What leisure activities truly occupy the free time of the French, and which ones are gaining ground in 2024? Between the historical dominance of music and the explosion of commercial sports activities, the entertainment offering is transforming under the influence of new economic models. Measuring these changes allows us to distinguish the rising activities from those that are stagnating.
Commercial sports activities: a growth that reshapes the offering in France
The most striking fact in recent years in the leisure sector is not found among traditional activities. Commercial sports activities are showing double-digit growth in their revenue: private gyms, trampoline parks, escape games, padel, multi-activity complexes. The sector is scaling up and attracting massive private investment and franchises.
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This dynamism is concretely changing what you find near your city. Projects to transform industrial wastelands into indoor leisure complexes (electric karting, ninja courses, trampoline parks) are emerging on the outskirts of medium-sized cities. A project of this type has been mentioned in the local press near Saint-Brieuc, with an opening announced for 2026.
To explore the diversity of these new offerings, the leisure activities offered by Scoopium provide a useful overview of the available activities by region.
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Favorite activities of the French: comparative table of declared practices
Data from declarative surveys allow us to rank leisure activities according to their participation rate. The table below summarizes the most cited activities by the French population.
| Activity | Declared participation rate |
|---|---|
| Listening to music | 79 % |
| Shopping | 67 % |
| Video content | 67 % |
| Reading | 64 % |
| Television | 56 % |
| Internet | 55 % |
| Outings with friends/family | 48 % |
| Walking and hiking | 42 % |
| Photography | Nearly one in two French people |
Music overwhelmingly dominates, driven by streaming platforms. In contrast, walking and hiking, often perceived as niche activities, involve more than four out of ten French people, making them an underestimated mass leisure activity.
Gap between digital leisure and physical activities in nature
The top five spots in the ranking are occupied by leisure activities that can be enjoyed from your couch: music, videos, reading, television, internet. Their common point is the absence of logistical constraints. No reservations, no travel, no equipment.
In contrast, physical or social activities (sports, outings, hiking) gather a lower participation rate, between 42 % and 48 %. The gap is not insignificant:
- Digital leisure benefits from instant access, which mechanically inflates their declared participation rate
- Nature or indoor activities require travel time and sometimes a dedicated budget, which excludes part of the audience
- The rise of multi-activity complexes in urban peripheries aims precisely to reduce this friction by grouping several sports activities under one roof
This discrepancy explains why the commercial sector invests so much in geographical proximity. Bringing the sports offering closer to home is the main lever for converting occasional practitioners into regulars.
Cultural leisure and shows: free time that remains rooted in heritage
Museums, castles, live performances: these activities do not rank high in terms of frequency, but they structure vacations and weekends. France has a dense network of cultural spaces, from the historic center of major cities to the parks and gardens of rural communities.
The appeal of concerts and theater highlights a persistent attachment to collective experiences that digital cannot replace. A concert in a venue or an outdoor festival engages the senses in a way that no streaming platform can replicate. This observation also applies to heritage visits: exploring a castle or a contemporary art space engages the body in a place, not just attention on a screen.
Children and families: leisure oriented towards nature and discovery
For families with children, the choice of leisure leans towards parks, outdoor activities, and educational outings. Amusement parks (tree climbing, animal parks, theme parks) account for a significant share of vacation spending.
Family hiking is also gaining ground. It combines physical activity, contact with nature, and almost no cost, three criteria that explain its steady progression in declared practices.
Free time in 2024: what the data reveals about leisure choices
The daily free time of the French has measurably increased since the 1980s. According to a study by CRÉDOC, the daily free time of an average French person represented 47 minutes more in 2010 than in 1986. This additional margin directly fuels the demand for varied leisure activities.
The distribution of this time leans heavily towards low-friction activities (music listening, video, reading). Commercial sports leisure captures an increasing share of the budget, but not yet of the average daily time. Their model relies on occasional high-value sessions, not on daily practice.
- Digital leisure dominates in frequency but not in spending per session
- Commercial sports leisure is progressing in revenue thanks to a high average ticket price
- Cultural activities and shows remain strong markers of vacation and weekend time
The underlying trend for the coming years is shaping around proximity: multi-activity complexes accessible without long travel, combining sports, nature, and entertainment. The leisure offering is physically getting closer to living places, and it is this structural evolution that redefines free time much more than the emergence of a new trendy activity.