Each year, the beach comes to Paris – a programme of free activities initially set up by City Hall for those who could not afford a summer holiday, but these days increasingly popular with Paris residents and visitors alike.

In 2023, the Paris Plage will run from July 8th to August 27th at two locations – along the banks of the Seine in central Paris and on the Bassin de la Villette in the north of the capital.

Here’s a glance at what is in store.

Along the Seine

The Paris Plage events set up along the Seine will take place from Trocadero to Pont-Neuf and down to Pont Louis-Philippe. In addition to having lawn chairs, sun loungers and the typical Brumisateurs (mist-makers), this year there will be plenty of free events taking place along the river.

Activities

Tai chi – daily from 10am to 12pm on the Quai next to Pont-Neuf.

Baby-foot (table football/soccer) – daily from 1pm to 7pm next to Pont Notre-Dame.

Pétanque – daily from 10am to 10pm next to Pont Louis-Phillippe

Jumbo games – daily from 11am to 6pm in front of Hôtel de Ville

Running training sessions – Starting at the meeting point of the ‘Châtelet ramp’. Available Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 9pm and Thursdays from 8am to 10am. You can reserve a spot here.

Swedish gymnastics – courses to be offered on Saturdays and Mondays

Art and open-air exhibits – There will one one below the Châtelet ramp and another below the Célestins ramp. The theme to appreciate will be ‘street art’ – more info here.

Trocadéro gardens – For the Paris Plage, the gardens will be transformed into a sporting area with dedicated space for games

Creative workshops – From hat painting to decorating mini surf boards and drawing times for small children, there are plenty of artistic workshops to sign up for. Hat painting, for example, will run from Friday, July 14th to Sunday, August 20th, 2023, each weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) from 1pm to 5pm, as well as 10am to 12pm. 

Dance courses – Running from Friday July 14th to September 3rd, each week (Wednesday to Saturday) from 5pm to 8pm, free dance courses will be available. More information here. 

Reduce waste – There will be sessions teaching people how to reduce waste, going on Wednesdays to Saturdays, as well as Sundays from 11am to 6pm.

Water sports

This year, there will be water sports in the Seine as well. Head to the ‘Bras Marie’ (address: 68-74 Quai de la Rapée, Paris 12th arrondissement) for canoeing and kayaking. This is open to anyone aged 15 and older, and all minors must be accompanied by an adult and must know how to swim. 

Water sports along the Seine will be open on Sunday, July 9th from 8am to 11:45am, as well as each Sunday after July 30th until August 27th, from 8am to 11:45am.

Bassin de la Villette

Located in the north of Paris in the 19th arrondissement, the canal basin of the Bassin de la Villette transforms each summer, with deck chairs, swimming, pétanque and plenty of water activities like kayaking and canoeing. 

Swimming – The Bassin de la Villette will be open for swimming from July 8th to September 3rd, with two swimming pools and two ‘paddling pools’ along the Quai de la Loire side of the canal. All swimming will be free of charge and safe, with the water qualify monitored daily. 

The pools – one 1.2 metres deep, one 2 metres deep, and another two just 40cm deep for young children – are open from 11am to 9pm daily during the summer period.

Closer to the centre of the city, the City of Paris and the Mairie of the 10th arrondissement will offer open swimming on Sundays from July 9th to August 20th, between 12pm and 4pm.

The water quality will be checked before each opening of the baignade, which may be closed in the event of poor water quality or storms.

Activities – From table football to pétanque and tai chi, there will be plenty of activities along the Canal this year.

Reading (kids under 7) – Similar to 2022, there will be spaces set up for children ages three to seven years old called the “Ludo Plages” with small climbing areas, trampolines and age-appropriate fun, like the “Bibliotèques hors les murs” (Outdoor library) for free read-along sessions and workshops.

Dance – From the opening of Paris Plages to its closing in August, there will be various free dance courses available, from jazz and raggaeton to breakdancing and salsa. Courses will be on each Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9pm, as well as from 5 to 8pm on weeknights (Monday to Thursday) and Sundays.

Kids under 12 – This year, there will also be a carousal, accessible for children aged 5 to 12 years old, in addition to three trampolines of various sizes (for kids aged four to 12). 

First-aid workshops – You can also sign up for free first-aid courses. They will be held Tuesday to Saturday, as well as on Sundays, from 2 to 5pm. More information here. 

Water sports – Water sports, such as canoeing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, and pedal-boats, will be available. You can reserve a spot on-site. Typically, the city requires a 25m swimming certificate and parental authorisation for children. It is best to arrive early.

Other parts of the city

For those looking to take a free swim, the city of Paris will also set up several temporary outdoor pools from July 8th to August 20th.

They will be at Baignade Louis Lumière in the 20th arrondissement, Baignade Georges Carpentier in the 13th, Baignade Léo Lagrange in the 12th, Baignade Poissonniers in the 18th and Baignade Jules Noël in the 14th arrondissement. You can find more information on the town hall website here.