11 Best Things to Do in Paris in July

If you're traveling to Paris in July, you can enjoy exciting and interesting events such as the Tour de France, the massive (and free) Fnac Music Festival at the Hôtel de Ville, or the Bastille Day fireworks.

There are also parades, firefighter dances, free outdoor film festivals, concerts, and art performances. Without a doubt, a month to enjoy this incredible city to the fullest.

Booking a tour to Giverny and Monet’s gardens from Paris is a must-do in July if you’re a fan of Claude Monet, as the Impressionist artist spent the last half of his life in Giverny.

Giverny is a small village in Normandy about 45 miles (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes) outside of Paris, where his famous water lily ponds bloom during the month of July.

Thanks to a meticulous restoration, you’ll see his house, gardens, and water lily pond just as they were when he lived there—places where he painted some of his greatest masterpieces. And if you’re also interested in this artist and founder of Impressionism and your stay in Paris isn’t too short, you can book your ticket to the Louvre Museum and see some of his best works in person.

And if you want to have fun like a kid or are visiting Paris with your family, July is the perfect time to book your ticket to Aquaboulevard, the largest water park in Paris and one of the most popular in Europe, which features no fewer than 11 water slides, as well as many other water activities and attractions

Additionally, it also features a relaxation area with a sauna, hot tubs, and baths to help you recharge your strength and energy.

On your trip to Paris in July, don’t miss out on booking a day trip to Normandy from Paris featuring a tour of Omaha Beach, cider tasting, and lunch. You’ll learn about the region’s pivotal role in World War II alongside a professional guide who will accompany you throughout the tour and explain all the details about various sites, such as:

• Omaha Beach, one of the beaches where American troops landed and where many of the soldiers are buried.
• The American Cemetery, which commemorates the nearly 10,000 Allied soldiers who fought on these beaches, where you’ll find graves, a memorial, and the large Wall of the Missing.
• The Utah Beach Landing Museum, where you’ll learn, among other things, about the Allied soldiers’ preparations, what happened during the battle, and how both sides advanced.

The trip will last 14 hours and includes round-trip transportation. You’ll also enjoy lunch with an apple cider tasting.

Since 1990, the Paris Summer Festival has organized artistic and cultural events throughout the city. This annual arts festival features dance, music, and theater events in various popular neighborhoods of Paris.

The festival runs from early July to early August and features theater, dance, circus, and music. You can also enjoy various art installations. Most are located outdoors and outside traditional entertainment venues.

For more information, feel free to visit the festival’s official website. The events are free! You can also become an artist yourself by booking a graffiti workshop in Paris.

Bastille Day marks the biggest summer celebration in Paris, as well as throughout France. It takes place on July 14 to commemorate the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, which occurred on July 14, 1789, and was a turning point in the French Revolution.

The military ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and the parade at 11 a.m. Additionally, the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower are a highlight of the day, so if you book your evening tickets for the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you’ll see it fully illuminated and in celebration of Bastille Day. The tower’s light show will last approximately half an hour.

But the best place to watch the Bastille Day fireworks is from the Seine River. So, book a Seine River cruise in Paris with dinner while you enjoy the dazzling fireworks. It’s priceless!

Paris’s famous summer sales continue through mid-July. For many “savvy” fashion lovers, July marks the prime time for shopping, when stores move on to their second and even third rounds of markdowns, swapping out “Sales” signs in their windows for percentages of 70% or even 80%.

The best places to find bargains? Everywhere! Luxury brands like Chanel, Valentino, and Armani draw huge crowds, as do Galeries Lafayette, BHV, Bon Marché, and Au Printemps, and, of course, smaller boutiques and even global mid-market chains.

Are you a fan of Japan and its culture? If so, you must attend Japan Expo. It’s an exclusive July event featuring martial arts, video games, music, and more. The event takes place at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, located just one RER stop from Charles de Gaulle Airport, so knowing how to get around Paris will be crucial, especially on the Paris Metro.

