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.

Updated on June 22, 2026: In response to the heatwave affecting Île-de-France, the City of Paris is extending the temporary permit to swim in the Saint-Martin Canal. Starting Monday, June 22, access is allowed every day from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., subject to satisfactory water quality and on-site safety conditions.

Swimming in the Saint-Martin Canal, right in the heart of Paris, has become one of the capital’s most unusual summer experiences. At the Récollets basin, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, a free, supervised swimming area lets you cool off in the canal, as long as you respect opening hours, safety guidelines and the designated zones.

Where can you swim in the Saint-Martin Canal in Paris?

This urban swimming spot isn’t like a regular pool: access is allowed only during specific time slots, in a monitored area, and subject to favorable water quality. The site is laid out at the passerelle Michèle-Morgan, opposite the espace Jemmapes and the jardin Villemin, with guided access to the water and facilities designed to welcome swimmers.

What are the swimming hours on the Canal Saint-Martin?

Note: following an initial exceptional early opening announced to begin Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the City of Paris extended the measure due to the heatwave. Since Monday, June 22, 2026, swimming is allowed daily from 3pm to 9pm. To stay updated on announcements and opening conditions, consult our article dedicated to the early opening of swimming at Canal Saint-Martin.

Until July 4, 2026, swimming in the Saint-Martin Canal will benefit from an exceptional open period due to the heat, with hours that may change depending on weather conditions. The City of Paris regularly publishes operating information and any changes on its page dedicated to la baignade autorisée dans le canal Saint-Martin pendant les fortes chaleurs. From July 5 to September 6, 2026 inclusive, summer swimming will take over with an announced opening tous les dimanches de 14h à 18h, subject to water quality checks and safety conditions.

On site, swimming takes place in a clearly marked, supervised section of the Saint-Martin Canal. Access is free, but may be restricted depending on crowd levels, weather, water quality, or safety guidelines.

Rules to know before you go swimming

The site does not offer lockers or baggage storage. Changing rooms and showers are available at the Jemmapes Sports Center. Visitors are therefore advised to come light, with only the essentials, and to avoid bringing valuables.

Bathing at the Saint-Martin Canal isn’t conceived as a sports pool or as a site for open-water training. It is above all a urban swimming space, free and supervised, intended to cool off during the summer in a safe setting. Children under 10 or shorter than 1.20 m must be accompanied by an adult.

Swimwear is mandatory, and swim shorts are allowed. As every year, it is strictly forbidden to bathe outside the supervised zones or outside opening hours. It is also prohibited to dive from the bridges and footbridges that span the canal, even during heatwaves.

Looking to extend your cool-down break? More free pools, swimming venues and bathing areas are available in Paris and the Île-de-France region this summer:

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