61 Of The Most Glorious Things To Do In Paris For July 2018

July in Paris is sizzling hot days and glorious warm evenings with plenty of parties and fireworks! The city is also filled with cultural events; museum exhibits, opera, ballet and classical music concerts found in historical settings across the city. It is the perfect month to take a dreamy day trip to see Monet's Gardens, the chateau and gardens of Versailles, or the beaches of Normandy.

Most Popular Activities

Things to Do in Paris July 2018

Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Tour – Why Stand in Line?

We don't like to waste Paris time standing in line. That's why we like skip-the-line tours. You breeze past the crowds and follow your guide up the tower while she relates tales about the most famous monument in the world. Tour dates are posted only 3 months in advance and will be certain to sell out. Book as early, as you can. Also check the Big List of Eiffel Tower Tours.

Eiffel Tower Dinner, Seine River Cruise & Moulin Rouge

Combine the best of all Paris worlds in one night! Dine at the Eiffel Tower, take a Seine River illuminations cruise, then finish the evening with a cabaret show at Moulin Rouge. Everything is included — hotel return, dinner with wine, tickets to Moulin Rouge, and champagne (of course!). Also see, The 6 Best Evenings In Paris…

Skip the Line at the Louvre Museum

Nearly 10 million visitors a year means that the Louvre is always crowded and there are always long lines. That's why we insist on booking a skip-the-line tour to get past the crowds and into the museum. 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 !

Evening Tour of the Louvre + Wine Tasting

• Our personal favorite combines two of our best-loved activities — fine wine and fine art. If you think it can't get better than that, listen up — you also get to skip the lines at the Louvre for an evening tour, when the crowds are smaller. Afterwards, follow your guide to a nearby wine bar to a guided tasting.
  → Likely To Sell Out…

EXCLUSIVE – Marie-Antoinette's Versailles

It's easy to see why Marie Antoinette's rustic retreat and her chateau, Le Petit Trianon, were her favorite places at Versailles. The ill-fated queen created an idyllic farm life where she was able to wear simple clothes and frolic with her children in the meadows. Spend an hour visiting her magical home away-from-home, then, go to the big house for a guided tour of the best of Versailles.

Privilege Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Hotel Pickup

Speaking of the Seine River, this very popular 3-hour evening sightseeing dinner cruise combines a glamorous dinner in Paris with views of the must-see attractions on board a classic Bateaux Parisiens. A live band entertains you while you take in the lights of the city. Hotel pickup is included as is champagne and wine. What else would you expect in Paris? Also see, The Six Top Dinner Cruises in Paris…

Skip the Lines at the Catacombs of Paris

Another place you'll want to skip the lines is at the Catacomb. You can do just that with this guided tour that gets you into the limestone caverns 130 steps underground where 6 million Parisians are laid to rest. It's an amazing, if creepy, place. It is also very, very popular, which is why we suggest this skip-the-line tour with an expert guide who also explains the history of this eerie landmark. Also see, Paris Catacombs – A Journey To The Dark Side…

Paris-in-One-Day Sightseeing Tour

Short on time? Or just want to see a lot in one day? This activity sure delivers with a skip-the-line Louvre museum tour, lunch on the Eiffel Tower, a skip-the-line visit to the 850 year-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral and the bell towers. There are also two river cruises as you travel around the city. Everything is included — lunch, entrance fees and river cruise. Also see, The 6 Best Paris City Tours…

Skip the Lines at the Louvre & Notre Dame

This is another very easy way to skip the lines at the Louvre, but it also includes a guided skip-the-line tour of Notre Dame's famous bell towers. There's a guided tour of the cathedral and of Île de la Cité, the island where Notre Dame is located. The 3-hour guided tour of the Louvre, with priority access is worth it by itself. This is a very good deal.

