Things To Do In Paris In July 2026 – Summer In The City
A July visit to Paris almost always includes an Eiffel Tower photo.
July is one of the most energetic months of the year, and the list of things to do in Paris in July quickly fills the calendar. Long evenings stretch late into the night, outdoor events appear across the city, and Bastille Day celebrations bring one of the biggest national holidays to the capital.
Our guide highlights the experiences that shape the month — Bastille Day festivities and fireworks near the Eiffel Tower, evening dinner cruises on the Seine, summer concerts, museum exhibitions, and easy day trips such as Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny. July is also peak travel season, so the most popular activities and tours are worth reserving ahead.
Plan Your Time In Paris
Top Experiences
|
Day Trips From Paris
|
More Things to Do
|
Food & Wine Experiences
|
Exhibitions & Events
|
Plan More of Your Visit
|
Top Experiences In Paris
Things to Do in Paris July 2026
Dinner Cruise on the Seine River
The Seine has always been the natural stage for Paris at night. This dinner cruise combines a traditional French meal with a slow journey past the city's best-known monuments. Choose the Service Privilège option for a table by a window if you want champagne and uninterrupted views throughout the cruise.
Versailles Palace & Gardens Guided Tour
Versailles stands just beyond Paris — the grand palace of Louis XIV. With skip-the-line entry you move directly into the royal apartments and the Hall of Mirrors while a guide explains life at court. The visit continues into the formal gardens and the wider estate.
Maxim's of Paris Dinner Cruise
Maxim's of Paris lends its historic name to this evening cruise along the Seine. A multi-course dinner is served while the boat passes landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III. Live music adds to the atmosphere as the city lights appear along the riverbanks.
A Guided Tour of the Louvre’s Masterpieces
Rather than wandering the Louvre's vast galleries on your own, a guided visit focuses on the museum's major masterpieces and the history behind them. The tour leads to works such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo while explaining the history that made them famous. Skip-the-line entry helps keep the visit smooth and focused.
Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Access
A visit to the Eiffel Tower becomes easier with skip-the-line access and a guide leading the way. As you ascend, the guide explains the story behind Gustave Eiffel's famous structure. From the observation levels the view opens across the Seine, the grand boulevards, and the monuments of Paris.
Four-Course Dinner Cruise on the Seine
Dinner on the Seine is one of the classic Paris evenings. The Bateaux Mouches boats pair a four-course French meal with a slow cruise past the city's bridges and monuments. As the boat moves along the river, the changing views of the illuminated landmarks become part of the evening.
A French Cheese Tasting in a Paris Cellar
A cheese cellar is the right place to understand French cheese. During this guided tasting, several classic varieties are served while an expert explains their regions, aging methods, and distinctive flavors. Wine pairings round out the experience and make the differences between each cheese easy to appreciate.
Airport Transfer from Charles de Gaulle
After a long flight, the easiest arrival in Paris is a pre-arranged transfer in a private car. A driver meets you at the airport and takes you directly to your hotel without navigating taxis or trains. This option is especially useful for first-time visitors or late arrivals.
Day Trips from Paris
Things to Do in Paris July 2026
Monet's Gardens in Giverny
A short trip from Paris brings you to Giverny, the quiet village where Monet created the garden scenes that appear in so many of his works. You walk the paths around the lily pond, see the famous bridge, and visit the painter's house overlooking the gardens.
Champagne Day Trip from Paris
A day trip from Paris brings you into the vineyards of Champagne, where the region's famous sparkling wine begins. Visits to historic houses and underground cellars show how bottles age slowly in cool chalk galleries. Along the way you taste several champagnes while learning how the region's grapes, methods, and traditions shape the wines.
Normandy D-Day Beaches Day Trip from Paris
The Normandy coast preserves the memory of the Allied landings of June 1944. This guided day trip from Paris visits Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, and several key sites connected to the invasion. Along the way, your guide explains the events that unfolded on these shores during World War II.