In addition, there will be signings, talks, workshops, and masterclasses, where famous artists (animators, illustrators, video game creators, film producers, musicians, and composers) will share their secrets and tips. There’s also plenty of room for music, ranging from rock, R&B, J-pop, punk, electro, shamisen, koto, and sanshin to traditional genres. There will also be hands-on workshops to teach the basics of drawing, modeling, ikebana, origami, and calligraphy.

And, of course, there can be no Japanese culture festival without a trace of video games. Many video games will be available for free, where you can try out the latest releases and participate in tournaments. Video game creators will also be there to tell you about their work and offer expert advice. There will also be an area dedicated to martial arts where you can learn the basics of ninjutsu, kendo, judo, aikido, and karate.

Free outdoor movies return to Parc de la Villette every summer with Cinéma en Plein Air (Open-Air Cinema). Throughout July, from Wednesday to Sunday, you’ll see a great mix of classic films and recent hits shown in their original language with French subtitles as soon as night falls in Paris.

Bring a blanket to sit on, a picnic dinner, and a bottle of wine. Plus, the park is one of the most striking in Paris and one of the largest in the city at 55 hectares, surrounded by theaters, cafés, daycare centers, and various places to eat.

The Fête Foraine des Tuileries takes place in early July in the Tuileries Garden in Paris, located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. For more information, visit the event’s website.

You can enjoy a giant Ferris wheel, carousels, bumper cars, "fun houses," heart-pounding rides for thrill-seekers, children’s games, and much more. This carnival entertains families with children, teenagers, and everyone else looking for fun. A perfect plan if you’re visiting Paris with kids.

And, of course, you can also buy cotton candy, waffles, ice cream, fried dough, barbecue dishes, and drinks at the various stalls.

Don’t miss the free live concerts featuring up to 30 international artists in front of the Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall) from sunset until midnight. This music event is widely known in Paris, usually lasts about 3 days, and typically takes place in early July.

The French company Fnac usually sponsors the concerts and musical performances at this event, which attracts up to 100,000 fans. City Hall is located very close to Paris’s museum district (between the Louvre Museum and the Carnavalet Museum).

For more information, visit the concert’s website. If you’re heading to Paris for three days in July and you love a festive atmosphere, rejoice— you’ve already got plans!

Attend one of the Firefighters’ Balls (Bals des Pompiers) held annually on July 13 and/or 14, as the main fire station in each Parisian district opens its barracks and courtyards to welcome the public to this all-night party featuring music, dancing, and drinks. While admission is free, food and drinks must be paid for.

The Bals des Pompiers usually start at 9 p.m. and end at 4 a.m. Depending on the fire station, the event may take place on July 13 or 14, and in some cases, on both dates.

Visiting Paris in July means you’ll enjoy warm afternoons as well as cool evenings. As such, be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen, a hat for the hottest days, and lots of lightweight, comfortable clothing. Sandals and shorts are perfect for this type of weather.

However, it’s also important to keep in mind that July is the summer month with the heaviest rainfall, so be sure to bring an umbrella just in case, as well as some waterproof and comfortable shoes.

Summer sales at stores throughout the city will make you want to save a little space in your suitcase to bring home a few souvenirs. Known as "les soldes, " sales in France are regulated by the government and can only take place twice a year—once in late July and again during the Christmas season in Paris.

For those looking for a bargain while in France, now is the time to shop!

If you’re looking for summer accommodations in the city, keep in mind that prices may be a bit higher than usual due to high demand.

However, there are still plenty of places to stay in Paris, with options for every budget. Of course, the sooner you plan your trip to Paris in July, the cheaper it will be!

The summer months bring many long, hot days. As such, July offers the perfect weather to enjoy Parisian café culture, where bar stools and striped chairs spill out onto the wide boulevards, filling the streets with the aroma of coffee.

In July, the weather in Paris tends to range between 16 and 25 degrees Celsius, with an average of 20 degrees, providing the perfect climate to explore everything the city has to offer. That said, evenings can be a bit cooler, so you’ll want to have a light jacket on hand for when you feel like exploring Paris at night.