10 things to see and do in Paris in summer

During the summer, Paris adds to its many attractions a number of activities that take advantage of the good weather to enjoy the streets. It's a great time for visitors, as traditionally many Parisians leave the city for the holidays and the atmosphere tends to be more relaxed.

Summer temperatures in Paris invite you to enjoy the city's parks and stretch the day well into the evening. The French capital helps to extend the days with an extensive cultural programme with a predominance of open-air events.

When you planned your summer getaway to Paris, you probably didn't expect to have the opportunity to go to the beach. You'll almost certainly plan a trip to Versailles from Paris to enjoy the summer sun, but the French capital has so much more to offer.

For the past few years, the city council has been holding the Paris Plages, an event that runs throughout July and August to make the most of the good weather.

During these dates, Paris takes advantage of the river embankments to create real river beaches, including sand. The areas where the event is held fill up with Parisians who set up their parasols and deckchairs among the palm trees.

Paris Plages is not only about enjoying a day at the beach in the heart of the city, but also about a wide range of activities for adults and children. From children's workshops to food stalls, canoe rides, board games and exhibitions.

Practical information

• Where: Paris Plagues takes place in several different areas. The first is the Parc Rives de Seine, from the Pont des Arts to the Pont de Sully, on the right bank of the river. From here you'll have views of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre. Another area worth visiting (especially if you like swimming) is the Bassin de la Villette, located on the Quai de Loire on the Canal de l'Ourcq. Finally, the Trocadero gardens have been added to the venues of this event.
• Opening hours: the beaches of the Parc Rives de Seine are open every day from 10 am to 6.30 pm, while those of the Bassin de la Villette can be used between 10 am and 10 pm on weekdays or between 10 am and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.

One of the most beautiful gardens in Paris, the Tuileries, dresses up in summer for the enjoyment of the little ones and many adults. If you are in the city during this time of year, I recommend you take a stroll around the fair that is set up there.

During the two hottest months, the gardens host a fair where you can find some 60 attractions, from ghost trains to a palace of mirrors, including merry-go-rounds designed in the style of the early 20th century and activities such as carbine shooting.

If you go to Paris with children, they can also take part in games such as duck fishing, jump on trampolines, take their first steps in climbing or slide down the big slide.

I can assure you that even if you don't have children, you will enjoy the walk along the main avenue. You can let yourself go and indulge in a treat in the form of ice cream, Parisian crepes, candyfloss or a hot sandwich.

This return to childhood can be completed with a little picnic in the gardens. There could hardly be a more relaxing experience in the French capital. To enhance that feeling, the organisers have decided that the fair will not have any piped music.

Practical information

• Opening times: the fair opens at 11:00 and does not close until 23:45 (weekdays) or 0:45 (Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays).
• Prices: you don't have to pay anything to enter the fair, but you will have to pay the cost of each attraction.

The Canal de l'Ourcq area also celebrates the arrival of summer with activities for everyone. If you come along, you can enjoy some workshops, sail on small cruises, attend concerts and many other events, such as open-air cinema or street art.

For several years now, the Bassin de la Villette (Villette Pond) has been gaining importance in the city's summers. Located in the city's 19th arrondissement, this former river trading centre has become one of the liveliest areas of Paris when the good weather approaches.

Among the most popular activities are the boat trips that take place on weekends in July and August. Some of these small, 10-kilometre-long cruises offer different themes for everyone to choose from.

Practical information

• When it is held: it usually starts around 6 July and lasts until the last week of August.
• Price: Admission to the fair is free, although there is a charge for the activities.

Usually held at the beginning of July, the Nuit des Musées is an extraordinary opportunity to visit the best museums in Paris.

Not only is admission free all night long, but there are also special exhibitions, workshops and entertainment of all kinds. In recent years, a number of new and interesting digital formats have also taken centre stage.

During that night you can sign up for various types of guided tours with a different perspective to those you can book during the day. You can also enjoy musical performances in the vicinity of the museums.

The highlight of the Parisian summer (and of the whole country) is the celebration of the French bank holidays on 14 July. On this day, the capital hosts an intense festive and cultural programme to commemorate the famous storming of the Bastille that started the French Revolution.

If you are fortunate enough to be in Paris on this date, you should make your way to the Champs Elysées to watch the lavish military parade that runs along the Champs Elysées. Don't forget to look up to see what I would describe as an aerial ballet.

Few things are as spectacular as the breathtaking fireworks display at the foot of the Eiffel Tower itself at night while a special concert plays. Ideally, it would be best viewed from the lawns of the Champs de Mars, but the fires are visible from much of the city.

Outside the Champs Elysées, the 14th of July is also celebrated. An impressive number of events take place at various locations throughout the day. Also noteworthy is the Louvre Museum's initiative to allow access to its permanent collections free of charge.

A 14th of July on the Seine

As I said, there are many places in Paris from which to watch the 14 July fireworks, but few offer as spectacular an experience as from a boat.

On that day, there are often special Seine cruises that, in addition to offering dinner in a romantic atmosphere, allow you to admire the fireworks display from a different point of view. Really, if you can do it, it is one of the activities you should not miss.

It's a well-known fact that Paris is one of those cities where it's hard to resist the window displays, especially for luxury brands in the most spectacular shopping arcades.

The rather high prices alone keep visitors to the city from returning with a large number of bags full of goods, but this inconvenience can be greatly reduced if you travel in the summer.

