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Summer on the canal

In the 19th century, Parisians in search of nature took advantage of the brand-new railroads to enjoy themselves in the guinguettes on the banks of the Seine. Today, this festive spirit lives on in L'été du canal, an annual event offering a wide range of nautical, recreational and cultural activities in north-eastern Paris. 
Focus on this popular open-air festival not to be missed in July and August. 

An unmissable event for 18 years

While the Seine is often considered the most beautiful avenue in Paris, sunbathing at Paris Plages or picnicking along the Canal Saint Martin are not the only ways to enjoy its gentle coolness in summer. 

Its various canals form a rich heritage that is particularly alive in Seine-Saint-Denis, the department bordering the capital which, since 2007, has become the place to be during summer weekends.

In this territory bubbling with creativity (sometimes compared to Brooklyn), l'Eté du canal has been offering for 18 years:
  • Themed river cruises: heritage, gastronomy, street-art and hip-hop (with graffiti artists, beatboxers and dancers, and along quays rich in urban frescoes).
  • Cultural walks and bike rides.
  • Creative workshops in rehabilitated industrial wastelands. 
  • Balls, concerts and circus, theater and dance shows in lively barges or waterside guinguettes.

So much to see and do:
  • Easily accessible by public transport, from La Villette to the Canal de l'Ourcq, via the Canal Saint-Denis and the northern loop of the Seine.
  • Free or at affordable prices.
  • Suitable for everyone, from street-art enthusiasts to cyclists and strollers of all ages.
  • To share solo, with family or friends. 

To find out more and book the activity of your choice, visit the Seine-Saint-Denis Tourism website. 

Two new features for the 2025 edition

This year's Eté du Canal will be held from July 5 to August 10, and for the first time will feature these 2 brand-new events:

On the water: Canal en pagaies (Paddle Canal)

  • A trip down the Canal de l'Ourcq to the rhythm of the various water sports centers scattered along the route, where you can rent paddles, kayaks or mini-zodiacs (Aulnay-sous-Bois), pedalos (Pantin) or canoes (Sevran and Île-Saint-Denis), starting at €10. At the end of the 10 km crossing in the heart of urban nature, supervised swimming will also be possible in the Bassin de la Villette. 

    And for the occasion, as well as for the closing of the Open Swim open-water race scheduled for the same Saturday, July 5, the Place de la Pointe in Pantin will be transformed into a large festive area. 
On the banks of the Seine: Olympic Heritage Walk

  • A 15km cultural walk to relive the spirit of the 2024 Olympic Games. 
    From the Parc de la Villette to the Seine, via the Canal Saint-Denis, the free walk, open to all, will retrace the sites that vibrated to the rhythm of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and allow visitors to measure the transformations brought about in the area by the global sporting event. 

Please note: in parallel with the walk on Sunday July 20, 2 discovery cruises of this Olympic legacy will also be offered on July 27 and August 10. In both cases, these cultural strolls will be punctuated by numerous visits and talks by guides to find out everything there is to know about the post-Olympic period.

Discover the other events on the program for this 2025 edition of the Eté du canal and enjoy the summer season.


Valérie from Comme des Français


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