Immersion in the Center of Paris is a Reality: Swim!
After a century-long ban, Paris is set to reopen its rivers for public swimming in the summer of 2025. This historic move forms part of the city's legacy for the Paris 2024 Olympics and responds to the rising temperatures across Europe.
**Locations and Facilities**
Paris authorities have established three official swimming zones along the Seine, each equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture for sunbathing. The locations are:
- Bercy (12th arrondissement): Accommodating up to 700 people, with 300 allowed in the swimming area. - Grenelle (15th arrondissement): Capacity of 200 people, with 150 swimmers. - Bras Marie (near the Eiffel Tower and opposite L'île aux Cygnes): Capacity of 150 people.
All swimming zones are free to access until August 31, 2025.
**Health Checks and Water Quality**
Given the Seine's historical pollution, continuous monitoring of water quality is crucial for safety. Past bans were due to high bacteria levels from sewage and industrial runoff, posing risks like skin infections and gastrointestinal illness.
**Safety Measures**
- Lifeguards will be present at all swimming sites throughout opening hours for supervision and safety. - Lifeguards will assess visitors' swimming abilities before allowing them to enter, as the river has strong currents, an average depth of 3.5 meters, and ongoing boat traffic in some areas. - During swimming hours, river navigation will be closed at most sites to avoid hazards, except at Bercy where both basins have been adapted to coexist with some boat traffic.
These measures ensure that swimming in the Seine is as safe as possible given the natural challenges of an urban river environment.
The Seine River's de-pollution plan has been ongoing for more than ten years, turning it into a living laboratory. Users should come equipped with a swimsuit and a towel for swimming in the Seine.
For more information, visit the City of Paris website. Water quality data is publicly available, displayed on the quays or consultable on the city's website. Another swimming zone is at the Grenelle arm, featuring a shallow pool, nautical base, and kayaks, with specific hours from Monday to Sunday.
Swimming against the current in the heart of Paris will be possible starting from a future date. The Seine River in Paris is being transformed into impromptu beaches as part of an Olympic Games-inspired plan to restore its prominence in daily life.
[1] City of Paris Press Release, 2023. [2] Paris 2024 Official Website, 2023. [3] French Environment Ministry Report, 2023. [4] Paris Water Agency Report, 2023.
In the heart of Paris, outdoor living is set to enhance with the new lifestyle opportunities provided by the city's rivers, serving as impromptu beaches for swimmers starting from summer 2025. While enjoying our home-and-garden-inspired outdoor spaces, one can glance at the picturesque scene of in-flights overhead as they take a swim near iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower.
