Take your date to the beach without even leaving the city. Every summer the banks of the Seine are transformed into a long beach party with real sand to lay out on, barbecues, good music, and even books to rent. You might even be tempted to go into the water (but don't, or you might not live to tell about it...).


The palm trees may be a bit of a stretch, but it's authentic summer fun at Paris Plage. The central beach stretches on the right bank of the Seine from the Pont de Sully to the Jardin des Tuileries and is open from around July 20 to August 20 each summer.
Two smaller beaches are installed at the Port de la Gare (near the Mitterand site of the National Library in the 13th arrondissement, metro Quai de la Gare or Bibliothèque) and at the Bassin de la Villette (metro Jaurès).