While it is less popular than the Canal Saint-Martin, the Canal de l’Ourcq is 4.5 kilometers long and crosses some of the most beautiful districts of Paris. The canal banks are the ideal place for a walk with your family, your lover or even to enjoy some peace and quiet on your own. Concerning walks, tours and cruises, here is our Canal de l’Ourcq ultimate guide.
Tours and Walks Near the Canal de l’Ourcq
The Canal de l’Ourcq is almost five meters wide, starts at Bobigny, in the Bassin de La Villette and ends in the middle of the 19th district. The canal then splits in two to create the shorter Canal Saint-Martin.
By foot or on a bike, the Canal de l’Ourcq is an open-sky art gallery, with its various street art pieces that are worth admiring during your trip in Paris.
By foot: from the 19h district to Pantin
You can start your trip near the Rotonde de Stalingrad, in the 19th district, a circular building which looks like it is centuries old. This one-hour walk will take you to Pantin and its picturesque streets.
Stop near the canal to enjoy a picnic with your friends or family or visit the famous Grands Moulins de Pantin.
In Summer, you can admire the Péniche Antipode in Pantin. On the boat, concerts, shows and animations for children take place all day long.
Once your walk is over, you can go back to the capital taking a metro from the station Eglise de Pantin (line 5).
By bike: from the 19th district to the Parc de la Bergère
For the more sportive of you, start a 50-minute ride starting from the Rotonde de Stalingrad and ending in the Parc de la Bergère, in Bobigny.
During your trip, you’ll have the chance to admire the Bassin de La Villette which becomes Paris Plages in Summer. This is the perfect occasion for a break under the sun. In the hot season, you will also see several urban brown lands addressing different subjects.
You can end your trip at the Parc de la Bergère and its big modern bridges… Except if you want to pedal some more, up to the Parc de la Poudrerie and its wide forests and green landscapes.
By bike: street-art guided tours
For an unconventional guided tour, find out more about the many pieces of street-art bordering the Canal de l’Ourcq.
For 12.50€, “Street Art et Canal de l’Ourcq” takes you on a two hours long tour with a guide who will be glad to answer all your questions.
Your trip will begin in the 19th district, near the Pont de Crimée and end in the old Halles aux Cuirs. This tour will have you discover more about the Canal de l’Ourcq street-art, its artists and the Ourcq Living Colors festival where various artists meet every year to paint gigantic paintings.
Cruises on the Canal de l’Ourcq
Paris Canal: from the Bassin de La Villette to the Parc de la Bergère
Paris Canal offers a 2h30 long cruise on one of the longest Parisian canals.
All along this commented cruise, you will get the opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful monuments and landscapes the canal has to offer. This cruise is perfect for families wanting to learn more about the capital.
This cruise on the Canal de l’Ourcq will let you enjoy the beautiful view of the Rotonde de Ledoux and of La Baignade, a natural water pool created for Paris Plages.
Rate: 17€ per person.
Other services:
– Dinner cruises
– Brunch cruises
– Privatization of the boat
Canauxrama: from the Bassin de La Villette to the Parc de la Poudrerie
Canauxrama offers a 2h15 cruise on the canal. Enjoy the quiet cruise with commentaries and learn more about this beautiful side of Paris. Discover the Passage de l’Écluse Livry-Gargan and the wide forest of Aulnay-sous-Bois.
The boat Pierre-Simon Girard also gives you the opportunity to take your bike on board and pedal all the way back to the capital.
Hours:
Depart at 10 AM at the Bassin de La Villette, arrival at 12:15 PM.
Depart at 5PM at the Parc de la Poudrerie, arrival at 19:15 PM.
Rate: 12 euros per person. Free for children below four years old.
Other services:
– Concert cruises
– Cruises with beer tasting
Bars and Restaurants On the Canal de l’Ourcq
After your trip on the canal, the bars and restaurants near the water will be there to have you for a drink, a break or a full meal.
Simonetta – €€
32 Quai de la Marne, 75019 Paris
Parisians all agree that, located near the canal in the 19th district, Simonetta offers some of the best pizzas in the district.
Cooked the Italian way, you can enjoy their crispy doughs and melting cheeses while looking at the water from the terrace.
