If there is only one European festival you attend in 2023, then make sure it’s the Rock en Seine Festival in Paris, France.
Enjoy a weekend of the best in rock music in a scenic Parisian suburban garden on the banks of the river Seine.
In this blog post, you'll find all the practical information about the festival to help you plan an unforgettable summer of music and fun.
I'll cover everything — from how to get tickets to where to stay and what to do in the area. So read on if you want to learn more about Rock en Seine 2023!
History of Rock en Seine
Fun fact: the name of the festival is a pun. The words Seine (for the river that separates the suburb of Saint Cloud from Central Paris) and scène (meaning ‘stage') have exactly the same pronunciation.
Rock en Seine started in 2003 with two stages and ten bands. Now, it features 5 stages and has welcomed over 120,000 music lovers in previous editions.
Headliners of the first Rock en Seine included PJ Harvey, Beck, Massive Attack, and Morcheeba. An all-star lineup from the start! And in the 19 years that followed, bands like Muse, Sonic Youth, The White Stripes, Radiohead, The Chemical Brothers, Rage Against the Machine, and Liam Gallagher have added their names to the festival’s history.
Rock en Seine venue: the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud
Rock en Seine takes place in the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, a 460-hectare scenic garden with sculptures and fountains in the suburbs of Paris.
When it's not used as the festival venue, entry to the Parc de Saint-Cloud is free.
History of the Château de Saint-Cloud
The park has a fascinating history. It used to be the grounds of a 16th-century chateau, the Château de Saint-Cloud, which set the scene for several lavish parties for royalty, including Philippe, Duke de Orleans (brother of Louis XIV), and Marie Antoinette.
The chateau was emptied during the French Revolution, and in 1799 it was the site of Napoleon's coup-d'etat which ended with him being crowned Emperor in 1804 also at Saint-Cloud.
Unfortunately, the late 19th century marks the end of the beautiful chateau. In 1870, the Franco-Prussian war raged on, and Paris was under siege. The Prussian forces occupied the castle and bombed the city from there. Counterfire from the French troops hit the castle, destroying it. It was never rebuilt, and the burnt-out shell was demolished in 1891.
While it's a shame the chateau was lost, the site now delights Parisians and tourists alike as the Parc de Saint Cloud and has served as the grounds for the Rock en Seine festival for the last 20 years.
Rock en Seine Paris
Rock en Seine 2023 Date
The Rock en Seine 2023 music festival will take place over four days, from the 23rd to the 27th of August.
The lineup includes Billie Eilish, Florence + The Machine, Placebo, and The Chemical Brothers, with several other influential artists like The Strokes, Charlotte De Witte, Fever Ray, and Turnstile performing across multiple stages. The full Rock en Seine lineup is listed on the festival website.
Rock en Seine Tickets
Like many other festivals, there are two- and three-day passes and day tickets available.
At the time of publication of this post, the three-day passes and some of the single-day passes for Friday are sold out, but you can still get day tickets for the rest of the dates.
There are several price tiers for day tickets. Early bird prices start at 55 EUR, while the regular price is 75 EUR.
You can also get several add-ons, like a primary entry ticket for 85 EUR, allowing you to enter the venue 30 minutes before it opens.
The Rock En Seine Garden ticket gives you access to a standing area closer to the stage. It entitles you to amenities like a chill-out area, selected food and beverage offers, live concerts broadcast, WiFi access, and separate toilet facilities.
You can find all the available Rock en Seine festival tickets on the official website here.
Rock en Seine Festival Dates
Door and concert opening times are yet to be announced. Stay tuned to the Rock en Seine Q&A page for this news.
Be sure to get there early if you want to catch the first concerts in the afternoon — there might be long queues to get in, especially on the first day. The first concerts start about 45 minutes after the gates open.
The concerts usually go on all night until around midnight, well within the public transportation schedule.
Rock en Seine Map
The festival app will be super helpful to help you plan your schedule and find your way around the site.
You can save the bands you'd like to see and display the schedule by timings or stage, so you'll always know where you need to be to enjoy your favorite bands.
It also has a map of the park and practical information about the festival.
Get it for Android.
Get it for iOS.
Where to stay
While in previous editions of the festival, camping was an option for attendants, this isn't mentioned on the website for the 2023 edition, so you'll have to find accommodation outside the festival grounds.
If you want to stay near the Domain de Saint-Cloud, start by looking into the nearby areas of Boulogne-Billancourt and the 16th Arrondissement.
I've researched a few options of hotels at different price ranges. You’ll be close to several
Acropolis Hotel Paris Boulogne: Situated a stone's throw from the Marcel Sembat Metro Station, this 3-star hotel is very well connected to the main landmarks of Paris, like the Eiffel Tower. The hotel has a 24-hour reception, free WiFi, a choice of one double bed or two single beds, air conditioning, a private bathroom with toiletries, and a flat-screen TV.
ibis Styles Paris Boulogne Marcel Sembat: If you're looking for a more affordable option with breakfast included, look into the ibis Styles Paris Boulogne Marcel Sembat. It's situated only 10 m from the Marcel Sembat Metro Station, connecting you directly to the direct access to the Champs-Elysées and other main attractions in Paris. Rooms have free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, and a private bathroom with toiletries.
Villa Escudier Appart-hôtel: This charming apart-hotel is a mere 2-minute walk from Boulogne Jean Jaures Metro Station, and it's ideal for solo travelers or longer stays. You can choose a variety of studios, suites, and apartments, all with free WiFi, a private bathroom with toiletries, flat-screen TV, a private kitchenette with a fridge, and more. Breakfast is available on request.
How to get to Paris
By bus
As the capital of France, Paris is super well connected with most cities in Europe and the world.
There are regular bus routes that travel to Paris from countries like Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and the UK, to name a few. Some of the long-distance bus companies riding into France are:
By train
Likewise, you can get to Paris by train from most European cities.
There are direct international trains into Paris from London, Brussels, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Milan, and many other cities. Just remember that international routes mean you'll have to switch trains at some point.
By plane
Paris has two international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, which keep the city well connected to the rest of the world. Both are close to the city and easy to reach.
Charles de Gaulle Airport is about 45 minutes from central Paris by car or train. It's connected to the city center by the RER B, a rapid transit line. You can hop on a regular train from the airport to the Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse commune to the south, with several stops throughout Paris. Or, you can catch an express train between the airport and the Gare du Nord train station.
The other airport serving the city is Orly Airport, located in its namesake southern suburb. Two train lines connect the airport with the rest of the city's public transportation network.
- Tramway T7 departs from Terminal 4 and reaches the Villejuif–Louis Aragon station, connecting you with the Paris Métro Line 7, which brings you right to the city center.
- The Orlyval people mover arrives at Antony station. From there, you can take the B line to get to the city center.
You can also take express buses to Paris from both airports.
Prepare yourself for Rock en Seine 2023
And there you have it – all the practical information to make your trip to Paris and your festival Rock en Seine experience totally unforgettable.
Don't forget travel insurance
Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Travel insurance has you covered in case (part of) your trip to Rock en Seine gets canceled, you get sick or hurt while at the festival, and sometimes even when your electronics break or get stolen. I always make sure I'm covered every trip I go on.
Don't have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you're already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great, and I can personally recommend them.