Paris in Summer — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Paris in Summer offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for families & festivals. Expect temperatures of 15–25°C, around 7–8 days of rain, and very high crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around €90–180 for mid-range travellers. Book accommodation two to three months ahead — the most popular rooms sell out fast during peak visiting windows.
Contents16 sections
#At a Glance
Paris in summer, June to August, is the city at its longest and loudest. The sun sets close to 10pm in June, the quays and canals turn into one long terrace, and since 2025 you can swim in the Seine itself.
The calendar of 2027 is full: the Roland-Garros finals on 5 and 6 June, the Fête de la Musique on Monday 21 June, Bastille Day on Wednesday 14 July, the Tour de France finish on Sunday 25 July, and a quieter August when many Parisians leave. Average afternoons are a comfortable 23 to 26°C, but heatwaves of 35°C and more now come most summers, and much of the city has no air-conditioning. June is the gentlest month; July is the busiest.
#Weather in Paris in Summer
Paris in Summer averages 15–25°C (59–77°F) with around 7–8 days of rain, and crowds are very high.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Wet days | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | About 23°C / 73°F | About 14°C / 57°F | About 8 | 9:58pm at the solstice |
| July | About 26°C / 79°F | About 16°C / 61°F | About 7 | 9:32pm by the 31st |
| August | About 26°C / 79°F | About 16°C / 61°F | About 8 | 8:36pm by the 31st |
Figures are Météo-France 1991–2020 normals for Paris-Montsouris.
What that actually means for your trip:
- The averages are mild; the extremes are not. A typical July afternoon is 26°C, but a heatwave can hold the city above 35°C for days, and the stone streets stay warm all night.
- Air-conditioning is the exception. Many hotels, older flats, Métro lines and small restaurants have none, so the heat matters more indoors than it would in New York or Rome.
- Rain comes as thunderstorms. About one day in four brings a shower, often a short, heavy storm at the end of a hot day.
- The evenings are endless. In June the light lasts until after 10:30pm, and Paris stays out until it goes.
Is summer a good time to visit Paris? Yes, for the long evenings, the river and the festivals, as long as you accept the crowds and plan for heat. Book a room with air-conditioning, see the big museums early, and keep the afternoons for shade and the evenings for the quays. June is the sweet spot of the three months.
#June to August in Paris
June opens with the end of the French Open: the Roland-Garros finals are on 5 and 6 June 2027; see our Roland-Garros guide.
On the longest evening, Monday 21 June, the Fête de la Musique fills every street, square and bar with free concerts; see our Fête de la Musique guide.
Paris Pride, the Marche des Fiertés, normally fills the streets towards the Marais on the month's final Saturday.
July is the peak. The French school holidays begin in the first days of the month, and Bastille Day, Wednesday 14 July, starts with the military parade on the Champs-Élysées and ends with fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, after the firefighters' balls of the 13th and 14th; see our Bastille Day guide.
The Tour de France, which starts in Edinburgh on 2 July, is due to finish on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday 25 July.
August is the month Parisians leave. Some bakeries, bistros and small shops close for two or three weeks, while the big sights stay busy with visitors.
Assumption Day, Sunday 15 August, is a public holiday, and Rock en Seine, the rock festival in the park of Saint-Cloud, usually closes the summer in the last week of the month.
All summer, the city opens its free, supervised swimming sites in the Seine, at Bras Marie, Bercy and Grenelle; in 2026 they ran from 4 July to 30 August, alongside the Paris Plages beaches on the quays and at the Bassin de la Villette.
The open-air cinema at La Villette usually runs from mid-July.
#What to Do in Paris in Summer
Solo Travellers
Swim in the Seine in the morning, when the queues are short, then spend the afternoon in the cool galleries of the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay. In the evening, join the crowds on the steps of the Canal Saint-Martin or the quays of the Île Saint-Louis.
Couples
Take a late boat on the Seine, when the river breeze cools the evening and the light lasts past 10pm, then a terrace dinner in the Marais.
A day at Versailles, with the musical fountain shows in the gardens on summer weekends, is worth the early start.
Families
Paris Plages has sand, games and deckchairs by the water; the Jardin d'Acclimatation has rides and a farm; and the Cité des Sciences at La Villette is air-conditioned for the hottest afternoons. The open-air cinema on the lawns of La Villette is a summer evening treat.
Groups
Spend Fête de la Musique night moving from stage to stage in the Marais, Oberkampf and Belleville, or book a guinguette on the Marne or a rooftop bar for a long summer evening.
#Getting Around
From Charles de Gaulle, take the RER B into Gare du Nord or Châtelet; Orly now has a stop on the driverless Métro line 14, a straight run into the centre that replaced the old Orlyval shuttle for most travellers.
In 2026 a single ticket cost €2.55 and the airport fare €14, loaded onto a Navigo Easy card or a phone; a Navigo Week pass covers Monday to Sunday.
In summer, take the bus or a Vélib' bike for short trips, and walk along the river, where there is shade and a breeze. Most Métro lines are not air-conditioned; the new trains on line 14 are among the few exceptions.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €85–120 | Hostel or small hotel, picnics and bakery lunches, Métro |
| Mid-range | €200–300 | Air-conditioned 3-star room, two meals out, one museum |
| Luxury | €550+ | Palace hotel, tasting menus, taxis and private tours |
July is the dearest month, and Bastille Day and the Tour de France weekend among the dearest dates; August hotels are often cheaper as business travel stops.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Métro single ticket | €2.55 in 2026 |
| Airport ticket, RER or Métro | €14 in 2026 |
| Seine bathing sites | Free |
| Louvre, visitors from outside the EU and EEA | €32 |
| Fête de la Musique concerts | Free |
- Free first Sundays: the Musée d'Orsay on 6 June, 4 July and 1 August 2027.
