August is usually the laziest, least crowded warm-weather month in Paris. But with the Olympics in town until August 11 and the Paris Paralympic games starting up on the 28th, there are bound to be more visitors than usual. But, according to mayor Anne Hidalgo, it will be business as usual, with the best of Paris activities and events in full swing. So, go ahead and sign up for a guided tour of Versailles, or maybe a gourmet dinner cruise, or one of the dozens of fun activities in Paris.

Let's take a look at more than forty ways to explore and enjoy the City of Light. In Summer 2024.

Esprit de Paris – The Top Experiences

The Best Things to Do in Paris – August 2024

It's no wonder this multi-faceted nighttime activity is so popular. It combines cruising along the river with dining on a gourmet dinner and listening to live music. You'll find that everything in Paris looks better from a bateau on the river at night. Famous landmarks pass by as you enjoy a multi-course French meal with wine. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, champagne, and the ultimate experience.

Experience the Magnificence of Versailles

Versailles is a symbol of grandeur and royal decadence. The chateaux and gardens are don't-miss destinations when you're in Paris — and close enough that it's an easy day trip. The only way to avoid standing in the long lines is to go the royal route. Book a skip-the-line tour with a driver/guide to make the past come alive. Includes transportation to and from central Paris and a multi-course lunch.

Maxim's of Paris Seine Dinner Cruise

Summertime in Paris is the perfect season to board a bateau on the banks of the Seine River for a dinner cruise hosted by Maxim's of Paris, the historic brasserie that debuted in 1900. Now, more than a century later, you have the chance to enjoy Maxim's iconic atmosphere and signature dishes — with truffles, lobster and fresh seafood featured on the menu.

Discover the Masterpieces of the Louvre

Don't just show up at the world's biggest museum only to wait in line. Skip the queues and go straight to the Louvre's greatest masterpieces. Instead of standing in line, you'll be admiring the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and of course, the Mona Lisa. This small-group tour is led by an expert museum guide. After the tour ends you're free to explore the museum as long as you like.

Dine on the Eiffel Tower at Madame Brasserie

Finding a table for lunch or dinner on the Eiffel Tower is not only a magnificent idea, it's easier than it may sound. Simply make a reservation at Madame Brasserie, created by Michelin-star chef Thierry Marx. The views are fantastic and the menu is wonderful. Choose the Grande Dame – Paris View for the best experience.

Classical Music in Paris in August

Paris is renowned for its magnificent Gothic churches; many of these historic buildings are also venues for classical music. The acoustically-perfect La Sainte Chapelle is one our favourite venues. This jewel of Paris — with massive stained glass walls and soaring ceilings — was recently restored in in a dazzling renovation. It's the perfect way to spend a sizzling August evening in Paris. Concerts do sell out, so book today.

Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the most popular monument in the world and the ticket lines are always long. We don't know about you, but we don't want to spend our precious time in Paris standing in lines. That's why we strongly recommend skip-the-line tours that get you to the very top, for the best views.

Dinner & Cabaret at the Moulin Rouge

A great evening in Paris is one spent at the Moulin Rouge. It starts with a leisurely multi-course meal featuring a classic French menu and champagne. The evening gets even better after dinner when the world-famous show opens at Europe's most popular and enduring cabaret. Dress code at the Moulin Rouge is elegant attire — dress your best, you're in Paris!

Champagne Tasting River Cruise

You know why this is one of our favorite activities, don't you? It matches Paris with champagne — a marriage made in France. From your perch at the front of the bateau sit back and enjoy the scenery. And what a scenery it is! Glide past world-famous monuments while sipping bubbly and discovering that perhaps the best way to see the City of Lights is from the river.

Musée d'Orsay Skip-the-Line Impressionism Tour

The Musée d'Orsay holds the world's most important collection of Impressionist art, with scores of stunning works by the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Renoir. Since the lines are always long, the best way to get to see the art is on a skip-the-line tour with an Impressionism expert guide. Once the tour finishes, you're free to spend as much time as you want perusing the masterpieces.

Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie & Notre Dame Tour

Explore the ancient heart of Paris, Île de la Cité, on a guided tour that takes you to the iconic sights including La Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame. An expert guide leads this captivating exploration of the rich history of Paris; you'll have the privilege of witnessing the city's breathtaking beauty.

Private Airport Transfers

One of our most appreciated pieces of advice is to pre-arrange transportation from the airport into central Paris. It's comforting to know what's going to happen when you arrive. Our favorite way is to have a private driver waiting upon our arrival to whisk us directly to our hotel. There's something magical about starting your trip to Paris with a touch of luxury and comfort.

Our Top-Ten Left Bank Hotels

Who doesn't love staying on the Left Bank of Paris? Since Hemingway and the Jazz Age, the Left Bank has defined the essence of Paris. The Saint-Germain neighborhood is charming, and so are the best of the hotels in the quartier. Let's take a look at our top picks of Left Bank hotels, updated for 2024.

