Come Swim in the Seine!

Come Swim in the Seine! | Paris’ iconic river reopens to bathers after over a century.

What a nice surprise! Since early July 2025, Parisians and visitors have once again been going for a dip in Paris’ Seine River. This comes after city authorities overturned a ban from the 1920s, and gave the green light for this iconic river to be used for public swimming for the first time in over 100 years, the Guardian reports.

Historic Reopening in the Heart of Paris

Flowing through the heart of the French capital city, Paris, the Seine River is considered the epicenter of the vibrant City of Light. It is bordered by beautiful boulevards, and charming neighborhoods, as Paris Perfect details. The Left Bank, or Rive Gauche, is famous for its writers, artists, intellectuals and cafe culture. The Right Bank (Rive Droite), is home to many of the most famous city attractions including the Louvre Museum, and the Arc de Triomphe, and is associated with commerce and trade. Over a dozen bridges connect the two banks, each with a unique history and features.

Since early July 2025, approximately 1,000 swimmers a day have been granted free access to swim in the river at three officially designated, cordoned off bathing sites along the banks of the Seine in the capital. All are supervised by lifeguards.

Deutsche Welle (DW) reports that lifeguards assess the swimming abilities of visitors due to strong currents, an average depth of 11 feet (3.5 meters), and boat traffic. Swimmers must wear yellow lifebuoys around their waists too.

One bathing spot is located near the Eiffel Tower, and is focused on swimming for families with small children with its secure pool next to the river. It is also accessible to people with reduced mobility. The other two are near the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the National Library.

Each offers beach-style furniture, and changing and shower facilities. Additionally, 14 bathing spots beyond Paris, on the Seine and Marne rivers are planned, with two already open on the Marne.

Tourist authorities have high hopes that swimming in the Seine will prove to be a real tourist magnet. Conde Nast Traveler also points out that these carefully designed facilities reflect Paris’ broader ambitions to return natural spaces to city dwellers and offer relief during the increasingly warmer summers. This free bathing will continue until the end of August.

Reporting on July 23, it said that over 50,000 swimmers had taken the plunge since the early July opening, with no reported health issues.

Local tour guide, Jessica Jeacle, shares how while previously planning to join a local pool “Now I have a free outdoor swim space with a great view, steps from my house.” She starts her day with a dip in what she says are refreshing 65 degrees Fahrenheit waters, with a gentle current. For her “There is a sense of community and almost childlike excitement… Everyone is smiling at each other and taking pictures with the beautiful bridges in the background.”

Cleaning up the Seine River

According to Paris, official archives reveal that bathing along the Seine’s scenic Quai Sully in the city center became fashionable in the mid 17th century. By the end of the century, bathers also enjoyed sitting in boats filled with hot or cold water, like floating swimming pools.

Bathing in the Seine has been illegal since 1923, however. with a few exceptions, due to worries about health risks from pollution and river navigation. It has historically been contaminated with high levels of bacteria from sewage and industrial outflows that can trigger skin infections and gastrointestinal problems. Debris in the river also creates hazardous conditions for bathers.

This summer’s opening comes after a comprehensive and costly clean-up program (estimated at $1.5 billion according to NBC News) enabled its use as a venue in last year’s Paris Olympics. This happened after locals who regularly swam in the river illegally, lobbied over decades for its transformation, reports Design Boom. The wish to allow Parisians to cool down amid increasing summer temperatures has been one of their strongest arguments.

Anne Hidalgo, the outgoing mayor of the city, also helped champion the plans, swimming in the river herself before the Olympics, saying that the clean-up was part of a broader drive to adapt the city to climate change and improve quality of life.

The extensive clean-up project involved connecting over 20,000 homes to the sewer system. Previously, the waste from them had been dumped directly into the river. Water treatment facilities were also upgraded, and huge rainwater storage reservoirs were built to avoid overflows of sewage during rain storms.

Real-time monitoring is testing water quality daily. Bathing sites feature pollution flags indicating water quality, based on rainfall and bacterial presence, details Smart Water Magazine.

Certainly, there have been some hiccups along the way. During the Olympics, the river hosted the triathlon swimming legs and open water swimming events, with some athletes falling sick afterwards.

Meanwhile, on several days since the Seine opened to the public this summer, swimming has not been permitted due to concerns about water quality. Some locals remain sceptical about the idea of swimming in the formally heavily polluted waterway.

Still, ecological indicators point toward improvement. The number of fish species in the Seine has jumped from just four in 1970 to 36 by early 2025. This is a sign of better oxygenation and cleaner water.