Ghosts & Legends Night Walking Tour

You might think of Paris as the City of Light, but it can also be…well, spooky. 2,000 years of history has resulted in a city that can be mysterious, even eerie, especially at night. Follow your guide along ancient, narrow streets and learn about the ghosts of Paris, the unexplained, the wars, and the spooky. Also see, The Top 10 Ways To Skip The Lines In Paris…

Lunch Cruise on the Seine – La Marina de Paris

A great way to spend the afternoon is on a riverboat on the Seine — but this gives you even more, with a classic 3-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? Combine great dining with a tour of Paris… riverside. This lunch cruise is very popular, so book early.

Evening Champagne Cruise + Eiffel Tower Skip the Line

Paris + Champagne! Is it any wonder we love this cruise? It starts with reserved seating at the front of the bateau, including a private terrace. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as your guide describes the wonders or Paris while pouring champagne. Once you've seen and sipped your fill, it's a short walk to the Eiffel Tower where your guide leads you past the long lines and up to the tippy-tip. A wonderful evening in Paris.

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. Then you hop on a river boat for a nighttime cruise on the Seine. A glass of wine is included, of course!

Moulin Rouge Dinner + Cabaret Show + Hotel Transportation

This is another complete evening in Paris, this time at the Moulin Rouge. Your driver meets you at your hotel and takes you to the foot of Montmartre, to dine at the number-one rated nightclub in Europe, and to take in the amazing cabaret show. No need to figure out how to get there or what to do when you're ready to leave — your transportation is waiting for you.

Vintage Tour of Paris

Meet your "gentleman driver" who pulls up to your Paris address 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 Paris as you drive to 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…

VIP Louvre + Eiffel Tower + Notre Dame + Montmartre

We're excited about this new exclusive VIP city tour that takes you to the most popular sights in Paris and gets you skip-the-line access when you get there. Hotel pick-up and return is included, and the small group size ensures personal attention. Expert guides lead you through each of the attractions. It's a full day tour, and you really see a lot of Paris.

Eiffel Tower Lunch + Summit + River Cruise – NEW!

We also like this three-in-one activity. Start with a 3-course classic lunch at restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel on the Eiffel Tower (You have priority-access tickets, of course.) After lunch use your summit tickets to ride to the very top for the best view of Paris; spend as long as you like. When you're done, ride down the elevator to the banks of the Seine to the bateau that's waiting to take you on a cruise of the famous river.

Airport Transfers

Know what's going to happen when you arrive at the Paris airport. Read our Paris airport guide, but more importantly, we recommend that you arrange an airport transfer in advance. An easy and affordable way to do that is to book a shuttle van service right to your hotel. Here's the service our readers like, it's convenient and cheaper than a taxi.

Manu Prestige VIP Private Service

We also want to share our best tip — transfer in a private car from the airport. Traveling is tough, and after a long flight we appreciate some comfort. We aways have our Paris pal and professional driver, Manu, meet us at the arrivals gate and whisk us into the city in his Mercedes S-Class. Honestly, it's the only way to go! Questions about Manu's service? Ask us…

The Top Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2018

Best of Versailles with Skip-the-Line Access + Grand Canal Lunch

The day starts at your Paris address, whence your driver/guide whisks to the royal estate. 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 on the Grand Canal. Aprés lunch finds you at the Grand Trianon and Marie Antoinette's farm before you're driven back to Paris.

VIP Versailles Tour With Private Viewing Of The Royal Quarter

If you're like us, you appreciate special treatment. On this tour you glide past the velvet ropes to visit the Versailles most tourists will never see — Louis XVI's apartments, his personal library, and the Royal Opera House built for the wedding of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. On the morning tour you visit the Hall of Mirrors just as the doors of the palace open and before the crowds arrive. See also, The 6 Best Ways to Visit Versailles & Avoid the Long Lines…

Summer-Only Fountain Show at Versailles

Experience the summer-only fountain show at Versailles on weekends. Choreographed to music from the court of Louis XIV. Not to be missed. This is a half-day tour that includes priority access to the palace.

Versailles Bike Tour with 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!

