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Paris in August 2025

August in Paris brings long, sun-drenched days and a surprisingly calm rhythm as locals flee for holidays. It’s a month of open-air movies, riverbank picnics, and late sunsets. Key tip: August 15 (Assumption) is a public holiday—many shops and restaurants close, so book meals early and double-check opening hours.

Paris in August 2025 at a glance

🌦️ Weather

Avg highs 25 °C / 77 °F; warm with occasional storms.

☀️ Daylight

14.5 hours; sunrise ~6:30 am, sunset ~9:15 pm.

🎉 Key events

Paris Plages, Open-air Cinema Festival, Assumption Day (Aug 15).

👥 Crowds

Mixed; touristy but fewer locals, quieter nights.

🧳 What to pack

Breathable clothes, light rain jacket, refillable water bottle.

🍴 Seasonal treats

Fresh goat cheese salads, chilled rosé, ripe melons, and tarte aux abricots.

Top things to do in Paris in august

Enjoy a riverside day at Paris Plages

  • When: All month
  • Tags: Family-friendly, Outdoors

The Seine transforms into a summer resort with sandy banks, deck chairs, and misting stations. Paris Plages runs through August with family zones, beach volleyball, and music. Grab a spot near Pont Neuf by 11 am to avoid the midday heat.

Watch films under the stars at La Villette

  • When: Until early August
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Outdoors, Seasonal

The Open-air Cinema Festival at Parc de la Villette shows French and global films nightly. Bring a blanket, wine, and snacks. Gates open around 7:30 pm; screenings start at sundown (~9:30 pm).

Cruise the Seine at sunset

  • When: Daily
  • Tags: Tour, Romantic, Seasonal

Evening cruises offer golden-hour views of Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Opt for an apéro or dinner cruise for full effect. Book ahead—slots between 7:30–9 pm fill fast in August.

Recommended experiences -

  • Seine River Cruise with Champagne from Notre Dame
  • Seine River 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise from the Eiffel Tower
Browse all Seine river cruise tickets

Visit Monet’s water lilies in cool comfort

  • When: Daily
  • Tags: Cultural experience, Indoors

Escape the heat inside the Musée de l'Orangerie, where Monet’s giant Nymphéas panels feel like stepping into his Giverny garden. Early mornings (doors open 9 am) are least crowded.

Recommended experiences:

  • Orangere Museum Fast-Track Tickets
Explore all Orangerie Museum tickets

Picnic on the Champ de Mars

  • When: Daily
  • Tags: Family-friendly, Outdoors

Set up an evening picnic at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. As the tower sparkles on the hour after dusk, it’s the perfect Paris moment. BYO baguette, cheese, and rosé.

Recommended experiences:

  • Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator: Summit or Second Floor
Explore all Eiffel Tower tickets

Browse cool interiors at Palais de Tokyo

  • When: Daily except Tuesdays
  • Tags: Explorer, Cultural experience

This avant-garde art space stays chill (in temp and style) during August. Contemporary exhibits mix with installations and edgy design. Go late afternoon, then grab drinks at its Seine-view terrace.

Take a food walk in Le Marais

  • When: Daily
  • Tags: Tour, Foodie

Join a guided tasting tour of this lively district—falafel, cheese, pastries, and more. Many shops stay open in August unlike elsewhere. Midday slots offer shaded routes and lighter crowds.

Cool off in the Tuileries fountains

  • When: Daily
  • Tags: Family-friendly, Outdoors

Let kids splash feet-first in the fountains or take a pony ride. The nearby carnival offers rides and snacks through August. Come by late morning to avoid sugar-fueled crowds.

Offbeat experiences in august

Escape to Petite Ceinture

Abandoned rail meets wild urban strollWander this overgrown former railway loop for a leafy, semi-secret walk away from tourist zones. Some stretches like near Parc Georges Brassens are open to the public.

📍 Where: Access at Rue des Minimes, 3rd arrondissement

Jazz in hidden courtyards

Evening sets with live swingCatch pop-up jazz nights tucked into Paris’s quieter courtyards and back-alley bars. Check listings at bars like 38Riv for weekly lineups.

📍 Where: 38 rue de Rivoli, 4th arrondissement

Peruse summer art in Passages

Gallery shows under glass arcadesEscape the heat in 19th-century covered passages like Galerie Vivienne, where pop-up art shows and cool boutiques rotate through the month.

