach, so plan to reward yourself after your water sport adventure. Ice cream, wine, and snacks are just a few of the appealing options on offer.
Free movies and concerts round out the fun.
In addition to the beach recreation area, there's a lot more for you to explore near Bassin de la Villette. The area around Saint Martin Canal, one of Paris's newly trendy hot spots, practically overflows with interesting boutiques, galleries, pop-up stores, and hip bars and bistros serving up excellent food. You'll usually see lots of colorful street art on the neighborhoods walls.
Just beyond the Bassin is the expansive Parc de la Villette, home to one of Paris's best science museums, Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, with lots of interactive hands-on exhibits for kids of all ages. Philharmonie de Paris, the spectacular Paris concert hall designed by architect Jean Nouvel which opened in 2015, is here as well.
Free outdoor movies during the summer provide the perfect excuse for a picnic in the park under the stars - check our July and August calendars for exact dates.
Closest Metro to Bassin de la Villette: Juarès
For a scenic view of the Canal Saint-Martin and Bassin de Villette, hop on one of these fun cruises:
Paris Discovery Guide's Insider View
Paris Plages provides lot of summer fun and entertainment - but it also showcases the city's increasingly green, clean, and human-friendly environment.
After its launch in 2002 with only one small artificial beach, Paris Plages has greatly expanded and become a major summer attraction for locals and tourists alike - part festival, part beach, and part reflection of the city's 21st century green culture.
The "beaches" along the Seine occupy land previously used for highways. Now that city has permanently transformed the river roads into parks, the exhaust fumes and pollution from traffic along the banks of the Seine has disappeared.
You can now find pedestrian-only streets and bike lanes throughout the city. The immense paved place in front of Hotel de Ville, a former Paris Plage site, is being turned into an urban forest. What's next? Swimming by the public in the Seine River, currently rumored to be part of Paris Plages in 2025.
Stay tuned for the details!
Paris Plages at Canal Saint-Martin
Paris Plages expanded last year to include a new and exciting location, the picturesque Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement, where you will find swimming areas, free entertainment, and relaxation on both sides of the canal.
Closest Metros to Canal Saint-Martin: Louis Blanc, Chateau Landon, and Gare de l'Est on the west side of the canal, and Juarès on the east side
Check our July Events Article for dates
Paris Plages at Trocadero - Again this Year?
In recent years (but not last year), the City of has hosted sports activities such as street basketball around the Trocadero fountains as part of Paris Plages.
No word yet as to whether it is continue to be part of Paris Plages in 2025 - but we'll keep you posted. Close-up views of the Eiffel Tower were a nice bonus!
Cool Off on the Water during these Paris Cruises
More Articles about Fun Things to Do in Paris in the Summer
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- Firemen's Balls - Find out more about these fun Bastille Day (and Bastille Day Eve) parties!
- Paris Summer Sales - Our top 10 tips for getting the biggest discounts and bargains on Paris designer fashions
- How to Save on Your Paris Hotel - Paris Discovery Guide's best tips
- Top 10 Paris Attractions - Places and sights you won't want to miss!
- Paris Arrondissement Map & Paris Neighborhoods - Find top attractions and fun things to see and do throughout the city
