DK Travel : Paris : Outdoor

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Swimming

There are 34 public pools in Paris, but hours are restricted during school terms. Or try the pool at the Forum des Halles.
Tennis

You can play at any of the city’s 170 courts. There is a small court fee.
The Left Bank

A very Parisian walk, particularly on a Sunday, is along the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) of the Seine. The riverside quays of the Latin Quarter have been lined with second-hand bookstalls (bouquinistes ) for centuries. The books are mostly in French, but you’ll also find stalls selling prints and postcards (see Bouquinistes).
The Marais

With inspiring art galleries, delectable delis, and shop after shop filled with contemporary fashions and objets d’art , a walk in the Marais is great fun, even if you only window-shop. The beautiful mansions are a great backdrop for your stroll and there are plenty of cafés and bars for sustenance (see Marais and the Bastille).
The Passages

These covered arcades were built at the end of the 18th century to shelter elegant shoppers from grimy streets and bad weather. Now lined with speciality and antiques shops, they are wonderfully atmospheric places to explore. Most are in the 2nd arrondissement , and connecting passages Verdeau, Jouffroy and Panoramas together form the longest in Paris.
Top of the Eiffel Tower

There is nowhere in Paris to match the view from the top of the tower, so hope for good weather. With the Seine sparkling below and lush greenery, it is the highlight of any visit (see Eiffel Tower).
Trocadéro Fountains

Spouting towards the Eiffel Tower, these fountains are illuminated at night (see View from the Trocadéro).
Versailles

There are gardens galore at this famous royal palace, from the formal French gardens with their geometric paths and shrubberies, to the wandering paths through the rural-style English garden north of the Petit Trianon. In summer, you can row boats on the lovely cross-shaped Grand Canal.
Versailles Fountains

The fountains at Versailles (see Versailles Sights) flow to music on summer Sunday afternoons.
Walking

Paris is a compact city so you can easily combine sightseeing with exercise.