Discover Paris’s 20 best Sports spots for your trip

Roland-Garros is the home of the French Open, held annually on its distinctive red clay courts. The complex includes several show courts, a museum dedicated to tennis history, and a boutique.

Visitors can also explore a virtual 3D museum showcasing the venue's heritage. It draws large crowds of tennis fans during tournament season each spring.

Billed as the world's largest balloon, this helium-filled captive balloon rises to 150 metres above Parc André Citroën, carrying up to 30 passengers on a roughly ten-minute flight. Besides sightseeing, it doubles as a flying laboratory measuring greenhouse gases and air pollutants with scientific partners.

Flights depend on weather conditions and run daily without reservation; tickets are bought on-site.

Rent a rowboat by the hour to explore Lac Daumesnil, a 12-hectare lake in the Bois de Vincennes. A leisurely full loop around the lake takes about 45 minutes.

No reservations are needed, boats are available on a walk-up basis, and dogs are welcome. Open daily, with rates from €15 per boat plus a €20 deposit.

Nearby attractions include the Zoo de Paris and the Château de Vincennes.

The Piscine Joséphine Baker floats on the Seine near the Bibliothèque Nationale, its retractable roof allowing it to operate as an open-air pool in summer with river views on either side. Reviewers describe it as a genuine highlight for cooling off during Paris summers, though it draws big crowds on hot days.

The area beneath the Palais de Tokyo has become one of Paris's most iconic informal skate spots, its smooth concrete domes and ledges drawing skaters from across the city and beyond. It sits right next to the museum itself, making it easy to combine a skate session with an art visit.

EGP 18 is a well-equipped, free-to-use skate park near Porte de la Chapelle, popular with local skaters and BMX riders. Reviewers highlight that it's genuinely free to enter and use, with protective gear available to borrow for those who need it.

Piscine Georges-Vallerey was built for the 1924 Paris Olympics and remains a working public pool today, with an outdoor 50-meter basin that's popular for both lap swimming and occasional triathlon training events. Reviewers who've used it for organized events praise the setup and volunteer support.

The Parc zoologique de Paris covers 14 hectares and houses more than 3,000 animals, from lions and pumas to giraffes and calaos, organized into distinct biozones. Visitors can follow an interactive trail, join guided activities, or attend seasonal events like summer evening openings and themed weekends.

The zoo also runs conservation programs, offering animal sponsorships and family-oriented experiences such as keeper workshops.

Arkose Montmartre is part of a well-regarded Paris bouldering gym chain, with this location's long daily hours making it easy to fit in a session before or after exploring the neighborhood. Reviewers note it can get crowded at peak times but consistently praise the friendly, welcoming staff.

Arkose Nation offers the same long daily hours and welcoming approach as its sister locations across Paris, with an attached shop stocking climbing gear from brands like Mad Rock. It's a solid option for climbers looking for a session in the eastern part of the city.

The Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles dates to the 1920s and is known for using naturally warm artesian well water, a distinctive feature among Paris's public pools. Reviewers consistently call it beautiful, though it does get crowded, and note it has occasionally closed earlier than scheduled.

Climb Up Porte d'Italie is one of the larger climbing gyms in southern Paris, with reviewers consistently rating it among their favorites in the city for its space, route variety, and welcoming atmosphere. Long daily hours make it easy to fit a session into most schedules.

Vertical'Art Chevaleret offers a solid range of bouldering routes in a compact but well-used space in the eastern 13th arrondissement. Reviewers praise the creativity of the route-setting, while noting the gym itself is on the smaller side compared to some of the larger Paris climbing venues.

Climbing District Saint-Lazare offers indoor climbing walls in a convenient, central location near Saint-Lazare, drawing both regular climbers and curious first-timers who stumbled onto it. Reviewers highlight approachable staff who make the sport accessible to newcomers.

Annette K. Seine is a barge converted into a lap-swimming pool, moored on the river near Pont Mirabeau in the southwestern part of the city.

Reviewers appreciate its straightforward, no-frills setup for serious lap swimmers, along with a sundeck option for relaxing after a swim.

The Centre Sportif Édouard-Pailleron combines an indoor pool with other sports facilities in the 19th arrondissement, serving mainly a local, residential clientele rather than tourists. Reviewers describe the pool as pleasant, if a little cold at first entry.

Espace Sportif Pontoise centers on a striking 1930s Art Deco swimming pool with a surrounding running track and gym facilities, in the heart of the Quartier Latin. Some reviewers have flagged inconsistent staff interactions around session timing, so it's worth confirming rules on arrival.

Spread over 7,000m² in Paris, Aquaboulevard offers wave pools, waterfalls, geysers, water cannons, family rafting and 11 slides, including a wake box, with water kept at 29°C year-round. Outdoor sand-lined areas open in summer, and the park also runs swim lessons for children, baby-swim classes, and adult aqua fitness activities like aqua jogging and aqua pilates.

Birthday parties and pool parties can also be organized on site.

A guided bike tour through Paris covering major landmarks such as the Opéra, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, Les Invalides, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. A local guide shares historical context throughout the roughly 3-hour ride.

Parc de la Villette combines green spaces with themed gardens, sports facilities and a small farm for visitors to explore. The site hosts a varied cultural program including theatre, dance, circus and music performances, plus a free open-air cinema season each summer and the annual Jazz à la Villette festival.

Free guided weekend tours cover the park's gardens, architecture and history. A dedicated children's area, Little Villette, adds family-friendly activities.