Unusual criterion

Hollande Ponds: the free riverside guinguette beach with no swimming in Yvelines has reopened.

The Étangs de Hollande beach reopens this Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Yvelines (78), after several days of closure caused by storms. We set out to explore the site, from hot sand to deck chairs, inflatable castles, a guinguette, and a free sunset concert that await you through August 30, 2026.

AOP Festival 2026, the 100% cheese and 100% free event at Centquatre-Paris

The AOP Festival 2026 returns to Le Centquatre-Paris. Three days dedicated to cheesemakers to spotlight 51 cheeses, plus PDO butters and creams, from November 13 to 15, 2026.

Heemang Festival: Korean culture takes center stage at this free event in the heart of Paris

The Heemang Festival returns on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, 2026, to the Pont Saint-Louis in Paris, for a major cultural gathering marking 140 years of Franco-Korean diplomatic relations. On the menu: performances, workshops, gastronomy, crafts, and encounters in an iconic, must-see Parisian setting. Admission is free and open to all.

Twingo makes its summer home in the heart of Paris with free events (exhibitions, stand-up, DJ sets...)

From June 26 to September 20, 2026, Twingo takes over the Champs-Élysées with the House of Frog experience at the Renault® show. The lineup includes an immersive exhibit, stand-up, DJ sets, talks, and other activities and entertainment. Admission is free and open to all, with access to the events by prior registration (link in the article).

Le Flow: Paris's seasonal river barge with a rooftop and a nightclub on the Seine.

Flow is back at Port des Invalides, with its waterside terrace, the Cozy by Flow rooftop, and a hull-hugging club, blending street food, cocktails, DJ sets and summer nights on the Seine.

At Alex's: an apéritif terrace on the banks of the Seine, with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

At Alex’s, you’ll find a spot at the foot of the Pont Alexandre III, with an aperitif terrace open daily, offering sharing boards, cocktails, a view of the Seine, and a summery vibe facing the Eiffel Tower.

The medieval fortress of Beynes, the jewel of the Yvelines, has been linked to Diane de Poitiers.

A medieval fortress of the Yvelines, Beynes Castle hides a centuries‑old history and an unexpected link to Diane de Poitiers. Just 30 km from Paris, in the heart of this Yvelines town, its ruins—listed as a Historic Monument—are open to visits year‑round in Beynes. We set out to explore the site on a short break and now reveal a portion of its secrets.

This medieval troglodyte castle in Val-d'Oise hides a giant dragon.

A giant dragon in a troglodyte medieval castle? That's what you'll be able to see during La Vie de Château, the château's contemporary art exhibition at Château de la Roche-Guyon in the Val d'Oise, running from June 20 to November 1, 2026.

55 Amours, a daytime corporate canteen, a cultural bar-restaurant by night in the 17th arrondissement.

At 55 rue Pierre Demours in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, 55 Amours is turning a corporate canteen into a nightlife venue open to the public, blending restaurant, bar, DJ sets, talks, and culinary residencies.

Tucked away in Paris's 15th arrondissement, a neo-Byzantine crypt houses the father of modern medicine.

In Paris’s 15th arrondissement, hidden beneath the buildings of a renowned research institution, lies a little-known spot for the general public: the spectacular crypt of Louis Pasteur, whose discoveries revolutionized modern medicine. Inspired by Neo-Byzantine art, this distinctive mausoleum houses the tombs of the famed scientist and of his wife and collaborator, Marie Pasteur.

Jazz dinner-concert at Bagatelle: we checked out Melville hors les murs 2026

The Melville jazz dinner-concert is taking over Bagatelle Park (16th arrondissement) until July 29, 2026, blending gastronomy with live outdoor music. We checked out an unusually relocated evening at Villa Windsor, and here’s what we thought.

Swimming in Paris’s Canal Saint-Martin: what you need to know before you go

Swimming in the Saint-Martin Canal is permitted in Paris within a designated zone of the Récollets basin. Hours, access, free entry, safety rules: here are the practical details you need to know before you head there.

Splash in Asnières-sur-Seine, the Seine-side restaurant from Bistrots Pas Parisiens

Splash, the restaurant from Bistrots Pas Parisiens in Asnières-sur-Seine, invites you to lunch or dinner by the Seine in a summery setting with a terrace, a pool, and seasonal cuisine.

Ciné-Jardins 2026, the free outdoor film festival held in the gardens of Paris

The Ciné-Jardins outdoor film festival is back in the gardens of Paris and its inner-ring suburbs, from August 20 to September 5, 2026. And it’s still free!

Ciné-Voisins 2026, the free outdoor cinema festival right outside the apartment blocks in the 12th and 20th arrondissements.

Dive into the world of the Ciné-Voisins Festival and enjoy free outdoor film screenings from July 23 to August 2, 2026, at a variety of venues, parks, and squares across Paris.

Viking Festival at Île-Saint-Denis Park: Viking battles and free activities for all

For a single afternoon, the departmental park of L’Île-Saint-Denis invites families to step back in time with a Viking-themed festival, offering a mix of activities, discoveries and outdoor fun.

Polpo Plage 2026: a beachfront terrace and boats on the Seine in Levallois

Polpo Plage is coming to Levallois-Perret for summer 2026, inviting you to put your feet in the sand along the Seine, with a Fever-Tree–designed bar, bonfire nights, and rides on permit-free electric boats.

The Porte de Montreuil flea market, Paris’s haven for bargain-priced finds.

Le marché aux puces de la Porte de Montreuil is one of the capital's largest second-hand markets. Located between the 20th arrondissement of Paris and Montreuil, it welcomes treasure hunters, collectors, and bargain hunters every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday year-round.

La Serre Wangari, the urban-ecology hub that welcomes visitors in Saint-Ouen (93)

In Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (93), La Serre Wangari invites you to discover urban ecology from a fresh angle. Gardening workshops, cooking, composting, exhibitions, talks and nature activities shape this venue open to everyone in Seine-Saint-Denis.

Terre Terre, the farm-guinguette that sits on the banks of the Canal Saint-Denis in Aubervilliers (93)

In Aubervilliers (93), Terre Terre is a participatory urban farm of 3,000 m2 along the Canal Saint-Denis. Year-round offerings include: a vegetable garden, a nursery, volunteering, a micro-market, workshops, and even a guinguette!