The 46 Top Things To Do In Paris, July 2023 – Summer In The City Of Light

July in Paris is glorious hot days and lovely warm evenings. Luckily, this year, for the first time in a long time, you can plan a summer visit to the City of Light. Paris in July means Bastille Day celebrations, the Tour de France, and visits to Versailles or to nearby Giverny to marvel at Impressionist master Claude Monet's gardens in a riot of color.

Paris is an extremely popular post-Covid travel destination and we're noticing that many tours, activities, and even hotels are selling out. Our advice is don't delay, book now, especially for the summer months. Complete your travel planning by browsing through our recommendations below for the best things to do in Paris.

Most Popular Activities

Things to Do in Paris July 2023

Bateaux Parisiens VIP Dinner Cruise

We think you're going to love this cruise along the Seine as much as we did. Not only do you see the famous landmarks, you dine on a four-course classic French meal. Everything looks better from a bateau sailing along the river at night. Choose the 8:30 PM sailing and the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.

Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise + Live Music

This well-liked dinner cruise along the Seine is perfect for creating memories of Paris that will stay with you for years. Cruise the river on a magical evening while viewing the city's sight. At your private table enjoy a classic 4-course French dinner, with live music. Your bateau lazily floats past illuminated landmarks like the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower.

Champagne Cruise Along the Seine

Wine. Champagne. Paris. Do you see a pattern in the activities we like the most? This one pairs Paris with champagne — to us the perfect combination. Glide past world-famous monuments while sipping bubbly in a 3-champagne tasting conducted by an expert sommelier. You learn about the types of champagnes while cruising by the sights of Paris.

Lido de Paris Cabaret Show + Dinner

Flying under the nighttime radar is the Lido, a classic cabaret on Champs-Elysées. The costumes, choreography and music are sophisticated and downright dazzling. For the best experience, we recommend the VIP Dinner & Show option that gets you the best seating, the best champagne, four-course French dinner with wine, the best seats to view the show, and even a photo with the dancers! This is one of our favorite evening experiences in Paris.

Skip the Lines at the Louvre Museum

Nearly 10 million visitors a year means that the Louvre is full of art lovers and there are always long lines waiting to get in. That's why we insist on booking a skip-the-line tour to get past the crowds and into the museum quickly. Visit masterpieces of the ancient Greeks, the Italian Renaissance, and French emperors. You'll also spend time with the Big Three — Venus, Nike and Mona! After the tour ends you can stay in the museum and browse for as long as you like.

Moulin Rouge Dinner & Cabaret

Dine at the number-one rated nightclub in Europe, and take in the amazing show. The Moulin Rouge is the still the famous cabaret in the world and this is the best way to experience it — transportation from central Paris, a 4-course dinner, champagne, and a view of the spectacular cabaret show. Marvel at the glorious spectacle, the costumes, and the dancers as you sip bubbly. This is an extraordinary evening that you will not soon forget.

Private Boat Cruise on the Seine

Climb aboard for a private boat tour on the Seine. Sip champagne as you pass by the Statue of Liberty, (yes, Paris has one; in fact, she has five!), the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, historic bridges, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Bring your own bubbly and even your poodle as pets are welcome.

Don't Stand in the Lines at the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is immensely popular and there are always long-ups. Since we hate waiting in line, we always opt for an Eiffel Tower activity that lets us skip the queues. We like the tours that gets you past the lines and up to the very top, for what we think are the best views of Paris.

Vintage Tour of Paris

Meet your "gentleman driver" who's there to take you on a retro tour of the city in a sleek, black Citroën Traction Avant. You'll feel like you're in a 1940s movie set in Paris as you tour the famous sights. It's fun seeing the city like this. As we say in our review, this is "retro luxury from another era." Also see, Vintage Tour of Paris Full Review…

Classical Music in Paris in July

The acoustically-perfect La Saint-Chapelle is travelers' favourite classical music venue in Paris. Located on the Île de la Cité, its roots stretch back to 1289 when Louis IX built his Holy Chapel. Palais Garnier, the Belle Epoque opera house in Paris, is the center of cultural life. Attending a ballet or opera performance is worth it just to get the chance to see the fantastic interior. Find out what's playing in July!

