Every year Paris converts a section of the Seine to the beach in the city – Paris Plage – not to be confused with Le Touquet Paris-Plage!
For this seaside-on-Seine resort in Paris– tons of sand are imported to create a sandy beach with deckchairs and snack bars and of course ice cream sellers.
Paris Plages is found at two sites: Voie Georges Pompidou, along the Seine (Hôtel de Ville metro) in central Paris and La Villette Basin, in North-East Paris (Stalingrad or Jaurès metro). All Paris Plages activities are free of charge and there is a wealth of activities and entertainment for four weeks at the lovely little seaside oases in the hot City.
Take advantage of water sports such as row boats, kayaks, pedal boats and dinghies at the Bassin de Villette or enjoy a meal in one of the charming quay-side restaurants followed by a game of petanque!
There’s a swimming pool, concerts, rollerblading, wall climbing, tai-chi, ballroom dancing, Zumba and volleyball. Get out on the water in a rollertube – those huge plastic cylinders that you run across the water in like a mad giant hamster, play mini-golf or go mountain biking. But if that’s all a bit strenuous – borrow a free book and relax on the sunbeds and deckchairs and watch the London Olympics on the giant screen at the forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville where the entire competition will be broadcast
All Paris Plages beaches are open non-stop from 8.00 am to midnight – check out the programme of events on the Paris Mairie website.
