Paris, France: Location, Geography, and Distance to the Sea

Paris is the capital and largest city of France, situated in the north-central part of the country within the Île-de-France region.

Geographic Position

• Coordinates: 48.8566° N, 2.3522° E
• River: Straddles the Seine, which flows westward through the city center
• Elevation: 35–130 m (115–427 ft)
• Area: 105 km² (41 sq mi) – city proper; 2,850 km² metro

Distance to the Sea

The nearest sea is the English Channel (La Manche) to the northwest.

• Straight-line distance: ~180 km (112 miles) to Le Havre/Dieppe coast
• Road distance: ~225 km (140 miles) to Le Havre via A13/A29
• River distance: ~350 km (217 miles) following the Seine to its estuary at Le Havre

Why This Matters

• Paris is a river port city, not a coastal one
• Seine historically enabled trade, defense, and food supply
• Modern canals (Canal Saint-Denis, Canal de l'Ourcq) connect to northern waterways
• Le Havre (France's #2 container port) serves as Paris's maritime gateway

Other Water Bodies

• Atlantic Ocean: ~300 km (186 mi) west (via Seine estuary)
• Mediterranean Sea: ~650 km (400 mi) south
• North Sea: ~350 km (217 mi) northeast