Night Bike Ride + River Cruise

Visitors love this tour, especially on a summer evening in Paris. Follow your experienced guide as you pedal down ancient streets to visit the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and glide down the Champs Elysées. Cycle through Île de la Cité and witness Notre Dame as it is reconstructed. Then you hop on a river boat for a nighttime cruise on the Seine. A glass of wine is included, of course!

Airport Transfers

Know what's going to happen when you land at the airport — arrange transportation into Paris in advance. An easy and affordable way to do that is to book a shuttle van service right to your hotel. Readers have liked these services that also pick you up when you're ready to depart. You'll find it comforting to be prepared and to know what's going to happen when you arrive.

Musée d'Orsay Skip-the-Line Impressionism Tour

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

The Best Latin Quarter Hotels

The historic and charming Latin Quarter is one of the greatest places to stay in Paris. Luckily, it's also home to some of our favourite hotels in the city. Here, you are in the center of things, with easy access to Saint-Germain, the Marais, the Seine, Notre Dame Cathedral. Let's take a look at our newly-updated, 2023 list of the best hotels in the Latin Quarter, with current prices.

VIP Twilight Tour – Champagne Cruise + Eiffel Tower

Sunset. Champagne. Eiffel Tower. Put the three together and you get a memorable evening in Paris. The fun starts as you're led VIP-style onto a bateau where a glass of cool bubbles await. As you sip, you'll glide by the best of Paris landmarks riverside. Back on land, the climax is skip-the-line access to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower. It doesn't get better than this!

The Top Food & Wine Activities

Things to Do in Paris July 2023

The Food & Wine of the Marais

This delightful small-group food tour through the Marais is garnering high praise. You start the tour at the oldest food market in the city, and then follow your food-expert guide through the historic Marais neighborhood to visit the top food & wine shops, tasting the best of French food like cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and wine.

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cheese Cellar

In Paris, the top cheese sellers (fromagères) also age their cheeses in special cheese caves beneath their stores. This unique & unusual tour is led by a Master Affineur, who ages and sells cheese. You not only get to taste some of the most famous cheese of France, but you learn about their history, production techniques, and which wines to drink with them.

Chocolate & Pastry Tour of Saint-Germain

Paris + Chocolate + Pastries. Could any three things be more perfect together? Is it a wonder that we (and our readers) love this guided walking tour? It gives you a chance to get behind-the-scenes of Paris patisseries (pastry shops) and chocolateries (chocolate shops), along with plenty of sampling of course!.

Bateaux Parisiens Gourmet Lunch Cruise

Spend an afternoon on a riverboat on the Seine. Even better, this cruise includes a classic multi-course lunch. This is a fun, casual, and affordable cruise along the river while supping & sipping with friends. A cruise on a bateau is something you must do in Paris, so why not have lunch at the same time? Take a break from sightseeing to combine great dining with a tour of Paris… riverside.

Wine Tasting in the Heart of Paris

You really can't visit Paris without tasting French wine. The professional sommeliers on these fun and informal wine tastings cover a lot of wine territory and deliver an extensive tasting of wines in a charming wine bar smack in the center of Paris. We prefer the wine, cheese & charcuterie option that includes champagne.

Learn to Make Croissants with a Pastry Chef

Sure — you can just eat croissants and pains au chocolat during your trip to Paris. But you can, instead, learn how to bake them yourself during this hands-on, small-group pastry class. Head to the professional kitchen (located in central Paris), to meet your chef instructor, then roll up your sleeves to learn the step-by-step secrets to making theses iconic French pastries.