📍 Where: Galerie Vivienne, 2nd arrondissement

Swim at Bassin de la Villette

Open-air urban swimmingDesignated zones offer clean river-swimming areas with lifeguards and floating decks. Locals pack this spot on hot afternoons.

📍 Where: Quai de la Loire, 19th arrondissement

Explore Butte-aux-Cailles

Street art and summer terrace lifeThis hilltop quartier brims with murals, quirky bars, and outdoor cafés—still open in August. Best explored around apéro hour.

📍 Where: 13th arrondissement, south of Place d'Italie

Festivals and events in Paris this august 2025

Paris Plages

  • Dates: All August 2025
  • Event type: Cultural Festival
  • Location: Along the Seine, Parc Rives de Seine
  • What to expect: Artificial beaches, lounge chairs, and events bring summer to the Seine. Come weekdays for fewer crowds.

Open-Air Cinema Festival

  • Dates: Until early August 2025
  • Event type: Film Festival
  • Location: Parc de la Villette, 19th arrondissement
  • What to expect: Free nightly screenings under the stars. Bring snacks and a blanket. Early August evenings only.

Assumption Day

  • Dates: August 15, 2025
  • Event type: Public Holiday
  • Location: Citywide
  • What to expect: Expect closures and sparse transit. Book restaurant meals well in advance as many close.

Rock en Seine

  • Dates: August 22–25, 2025
  • Event type: Music Festival
  • Location: Domaine National de Saint-Cloud
  • What to expect: Major music acts in a historic park. Go early for shade and food truck access.

Classique au Vert

  • Dates: Saturdays & Sundays in August 2025
  • Event type: Classical Music Series
  • Location: Parc Floral de Paris, 12th arrondissement
  • What to expect: Outdoor classical concerts in a blooming botanical garden. Entry is free with park admission.

Paris Carnival Tropiques en Fête

  • Dates: August 10, 2025 [TBC]
  • Event type: Cultural Parade
  • Location: Eastern Paris (likely Nation to Bastille)
  • What to expect: Caribbean-themed costumes, music, and street dance. Join or spectate along the lively route

Paris Jazz Festival

  • Dates: Through early August 2025
  • Event type: Music Festival
  • Location: Parc Floral, 12th arrondissement
  • What to expect: Weekend concerts continue into August. Go early to picnic pre-show.

Urban Week Paris La Défense

  • Dates: Late August 2025 [TBC]
  • Event type: Street Culture Festival
  • Location: La Défense business district
  • What to expect: Graffiti battles, skateboard demos, and music. Great for urban culture buffs.

Silhouette Short Film Festival

Paris Été Festival

  • Dates: Through mid-August 2025
  • Event type: Multi-arts Festival
  • Location: Citywide
  • What to expect: Free shows—theater, dance, music—in parks and courtyards. Check the daily program.

Highlights for different traveller types

Families with kids

  • Tuileries Garden carnival has pony rides, carousels, and cotton candy.
  • Paris Plages offers water play zones, mini libraries, and games.
  • Take a science break at Palais de la Découverte (air-conditioned!).

Couples

  • Dine on a rooftop terrace near Montmartre at sunset.
  • Sip apéros by Canal Saint-Martin before a twilight stroll.
  • Book a candlelit Seine dinner cruise for a classic date night.

Solo wanderers

  • Browse secondhand stalls along the Seine or at Vanves flea market.
  • Visit calm reading spots like Bibliothèque Forney courtyard.
  • Join a bike tour to meet travelers and learn hidden city lore.

Your perfect 3-day Paris in august itinerary

  • Morning: Start at the Louvre (arrive by 9 am); avoid peak queues.
  • Breakfast: Grab an espresso and tartine at Le Nemours by Palais Royal.
  • Midday: Walk through Tuileries and into Orangerie for Monet's water lilies.
  • Lunch: Picnic from Rue Cler market in Champ de Mars.
  • Afternoon: Seine cruise at golden hour—book 7:30 pm slot.
  • Evening: Dinner at riverside Rosa Bonheur sur Seine barge.
  • Morning: Explore Butte-aux-Cailles and admire murals.
  • Breakfast: Croissant and coffee at L’OisiveThé, a knit-café.
  • Midday: Stroll the Petite Ceinture path near Parc Brassens.
  • Lunch: Cool down with falafel in Le Marais at L’As du Fallafel.
  • Afternoon: Check Palais de Tokyo's installations.
  • Evening: Open-air cinema at Parc de la Villette.
  • Morning: Join a walking food tour in the Marais.
  • Breakfast: Taste-test pastries at local boulangeries along the way.
  • Midday: Relax in shaded courtyards of Galerie Vivienne.
  • Lunch: Bistro lunch at Le Grand Colbert nearby.
  • Afternoon: Hit sales at BHV or dip into Saint-Ouen flea market.
  • Evening: Catch live jazz at 38Riv bar or a Seine-side cabaret.

