Swimming in the Seine is becoming a new Paris summer ritual as the city opened three supervised bathing sites on July 4, 2026. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The free swimming areas near City Hall, the Eiffel Tower, and in eastern Paris will remain open through the summer, depending on water quality and weather conditions. They are under strict lifeguards' watch, and authorities conduct daily water quality testing.
Visitors described swimming in the heart of the French capital as an unforgettable experience. Stewart Talbot, a tourist from Melbourne, Australia, said: "It's amazing to be swimming in the Seine while looking at the Eiffel Tower. Maybe it's not as good as the sea in Australia, but it's better than our rivers."
Some Parisians have also added swimming in the Seine to their bucket list. Hermine Jegou, 19, said: "It's great because it's such a mix of people. I love that everyone can get into the water — grandmothers, children — it's just really nice." Her sister, Joanne Jegou, 21, added: "It's such a cool experience, especially being out in the sun and cooling off."
The Seine was a venue for swimming and triathlon competition during the Paris 2024 Olympics, which accelerated a multibillion-euro cleanup of the river.