Versailles: The Essential Day Trip
Just beyond Paris stands Versailles, the grand palace built for Louis XIV and the royal court. Visitors pass through the Hall of Mirrors and the state apartments before stepping into the vast formal gardens designed for the king. The estate also includes smaller palaces and the quiet hamlet created for Marie Antoinette.
More Things to Do in Paris in July
Champagne & Food Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the Left Bank's most storied neighborhoods, known for cafés, food shops, and wine bars. On this tasting walk you stop at specialty shops to sample champagnes, cheeses, and other French favorites. Between tastings you continue along the neighborhood's café-lined streets.
A Dinner & Show at Paradis Latin
Paradis Latin carries on one of Paris's oldest cabaret traditions. The evening pairs a three-course dinner with a fast-paced stage production of choreography, music, and colorful costumes. The historic theater dates to the nineteenth century and remains a classic setting for Paris nightlife.
Learn the Art of Croissants with a Parisian Chef
A croissant's crisp exterior and delicate layers come from a precise baking process. During this small-group workshop a Parisian chef walks you through the stages of preparing and folding the dough before the pastries go into the oven. You leave knowing how the classic French breakfast pastry is made.
Classical Concerts in Historic Paris Churches
Historic churches across Paris regularly host short classical concerts known for their rich acoustics. Chamber ensembles perform works by composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Debussy beneath vaulted ceilings that carry the music through the space. Most programs last about an hour, making them an easy addition to an evening in the city.
Impressionist Masters at Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay holds the most important collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings anywhere. On this guided tour you move through the museum's key galleries with stops at works by Monet, Cézanne, Degas, and Van Gogh. Priority entry helps you begin the visit inside the museum rather than waiting in the ticket lines.
Paris Food & Wine Experiences
A Food Walk Through the Marais
The Marais has long been known for its markets, bakeries, and small specialty shops. This guided food walk introduces the products that shape everyday cooking in Paris, from cheeses and charcuterie to fresh breads. Tastings along the route reveal the traditions behind the ingredients.
Paris Wine & Cheese Tasting Lunch
Near the Louvre, this wine and cheese tasting lunch takes place in a relaxed tasting room in central Paris. A sommelier pours Champagne and several wines from different French regions while pairing them with artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. The tasting offers a generous introduction to French wine and comfortably doubles as lunch.
Tasting the Flavors of Montmartre
On this food walk through Montmartre you move between boulangeries, patisseries, and neighborhood food shops with a guide leading the way. At each stop you sample local specialties while learning how these small businesses operate today. The route offers a relaxed introduction to the flavors of the hilltop district.
Lunch on the Seine
A midday cruise offers a relaxed way to experience the Seine. Lunch is served while the boat passes the islands, historic bridges, and monuments along the river through central Paris. The steady pace makes an easy pause in the middle of a day spent exploring the city.
Market Visit and Cooking Class
The experience begins at a neighborhood market where a chef introduces the ingredients behind classic French cooking. After choosing what you need, you return to the kitchen for a hands-on lesson preparing several traditional dishes. The session ends with a relaxed meal built from the recipes you prepared.
Museum Exhibitions in Paris, July 2026
Louvre Highlights with a Guide
The Louvre gathers works that define the history of Western art. On this guided tour you see its most famous masterpieces while learning how they became central to the museum’s collection. Skip-the-line access avoids the long queues outside the palace.
Paintings With A Point Of View
Walking through this show, you'll notice something straightforward: Akoto's art isn't shy. Words and images sit side by side, talking about belief, community and social ideas with clarity and humor. Some pieces make you smile, some make you pause — all make you look closer.
- Quai Branly
- Ends September 13, 2026
- Information…
Youssef Nabil: To Dream Again
Egyptian photographer and filmmaker Youssef Nabil presents a series of hand-colored photographs and films that reflect a life lived between cultures. Inspired by cinema and nineteenth-century art, the works explore memory, identity, and exile while connecting contemporary photography to themes found throughout the Musée d'Orsay collections.