Opening hours:
From Monday to Thursday: 12 PM – 2:30 PM / 7 PM – 11 PM
Friday: 12PM – 2:30PM / 7PM – 11:30PM
Saturday and Sunday: 12 PM – 11 PM
Rate: Pizzas starting from 11€
Note Google: 4.5/5
TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
More information on the website (in French)
Big Corner – €
143 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris
Are you more of a burger lover than of a pizza lover? Then, welcome to the Big Corner which offers a large variety of burgers accompanied by French fries and cheese melt.
The beef used for these burgers is almost as great as the canal you can look at from the inside or the outside of the restaurant. This restaurant is the perfect place for a break with your family and offers all-day service all week long.
Opening hours: From Monday to Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Rates: Burgers starting from 12.5€. Children’s menu at 9€.
Google : 4.1/5
La Fourchette : 8.8/10
TripAdvisor : 4/5
More information on the website (in French)
Le Pavillon des Canaux – €€
39 Quai de Loire, 75019 Paris
Le Pavillon des Canaux is a wonderful place located near the canal, in the 19th district. The building is not only a café-restaurant, a “cofice”, but also a study place accessible during the week as well as a house offering various discussions addressing different subjects.
Come enjoy a coffee, a cup of tea or a full meal in a colorful and cozy room. With its wide windows, you will be able to admire the canal from Spring to Winter.
Opening hours:
From Monday to Wednesday: 12 PM-midnight
From Thursday to Saturday: 12 PM – 2 AM
Sunday: 10AM – 11PM
Rates: Coffee 2€. Daily special at 14.5€.
Google: 4.3/5
TripAdvisor: 3.5/5
More information on the website
Les Pantins – €€
6 rue Victor Hugo, 93500 Pantin
Les Pantins, located in the city of the same name is a restaurant which offers traditional French cuisine. Its facade is even bluer than the water of the canal and it won’t fail to catch your attention.
Located near the Canal de l’Ourcq, the meals change every week. The atmosphere is friendly and peaceful, the perfect place to spend a wonderful break before continuing your trip around the canal.
Opening hours:
From Monday to Saturday: 12PM – 2:30PM / 7:30PM – 10:30PM
Rate: Dishes starting from 16€.
Google: 4.4/5
TripAdvisor: 5/5
More information on the website (in French)
Bar Ourcq – €
68 Quai de la Loire, 75019 Paris
The Bar d’Ourcq is a must-see during your trip along the canal. Loved by the entire city, here, you will be able to enjoy a beer at a very affordable price as well as a plate of tapas with your friends.
Sit down on a couch, a cushion or a chair near the canal. The bar even offers some balls to play pétanque under the bright sun.
Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Saturday: 3 PM – 2 AM
Sunday: 3 PM-midnight
Rate: Beers at 2.5€.
Google: 4.2/5
TripAdvisor: 3.5/5
More information on the Facebook Page
Le 61 – €€
3 rue de l’Oise, 75019 Paris
Even more so than a normal bar, the 61 is loved by artists and photographers because of the exhibits which occasionally take place on the walls of the building. Here, you can enjoy a drink or a cocktail, whether soft or alcoholic.
Located two feet away from the canal, the bar also welcomes various movie projections, debates and discussions all week long.
Opening hours:
From Monday to Thursday: 12 PM – 1 AM
Friday: 12 PM – 2 AM
Saturday: 5 PM – 2 AM
Sunday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Google: 4.4/5
TripAdvisor: 4.5/5
More information on the Facebook page
Hotels Near the Canal de l’Ourcq
To enjoy the beauty of the Canal de l’Ourcq to its fullest, there is nothing better than settling down directly near the canal. Here are the best hotels for a stay with your feet (almost) in the water.
Holiday Inn Express – Paris Canal de la Villette
Located in the 19th district of Paris, this charming hotel is near the canal. The building has a patio and a private garden as well as a bar-restaurant offering typical French cuisine.
The bedrooms have a cosy and modern decoration and a warm and peaceful atmosphere. If you are lucky enough, you may even get a room with a view of the canal; a wonderful sight to admire once the sun has set on the city.
Rate: Starting from 98€.
IBIS – Paris La Villette Cité des Sciences
This building is located near the Bassin de La Villette and right in front of the Canal de l’Ourcq. Whether it’s from your bedroom or the hotel’s restaurant, you will be able to admire Paris’ calm water and enjoy some peace.
The buffet breakfast is included in the price of the bedroom. The hotel is perfect for people with reduced mobility thanks to its elevator and six specialized rooms, something which can be quite rare in the older hotels of the city.
Rate: Starting from 50€.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
