Paris Plages

The weather in Paris during summer can get very hot, especially in July and August. Given that the nearest beaches to Paris are about two and a half hours away by car, the city council created the initiative of Paris Plages.

What is Paris Plages? It is a series of resort areas or "beaches" along the Seine where Parisians can sunbathe, cool off, and relax without spending a thing — it's free. If you're traveling to Paris in summer, here's everything you need to know dónde están las playas de París y cuándo puedes visitar Paris Plages.

Paris Plages 2023: enjoying summer in Paris

The first edition of Paris Plages was organized in 2002 at the initiative of the then Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, around a sandy beach set up along the Georges Pompidou expressway on the right bank of the Seine, que fue convertida en zona peatonal.

Then, in 2006, a second beach area was added on the left bank of the Seine and, a year later, a third along the Bassin de La Villette, in the northeast of Paris.

To meet its growing success, new features have been added every summer nuevas estructuras, características y actividades: a ferry on the Seine, floating swimming pools, misting fans, cafés, ice cream parlors, dance classes, climbing walls, sports competitions, and games.

In 2023, Paris Plages will take place del 8 de julio al 27 de agosto, with three venues: the Parc Rives de Seine, the Bassin de La Villette, and the Trocadero Gardens, which returns after making its first appearance in 2021 on the occasion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Parc Rives de Seine

In 2023, the Parc Rives de Seine will once again become a favorite spot for locals and tourists to take a stroll, enjoy cycling in Paris, have fun, and soak up the sun in summer.

This area is in the 5th arrondissement and stretches for nearly 2 km, from the Pont des Arts to the Pont de Sully, along the right bank of the Seine. It offers stunning views of the Louvre Museum, as well as of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Musée d'Orsay.

Along the way you'll find sandy and grassy areas with garden chairs, palm trees, deck chairs, and parasols, as well as giant games, nebulizadores para mantenerte fresco and the BHML — open-air libraries that lend out books and comics.

And, on top of that, you can also sign up for tai chi, Swedish gymnastics, pétanque, and first aid classes, make use of the swimming pool and showers, as well as enjoy exhibitions, workshops, readings, dances, and other appealing activities.

Next to the exceptional surroundings of the Parc Rives de Seine, we find it incredible that all of this is completamente gratuito, making it a great plan if you want to spend the summer in Paris with Kids in a different and entertaining way without spending too much.

Paris Plages Hours

This area of Paris Plages is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, although it is not unusual for some activities to extend well into the evening.

Getting There

You can take line 7 of the Paris Metro to Pont Neuf, Pont Marie, or Sully-Morland, or take lines 1 or 11 to Hôtel de Ville station and walk toward the Seine.

Bassin de La Villette

Located in the 19th arrondissement, near the artistic neighborhood of Belleville, in the north of the French capital, the basin of the Bassin de La Villette transforms every summer with tons of sand, deck chairs, palm trees, pétanque, swimming, and water activities.

Perhaps the most notable feature of this section of Paris Plages are the sus 4 piscinas: two for adults, 1.2 and 2 meters deep respectively, with more than 1,600 m², and two children's pools 0.4 m deep and 100 m², exclusively for accompanied children.

Regarding these pools in Paris, keep in mind that they operate in two-hour shifts with a 30-minute break in between — that is, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and finally 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

And, just as in 2022, there will be espacios habilitados para niños de tres a siete años called "Ludo Plages" with small climbing areas, trampolines, and age-appropriate fun, along with the familiar open-air libraries, reading sessions, and workshops.

More Activities

In this area of the Paris beaches you will also find activities such as canoeing or kayaking, kayak polo, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boats, foosball, pétanque, tai chi, a children's zip line, climbing walls, bouncy castles, and dance classes.

The facilities also include contarán con todo lo necesario: lockers, showers, and freely accessible restrooms, changing rooms, beverage stands, lifeguard supervision, and daily water quality checks. This is what we love most.

Just as at the Parc Rives de Seine, the pools and activities offered at the Bassin de la Villette son totalmente gratuitas, so don't hesitate to bring your kids to France in the summer.

Hours

• Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
• Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 AM to midnight.

Getting There

This Paris beach is also very accessible by public transport, specifically via lines 2, 5, or 7 of the Paris Metro, which will drop you off at Stalingrad station.

Paris Plages at the Trocadéro Gardens

Finally, a new addition to Paris Plage 2023: this new space returns at the Trocadéro Gardens, dedicated to sport, in the context of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This area, located practically in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and able to accommodate between 8,000 and 10,000 people, será el escenario de todo tipo de actividades deportivas, including 3×3 basketball, Quai 54, climbing, skating, and group fitness, kickboxing, and boxing classes.

Likewise, you can take advantage of your visit to this area to do a bit of sightseeing and explore the Palais de Tokyo, the Paris Aquarium, and the Museum of Modern Art.

Getting There

The nearest metro station is Trocadéro, served by lines 6 and 9.

Boat Ride along the Seine

In addition to enjoying these activities during Paris Plages, we recommend that when you visit the Parc Rives de Seine you don't miss the fascinating experience of taking boat rides in Paris, and for that nothing beats the Batobus.

The Batobus is a tourist boat that travels along the Seine with unlimited stops. This way, you can enjoy the best panoramic views and hop on and off as many times as you like to visit the monuments of Paris.