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SWIMMING

Paris has almost 40 public swimming pools. Most are short-length pools and finding a free lane to swim laps can be tricky. Opening times vary widely; Wednesday afternoon and weekends when kids are off school are the busiest. Unless noted otherwise, admission costs €2.60/21.50 for a single ticket/carnet of 10 and €1.50 a dip for Paris residents under 26 years.

Boys, no hiding what you don’t have: Bermuda and boxer shorts are a no-go in public pools. With the exception of nudist Roger Le Gall, men and boys must don a pair of skin-tight trunks (slips de bain). Most places also demand that everyone wears a bonnet (swimming hat), sold at most pools for a few euros.

FOREST HILL AQUABOULEVARD Map

01 40 60 10 00; www.aquaboulevard.com, in French; 4-6 rue Louis Armand, 15e; adult/child 3-11yr €20/10; 9am-11pm Mon-Thu, 9am-midnight Fri, 8am-midnight Sat, 8am-11pm Sun; Balard

Aquaboulevard delights with water slides and shutes, waterfalls and wave pools in its fun-filled tropical ‘beach’ and aquatic park. The less frivolous can keep fit with tennis, squash, golf, gym and dance classes. No children under 3 years; last admission is 9pm.

PISCINE DE LA BUTTE AUX CAILLES Map

01 45 89 60 05; 5 place Paul Verlaine, 13e; during school holidays 1-6pm Mon, 7am-7pm Tue & Wed, 7am-6pm Thu-Sat, 8am-6pm Sun; during term time 7am-8.30am, 11.30am-1.30pm & 4.30-7pm Tue, 7am-7pm Wed, 7am-8.30am & 11.30am-6.30pm Thu & Fri, 7am-8.30am & 10am-6.30pm Sat, 8am-6pm Sun; Place d’Italie

This positively stunning pool, built in 1924 and now a heritage listed building, takes advantage of the lovely warm water issuing from a nearby artesian well. Come summer, its two outdoor pools buzz with swimmers frolicking in the sun.

PISCINE JOSÉPHINE BAKER Map

01 56 61 96 50; quai François Mauriac, 13e; admission Jul & Aug adult/concession first 2hr €5/2.60, then per hr €5/2.60; 1-3pm & 5-9pm Mon & Thu, noon-5pm & 7pm-midnight Tue & Fri, 1-9pm Wed, 10am-8pm Sat & Sun; Bibliothèque or Quai de la Gare

Built over two years at a cost of €2 million, this striking piscine afloat the Seine is style indeed (named after the sensual 1920s Afro-American singer, what else could it be?). More of a spot to be seen than thrash laps, the two 25m by 10m pools lure Parisians like bees to a honey pot in summer when the roof slides back. Shut for work since November 2007, the 90m-long metallic barge should reopen in 2008.

PISCINE KELLER Map

01 45 71 81 00; 14 rue de l’Ingénieur Keller, 15e; adult/child €2.60/1.50; noon-10pm Mon & Fri, 7-8.30am & noon-10pm Tue & Thu, 7am-8pm Wed, 9am-9pm Sat, 9am-7pm Sun, slightly different hours during school holidays; Charles Michels

This brand-new indoor pool with state-of-the-art glass roof that slides back on warm days opened in mid-April and is a particular splash with Parisians keen to swim beneath the stars.

PISCINE PONTOISE Map

01 55 42 77 88; 19 rue de Pontoise, 5e; adult/concession €3.70/2.20, 10-entry carnet €30.20/19.40; during school holidays 7-8.30am & 11am-11.45pm Mon, 7am-7.30pm & 8.15-11.45pm Tue & Thu, 7-8.30am, 11.30am-7.30pm & 8.15pm-11.45pm Wed, 7-8.30am, 11am-8pm & 9-11.45pm Fri, 10am-7pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun, shorter hr during term time; Maubert Mutualité

A beautiful Art Deco–style indoor pool in the heart of the Latin Quarter, Piscine Pontoise measures 33m by 15m and offers a €9 ticket for all in the evening, covering entry to the pool, gym and sauna.

PISCINE ROGER LE GALL Map

01 44 73 81 12; 34 blvd Carnot, 12e; during school holidays 10am-8pm Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri, 8am-9pm Wed, 10am-7pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun; during term time noon-2pm & 5-8pm Mon, Tue & Thu, noon-2pm & 5-9pm Fri, noon-7pm Sat, 8am-7pm Sun; Porte de Vincennes

With its grassy lawns to lounge about on and twin-set of pools, indoor and out, many readers reckon this is Paris’ best (blvd Périphérique is a tad close for our comfort). It is notably the only public naturiste pool in Paris where you can swim nude. In July and August admission costs more.

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SPECTATOR SPORT

Depending on what time of year you