The Wonders of Versailles

Things to Do in Paris August 2024

Skip the Lines at Versailles

If you don't want to spend a full day at Versailles, get aboard this half-day tour that includes priority access with an expert guide. With your guide at your side, you'll learn about the royals' lavish lifestyle and their lasting legacy. We like that it's a small-group tour with transportation right from central Paris. Choose from morning and afternoon tours.

Versailles + Claude Monet's Gardens in One Day

The only thing more popular than visiting Versailles or Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny is visiting them both on the same day. Meet your guide in Paris and head out to Versailles. Afterwards, you visit Monet's house & grounds where the gardens will be at the peak of the season. Lunch and transportation are included. And, yes, that's Rachel McAdams kissing Owen Wilson at Monet's lily pond!

Versailles Bike Tour + Chateau Visit

We love this summer 2-in-1 activity. Explore the Versailles countryside on two wheels as you glide through forests and pastures, to the local market, to the gardens of Versailles, and past the historic grounds & buildings. You also use your priority-access passes to explore the chateau as long as you like. This makes for a wonderful day, but be sure to book right now!

Glorious Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris August 2024

See Monet's House & Gardens in Giverny

The gardens where Claude Monet painted will be at their peak of summer perfection, as will the waterlilies on the idyllic pond. No need to worry about trains or tickets. Choose this small-group tour to spend the afternoon on all things Monet — his stunning pink house & the historic gardens in Giverny. Includes transportation from central Paris.

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region

Focus on the Land of Bubbly on a day trip to the famous Champagne region, just an hour from Paris. Get picked up at your hotel and driven through the beautiful wine country to visit the most famous champagne houses. Finish with a guided tasting of the Grand Crus of Champagne. Sample as much as you want — your expert guide is doing the driving! Hotel pick-up and a multi-course lunch are also included.

Visit The Historic D-Day Beaches

Ride through the beautiful Normandy countryside on your way to visit the most important sites of World War II — memorials, landing beaches, and cemeteries. Hard to believe that it was three-quarters of a century ago that the end of that war began on the beaches of Normandy. A classic French lunch is included as is a special tasting session of the region's famous cider.

Explore The Loire Valley – Chateaux & Wines

This magnificent Renaissance valley is known for more that just its famous chateaux. The Loire Valley also produces world-renowned wines. This very popular tour gets you into the most famous castles, and also includes a wine tasting of the best varietals from the region. Also included is a multi-course French lunch. It's like two trips in one!

Discover Historic Mont Saint-Michel

Spend a day exploring the coast of Normandy and the fairytale island of Mont Saint-Michel. You visit the Benedictine abbey that becomes separated from the mainland during high tide. Wander along the narrow streets, the shops, and the abbey's ramparts. On your way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, you drive through the picturesque Normandy countryside.

Delectable Food & Wine Experiences

Things to Do in Paris August 2024

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cheese Cellar

This is our #1 food activity in Paris. Visit the Marais to descend into a private cheese cellar with an affineur — an expert in aging cheeses. Learn about the proper way to age seven classic French cheeses and how to match them with wines. The small group is limited to 10 to ensure there's more cheese for you! Be sure to book early.

Bateaux Mouches Glorious Dinner Cruise + Live Music

Indulge your inner romantic when you're in the City of Love by booking a table on this memorable evening cruise to view Paris at its most magical. While you dine on a classic multi-course French dinner, accompanied by live music on-board, your bateau slowly floats past the most famous illuminated landmarks — Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower. Sailing at 8:30 PM.

A Taste of Montmartre Food & Wine Tour

Montmartre, the quartier on the hill is famous for its cobblestone streets, café and terraces, and also for the bohemian crowd who once lived here. Today, it's also famous for its food shops. Join a food-expert guide for a walking tour of the historic district to taste some of the best of French cuisine — cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, and chocolate paired with French wine.

The Food & Wine of the Marais

Join the top-rated food tour in paris to explore the Marais, a culinary hotspot, with a gourmet expert. You dive into the rich melting pot of French cuisine, visiting the top 10 food shops in the historic neighborhood. What do you taste? The best food of France, like cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and the most famous wines. Includes a visit to the oldest food market in Paris.

Bateaux Parisiens Gourmet Lunch Cruise

Cruise along the Seine while enjoying a classic 3-course French lunch aboard Bateaux Parisiens. Soak in the views of the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Musée d'Orsay as you choose from an a la carte menu with wine. The extras? Live entertainment and a glass of cool champagne to start your adventure. Choose the Service Privilege option to guarantee a window seat.

