Canal Saint Martin Paris: 13 Best Things To Do

Canal Saint Martin Paris is the perfect mix of lively, cool and tranquil. It’s where the hipsters hang and it’s totally French “bobo.” Let’s get this straight. I’m no hipster and I had to google what on earth French “bobo” is and why Canal St Martin Paris even qualifies.

Boboïsation, or gentrification, is the mix between bourgeois and bohemian. Ohh.. I like the sound of that. Perhaps that is why I love Canal Saint-Martin so much. You can enjoy the nicer things that Paris has to offer, seasoned with a dash of bohemian flare, just a little bit of unconventional spice. Canal St Martin is my kind of neighbourhood.

It was a short stay one summer that introduced me to Canal Saint Martin Paris. I then returned and lived by Canal St Martin for a month. I knew that Canal Saint-Martin and I would be a good match. Scooting over iron footbridges, lively streets, hundred-year-old chestnut trees arching over the Canal, sharing a bottle of champagne by the water and the permission to laze away time watching the locks fill and barges pass through.

Canal Saint Martin Paris is enchanting.

FAQ Canal Saint-Martin Paris

Where Is The Canal Saint Martin Paris?

The Canal Saint-Martin in eastern Paris is a 2.8 mile / 4.5 km long canal that connects the Bassin de la Villette (the Ourcq Canal) with the Seine River. The Canal St Martin has nine locks and two swing bridges.

Where Is The Canal Saint Martin Neighbourhood?

Canal Saint Martin is in the 10th arrondissement of Paris on the Seine River’s right bank. It stretches along the Canal Saint Martin and is known for its trendy cafés, boutique shops and vibrant atmosphere.

How Do I Get To The Canal St Martin Paris?

By Métro, there are many options to get to Canal St Martin. It is an easy walk from all of these stations.

• République: Lines 3, 5, 8, 9 & 11
• Gare de l’Est: Lines 4 & 7
• Goncourt: Line 11
• Jacques Bonsergent: Line 5

What Is The History Of le Canal Saint Martin Paris?

In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned the building of the canal to bring more fresh water and food to Paris. The Canal St Martin in eastern Paris opened in 1825.

When Baron Hausmann was redesigning Paris in the 1850s, the Canal Saint-Martin was sent underground. The canal was lowered and almost half of it was covered over to create wide grassy boulevards. If you find yourself walking on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir and Jules Ferry, you are walking over the Canal St Martin. The Paris canal goes underground near Place de la République. Boats navigate out to the Seine River through a series of tunnels.

Is It True They Periodically Drain The Canal Saint Martin Paris?

Yes. About every fourteen years the canal is drained. Canal Saint Martin Paris was last drained in January 2016. A dam was created at the top of the canal by Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad to stop the water flow and drain the water into the Seine. What was found at the bottom of the Canal St Martin? Lo and behold, there were dozens of bicycles, cell phones, scooters and even a gun. Read more about it here.

Where Can I Eat Around Canal Saint-Martin?

The area around Canal St Martin Paris is hopping with restaurants, cafés, bakeries and many tiny shops that Paris is famous for. If you are looking to grab a few things for a picnic on one of the quays, there are cheese shops, veggie shops and French and Italian charcuteries that will have your picnic basket bursting in no time! Get all the details here in this post in Restaurants by Canal Saint-Martin: Eat Well in Paris.

Can I Swim in Canal Saint Martin Paris?

Swimming in the Canal St Martin is not normally allowed except on specific dates in the summer. At these times, the locks are closed to boats for the safety of the swimmers. The water quality in Canal St Martin is checked regularly.

In the summer of 2023, free swimming was allowed in Canal St Martin every Sunday from July 9 to August 20 in the afternoons from 12 to 4 PM. The designated swimming area is opposite Espace Jemmapes and Jardin Villemin. Changing rooms and showers are available in the Jemmapes Sports Center.

We anxiously await the dates for the summer of 2024.

13 Best Things To Do By Canal Saint Martin Paris

1. Picnic By Canal Saint Martin Paris

Swing your legs over the edge of the Quai and you might forget, as the boats go by and the ancient trees sway overhead that you are in Paris.

