Dreaming of swimming in the Seine just like in the good old days? It’s set to become a reality again this summer in Paris and several nearby towns in Île-de-France, starting from summer 2026. Following the record-breaking success of the inaugural season in 2025 — with over 100,000 swimmers hitting the three Parisian sites — regional authorities have confirmed the reopening of free swimming spots along the Seine and Marne, with a few updates. Here’s what you need to know before diving in with your swimsuit.
This revitalization is the result of years of intensive effort, rooted in the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Thanks to a €1.4 billion investment through the Bathing Plan, water quality has been significantly improved, making it possible to bring back open-water swimming in the Seine — a historic milestone a century after it was banned.
In Paris proper, two of the three sites opening in 2025 are being reopened without any changes. The Bercy basin (12th arrondissement), located at the foot of the Simone-de-Beauvoir bridge facing the François-Mitterrand Library, features two safe swimming zones and a sun deck, accommodating up to 700 people, with 300 able to swim at the same time. It remains the largest and most family-friendly site in Paris. The Grenelle arm (15th arrondissement), overlooking Île aux Cygnes with views of the Eiffel Tower, is also back with its shallow pool designed for children and families, along with a free kayak initiation nearby. Both sites offer changing rooms, showers, and lifeguard posts, and they continue to be entirely free."
Meanwhile, the Bras Marie (Paris Centre), located at the foot of the Sully Bridge facing Ile Saint-Louis, will not reopen its piers. Its site, in the heart of a busy waterway route, meant that operational hours would be too restrictive. The Paris City Council has decided to relocate the spot approximately 600 meters away, near the Louis-Philippe Bridge, still in the 4th arrondissement, within a designated zone between this bridge and the original Bras Marie. The Tino-Rossi Gardens in the 5th arrondissement are also being considered—a nod to history, as Parisians already swam there in the 16th and 17th centuries. Additionally, the Villette basin and the Canal Saint-Martin swim are also confirmed to reopen for summer 2026.
Swimming in the Seine: discover the new local spot for summer dips, replacing the Bras Marie.
Since 2025, taking a dip in the Seine has become a summer tradition for Parisians. For the 2026 season, three free and safe swimming zones are opening their doors: while Bercy and Grenelle remain popular fixtures, the Bras Marie basin has relocated downstream to a new spot between the Pont Louis-Philippe and the Pont Marie. [Read more]
Yes, and river swimming enthusiasts near Paris will be pleased. The popular sites in Joinville-le-Pont and Maisons-Alfort along the Marne will both be open again for the summer of 2026. Last year, these spots drew around 50,000 visitors, showing that there’s definitely a strong demand for aquatic recreation in this area.
This summer, Val-de-Marne is relaunching open-water swimming with the first two sites in Maisons-Alfort and Joinville-le-Pont, a first since 1970. By 2026, fourteen zones will be accessible on the Marne and Seine rivers, supported by an ambitious environmental project in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games. We tell you all about it. [Read more]
However, Bry-sur-Marne, which had hoped to establish a permanent swimming site, will not have a dedicated space this season. Instead, the town will only host a temporary swimming event spanning three days.
The big summer news for 2026 is the debut of Seine-Saint-Denis, which is set to inaugurate a new recreational site in Saint-Denis. In Neuilly-sur-Marne, following a one-month trial in 2025, plans are underway to establish a permanent swimming area, although exact dates are still to be confirmed. This move is part of a broader effort to expand accessible swimming spots across Île-de-France by 2030, with 34 potential locations identified along the Seine and Marne rivers.
All of these spots are free to access, monitored by lifeguards, and require a swimming ability test upon entry. The water quality is checked daily, and certain areas may close temporarily due to bad weather or pollution. In short, if you're looking for a great place to cool off without leaving the region, the Seine and Marne rivers definitely have plenty to offer this summer of 2026. Get your swimsuits ready!
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Swimming in the Seine: discover the new local spot for summer dips, replacing the Bras Marie.
Swimming in the Val-de-Marne: the two sites in Joinville and Maisons-Alfort are now open