- Musée d'Orsay
- Ends September 13, 2026
- Information…
Matisse In Bloom: The Master's Late Vision
For art lovers in Paris this summer: Matisse. 1941–1954 is a must-see. At the Grand Palais, over 230 works illuminate the last, most experimental part of Henri Matisse's career — when color and form reached new heights of simplicity and power. Expect cut-paper gouaches, paintings, illustrated books and striking works in every media.
- Grand Palais
- Ends July 26, 2026
- Information…
Find Your Hotel In France
Traveling beyond Paris? Find good places to stay across France, from city neighborhoods and vineyard hotels to Riviera hideaways and small-town inns. Compare locations and see what's open for your travel dates.
Paris Events in July 2026
Paris Plages
Who needs the Riviera when Paris Plages turns the city into a beach paradise? From July to early September, swap cobblestones for sand at Bassin de la Villette, Canal Saint-Martin, and the Rives de Seine. Dive into free activities like swimming, kayaking, and dance classes. It's the ultimate urban getaway — no passport required.
- Banks of the Seine
- July & August 2026
- Our Guide to Paris Plages…
Annual Paris Jazz Festival
The Paris Jazz Festival is proof that Paris doesn't just do jazz — it swings, grooves, and occasionally throws in a trumpet solo that'll stop you mid-sandwich. From late June to early September, the Parc Floral hosts free concerts (just €2.50 to enter the park), where you can lounge in the grass, sip something cold, and pretend you totally understand complex time signatures. No tuxedo required.
- Parc Floral de Vincennes
- June 30 to September 08, 2026
- Information…
Bastille Day Celebrations – July 14, 2026
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 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.
- Throughout Paris
- July 14
- Our Guide to Bastille Day…
Dinner Cruises on the Seine
From the river, you see Paris in its evening light as the boat passes attractions. Our guide compares the most best and most popular dinner cruises.
Day Trips From Paris
Paris sits within easy reach of other rewarding destinations. Our guide explains how to visit them, with practical advice on travel times and organized tours.
Versailles Palace Tours
A visit to Versailles reveals the scale of French royal ambition. Our guide compares Versailles tours and helps you choose the right option.
The Louvre's Most Rewarding Tours
A knowledgeable guide can transform a Louvre visit from overwhelming to memorable. Our guide looks the most useful Louvre tours.
How To Visit the Eiffel Tower
Paris spreads out in every direction from the Eiffel Tower’s observation levels. Our guide explains the guided tours that make visiting the tower easier.
Paris Food Tours
Exploring Paris through its markets & shops reveals another side of the city. Our guide to food and wine tours looks at the culinary experiences worth booking.
Find Your Paris Hotel: Choosing The Right Area
Paris hotels book up fast, and a good location saves time every day. This search pulls together 4- and 5-star stays with strong reviews across key neighborhoods, so you compare options quickly and book with confidence.
FAQs About Visiting Paris in July
IS JULY A GOOD TIME TO VISIT PARIS?
July brings long sunny days and a festive atmosphere to Paris. Bastille Day celebrations, outdoor concerts, and riverbank activities create a lively summer mood. Some Parisians leave for holidays later in the month, but visitors fill the city’s museums, monuments, and cafés.
WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN PARIS IN JULY?
July is ideal for outdoor experiences. Visitors take Seine cruises, relax in parks, go on food tours, and explore the city's neighborhoods on foot. Bastille Day celebrations and evening events add energy to the cultural calendar throughout the month.
DO YOU NEED TO BOOK ATTRACTIONS IN ADVANCE IN JULY?
Yes. July is part of the high tourist season, and many attractions reach capacity quickly. Tickets for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Versailles sell out days ahead. Booking popular tours, cruises, and museum visits in advance helps keep your plans smooth.
IS PARIS CROWDED IN JULY?
Paris is busy with international visitors in July. Popular landmarks, museums, and river cruises attract large crowds, especially around Bastille Day. Early reservations and morning visits to major sights help make the experience more comfortable.
A Classic Seine Dinner Cruise
A dinner cruise is one of the easiest ways to see Paris lit up at night without racing across town. This 2.5-hour cruise serves classic French cuisine on an all-glass boat, so the views stay with you as the landmarks slide by.