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, only an hour away. You start in Reims to visit the historic cathedral. But the day is mostly about visiting producers and sampling, sampling, sampling. Lunch at a regional restaurant is included. Available as a private tour as well. Also see, The 3 Top Day Trips to Champagne…

Loire Valley – Castles + Wines

Discover the Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley and the wines produced in this fertile valley. The day begins with a drive to the largest castle, Château de Chambord. Lunch is served at Château de Nitray vineyards with a selection of fresh, local ingredients and a tasting of the best of the region's wines. The final stop is Château de Chenonceau, considered the loveliest of the Loire Châteaux.

Three Magnificent Loire Valley Chateaux

On this day trip you concentrate on the castles and spend more time visiting Chenonceau, Cheverny & Chambord, the three most spectacular castles in the valley. Also available as a private tour.

Monet's Magical Gardens at Giverny

The Impressionist gardens will be at the peak of perfection in July. Ride through the rolling Normandy countryside to the charming village of Giverny, home to Monet's famous gardens. Wander through the rows of flowers and see the water-lily pond that inspired Monet. Go inside the big pink house to admire the yellow dining room and dazzling blue kitchen.

Monet's Gardens + Magnificent Versailles

• Combine Giverny & Versailles in a single day. Small-group tour with hotel pick-up. Also available as a private tour.
  → Check Availability…

D-Day Tour – Remembering WWII

It was the largest seaborne invasion of World War II, and in history. Codenamed Operation Neptune, the Normandy landings marked 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. Your personal driver will pick you up at your Paris hotel or apartment. Lunch is included.

Mont Saint-Michel, Loire Valley Chateaux + Wine Tasting

We like this 2-day trip from Paris that takes you to the fairytale island just off the Normandy coast. Explore the Benedictine abbey that becomes separated from the mainland during high tide. On day two you explore the best chateaux of the Loire Valley. Everything is included on this popular tour from Paris — tickets, guides, meals, accommodations, and a guided tasting of Loire wines on day two.

Essential Day Trips from Paris

There's a lot to see in France just beyond the gates of Paris, and we've included only a few of the glorious day trips you can choose. Visit the charming city of Bruges. You can even see London in a day! We've collected our ideas in a couple of articles. Have fun!

Classical Music, Opera & Ballet

Things to Do in Paris July 2018

Concerts at La Sainte Chapelle

Located in the heart of Paris on the Île de la Cité, La Sainte Chapelle's roots stretch back to 1289 when Louis IX declared it his Holy Chapel. Today its magnificence shines with walls of stained glass and soaring ceilings. It's a perfect venue to hear classical music in Paris. The acoustically-perfect Saint Chapelle is travelers' favourite classical music venue in the city as well. Don't miss it!

La Sainte Chapelle Featured Concerts in July

• VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS
  July 1, 6, 8, 16, 19, 25, 27, 30
  → Reserve Tickets…
• MOZART & BACH
  July 7, 18, 26 & August 1
  → Reserve Tickets…
• GOLDONI QUARTET
  July 15, 21, 24 & 29
  → Reserve Tickets…

Ballet & Opera at Majestic Palais Garnier

It's the oldest opera house in Paris and was the center of cultural life during the Belle Epoque. Today it's still an essential icon and the place to experience a ballet performed by the Paris Ballet Company. In fact, attending any performance at Palais Garnier is worth it just to get the chance to see the fantastic interior.

Palais Garnier Featured Performances

• DON PASQUALE – PARIS OPERA
  Donizetti's Don Pasquale by Italian director Damiano Michieletto is both light hearted and dramatic. Set in 19th-century Rome, the opera tells the story of a rich bachelor who is deceived by his nephew and his young bride-to-be.
  • July 6, 9 & 12
  → Reserve Tickets…
• LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE – PARIS BALLET
  First performed in 1789, this two-act comic ballet is one of the oldest ballet in the classical repertoire. Jean Dauberval's work unfolds with captivating choreography by Frederick Ashton.
  • Various Dates in July
  → Reserve Tickets…

Verdi's Il Trovatore – Paris Opera

Verdi's four-act opera premiered at the Teatro Apollo in Rome in 1853 and it has rocked the opera world ever since. A compelling dramatic story and shatteringly beautiful music make it a must-see experience. In Italian with French and English surtitles.
• Opera Bastille
• Various Dates in July