From the beginning of July until the end of August, the so-called "soldes", the summer sales, take place in Paris. During this period you can find discounts ranging from 30% to 70% of the original price. In addition, these discounts tend to increase over time and can reach up to 80% by the end of August.

If you want to take advantage of your trip to Paris to look for luxury brands, I recommend you to go to Galeries Lafayette or Printemps, two places that are worth visiting for their beauty, especially at Christmas in Paris. In both shopping centres you'll find fashionable clothes and accessories at a much more affordable price.

Another trick to make the most of these sales is to go to the outlets. The most eye-catching is La Vallée Village, which specialises in luxury brands.

One of the big days of the Parisian summer is the end of the Tour de France. The most important cycling stage race in the world always finishes its route in July (the day varies according to the year) in an incomparable setting: the Champs Elysées.

Cycling enthusiasts, or simply those who want to enjoy the colourful atmosphere of this event, can take their place along one of the sections of the route. Normally, the peloton goes from the Champs Elysées to the Tuileries, passing through the Champs Elysées.

On this day, the whole of Paris dresses up to welcome the cyclists, with music playing in many places.

If you want to imitate a little bit of these road warriors, although not on the same day, you can hire one of the most fun tours of the city of Paris, the one that goes through its streets on a bicycle.

One of the most interesting things to do at night in Paris if you have travelled in summer is to go to see the sound and light show called the Invalides Night.

The venue is the National Palace of Invalides, a complex built in the 17th century to house French soldiers after they laid down their arms. This palace is one of the most visited attractions in Paris, both for its undeniable architectural value and for housing Napoleon's tomb.

Every summer, the courtyard of the palace hosts a wonderful sound and light show with different themes depending on the season. The church du Dôme, located in the same complex, is also frequently illuminated by candlelight.

Practical information

• Dates: from the first week of July to the last week of August, from Tuesday to Saturday. During July, the show starts at 22:30, while in August it starts half an hour earlier.
• Price: there are different prices, from €5 to approximately €25.

The sheer number of festivals taking place in Paris throughout the summer makes it almost impossible to choose just one. If you check the calendar in advance, you're bound to find one you like no matter what the date. Here are the most interesting ones:

• European Festival of Young Talents, perfect for classical music lovers. Throughout the summer, these concerts are held in the Marais district by the most promising young musicians.
• Paris Jazz Festival The fabulous gardens of Parc Floral are the venue for the city's most important jazz festival every summer.
• Opera en Plein if opera is your thing, don't miss one of the concerts held between June and September. This festival does not have a single venue, as you can find performances in different places in Ile-de-France.
• Open-air cinema: although there is a wide range of films on offer, I particularly recommend the Silhouette festival (short films). The screenings take place in various locations in the 19th arrondissement, including its parks.

Although some terraces can be visited at other times of the year, including winter in Paris, no time is better than summer evenings.

In addition to the fixed terraces, the city is full of temporary venues, such as the so-called rooftop bars. Here you can enjoy the good weather with unparalleled views of the city, almost as if you were gazing at the Eiffel Tower.

On these open-air terraces you can also have a drink and relax from the long days of sightseeing in Paris:

• Le Perchoir opens every summer on the terrace of one of the most central department stores in the capital, the BHV Marais. The only problem is that it is so successful that it is difficult to find a place.
• Gare d'Austerlitz: this train station also has a great summer terrace where you can spend the evening and which is easy to get to by metro.
• La Javelle right on the banks of the Seine, next to the Parc André Citroën. There are often live performances and nearby there is an interesting food truck for a bite to eat.
• Le Jardin Municipal is located in the inner courtyard of the Credit Municipal de Paris bank in the Marais district.

As is the case throughout the rest of the year, Paris ' summer temperatures can be a bit of a surprise. Thus, many days are marked by a rather chilly breeze or even rain.

However, the tendency during this season is to be hot. Highs tend to range from 24°C to 30°C, although in recent years there have been several heatwaves with increasing frequency, resulting in temperatures of up to 40°C.

When night falls the temperature cools down a little and stays at around 15º, which invites you to go out and enjoy the terraces and the nightlife.

August in Paris is the monthof August when the highest temperatures of the year are reached, which, together with the high humidity, can cause some short-lived thunderstorms. My advice is to always check the weather forecast before planning your daily tour.

It is no secret that the peak season in Paris is during the summer months. This translates into a huge influx of visitors, as the French capital is the second most visited city in the world each year.

This huge influx translates into longer queues to get into the main tourist attractions, making it all the more important to buy tickets to avoid having to wait at places like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum.

Another aspect to bear in mind is that Parisians tend to go on holiday in August. The city then seems to be in the hands of tourists, which makes for a rather curious sensation.

The prices of flights, hotels and other places visited by tourists increase a lot during the summer. To try to save money (without missing out on anything) you can always apply a few little tricks, such as looking for restaurants a bit further away from the most important tourist attractions.

You can also swap the restaurants for the city's parks one day and have a nice picnic in one of them.

Booking flights and hotels well in advance usually leads to lower prices, so start looking as soon as you know you're going to make the trip.

Getting your hands on the Paris Pass, the city's most popular tourist card, can also be a good way to save money. With it in your hands, you'll get substantial discounts on entry to many Paris attractions, such as the Arc de Triomphe and some of Paris' best museums.

For a few years now, the Paris Pass no longer includes a pass for the Paris Metro, so it might also be a good idea to get one of those that save on every trip.