On your marks, get set, dive in! As a lasting legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, open-water swimming in the Seine is making its grand return, just in time to offer relief from the high summer temperatures. Starting Saturday, July 4, three bathing sites are reopening in the river: at Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle, and Bercy.
Three Spectacular Sites to Take the Plunge
Each of the three bathing spots offers a completely different panorama of the French capital. The site at Bras Marie is in the very heart of Paris, a stone’s throw from Île Saint-Louis and the Paris Plages urban beach, making it perfect for combining a swim with sunbathing. It is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At Bras de Grenelle in the 15th arrondissement, swimmers can take a dip in an Olympic-sized basin while facing the Eiffel Tower. The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., and 2:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The final bathing point is located at Bercy, next to the National Library of France (BnF). This site is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
When Are the Spots Open and Who Can Swim?
The sites are open daily from July 4 to August 30, 2026, as long as safety conditions are met, which include fair weather, a moderate current, and healthy water quality. Everyone is welcome to swim, provided they are at least 1.20 meters tall. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The sites are accessible to people with reduced mobility, except at Bercy, where only the solarium is accessible. Wearing a lifebuoy is mandatory; it is provided on loan and must be returned in good condition.
Each bathing site offers mandatory pre-swim showers, restroom access, a first-aid station, and seating areas. Notably, changing rooms are available only at the Grenelle and Bercy sites, but not at Bras Marie, so swimmers are encouraged to arrive already in their swimwear.
Is the Water Actually Clean?
Water quality is a top priority. Samples are taken and analyzed in a laboratory daily at all three bathing sites and at the entrance to Paris. According to Pierre Lombard, who is in charge of sanitation and cleanliness, the water quality has been incompatible with swimming on only two days since the beginning of June. Furthermore, a dedicated team will patrol the Seine quays to monitor discharges from the 300 Parisian boats that are required to be connected to the sewage system.
What About the Canal Saint-Martin?
The popular bathing site in the Canal Saint-Martin, which opened early on June 17, has a specific schedule. The authorized swimming zone in the Récollets sector (10th arrondissement) was extended until July 4. After that, from July 5 to September 6, swimming will be permitted every Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Are More Swimming Sites Planned?
Not immediately, but plans are in motion. Officials have indicated that the three current Seine sites could eventually open earlier in May or June and remain accessible until September. The city is also exploring the development of more bathing spaces, with a promised future site at the Bassin de l’Arsenal, though that project is not expected to come to fruition for another two to three years.