Create The Perfect Picnic For Canal St Martin

It’s not hard to find an assortment of delectable, delightful and delicious ingredients for a picnic by Canal St Martin.

Get off at the metro Jacques Bonsergent or République. Walk down rue de Lancry to La Crèmerie (41 rue de Lancry). It won’t disappoint. Cheese, wine, deli offerings and more await.

Pick up some fruit and vegetables at Les Halles Lancry (42 rue de Lancry) and swing ’round the corner to Du Pain et des Idées (34 rue Yves Toudic). Grab a baguette or their signature Pain des Amis and a tartine aux Pommes and you are all set for a brilliant picnic canal-side.

2. Stand On A Bridge And Watch The Barges

While away some time by the locks. There is something mesmerizing about watching a large barge squeezed into a lock on the Canal St Martin. The water rushes in and there’s nothing to do but wait while the water level adjusts and the gate slowly swings open. Don’t be in a hurry.

Position yourself by one of the ancient swing bridges. All pedestrian and vehicular traffic stops as the swing bridges pivot to 90 degrees to let the boats pass.

3. Stroll Quai de Valmy & Quai de Jemmapes

Facing north, the Quai de Valmy is on the left side of the Canal St Martin and the Quai de Jemmapes is on the right. Plan for a picnic but also allow for some time to stroll alongside the Canal crisscrossing over the iron footbridges as your heart desires. An added bonus? There aren’t as many stairs here as in Montmartre, but climbing up the stairs to cross the bridges is a decent little cardio workout!

4. Take A Cruise On Canal St Martin Paris

Enjoying Canal Saint Martin Paris from the water is another way to get up close and personal with this waterway. Decide on where you want to start (cruises are one-way) and end. Canauxrama Paris and Vedettes du Pont Neuf are two companies to check out. I have not yet done this unusual Paris cruise but I definitely will – mostly to experience the underground tunnels and the vault under the Place de la Bastille. It’s hard to imagine what is going on under those grassy boulevards. I need to see for myself!

5. Join The Crowds At Chez Prune

Location: 36 rue Beaurepaire, 75010 Paris

This corner cafe is a hot spot by Canal Saint Martin Paris. As with all French cafés, it is open for a coffee and croissant in the morning, serves a proper lunch from 12 to 2 PM and is buzzing all evening once the apéritif hour sets in. Pull up a chair curbside and just listen and watch.

Lunchtime is a classic window into French life. Guests arrive and are greeted by the waiters with les bises (kisses on each cheek). They aren’t kissing strangers, just neighbours and regulars. It’s rather like you are dining in someone’s home. It’s bustling with a convivial vibe and the food is delicious.

How community-oriented is this café? One of the barmen a few years ago saw somebody drowning in the Canal St-Martin. He dashed from Chez Prune to the canal, jumped in and saved the drowning victim.

6. Partake In A Little Retail Therapy

Indulging in some boutique browsing is always a fun way to spend a few hours in Canal Saint Martin Paris. Don’t miss the collections at Antoine et Lili with their colourful facades and be sure to wander down rue Beaurepaire and rue de Marseille. My favourite vintage/second-hand shop in Canal Saint-Martin Paris is Frivoli.

Favourite Boutiques Canal St Martin Paris:

• Antoine et Lili, 95 Quai de Valmy, 75010 Paris
• Sandro, 93 Quai de Valmy, 75010 Paris
• Karl Marc John, 65 Quai de Valmy, 75010 Paris
• Frivoli, 26 rue Beaurepaire, 75010 Paris

7. Smell The Flowers In le Jardin Villemin

Location: 14 rue des Récollets, 75010 Paris

Le Jardin Villemin is a quiet and lush garden in the Canal Saint Martin neighborhood. Sit on a bench and watch young families play or wander through the park along the pathway. You’ll find the Canal St Martin community garden that’s blooming even in early March, a pond, a toddler playground and a bandstand. Chestnut trees and cherry blossoms add to the ambience.