Boris Godunov – Paris Opera

If you only attend one opera in your life, it should be here, at Opera Bastille in Paris. Based on Pushkin's fable, Mussorgsky's dramatic opera is a meditation on power and solitude. Considered his masterpiece, the opera debuted in 1873 in Saint Petersburg. In Russian with French and English surtitles.
• Opera Bastille
• July 2, 6, 9 & 12

The Four Seasons at Église de la Madeleine

More like a Greek temple than a typical church, the classically-inspired Église de la Madeleine owes its existence to France's last kings and to its first emperor. It sits proudly in the center of Paris as a monument to the history of the city. This July you can hear Vivaldi's The Four Seasons performed here.
• July 4, 10, 14, 20, 24, 28

Performances at Saint-Ephrem

Located in the historic Latin Quarter, Èglise Saint-Ephrem is close to the Sorbonne and other famous places. It's one of the most popular venues for classical music concerts in Paris, and known for its candlelight performances. In July hear works by Bach, Chopin, Satie, Liszt, and Beethoven.

Saint-Ephrem Featured Concerts in July

• BACH SUITES FOR VIOLONCELLO SOLO
  July 5, 8, 13,19, 23, 27 & 30
  → Reserve Tickets…
• SATIE, LISZT AND BEETHOVEN
  July 4, 5, 12, 18 & 25
  → Reserve Tickets…
• CHOPIN BY CANDLELIGHT
  July 9, 15, 21 & 29
  → Reserve Tickets…
• THE BEST OF CHOPIN
  July 7 Only
  → Reserve Tickets…

The Top Food & Wine Activities

Things to Do in Paris July 2018

Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour

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 dessert specialities and chocolate shops, along with plenty of sampling of course, including regional specialities.

Small-Group Gourmet Food Walking Tour

We defy you to think of any other place where there is so much good food crammed into a small space. That's Paris — and because it's small, this gourmet walking tour gets you to a lot of different shops in just a morning or an afternoon. The morning tours explore the Latin Quarter markets and food shops, the afternoon tours concentrate on Montmartre.

Wine Tasting in the Heart of Paris

This fun and informal wine tasting in English covers a lot of wine territory in an hour or two. The professional French sommeliers deliver an extensive tasting of wines — from Alsace, Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone — in a charming wine cellar steps from the Louvre. Also see, 6 Places to Taste Wine in Paris…

The Food & Wine of the Marais

This new small-group food tour through the Marais is garnering high praise from everyone who has taken it. 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.

Eiffel Tower Gourmet Dinner

We still think it's amazing that you can dine on great meals up on the Eiffel Tower, not at just one restaurant, but at two ! On the first level is 58 Tour Eiffel where a table has been reserved for you. (You'll have priority access to the elevator.) Enjoy a 4-course classic French meal with wine — taking in a birds-eye view of the city and the river Seine below you. Also see, Eiffel Restaurants – The Tower With A Michelin Star On Top…

Small-Group French Cooking Class & Market Tour

At an historic outdoor food market in the Latin Quarter you shop for the food (with an expert chef) 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 the fruits of your labor with a glass of wine.

Le Jules Verne

This may be the ultimate dining experience in Paris – 400 feet above the city at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Jules Verne, where top chefs prepare a 6-course dinner you will not soon forget. Reserving with this link is the only way to guarantee a window seat (for the best views). You also get other perks, like a 6-glass wine pairing with dinner.

La Marina de Paris Dinner Cruise on the Seine

At the docks of La Marina de Paris you step aboard a bateau for a memorable evening in Paris. Look out the window at the lights of Paris passing by while you cruise down the Seine, being served a 3-course gourmet meal. This evening activity combines romance, fine dining, and a tour of Paris… riverside. Round trip hotel transportation is included — just another reason we like this dinner cruise.