Small-Group French Cooking Class & Market Tour

At an historic outdoor food market in the Latin Quarter you meet your expert chef and shop for the ingredients you will need to make lunch. Then your small group (limited to 8) returns to the Paris cooking studio to create a three-course meal. You will prepare a delicious lunch — including entrée, plat, and dessert — and enjoy your creations, with a glass of wine.

Paris Food Tour: Gastronomy & History

Taste, taste, taste! This culinary journey takes your taste buds on a journey from cafes and patisseries to local markets. You'll sample French favorites all along the route. As you nibble and sip your way through the Latin Quarter, your guide will fill you in on the history of this bustling quartier. Bien sûr, French wine is included. Numbers are limited to eight so there's more fromage for you!

The Top Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2023

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region

Visit the Land of Bubbly. On this day tour your driver/guide picks you up at your Paris hotel to take you to the Champagne Region, just about an hour away. You start your visit in Reims at the historic cathedral. But the day is mostly about visiting champagne makers and sampling, sampling, sampling. Lunch at a regional restaurant is included.

The Loire Valley – Chateaux & Wines

Discover the Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley and the wines produced in this fertile valley on a day trip from Paris. The day begins with a drive to the largest castle, Château de Chambord. But the day isn't all about castles: you'll also have a chance to taste the best of the region's wines. The final stop is Château de Chenonceau, considered the loveliest of the Loire Châteaux.

Monet's House & Gardens in Giverny

To spend the day with Claude Monet at his house & gardens in Giverny, choose this affordable, small-group afternoon tour that includes pick-up at your Paris address. The gardens will be at their peak of summer perfection as well as the waterlilies at the idyllic pond where Monet painted for 43 years. Also available as a private tour.

The Historic D-Day Beaches

It was the largest seaborne invasion of World War II. The Normandy landings were the beginning of the road to liberation. On this compelling day trip from Paris you will visit the memorials, landing beaches and cemeteries that dot the haunting landscape. Also included is a special tasting session of the region's famous ciders.

Mont Saint-Michel

This day trip from Paris takes you to the fairytale island just off the Normandy coast. Explore the Benedictine abbey that becomes separated from the mainland during high tide and wander along the narrow streets, the shops, and the abbey's ramparts. On your way you drive through the picturesque Normandy countryside. Departures on Fridays, lunch is included.

The Best Ways to Visit Versailles from Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2023

Your Own Private Versailles

Experience the Palace of Versailles on an exclusive private tour. It starts with a Eurovan whisking you from your Paris hotel to the priority entrance at the Palace of Versailles. There, you'll glide past the velvet ropes to areas previously seen only by dignitaries. See the Hall of Mirrors, the king and queen's private residences as well as the magnificent gardens.

Versailles Monarchy Private Tour

The day starts in central Paris, whence your driver/guide whisks to the royal estate of Versailles, 40 minutes away. Included in your dossier are priority, skip-the-line tickets. Go directly inside to experience the grandeur of the chateau on a guided tour. Then stroll through the gardens until lunch near the Grand Canal. Afternoon finds you at the Grand Trianon and Marie Antoinette's farm, before you're driven back to Paris. Everything is included.

Best of Versailles with Skip-the-Line Access

The day starts in central Paris, whence your driver whisks to the royal estate of Versailles. Included in your dossier are priority, skip-the-line tickets. Go directly inside to experience the grandeur of the chateau on a guided tour. There's time to stroll through the gardens and revel in the magnificence. The small group ensures that you get individual attention from your expert guide. If you prefer, you can opt for a private tour, our personal preference!

Versailles Bike Tour + Chateau Visit

Kickstart summer with this 2-in-1 tour. You'll cruise the country around Versailles as your guide takes you through forests and pastures, to the local market and then into the gardens of Versailles to ride past the historic buildings, including Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet. Then use your passes to explore the chateau as long as you like. A great tour, but be sure to book right now!

