“I love Paris in the summer, when it sizzles” says the old song. Find out why with this guide, courtesy of Memories France, for sizzle it shall, in between two drizzles (if you’re lucky).
This guide will unveil the hidden gems, local secrets, and some of the most fun things to do in Paris in summer that will make your adventure unforgettable. From navigating the city's unique charm to escaping the occasional heatwave, get ready to explore the magic of Paris.
BE PREPARED
Lines!
The city will be largely empty of its inhabitants, off to cooler pastures and closed many of their shops behind them, the better to leave their home in the care of its summer guests, which means lines. BUT - a guided tour with Memories France means you can sail past those lines, with a local guide who knows which of the destinations are worth the fuss and why.
Summer Weather: What To Wear in Paris
The Paris sky is notoriously moody. One day the mercury can soar (we went up to 42.6 °C – ot 108.7 °F -- on 25 July 2019). Then the day after it can be, as one Parisian friend called it, Jul-ember, with gray skies and rainfall to match. But we’ve got you here at Memories France, letting you know just what to wear in Paris in the summer to keep your cool.
Think layers. Tank tops and tees travel well, or for a dressier feel in a camisole top, or a crisp short sleeved man’s shirt, but make it roomy about the torso.
Looser lower halves also let any stray breeze through, whether that be a pair of generous knee shorts or a full skirt (but be careful over metro grates or you’ll find yourself starring as Marilyn Monroe)!
Be sure to bring along a light sweater or even shawl for your shoulders after sundown.
A similar weight trench or raincoat is ideal to have on hand if the weather really frowns, as it tends to do after a heatwave.
Also remember, Paris is a walker’s city and your feet will thank you for wearing comfortable shoes that can take you on farther and longer adventures, without having to enter a sweaty metro.
Switch out these items for variety, keeping a few pieces for upscale restaurants and places of prayer where a respectful modesty is, if not de rigueur, at least classiest.
If you’re really clever you’ll keep these items neutral tones, the better to have more choice of outfits, but also the better to blend in with the environment and not scream “tourist.”
Keep a small umbrella handy (and a refillable water bottle!)
Remember sunglasses, for that bright summer light.
Best things to do in Paris in the summer
PARIS-PLAGES
Every summer, the mayor of Paris hosts a makeshift beach on the quais of the Seine and often around the Canal de l'Ourq at la Villette and the Canal St Martin (venues can change each year), a festive atmosphere complete with sunbathing chairs, parasols and activities for all ages.
MUSIC AND MOVIE FESTIVALS
- Fête de la Musique
Fete de la Musique falls on June 21 when Paris thrums with live music at street corners and major venues. Whether it be local rock bands or Romantic opera, there’s something for everyone. - Open-Air Cinema at La Villette
Starting at sundown, while you sit on the grass with a picnic or rent a chair, bring popcorn and a bottle of your favorite cold drink. - Festival Silhouette
How about an open-air festival of short films where you can discover up-and-coming indie directors of all origins and styles, and in bite sized pieces? There’ll be music between screenings and it’s free, with drinks and snacks for a small price to be enjoyed as well. - Paris Jazz Festival
The venue vies with the music, when Jazz stars bloom with the flowers of the Parc Floral, for the mere price of entry into the gardens. Make a day of it, and bring a picnic. - Classique au Vert
The same goes for the Parc Floral’s classical music festival, where you might hear some Bach, or Ravel or polyphonic motets - come and see! - Celebrate Bastille Day
July 14 marks the storming of the fortress that shook the French Monarchy into a Republic. Enjoy the parades and the fireworks, especially if you can nab a place early in the afternoon on the Champs de Mars. How can you beat the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop? This falls sometimes on the 13th rather than the 14th so confirm ahead.
LOCAL MARKETS
A summer in Paris isn’t complete without venturing into local markets. They’re is a great option since the markets open early in the morning before the heat really gets its game on. They dot the city at different locations. Find the one taking place wherever you’re staying and enjoy fresh produce straight from the French soil. The City administration provides a handy map showing all the markets taking place each day of the week. Click on the one nearest to you and then click on “Voir la fiche complete” to get all the details. We particularly like the Marché d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement for fruit and vegetable shopping, and the Marché des Enfants Rouge in the Haut Marais for trendy lunchtime dining.