Wine Tasting in the Heart of Paris

France, Paris, Wine — they just go together, don't they? Take the opportunity to learn about the country's wine regions and taste the wines, with guidance from an expert sommelier. We recommend the 2-hour grand cru tasting — it gives the rare opportunity to taste some of the finest wines of France. It all takes place in a charming wine bar very near the Louvre.

If wine and Paris go together, what about Paris, chocolate and pastries? Is it a wonder that visitors love this guided walking tour? Get behind the scenes of traditional French desserts, including regional specialities. Along with plenty of sampling of course! And don't worry, any calories will be burned off by the walking.

Learn to Make Croissants with a Pastry Chef

Flaky, buttery croissants are a lasting taste memory from any trip to Paris. While you're here in the City of Food, take the opportunity to learn how to make croissants in a Parisian kitchen. A professional chef takes you through all the steps to master this iconic French pastry.

Paris Cooking Class & Food Market Tour

This popular activity guides you through the creation of an entire French meal, under the tutelage of a Paris chef — entrée, plat, et dessert. At the end of the cooking, sit down and enjoy what you've made. Choose the option that includes a guided tour of the local markets to meet butchers, fishmongers, and produce sellers as you gather the fresh ingredients for your cooking class.

What's On At the Museums

Things to Do in Paris August 2024

The Louvre & d'Orsay In One Day

Time is precious when you're in Paris. Enjoy skip-the-line access on this small-group combo tour. You'll get ahead of the long lines at both the enormous Louvre Museum AND at Musée d'Orsay. See the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo at the Louvre, before heading to the d'Orsay to view the Impressionist paintings by Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Group size is limited to 8 to ensure a personalized experience.

Paris 1874 – The Immersive Experience

Experience the first Impressionist exhibition through virtual reality. It's Paris, April 15, 1874; 30 painters are presenting 165 of their works, all rejected by the official Paris Salon. Claude Monet, Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Cézanne, and Edgar Degas changed the history of art. This immersive experience brings together architectural plans, aerial photographs, studio archives as well as reviews by journalists and critics of the time
• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends August 11, 2024
• Information…

Le Corps En Mouvement – The Body in Motion

To mark the occasion of the Paris Olympics and the Paralympic Games, the Petit Palais celebrates The Body in Motion with a journey through its permanent collection. Fifty works from Antiquity to the 20th century trace the origins of the Olympic Games with paintings, sculptures, art objects, drawings and prints.
• Petit Palais
• May 15 to November 17, 2024
• Information…

La Collection – Revoir Picasso

In 2014 Pablo Picasso's most important public collection was permanently installed in the lavish setting of the Hôtel Salé, a mansion in the Marais. A decade later, the museum pays homage with a three-year retrospective starting with a tribute to Françoise Gilot. Beyond her famous book — Living with Picasso, published in 1965 — Gilot's own artistic career spanned from Réalités Nouvelles to her large compositions of the "emblematic paintings" of the 1980s.

• Musée Picasso
• March 12, 2024 to March 12, 2027
• Information…

La Fontaine des Innocents

Delve into the story of the Fountain of the Innocents during its large-scale restoration. Built during the Renaissance, this monument, originally called the Fountain of the Nymphs, was sculpted by Jean Goujon and designed by the architect Pierre Lescot. Learn about the history and restoration of this famous fountain of the Marais.

• Musée Carnavalet
• April 24, 2024 to August 25, 2024
• Information…

Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy

Discover the roots of the first modern Olympic Games, and how the sporting competition of ancient Greece was reinvented in modern times. The exhibition will show how history and archaeology came together to create the world's greatest and most-watched sporting event.

• Louvre Museum
• Ends September 16, 2024
• Information…

The Top Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris August 2024

Paris Plage Returns in 2025

The popular annual beach-comes-to-the Seine event is postponed until 2025 to make room for Paris Olympic events. Even without a beach, there will be a lot happening on the river! Save your bathing suit for next year!

Jazz à la Villette

More than 30,000 jazz enthusiasts will attend concerts by well-known musicians and by up-and-coming talent. There will also be film screenings, exhibitions and master classes to celebrate all things Jazz.
• Parc Floral de Vincennes
• June 30 to September 8, 2024
• Information…

Étê du Canal – Summer on the Canal

The Canal de l'Ourcq celebrates the summer with a fun program of dance, concerts, water activities including boat cruises, films screenings and street art. Canal de L'Ourcq is a trendy part of the Parisian canal network up in the 19th Arrondissement.

• Canal de l'Ourcq
• Ends August 11, 2024
• Information…

Rock en Seine

Join Parisians as they rock out on the edge of the city!

• Pont de St-Cloud
• August 21 to 25 2024
• Information…

Assomption – Assumption Day

This is a national holiday in France. Many shops, restaurants and services will be closed. So, not really different than Covid lockdown.

• August 15 2024