- A carafe of tap water is free in any restaurant.
- Book Versailles and the big museums ahead in summer.
#Food & Dining
Summer is the season of terraces, picnics and markets full of tomatoes, apricots, peaches and melons from the south.
Shop at the Marché d'Aligre or a street market in the morning, and eat by the river at sunset. In August, check that a restaurant is open before you cross the city; many close for the fermeture annuelle, the annual holiday, often with a handwritten note on the door.
#Nightlife
The city lives outdoors: the rooftop bars, such as Le Perchoir, the floating bars and clubs moored on the Seine, the guinguettes on the quays and at La Villette, and the canal-side bars of the 10th and 11th. On the night of the Fête de la Musique, every bar has a band.
#Shopping
The summer soldes, the national sales, start in late June and run for four weeks, with the department stores on the Boulevard Haussmann at their busiest.
The flea market at Saint-Ouen is cooler in the morning, and many independent boutiques close for part of August.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Greet before you ask: a "Bonjour" when you walk into a shop or café changes the welcome you get.
- Swim only at the official sites and only when they are open; elsewhere, bathing in the Seine is still banned and dangerous.
- On 14 July, respect the security perimeters around the parade and the fireworks.
- Cover shoulders in churches, including Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur.
#Essential Local Phrases
| English | French | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | Bon-zhoor |
| Is there air-conditioning? | Il y a la climatisation ? | Eel ya la klee-ma-tee-za-syon? |
| Where can I swim? | Où peut-on se baigner ? | Oo puh-ton suh beh-nyay? |
| Are you open in August? | Vous êtes ouverts en août ? | Voo zet oo-vair on oot? |
| A jug of tap water, please | Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît | Oon ka-raf doh, seel voo pleh |
| It's very hot | Il fait très chaud | Eel feh treh show |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaît | La-dee-syon, seel voo pleh |
| Thank you | Merci | Mair-see |
#Packing List
- Light, breathable clothes
- A light layer for cool evenings and air-conditioned museums
- Swimwear for the Seine and the pools
- Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle for the Wallace fountains
- A small umbrella for thunderstorms
- Comfortable sandals or walking shoes
#Backup Plans (Very Hot Days)
On a heatwave day, go out early, rest from noon to five, and go out again in the evening.
The Catacombs stay cool underground, the big museums are air-conditioned, and the shaded gardens of the Palais-Royal and the Luxembourg are the best places outdoors. The city publishes a map of its cool spaces during heat alerts.
If a thunderstorm hits: shelter in a café or one of the covered passages; storms usually pass within the hour.
If the Seine sites are closed: after heavy rain the river sites shut for the day; swim instead at the Piscine Joséphine Baker, a pool on a barge moored by the Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand.
#Safety & Health
Paris is safe for visitors, though pickpockets follow the crowds: the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, the Bastille Day fireworks and the Fête de la Musique. In a heatwave, carry water, rest in the cool through the afternoon and look out for older companions. Swim in the Seine only at the supervised sites.
Emergency: 112, or 15 for medical help and 17 for police.
#What's New for Summer 2027
- The Fête de la Musique falls on Monday 21 June, and Bastille Day on Wednesday 14 July
- The Tour de France is due to finish in Paris on Sunday 25 July, after starting in Edinburgh
- The Seine's bathing sites, at Bras Marie, Bercy and Grenelle, are free and supervised, back for a third summer
- Orly is on Métro line 14, a direct ride into the centre
- The Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation until 2030
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for summer 2027. Climate figures are Météo-France 1991–2020 normals for Paris-Montsouris. Dates and prices verified against:
- Fête de la Musique for the festival
- VisitScotland for the 2027 Tour de France start
- Ville de Paris for the Seine bathing sites and Paris Plages
- Île-de-France Mobilités for transport fares
- Louvre for admission
For each month in detail, see Paris in June, Paris in July and Paris in August.
You might also like
Destinations picked for travellers with similar taste or climate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hot does Paris get in summer?
Average highs are about 23°C in June and 26°C in July and August, with nights of 14–16°C. Heatwaves above 35°C now come most summers, and many hotels, flats and Métro lines have no air-conditioning, so book a cooled room and rest in the afternoons.
Is Paris empty in August?
No, but it changes. Many Parisians leave, and some bakeries, bistros and small shops close for two or three weeks, while the big sights, museums and tourist areas stay open and busy. Hotels are often cheaper than in July.
Can you swim in the Seine in Paris?
Yes, at three free, supervised sites, at Bras Marie, Bercy and Grenelle, open each summer since 2025; in 2026 they ran from 4 July to 30 August. They close after heavy rain, and swimming anywhere else in the river is still banned. Paris Plages adds sand and deckchairs on the quays.
Do I need to book Eiffel Tower tickets in summer?
Yes. Summer is the busiest season, and timed tickets for the lifts sell out days or weeks ahead; book online as soon as your dates are fixed, or take the stairs to the second floor, which have shorter queues. Go early or late to avoid the heat on the platforms.
How much does it cost to visit Paris in Summer?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of €90–180, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Prices climb during peak weeks — book early to lock in the lower end of this range.