PICNIC
After you’ve gotten the goods from the market, cheese, bread, fruit and wine, go off for a picnic – we’ve got some choice spots picked out for you.
- The Island Getaways
Join the locals at the northwest tip of the Île de la Cité in the pretty gardens of the Vert Galant, or the tip of the Île Saint Louis looking towards the soaring medieval buttresses of the back of Notre Dame. - The Pont des Arts
Lovers and artists have cherished this wooden footbridge since it first spanned the Seine under Napoleon. - Canal de l’Ourcq
Go off the beaten path to a more artsy neighborhood with a younger crowd, with its lesser known canal, where during high temperatures authorities might even invite you to dive in.
SWIMMING
You don’t have to leave it to chance though, as pools abound!
- Aquaboulevard
Go all out at this waterpark complete with slides and rides and even a “beach”. It can be worth a whole day when the heat is too much, with tickets at 39€ (children 22€) Remember to reserve ahead. - Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles
For an Art Deco style dip, at merely 3,50€, you can immerse yourself in the sweet, cool water, as well as enjoy the architecture in this quirky little quarter with its cafés and bars for before and after - Josephine Baker Pool
In the same neighborhood, for the same price you can swim in a Seine-side pool, under the open sky.
WALKING TOUR
Let Memories France take care of this part! Here are a few of our favourites, but check our website for all that’s on offer.
- Notre Dame and the Islands Guided Walking Tour
This is the heart of the capital, the two islands where Paris started. Let our guide show you around starting with the iconic medieval cathedral that’s being restored after its dramatic 2019 fire. - Parisian Street Art Tour
Contemporary Paris also awaits your discovery, with lesser known sites that escape the average tourist’s notice – see what’s cooking among the avant-garde with someone who knows where to look. - The Latin Quarter Guided Walking Tour
The quintessential students’ and artists’ district for ages, the Latin Quarter has seen the medieval scholars it was named for, as well as the Lost Generation of American Expats, the Existentialists and then the burst of American Jazz in the newly liberated Paris after the Occupation.
GARDENS
Go to the ground among the many green spaces that Paris boasts, and soak in some green while you relax. See if you can’t get one of the deep seated chairs that lean back.
- Jardin du Luxembourg
Children can enjoy Punch and Judy shows as well as pony rides in this park that started as a royal backyard garden in the 17th century. And nothing says you’re too old to set off a paper boat at the Renaissance fountain Queen Marie de Medicis. - Jardin des Plantes
Created 400 years ago with the invention of botany, this garden is not only scientific, but also the long standing promenade place of dandies and grandes dames. Spot some of their modern incarnations in any of the little kiosks and cafés that dot the park. Children are not forgotten – they even have a small zoo! - Jardin des Tuileries
Here Marie Antoinette looked out in horror at the people planting a Liberty Tree and Robespierre walked his dog. This park is laid out as a formal garden with fountains and sculpted flower beds. - Parc de Bercy
If you prefer modern, this one is for you. With its cutting-edge designs and pared-down, minimalist aesthetic, contemporary garden art is yours to discover here.
ROOFTOP BARS
Summer is a fantastic time to climb to the rooftops and enjoy the air as much as the view over this magnificent and unforgettable city. Some of our favorites include:
- Le Perchoir
So in vogue you need to make reservations, all the more so since Parisians often rent it for private parties. If you can manage to get in you’ll enjoy looking out over Sacré Coeur in soft cushioned chairs you can fall into after a long hot day’s sightseeing. - Les Ombres
If you’d rather be gazing out at the Eiffel Tower, this bar is for you, especially if you go to the Musée Branly Jacques-Chirac whose roof it sits on. Like the museum it crowns, this is a modern restaurant for lunch or dinner, with a cocktail bar if you just want to wet your whistle. Don’t forget to book here too! - La Belle Vie
If you want a more relaxed atmostphere with couscous, tapas and brunch head off the beaten path to the up and coming artist’s quarter Belleville that furthermore caters to vegans.
MUSEUMS
The Mona Lisa has to keep her cool, so the climate controlled museums are a great way to beat the heat. Here too, Memories can help. A guide can skip the long lines of summer visitors waiting for their chance to glimpse the treasures within, and tell you all about the how and the why of them.
