Paris Plages began in 2001, this initiative from the Paris City Hall, and is still really popular with Parisians. Every year, between 2,000 and 6,000 tonnes of sand are spread out from the Pont-Neuf to the square in front of the Hôtel de Ville de Sully, around the La Villette basin and on the square of the Hôtel de Ville.

Visitors will find little drink stands, deck chairs, nebulisation gardens, bowls pitches, open-air cafés and free concerts. The athletic amongst you can have fun on the water with rowing, canoeing and pedalos, but ballroom dancing, tai chi and table football are also on offer…

New this year

This year's Paris Plages event sees new activities on offer, such as crazy golf on the Quai de Seine and an ATB course with moguls for people to have a go at dirt biking. La Rotonde hosts the best musicians from the metro at the end of every day, and the London Olympic Games will be shown on a giant screen on the square in front of the Hôtel de Ville.

This unmissable summer event hosts the FNAC Live Festival for the second year in succession from 19 to 22 July in front of the Hôtel de Ville - 4 days of free concerts, featuring Irma on the 19th, La Grande Sophie and Pony Pony Run Run on the 20th and Tryo on the 22nd.