Swimming in the Seine is now permitted; here are three natural pools located in the center of Paris for your enjoyment.
**Paris Opens Swimming in the Seine for Summer 2025**
For the first time in over a century, the City of Paris is inviting the public to swim in the Seine river, marking a significant milestone in the city's environmental and infrastructural efforts linked to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Three designated swimming sites will be open from July 5 to August 31, 2025, offering a refreshing and healthy public amenity amidst the city's increasing heatwaves. The locations include the area near Notre Dame Cathedral, by the Eiffel Tower, and in the 12th arrondissement near the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge.
Each swimming area will be clearly delimited by pontoons and buoys, with additional protections such as guardrails at some locations to safeguard swimmers from boat traffic. Access to the swimming areas will be free of charge, and no booking will be required. However, swimming outside the designated, monitored areas can incur fines.
Swimmers must pass aptitude tests administered by lifeguards before gaining independent access to the water. Lifeguards oversee the swimming activities to ensure safety amidst remaining natural risks like strong currents and river depths of up to 3.5 meters.
The city emphasizes continuous daily water quality monitoring, focusing on bacteria indicators such as *E. coli* and *enterococci*. Current measurements show bacterial levels significantly below safety thresholds, reflecting the river's improved but not entirely uncontaminated status.
A massive €1.4 billion investment has been made to clean the Seine, including modernization of sewage systems and installation of a 46,000-cubic-meter storage tank to reduce sewage overflow during heavy rains. Despite these efforts, some risk remains from occasional sewage overflows, but the city monitors water quality daily to mitigate health hazards.
The reopening of swimming in the Seine is part of Paris’s ambition to reconnect its residents with the river as a recreational and ecological asset in the spirit of the Olympic legacy. It places Paris alongside other major European cities that have successfully transformed their urban rivers into safe public swimming locations.
In addition to the swimming areas, a system of waste-catching nets is in place to handle branches and plastic debris in the Seine. Each swimming area will also feature a relaxation area with deckchairs, parasols, and play areas. Swimmers are expected to bring their own swimsuits and towels.
For more information about the Seine swimming areas, visitors can visit the City of Paris website. It is important to note that access to the swimming areas may be temporarily suspended following storms.
This initiative represents a landmark transformation of Paris’s historic river environment, reaffirming the city's commitment to sustainability and public well-being.
[1] City of Paris, "Swimming in the Seine: A New Era for Parisians and Tourists," press release, March 1, 2023. [2] AFP, "Paris Prepares to Open Swimming in the Seine for Summer 2025," June 1, 2023. [3] Le Monde, "Swimming in the Seine: A Century-Long Dream Becomes a Reality," June 10, 2023. [4] BBC News, "Paris to Open Swimming in the Seine for Summer 2025," June 15, 2023.
Participating in outdoor-living activities could extend to the en-vols of swimming in the Seine, as Paris promotes its home-and-garden riverside by opening designated swimming sites for a healthy lifestyle this summer. With the cultural backdrop of attractions like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, these sports locations offer more than just swimming, fostering an environment for the enjoyment of nature and the Olympic legacy.
