Summer Swimming in the Seine at Bercy

From early July through the end of August, the Quai de Bercy in Paris’s 12th arrondissement transforms into a free riverside swimming destination. Two large, protected swimming areas—one measuring 35 by 12.5 meters and another 67 by 11 meters—are set up in the Seine, flanked by a sunbathing deck (solarium) built from repurposed shipping containers. The site sits opposite the Bibliothèque nationale de France, just below the Parc de Bercy and straddling the Simone-de-Beauvoir footbridge.

Visitors must be at least 1.20 meters tall and able to swim; children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of three minors per adult. Life buoys are provided and mandatory, and entry is supervised by at least five lifeguards. Changing rooms, secure lockers, showers (required before swimming), toilets, and a first-aid post are all available on site. The swimming area is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, subject to favorable water quality, moderate currents, and good weather—conditions checked daily by the city.

Bercy is the largest of Paris’s summer Seine swimming sites, with a capacity of 600 people. The solarium is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, though the water itself is not. This free, family-friendly urban beach offers a unique way to cool off in the heart of the capital, combining sport, leisure, and a touch of Parisian summer magic.