After a very popular launch in 2025, swimming in the River Seine in Paris will return this summer – here’s what you need to know about the practicalities.
Last summer more than 75,000 people took the opportunity to swim in the River Seine in central Paris – the first time that the river had been open to the public in more than 100 years.
Now Paris authorities have announced that it will return for summer 2026.
If you plan on dipping a toe into the water, here’s what you need to know;
When – July 4th until August 30th (although some sites may extend their opening hours into September, as happened last year). Opening times vary by site – see below.
Where – you cannot just jump into the river anywhere you fancy, the Seine is a busy river with boat taxis, pleasure boats and commercial traffic that make generalised swimming dangerous.
Instead, there are three roped-off areas within the river – forming large open-water swimming pools. Two of the sites are in the same place as last year, and one has moved slightly.
The sites are; Bercy in the 12th facing the Bibliothèque nationale, located near the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge, at the bottom of the Parc de Bercy. This is the largest swimming area and also has a sunbathing spot.
Open every day from 11am to 9pm – the evening opening makes it a popular after-work spot to hang out with friends.
Grenelle on the Bras de Grenelle in the 15th arrondissement, facing the Île aux Cignes, close to the Eiffel Tower.
Open times; Monday-Friday 10am to 5.30pm, Saturday 10am to 4.45pm, Sunday 10am to 12 noon, then 12.30 to 2.15pm and 2.45pm to 5.30pm.
Bras Marie – last year’s swimming spot at Bras Marie in the 4th arrondissement has moved slightly downriver – this year it will be next to the Pont Louis-Philippe, around 600m away from last year’s site.
Open every day 8am to 6pm.
Other sites – There are also two sites to swim in Paris canals – the long-running Bassin de la Villette swim site will open as normal, while the new site in the nearby Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement opened early during the heatwave.
Meanwhile, around 50,000 swimmers jumped into the Marne river in the eastern suburbs last year.
The bathing spots in Joinville-le-Pont, Champigny-sur-Marne, Saint-Maur-des-Fosses and Maison-Alfort will again welcome swimmers. And a fifth spot will be added this year at Neuilly-sur-Marne, northeast of Paris.
Facilities – Each site has lockers (take a €1 coin or ask staff for a token), showers and toilets. The Bercy and Grenelle sites have changing rooms while at Bras Marie you get changed on the side of the river – our tip; go wearing swimwear under your clothes.
Rules – you must be able to swim. The river is about 9 metres deep, so you will not be able to touch the bottom. There are lifeguards on duty but you may not be allowed in if you are obviously a non-swimmer. The sites are also limited to over 14s.
You must also be wearing a swimsuit – for women, this is either a one-piece swimsuit or a bikini; topless sunbathing is not allowed.
Men may wear either Speedos or baggy swim shorts (which are not allowed in municipal swimming pools). Unlike in municipal pools, there is no requirement to wear a swimming cap.
Each site provides an inflatable that can be clipped around the waist – these are compulsory even for accomplished swimmers.
Cleanliness – the water is tested daily, and sites will only open if the water is clean enough for safe swimming.
Paris city authorities provide a regularly updated website which shows in real time which sites are open – find the site HERE
Although the treatment of Paris’s wastewater has vastly improved in recent years, it still struggles to cope after very heavy rain – therefore, sites are likely to close for a day or two after summer rainstorms.
Accessibility – the sites themselves are accessible to wheelchair users or people of reduced mobility, but getting into the water requires either using steps or asking a lifeguard for help.
Cost – swimming and access to the sites are free. It is not possible to book in advance, each site does have a limit to the number of swimmers allowed, so on very busy days (eg public holidays) you may need to wait in line.