French Macarons Cooking Class

Macarons, although they've been around for decades, are still mega-popular in Paris. And why not? These delicate meringue-based confections are both beautiful and delicious. In this small-group class, you learn how to create your own macarons — while getting loads of individual attention from Chef Marthe. At the end, there's a box of the delicacies to take away with you.

The Hottest Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2018

Bastille Day Celebrations – July 14, 2018

Vive la liberte ! 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-Elysees. The Eiffel Tower fireworks starts at 11 PM.
• Friday, July 14
• Bastille Day Information…

Paris Japan Expo

• This annual event celebrates Japanese manga, martial arts, animation & J-music. Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center. July 5 to 8, 2018.
  → Information…

Paris Quartier d'Ete Festival

• The annual Neighborhood Festival includes dance, music and theatre performances in neighborhoods across Paris. The event runs from July 16 to August 4, 2018.
  → Information…

Paris Plages

• Sand, sun, beach umbrellas, free concerts & fun activities on the banks of the Seine River. River. Mid-July to late-August, 2018.
  → Information…

Tour de France

• See the dramatic final day of this popular event as the cyclists circle the Champs-Elysees. July 1 to Sunday, July 23, 2018.
  → Information…

The Peacock Society Festival

• Music fans gather to celebrate electronic music and arts at Parc Floral de Paris in Bois de Vincennes. July 6 & 7, 2018.
  → Information…

La Chasse aux Tresors de Paris – Treasure Hunt

• Solve the mystery with clues that take you on a treasure hunt across Paris! Saturday, July 8th, 2018.
  → Information…

Lollapalooza Paris

• The live music festival comes to Paris will a two-day event at Hippodrome de Longchamp. Saturday, July 21 & 22, 2018.
  → Information…

New Exhibits at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris July 2018

So Many Museums in Paris!

So many fantastic Paris museums, so little time. So, we've put together the highlights of popular exhibits during the month of July. These are the last days to see the Primitive Picasso exhibit at Quai Branly, right on the Seine and close to the Eiffel Tower.

Wild Souls – Symbolism in the Art of the Baltic States

The exhibition presents Baltic Symbolism from the 1890s to the 1920s. And who doesn't love a bracing dose of Baltic Symbolism? Hands, please.

• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends July 15, 2018
• Website…

Paintings from Afar

200 never-before-seen works demonstrate the evolution of the Western perception of distant and not-so-distant populations, societies and territories.

• Musée du Quai Branley
• Ends January 6, 2019
• Website…

Ghosts & Hells – The Underworld In Asian Art

• Musée du Quai Branley
• Ends July 15, 2018
• Website…

Corot – Painting the Human Figure

Famous for his landscapes, Camille Corot was also a prolific painter of figures. See 60 of his nudes and portraits.

• Musée Marmottan Monet
• Ends July 8, 2018
• Website…

Margiela, Belgian Fashion Designer

• Palais Galliera
• Ends July 15, 2018
• Website…

Guernica – Picasso's Passionate Statement

On the 80th anniversary of the creation of this work, the Picasso Museum Paris presents an exhibition about Guernica, the most well-known masterpiece of Pablo Picasso.
• Musée Picasso
• Ends July 29, 2018
• Website…

In Colour: Polychrome Sculpture in France

Fifty polychrome works where painted waxes are added to sculptures.

• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends September 23, 2018
• Website…

The Little Explorer's Box Of Delights

• Quai Branly
• Ends October 7, 2018
• Website…

Grappling with the Modern – From Delacroix to the Present Day

The exhibition celebrates the 220th anniversary of Eugene Delacroix's birth and features three paintings in the restored Église Saint-Sulpice.

• Église Saint-Sulpice
• Ends July 23, 2018
• Website…

Pastels At The Louvre – The 17th & 18th Centuries

View rare pastels, including works by Liotard, de La Tour, Boucher and Le Brun.

• Louvre
• Ends September 10, 2018
• Website…

Mary Cassatt – American Impressionist in Paris

• Musée Jacquemart André
• Ends July 23, 2018
• Website…

The Water Lilies – American Abstract Art & the Last Monet

• Musee de l'Orangerie
• Ends August 20, 2018
• Website…