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Where to Swim in Paris? The 5 Best Spots Easily Accessible from Saint-Lazare Station in 2026
All the places featured in this guide have been carefully selected by the team of the Société des Hôtels Littéraires for their easy access from the Saint-Lazare district. In less than thirty minutes by metro, you can reach Paris’ new riverside swimming areas, iconic pools and family-friendly water parks. Whether you are staying in Paris for a few days or simply passing through, these spots offer a different way to experience the capital, away from the summer heat.
On the promenade of Balbec, a young narrator once encounters a group of laughing young women, described as a flock of seagulls briefly resting on the Normandy sand for the summer. It is in In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower, the second volume of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, published in 1919 and awarded the Prix Goncourt, that the author forever immortalised the seaside as a place of carefree moments and romantic discovery. Balbec may not exist on any map, but its inspiration is very real: in Cabourg, on the Normandy coast, young Marcel spent several summers recovering from illness, walking along the promenade and observing from the terrace of the Grand Hôtel the elegant seaside society that would later nourish his work.
Paris is not always associated with this same sense of seaside leisure and summer freshness. Yet, in the 8th arrondissement, at the heart of the Plaine Monceau neighbourhood so closely connected to the writer’s life, Hôtel Litérraire le Swann continues this Proustian art of living every day, with rooms inspired by Proustian characters and a library of five hundred books dedicated to the author. And when temperatures rise in the capital, there is no need to escape to the English Channel: Paris has gradually created its own urban coastline, between a revitalised Seine, historic swimming pools and family-friendly water parks. Here are five places where you can enjoy a new kind of Parisian seaside experience, just a few metro stops from Saint-Lazare Station.
The Seine: Paris’ new riverside beach inspired by the Olympic Games
Swimming in the Seine for free: three pools, three unique atmospheres
The most spectacular legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is not something to be viewed behind glass in a museum: it is something to be experienced, with your feet in the water. Thanks to an ambitious river-cleaning programme, swimming in the Seine officially became possible in Paris in summer 2025. The 2026 season confirms this new summer tradition, with three dedicated, secure and supervised swimming areas open from 4 July to 30 August 2026, completely free of charge and without reservation.
Bras Marie
Located in the 4th arrondissement, the historic Bras Marie swimming area has moved this year to Pont Louis-Philippe, in the heart of historic Paris, opposite Île Saint-Louis. It is now the only one of the three Seine swimming sites accessible to people with reduced mobility for the swimming area itself, rather than only for the sun deck. Easily reached by metro lines 6 and 14, it offers a refreshing break after a stroll through Le Marais or a visit to Île de la Cité.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 20 minutes by metro (Line 14)
☛ Price: Free
☛ Best for: Couples and families
☛ Our team’s tip: Come for a morning swim, then extend your visit with a walk along Île Saint-Louis.
The Bercy swimming area
Located in the 12th arrondissement, the Bercy site offers two swimming pools with an urban beach atmosphere and views over the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Open from 11 am to 9 pm, it is particularly enjoyable at the end of the day, when temperatures become milder and the evening light reflects beautifully on the water.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 20 minutes by metro (direct Line 14 from Saint-Lazare)
☛ Best for: Couples, casual swimmers and sunset lovers
☛ Price: Free
☛ Our team’s tip: Arrive in the late afternoon to enjoy the golden light over the Seine before having dinner in the lively Bercy Village area.
Bras de Grenelle
In the 15th arrondissement, Bras de Grenelle faces the Paris replica of the Statue of Liberty on Île aux Cygnes. This 60-metre by 20-metre pool, fully enclosed by buoys, is especially popular with families thanks to its open surroundings. For sports enthusiasts, it is worth noting that from 4 to 8 August 2026, the site will host the European Open Water Swimming and High Diving Championships, temporarily suspending public swimming during this period. The Bercy site will then provide an alternative.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 25 minutes by metro
☛ Best for: Families and visitors looking for a more spacious setting
☛ Price: Free
☛ Our team’s tip: Take the opportunity to walk along Île aux Cygnes and discover the Paris Statue of Liberty, one of the city’s lesser-known landmarks.
Bassin de la Villette
For those who prefer the calm waters of a canal to the movement of the river, Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement remains open every day from 11 am to 9 pm throughout the summer. The nearby Canal Saint-Martin also allows swimming on Sundays from 2 pm to 6 pm, within a strictly designated area between 116 and 126 Quai de Jemmapes. Jumping from bridges or footbridges is strictly prohibited for safety reasons, as it is at all urban swimming sites.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 20 minutes by metro
☛ Best for: Groups of friends and families
☛ Price: Free
☛ Our team’s tip: Visit in the morning for a quieter atmosphere, then continue your walk along Canal Saint-Martin, with its many bookshops, cafés and terraces.
This return of free and accessible swimming in the heart of the city contrasts beautifully with the exclusive seaside resorts described by Proust in Balbec, where people went as much to see and be seen as to swim. In Paris in 2026, the river belongs to everyone — with the only summer ritual being checking the opening times before heading out with your swimsuit.
Iconic and Unusual Pools: Swimming Through Parisian History
Beyond the Seine, Paris is home to more than thirty-five public swimming pools, not including private facilities. Some are true architectural landmarks, admired as much for their remarkable design as for the pleasure of swimming.
Joséphine Baker Pool, Paris’ Only Floating Swimming Pool
Moored on the Seine at Quai François-Mauriac in the 13th arrondissement, opposite the Bibliothèque nationale de France and Bercy Park, Piscine Joséphine Baker has been Paris’ only floating swimming pool since it opened in 2006. Its 25-metre pool, equipped with a retractable roof that opens in fine weather, offers the unique sensation of swimming outdoors while floating above the river. Fully renovated in 2016, the complex also features a wellness area with a sauna, hammam and sun deck, as well as a paddling pool for younger children.
