France, Europe

Paris in July

Peak everything: lines, airfare, heat. Bastille Day is spectacular but the surrounding weeks are the year's most crowded.

Think twiceWarm to hot, highs near 78F (26C), heat waves possible

Eiffel Tower, Paris — ParisPhoto: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

July is a month to think twice about visiting Paris. Peak everything: lines, airfare, heat. Bastille Day is spectacular but the surrounding weeks are the year's most crowded.

Weather: Warm to hot, highs near 78F (26C), heat waves possible
Crowds: 5 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What July is like in Paris

July is Paris at its most crowded and most expensive. Highs sit near 78F (26C), heat waves are increasingly common, and many older hotels and apartments have no air conditioning. Lines at the Louvre and Eiffel Tower are the longest of the year. Bastille Day on July 14 brings a parade and fireworks, the Tour de France traditionally finishes late in the month, and Paris Plages opens mid month.

Honestly, this is the month to avoid if you have a choice. June or September give you the same long days with fewer people and lower prices. If July is your only window, book early, stay somewhere with AC, and do the big sights at opening.

Make the most of July

What is especially good about Paris this month.

Bastille Day

July 14 means a military parade on the Champs-Elysees and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, plus firefighters' balls the night before.

Tour de France finale

The race traditionally ends on the Champs-Elysees in late July. Stake out a spot early.

Paris Plages

From mid July, sand, deck chairs, and games take over stretches of the Seine quays.

What to pack for July

Breathable, loose clothing
A refillable water bottle for the public fountains
Sunscreen and a hat
A small fan if your hotel lacks AC

Our timing tip

Pick hotels by one filter first, air conditioning, and schedule museums for the hottest part of the afternoon.

Book Paris for July.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Paris
Opens a hotel search for Paris in July, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for July
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Paris
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Paris
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Paris for July. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in July

Bastille Day (Fete Nationale)

July 14 every year, with firefighters' balls on the nights of July 13 and 14

France's national day: a military parade down the Champs-Elysees, fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, and dancing in the fire stations.

Bastille Day

July 14 every year

Military parade on the Champs-Elysees, fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, firefighters' balls the night before.

Tour de France finale

Late July

The race traditionally finishes on the Champs-Elysees. Thrilling, and thronged.

Paris Plages

Mid July through August

The Seine quays become sand-and-deckchair beaches. The best of August Paris.

Things to do in Paris

Full guide

The Louvre

Book the first timed slot and go straight to what you came for; Wednesday and Friday evenings run late and calmer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Musee d'Orsay

The Impressionist floor is the best single museum floor in Europe. Thursday evenings stay open late.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Eiffel Tower

Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in season. The classic photo is from Trocadero at sunrise.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Notre-Dame and the islands

Reopened after the fire restoration; entry is free but the timed-entry app queue moves fast in the morning.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Montmartre at first light

Sacre-Coeur steps before 9am belong to locals and bakers. By noon in season it is a scrum.

Tickets and tours →

Luxembourg Gardens

The city's living room: toy sailboats, chess games, and the chairs you are actually allowed to move.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Book the Louvre's first entry slot of the day, enter at the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances, and see your must-list in reverse order from the crowds.
Do headline sights before 9:30am or in the last two hours before closing; spend the middle of the day in gardens, food streets, and lesser museums that never queue.
Museums with timed reservations reward booking two to four weeks out in spring and fall; same-week almost always works in November through February.
The first Sunday of the month is free at many museums: wonderful for the budget, terrible for the lines. Know which trade you are making.

Know before you go

August: many family-run restaurants and small shops close two to four weeks for annual vacation. Major museums, department stores, and sights all remain open. Check any specific restaurant before you build a day around it.
Most museums close one day a week: the Louvre on Tuesdays, Orsay and Versailles on Mondays. Plan the pairings accordingly.
May is a minefield of public holidays (May 1, May 8, Ascension, Pentecost). May 1 in particular closes nearly everything, including the Louvre.
December 25 and January 1 close most sights; the days around them are open but run holiday hours.

Paris in July, quick answers

Is July a good time to visit Paris?

July is a month to think twice about visiting Paris. Peak everything: lines, airfare, heat. Bastille Day is spectacular but the surrounding weeks are the year's most crowded.

What is the weather like in Paris in July?

Warm to hot, highs near 78F (26C), heat waves possible.

Is Paris crowded in July?

July is peak crowd season in Paris; expect lines at the headline sights.

What is happening in Paris in July?

Bastille Day (july 14 every year); Tour de France finale (late july); Paris Plages (mid july through august).