Best day trips from Paris in august

Fontainebleau

🚇 Travel time: ~45 min by train from Gare de Lyon

Explore the ornate château and its cooling forest trails. Start early to beat both heat and crowds.

Explore Chateau de Fontainebleau Tickets

Giverny

🚇 Travel time: ~45 min by train + 15-min shuttle

Monet's gardens bloom in August, with lily ponds and flower beds still vivid. Go mid-morning for best light.

Explore Monet's Garden Tickets

Reims

🚇 Travel time: ~45 min by TGV

Tour Champagne houses and enjoy cellar tastings. It’s cooler underground and quieter in August.

Provins

🚇 Travel time: ~1.5 h by train

This medieval town stages summer falconry shows and stays shady thanks to stone alleys. Great for a relaxed full-day escape.

Go shopping in Paris in August

  • When: Through early August
  • Where: Citywide, especially grands magasins like Galeries Lafayette
  • Discounts reach 70% on clothes, accessories, and homeware. Go weekday mornings to avoid crowds
  • When: Year-round (weekends best)
  • Where: Porte de Clignancourt
  • Vintage furniture, art, and fashion fill dozens of alleys. Cafés stay lively with locals and dealers.
  • When: Year-round (midday-late best)
  • Where: Right and Left Banks, near Notre-Dame
  • Browse antique books and quirky prints from riverside stalls. Vendors often stay open in August unlike smaller shops.

Pro tips for visiting Paris in August

1. August 15 closures catch many off guard—book meals in advance and check museum hours

2. Free drinking fountains around the city often include sparkling water taps—look for "Eau de Paris."

3. The Metro is reliable but some small stations may close temporarily for maintenance—always check RATP alerts.

4. Bring a scarf or shawl—essential for sun cover and spontaneous church visits.

5. Ditch mid-afternoon museums—head to shaded parks or cafes between 2–5 pm.

6. Use the Navigo Easy pass (rechargeable)—it saves time and € on Metro/bus trips.

7. Terrace dining is prime in August—but smokers abound outdoors. Ask for non-smoking zones inside if that bothers you.

8. Many bakeries close for summer break. When you find a good one open, note the hours and return!

Frequently asked questions about visiting Paris in August

Is August a good time to visit Paris?

Yes, if you enjoy summer events, long daylight, and slightly fewer locals. Just prepare for heat and some closures mid-month.

What is open on Assumption Day (August 15)?

Most shops and offices close, but major museums and tourist attractions generally stay open. Always double-check restaurant hours.

Do Paris locals leave in August?

Many do—especially mid-month. Some family-run restaurants and bakeries close, but tourist areas stay lively.

Is it too hot in Paris in August?

It can be. Expect average highs of 25 °C / 77 °F, but heatwaves can push it above 30 °C. AC isn’t universal, so check before booking hotels.

How crowded are attractions?

Still busy with international tourists. Book skip-the-line tickets for big sites like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre.

What should I wear in Paris in August?

Breathable summer clothes, comfortable shoes, and a light rain layer for storms. Parisians dress neatly—even in heat.

Are river cruises worth it in summer?

Definitely. Try a sunset cruise between 7–9 pm for cooler temps and magical golden-hour views.

Do Metro and public transport run normally?

Mostly, yes. But expect fewer taxis and occasional station closures. Buses and bikes are great warm-weather alternatives.

Where can I cool off in Paris?

Head to museums, shaded parks, or public swimming zones like Bassin de la Villette. Look for “Eau de Paris” fountains to refill your bottle.

Can I still find traditional food in August?

Yes, though some local bistros close. Stick to popular areas like Le Marais or Latin Quarter for more dining options.