Swim in the Seine for the First Time in a Century

It’s a moment that’s been more than 100 years in the making. This summer, you can finally go for a dip in the Seine. From July 5 to August 31, three sites along the river will open for free public swimming as part of Paris Plages, turning a long-standing joke into a shimmering reality. 

Yes, that Seine. The same river that, for decades, was more associated with murky waters than with sunbathers and swimmers. 

“It was an extraordinary moment (in 2024), but swimming during the Games was not an end in itself,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a press conference, reflecting on last summer’s Olympic open-water events in the Seine. “Making the Seine swimmable is first and foremost a response to the objective of adapting to climate change, but also of quality of life.” 

With the Paris 2024 Olympics behind us and the scent of summer in the air, the City of Paris is determined to make good on its promise to clean up the Seine – and let Parisians finally reclaim their river. 

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A Dip in History 

Swimming in the Seine was once a common Parisian pastime. In the 17th century, bathers splashed about along the Quai Sully, often au naturel. By the late 19th century, bathhouses and floating tubs had taken over. Even dogs got in on the action – professional dog washers once plied their trade along the quays, shampooing and shearing fluffy clients. 

Alas, the golden age of Seine swimming sank beneath the waves of industrialization, pollution, and an explosion of car traffic in the 20th century. In 1923, bathing in the river was officially made illegal due to concerns over human health, and the Seine’s banks became highways instead of havens for sunbathers. 

The banks of the Seine became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. Fast forward to the early 2000s, when a push to pedestrianize the riverbanks began – with the Paris Plages project in 2002 and, later, the pedestrianization of the Right Bank, Parisians began dreaming of dipping their toes in once more.  

Now, after a €1.5 billion cleanup campaign involving just about every public authority imaginable – regional prefecture, water agencies, port authorities, you name it – the Seine has been declared safe for swimming. 

Daily water quality checks will ensure swimmers remain safe, and in case of rain, swimming may be suspended.  

Clean Enough to Swim? 

It’s a question that’s been haunting Paris for decades: Is the Seine really clean enough to swim in? Back when he was city mayor, Jacques Chirac famously pledged to take a dip in the river in 1988 to prove its cleanliness – a promise he never fulfilled. It’s taken another 36 years, a global sporting event, and a whole lot of engineering, but the dream has finally come true. 

Tests during the 2023 pre-Olympic period showed that 91% of daily samples met European water quality standards, and the city promises daily monitoring and a flag system (green for go, yellow for caution, red for stop) to keep swimmers safe. 

“This is about much more than swimming,” said Hidalgo. “It’s about reclaiming the river, about creating spaces where Parisians and visitors can breathe, play, and relax. It’s about showing that we can adapt to climate change, and that we can make our cities more livable.” 

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Where You Can Swim 

Here’s the lowdown on the three new swimming spots: 

Bercy – The Big Splash 

If you’re looking for space, Bercy is your best bet. Nestled beneath the Simone-de-Beauvoir footbridge, across from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Bercy boasts two large pools and can welcome up to 700 people, including 300 swimmers at a time. Changing rooms, showers, toilets, a first-aid station, and even a solarium for that post-swim tan are all on site. 

Bercy will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., so pack a picnic and make a day of it.

Grenelle – Swim with a View 

Fancy a swim with the Eiffel Tower as your backdrop? Head to Grenelle, just opposite the Île aux Cygnes. This family-friendly site offers a safe pool for kids, just 40 to 60 cm deep, plus a solarium for sunbathers. There’s also free kayaking lessons for those who like to paddle. 

Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays until 4:45 p.m., and Sundays in three blocks: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., and 2:45 to 5:30 p.m.  

Bras Marie – A Swim in the Heart of Paris 

For a truly iconic experience, the Bras Marie site near Île Saint-Louis lets you float in the heart of Paris, under the watchful gaze of Notre Dame. This smaller site can host up to 150 swimmers at a time. Lockers, outdoor showers, seating, and a first-aid station will be available. 

Hours here are an early riser’s dream: Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

So, whether you’re after a lap with a view of the Eiffel Tower or a lazy float by Île Saint-Louis, pack your swimsuit and sunscreen – Paris is ready to make a splash!