Claude Monet's Gardens + Versailles in One Day

This 2-in-1 activity takes you to two essential landmarks in one day — the chateau and gardens of the royal estate at Versailles, plus the famous gardens of Impressionist master Claude Monet at nearby Giverny. On this small-group tour (no more than 8 people, to ensure personal attention) you are picked up at your Paris address and driven to both locations for guided tours. Lunch is also included on this very popular day trip from Paris.

New Exhibits at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris July 2023

Impressionism – At The Source of the Water Lilies

This exhibition explores Impressionism as decoration and the place of beauty in daily life with 80 works by Cassatt, Cezanne, Degas, Manet, Monet, Morisot, Pissarro and Renoir, some never shown in France
• Musée de l'Orangerie
• Ends July 11, 2023
• Information…

Aristide Maillol

Maillol was born in a small fishing village in the Pyrénées and moved to Paris in 1881 to study painting at the École des Beaux-Arts. But a chance encounter with Paul Gauguin changed the direction of his art. By age 40, he was a dedicated sculptor. The Musée d'Orsay is finally devoting a major retrospective to him.
• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends August 21, 2023
• Information…

From Afar: Precious Objects from Elsewhere

Since ancient times carnelian, lapis lazuli, ebony, and other precious materials have circulated along trade routes. This exhibition highlights these precious materials as well as exotic animals who have traveled between the continents since the Middle Ages.

• Louvre, Petite Galerie
• Ends July 4, 2023
• Information…

Giovanni Boldini – Les Plaisirs et les Jours

This first-ever retrospective of Giovanni Boldini is an opportunity to discover this virtuoso painter and figure on the social, artistic, and literary scene of Belle Époque Paris.

• Petit Palais
• Ends July 24, 2023
• Information…

Albert Edelfelt – Pioneer of Finnish Painting

The Petit Palais continues its exploration of Scandinavian artists with this exhibition devoted to Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905), one of the pioneers of Finnish painting.

• Petit Palais
• Ends July 10, 2023
• Information…

Shirley Jaffe – Une Américaine à Paris

Born in 1923 in New Jersey, Shirley Jaffe studied art at Cooper Union and left for Paris in 1949. She remained here and forged a career in abstract art right up until her death at age 92.

• Centre Pompidou
• Ends August 29, 2023
• Information…

Future Lullaby: The Cradle of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

This exhibition is all about lullabies heard through the ages and across continents. This one may be a sleeper hit!

• Musée du Quai Branly
• Ends September 25, 2023
• Information…

The Top Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2023

Bastille Day Celebrations – July 14, 2023

Vive la liberté ! Bastille Day commemorates the start of the French Revolution and is the biggest celebration in Paris, and in all of France. In Paris, the military parade usually starts at 10 AM on the Champs-Elysées. The Eiffel Tower fireworks start at 11 PM, and the best vantage point is from the banks of the river.
• July 14
• Bastille Day Information…

Paris Japan Expo

This annual event celebrates Japanese manga, martial arts, animation & J-music.

• Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
• July 14 to 17, 2023
• Information…

Annual Paris Jazz Festival

One of the truly magical international jazz events, held in the beautiful gardens of Parc Floral. This year the musical extravaganza has been moved to August.

• Parc Floral de Vincennes
• June 30 to September 8, 2023
• Information…

Paris Plages

Sand, sun, beach umbrellas, free concerts & fun activities on the banks of the Seine River for summer celebration.

• Banks of the Seine
• July 1 to August 30, 2023
• Information…

Tour de France

See the dramatic final day of this wildly popular, iconic event as the cyclists circle the Champs-Elysées.

• July 1 to 24, 2023.
• Information…

Festival Paris L'Été – Arts, Scenes & Sun

This event features 100 performances at 40 locations throughout Paris — near monuments, in parks, and public squares. What a way to celebrate summer in the city!

• Throughout Paris
• July 2023
• Information…

Lollapalooza Paris

The annual live music festival will return to Paris in 2023 (Covid and all) for two-day event at Hippodrome de Longchamp and will feature Pearl Jam.

• Hippodrome de Longchamp
• July 16 & 17, 2023
• Information…