Open all year round, the pool adjusts its opening hours according to the season. During the summer period, from 8 July to 1 September, it welcomes visitors Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., while weekend opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entry remains affordable, with full-price admission at around €3.50. It is one of the best places in Paris for an evening swim, when the retractable roof opens onto the summer sky.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 20 minutes by metro (Line 14)
☛ Best for: Regular swimmers and wellness enthusiasts
☛ Admission: Public swimming pool (paid entry)
☛ Our team's tip: Visit in the evening during summer when the roof is open. Swimming above the Seine at sunset is one of the city's most memorable experiences.
Molitor Pool, the White Ocean Liner of the Roaring Twenties
No guide to Paris' legendary swimming pools would be complete without Molitor, in the 16th arrondissement. Opened in 1929 by architect Lucien Pollet during the Roaring Twenties, this Art Deco masterpiece was for more than sixty years the capital's most fashionable swimming destination. People came here not only to swim but also to attend aquatic galas and glamorous fashion shows. According to Parisian legend, it was here that the bikini made its first public appearance in the French capital. Closed in 1989 and abandoned for twenty-five years, Molitor unexpectedly became a temple of urban art before eventually being listed as a Historic Monument.
Faithfully rebuilt and reopened in 2014, Molitor is now a five-star MGallery hotel centred around its two historic pools: one beneath a magnificent Art Deco glass roof, the other outdoors, surrounded by its iconic blue changing cabins reminiscent of an elegant ocean liner. Its 500-square-metre rooftop, open from May to September, overlooks the outdoor pool and offers sweeping views across the rooftops of Paris, stretching as far as nearby Roland-Garros. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can enjoy a cocktail on the rooftop and experience one of the city's most iconic swimming venues.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 30 minutes by metro
☛ Best for: Architecture lovers, heritage enthusiasts and luxury hotel aficionados
☛ Admission: Access according to the hotel's offers and facilities
☛ Our team's tip: Even if you are not planning to swim, take time to explore the outdoor spaces or enjoy a drink on the rooftop. Molitor's Art Deco architecture makes it one of Paris' most iconic landmarks.
Émile Anthoine Pool, Swimming with a View of the Eiffel Tower
Just a short walk from the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement, Piscine Émile Anthoine offers one of the finest swimming views in Paris: you can literally swim while facing the Eiffel Tower. Its two 25-metre pools, complemented by a smaller children's pool, extend onto a popular sun deck that quickly fills on sunny days. Bright and spacious, with extended weekday opening hours, it appeals both to dedicated swimmers and to visitors looking to relax in the sun with the Iron Lady as their backdrop.
☛ Travel time from Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann: approximately 20 minutes by metro
☛ Best for: Swimmers and photography enthusiasts
☛ Admission: Public swimming pool (paid entry)
☛ Our team's tip: Choose an early evening session. The view of the Eiffel Tower is particularly beautiful as the sun begins to set, and the pool is often less crowded than in the middle of the afternoon.
Family Fun Before Returning to Proustian Calm
Aquaboulevard, Paris' Ultimate Water Park
For families looking to turn swimming into a full day of adventure, Aquaboulevard remains one of Paris' must-visit attractions. Open since 1989 in the 15th arrondissement, it is Europe's largest indoor urban water park, covering more than 7,000 square metres with indoor and outdoor pools, eleven exciting water slides, a wave pool activated every thirty minutes and a tropical area filled with palm trees that makes visitors forget they are still in the heart of Paris.
Open every day of the year and easily reached via Metro Line 8, Aquaboulevard welcomes children from the age of three in dedicated areas, while adults can enjoy a wellness space with hammams and whirlpool baths heated to 38°C. During the summer season, from mid-April to early September, opening hours are extended every day, remaining open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. It is the perfect choice when temperatures soar and you want much more than a simple swim.
Returning to the World of Marcel Proust
After a day spent exploring the Seine, historic swimming pools and thrilling water slides, there remains that deeply Proustian pleasure of returning to a familiar place. Just a few minutes' walk from Saint-Lazare Station, Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann offers exactly that peaceful retreat. Behind its elegant Haussmann façade, guests discover refined interiors, an Art Deco glass roof above the breakfast room, and above all the Suichuka Japanese Spa, designed as an invitation to relax alone or as a couple, far from the bustle of the capital. Some rooms even feature private terraces, perfect for enjoying the cool evening air after a warm summer day.
Its location near Saint-Lazare Station also makes the hotel an ideal base for exploring all of these swimming destinations, whether heading to Bras de Grenelle in just a few metro stops or crossing Paris to discover Molitor. For travellers wishing to continue their literary journey all the way to Normandy, Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert in Rouen provides the perfect starting point for exploring the beaches that inspired Marcel Proust's legendary Balbec.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim in the Seine for free in Paris in 2026?
Yes. Three supervised swimming areas — Bras Marie (near Pont Louis-Philippe), Bercy and Bras de Grenelle — are open free of charge, without reservation, from 4 July to 30 August 2026.
Which swimming pool is closest to Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann?
Located in Paris' 8th arrondissement, close to Saint-Lazare Station, Hôtel Littéraire Le Swann offers easy metro access to all the swimming spots featured in this guide, including Molitor and the new Seine swimming areas.
Which Paris swimming pool offers views of the Eiffel Tower?
Piscine Émile Anthoine, near the Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement, allows visitors to swim while enjoying spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower.
Is there a historic swimming pool in Paris?
Yes. Molitor, inaugurated in 1929 and listed as a Historic Monument, is one of Paris' most celebrated Art Deco landmarks and now forms the heart of a five-star hotel.
Written by Léa Geoffray
