Paris doesn't get enough credit as a sporty city. It's highly regarded as a fashion and food capital, sure, but those who are into sports and athletics will feel right at home here too. Especially since the city boasts a treasure trove of great places to play sports. Hotspots like Jardin du Luxembourg, Esplanade des Invalides, Le Five Football Club, and Parc de la Cité Internationale Universitaire are perfect for when you want to get your game face on. You can even rent some of these places for your games and matches and let out your inner Messi, Federer, Lebron, and more. Of course, they offer a great workout too!
Jardin du Luxembourg
As one of the
most beautiful parks in Paris, you'd never think that Jardin du Luxembourg would be a great place to play sports. A nice walk in the park, a pleasant picnic, or even a romantic date, sure, but sports? Well, why not? Beyond its colorful flower beds and well-manicured gardens, Jardin du Luxembourg actually has a good number of fields and courts that are designated for playing sports. There's a tennis court, a nice field for football or rugby, and plenty more. Imagine getting to have this much fun amidst the grandeur of the park!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Esplanade des Invalides
Les Invalides is another place you wouldn't have thought would be great for playing sports. It's one of the most stunning
palaces in Paris, filled with lots of history and heritage that can almost rival the other museums in the city. But beyond its grand halls and galleries, there's also Esplanade des Invalides, an open field where people can hang out and have fun. Located right smack in the middle of the building complex, it's the perfect place for a football match, a rugby game, perhaps some badminton, and more. With a backdrop of the monumental Les Invalides as your backdrop, you couldn't have asked for a better place to play sports!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Bretwa
Parc de la Cité Internationale Universitaire
If you're looking for another open field set against a pretty ornate palace, there's still Parc de la Cité Internationale Universitaire. Located in the
14th arrondissement of Paris, it's a massive green space where people can do all sorts of things. And even though it's technically inside the campus of one of the finest universities in Paris, it's still open to the public. You can just go here with your friends and start the fun as soon as possible. As for the sports that you can play here, there's football, rugby, baseball, dodgeball, badminton, and more. Sounds pretty exciting, right?
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Guilhem Vellut
Le Five Football Club
Now, let's talk about the spots that are dedicated to specific sports. First up is Le Five Football Club, which has locations throughout the different
neighborhoods in Paris. That alone should tell you just how popular it is. It's really no surprise too since the French—just like all the other Europeans out there—love football. So it makes sense that a place where people can football as much as they want would be among the best places to play sports in Paris. It's especially great for kids who love the sport to learn it, play it, and perhaps even start their football careers!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Le Five Football Club Facebook Page
Pigalle Basketball
In the infamous
Quartier Pigalle, Pigalle Basketball is a fun and exciting court where you can play the sport. Nestled in a relatively narrow space, almost like an alleyway, it's a colorful court that's practically a work of street art. The entire place looks like it'd belong in a modern art gallery rather than a sport for playing sports. But its purpose is for the latter. It's great for people to let out their inner Lebron James or Kobe Bryant. Moreover, despite how compact of a space it is, it'd still fit a lot of players at the same time.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Patinoire Sonja
In the famous Accor Arena in the
12th arrondissement, Patinoire Sonja is a special spot that's dedicated to ice sports. Be it hockey or figure skating, this is where they hold official competitions in Paris. And when they're not in use for that, it's also open to the public so they can try their hand at the sports. It's where professional figure skaters can train and some hockey leagues for kids practice here too. At times, the skating rink is also open just for random people to skate when they want.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Jiel Beaumadier.
Piscine Keller
If you want to
swim in Paris, Piscine Keller on Rue de l'Ingénieur Robert Keller. Well, at least if you want to get into competitive swimming. Though the city has other pools and the like, this is one of the best for really playing the sport. Not only is it an Olympic-size pool, but it can transform into either an indoor or outdoor pool. You'll need to get the timing right though, because Piscine Keller is still a public pool. You're better off going here during the weekday when there are fewer people swimming.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Fmjwiki
Tennis de la Cavalerie
You already know what sport you'll play when you go to Tennis de la Cavalerie in the
15th arrondissement. It's an indoor tennis court that's also quite an architectural marvel. But don't worry! The roof can open up sometimes if you want to play tennis under the sun. It's even quite the experience too. With a big court and an interesting design on offer, you'll really feel that tennis is a rich people's sport. And as much as you want to unleash your inner Roger Federer or Serene Williams, you're almost shy to be too aggressive or even loud in such a refined space!
Source: Tennis de la Cavalerie.j
If you want to play sports in Paris, you can go to these amazing places. Not only do they provide the perfect arena for athletics, but some are also the most famous attractions in the city. You'll have loads of fun in these hotspots!