- Musée d'Orsay
The Monets and the Van Goghs will blow you away in this brilliant museum converted from a train station and dedicated to 19th century art. - Louvre
The museum of museums, don’t miss the greatest collection of Leonardo Da Vincis on earth. - Centre Pompidou
For those looking more for Modern and Contemporary creation, this is THE place to go, for Surrealists, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and much more recent pieces to boot. - Palace of Versailles
Don’t forget your shades, the Sun King’s home glows with so much gold, you’ll need them! The gardens themselves are pretty royal too.
GO SHOPPING
A time honored tradition in the French Capital since the Middle Ages, now retail therapy is even better and shopping is a quintessential Paris activity. Especially in summer as you can browse all the great stuff while enjoying air-conditioned shops. On top of it, there are summer sales going on in most of them!
- Stroll the Champs Elysées, and the Avenue George V or Avenue Montaigne, either window shopping or buying in high-end luxury stores and global brands. The rue St Honoré is also home to Chanel, Dior, Hermes and much more!
- Our personal favorite is finding smaller, nichier boutiques in the Marais with its lively Jewish quarter and grand 17th Century mansions. We’re especially fond of Davide at l'Appartement Français, who knows all his suppliers personally, since they’re all based here in France. Or head further out into the less touristy 10th and 11th arrondissements for some great local boutiques, particularly around the Canal St Martin.
- For the intrepid shoppers among you, check out the flea markets held at weekends. The biggest and most famous is the Porte de St Ouen. Push past the scruffier stalls on the outside and you'll find vintage treasures hidden within the winding market streets at the Marché Paul Bert and others. It's also a great place for a weekend lunch. For a smaller but no less interesting flea market (and generally better prices) visit the Porte de Vanves on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
SEINE RIVER CRUISE
See the city’s most iconic monuments from the perspective of the river, either from a casual bateau-mouche or an evening dinner cruise. Or jump on a Batobus and hop on and off as you please at major sites dotted along the river.
GET A COLD DRINK AT A CAFÉ TERRACE
- Café de Flore
A richly literary place, where Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir once met, where you can also just get an iced tea, fruit juice or “Paris Cola.” - Treize au Jardin
Where else could you order a chilled lemonade infused with chili and ginger? - Café Beaubourg
A fantastic spot to watch the world go by after you leave the Pompidou - Nelson
We love the great cocktails and service as well as the comfy outdoor seating
ICE CREAM
With dozens of fun things to do in Paris in summer, a quick stop for ice cream is the perfect break between activities. Beat the heat with an inner freeze from Paris’s glaciers or ice cream artisans.
- Berthillon
This is where you go on the Ile Saint Louis- a longstanding Parisian tradition. - Pierre Hermé
A more modern take on the classics, Hermé is not only a pastry chef but also an artiste of ice cream treats. - Raimo
For straying from the crowds in the lesser known 12th arrondissement, Parisians hold this secret dear to their hearts as summer rolls around. - Maison Aleph
This tiny patisserie is just around the corner from our boutique and we love popping in for a treat. They have a delicious selection of Levantine inspired ice creams and pastries. Look out for them also in Montmartre. - Alain Ducasse
During your Versailles tour, look out for the ice cream trolley of renowned chef Alain Ducasse in the palace gardens. It’s usually parked at the end of the gardens near the Grand Canal.
TAKE A DAY TRIP
To get out of the heat trap that is the Paris basin:
- Guinguettes on the river Marne
The Impressionists loved these open-air dance hall cafés on the water, like Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party (which you’ll remember from Amélie). Try for instance L’Île du Martin Pêcheur at Champigny sur Marne. - Château de Maisons at Maisons Lafitte
Laffitte is a modest palace overlooking the Seine that in its time - the 17th century – was thought by those in the know to be the perfect building. And it is perfect in summer with its thick white stone walls protecting you from the sun’s glare. - Giverny
How about a slow walk around the gardens Monet spent years designing. Come see the real water lilies (or their descendants) bloom in July from the little wooden bridge he so often painted. - Fontainebleau
A Renaissance château with fabulous gardens where you can take a stately stroll or folly of a frolic. The local town is charming and holds a lovely farmers market on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.
Now that Memories France has you sorted, the promises of Summer in Paris (when it sizzles) await. Let the adventures begin!