8. Stock Up At Le Marché Couvert Saint-Martin

Location: 31 – 33 rue du Château-d’Eau, 75010 Paris

This small covered market, le Marché Couvert Saint-Martin, has been around since the 1850s. It is bursting with stalls selling delectable goods that will set you salivating. My favourite is the Fromagerie Saint-Martin where over 100 local cheeses completely entice the imagination and the taste buds. Along with cheese they also sell yoghurt and wine. And to top it off, the service is great! It’s a one-stop shop to fill your picnic basket for an evening by the Canal Saint-Martin.

9. Set Foot On Movie Sets In Canal Saint Martin Paris

Hôtel du Nord

Location: 102 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris

The 1938 movie Hôtel du Nord, directed by Marcel Carné, was a huge hit starring Arletty and Louis Jouvet. Although much of the movie was shot in the studio, the façade of the building, facing Canal St Martin, has a special place in the hearts of movie fans.

On a recent visit, the bartender, stationed behind the zinc counter, recounted how Eugène Dabit, son of the owners of the Hotel du Nord, wrote the original story in 1929.

The elegant Hôtel du Nord, 102 Quai de Jemmapes, is a charming and tranquil place to dine, have a coffee, a nightcap or a drink in the garden.

Canal Saint-Martin Paris has been used as a movie set more than once! Do you remember the movie Amélie, the 2001 romantic comedy directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet? In a lovely scene, Amélie Poulain, the charming heroine, is skipping stones along the still waters of the canal. Pick up a stone and follow suit.

10. Find The Garden Of l’Hôpital Saint-Louis

Location: 1 Ave. Claude Villefaux, 75010 Paris

Would you like to sit and relax in a quiet and ancient courtyard? A few minute’s walk from Canal St Martin there is a beautiful garden in the l’Hôpital Saint-Louis.

In 1607, Henry IV decided to have l’Hôpital Saint-Louis built to house contagious patients. You will feel as though you have found the twin sister of Place des Vosges. This courtyard, albeit not nearly as polished as Place des Vosges, is a tranquil and shady refuge that many people don’t know about. Open: Weekdays from 11 – 15:00; Open on weekends from April 1 – October 31

11. Visit The Rainbow Of Façades On Rue Sainte-Marthe

This tiny street tucked away like a quiet rainbow in the historic area of Sainte-Marthe is lined with colourful façades and interesting shops, some of which seem to be rarely open. The area is struggling but it is well worth a wander. Stop in at La Tête dans les Olives (2 rue Sainte-Marthe) to taste and stock up on spectacular olives, olive oils and other products from Sicily. It is the tiniest of shops with a warm and delightful owner.

Further up rue Sainte-Marthe, stop at Dixième Degré for an apéro and continue up the street to Place Sainte-Marthe. You are in lower Belleville by now and truly off the beaten path in Paris here.

12. Stroll Along rue Legouvé

This narrow laneway near Canal St Martin is full of graffiti and worth a wee peek. While examining the graffiti, try to imagine the building that used to exist between the two red brick walls.

13. Linger In Rue de la Grange aux Belles

I first discovered rue de la Grange aux Belles when looking for an oat milk latte. Ten Belles has terrific coffee and is surrounded by charming boutiques and one of the best ice cream pop-up shops in Paris. It was J J Hings that inspired me to write about the best ice cream in Paris. Spend a little time in this part of Canal Saint Martin Paris. It’s charming and very authentic Paris.

Favourite Places To Stop on Rue de la Grange aux Belles:

• For Coffee: Ten Belles, 10 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris
• For A Taste Of Portugal: Canelas Le Portugal Avec Amour, 8 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris
• For Flowers: Bleuet Coquelicot, 10 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris
• For Ice Cream: JJ Hings – pop up across from Ten Belles

I say, “What’s not to love about a slice of Parisian “bobo” in Canal Saint Martin Paris?” It’s got something for every kind of traveller. What do you think?

HOT TRAVEL TIP: In April the chestnut trees are blooming making for the perfect photo opportunities!

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Author: Alison BrowneCreator and Founder of Dreamer at Heart Alison, a Francophile from a young age, is following a long-held dream and has been living in Paris since 2020. Her passion for uncovering Paris and discovering the regions of France has resulted in an expertise about France that she loves to share in her articles. Also a solo traveller, Alison shares her experiences of solo travel to many corners of the world. Alison helps over 65000 readers a month plan their trips.

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