The Best Things To Do In Paris, July 2021 – A Guide For Recovering Times

July in Paris is glorious hot days and lovely warm evenings. It's almost hard to believe that you can finally plan a summer visit to Paris. Whether you're here in July or later in the year, start planning by browsing through our recommendations below for the best things to do in Paris.

As Paris opens up following Covid-19 we will update information on the best things to do, places to eat, and the greatest ways to explore and enjoy the city we love. So, check back here often. Meet you at the Eiffel Tower!

Most Popular Activities

Things to Do in Paris July 2021

Bateaux Parisiens VIP Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Champagne

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.

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.

Louvre Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Tours and other activities in Paris should be slowly getting back to normal, but we thought it would be a good idea to share another Louvre tour that we recommend. This one has up to three time choices daily.

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 this tour that gets you past the lines and up to Level 2, for what we think are the best views of Paris. Also see, Big List of Eiffel Tower Tours…

Summit of the Eiffel Tower

If you really want to get high in Paris, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower on this tour. Follow your guide past the lines and up the Tower to the top — Level 3 — for a panoramic view to beat them all. Available again from July 6.

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!

Vintage Tour of Paris

Seeing the sights of Paris from a classic 1940s auto is something you're never going to forget. At the door of your hotel climb into the back seat of a sleek, black Citroën Traction Avant driven by a "gentleman driver" who takes you to the best Paris has to offer. Your tour is made even better with the sun roof opened all the way. As we say in our review, this is "retro luxury from another era.

Paris in One Day – Eiffel Tower + Louvre + River Cruise

That's right, do Paris in one day! This tour packs a wallop with a combination of Louvre museum tour, Seine River cruise & Eiffel Tower summit. At the world's most famous museum a tour with an expert guide takes you to the best artworks. And who doesn't love a relaxing river cruise? To top it all (literally!) there's a skip-the-line visit to the Eiffel tower where, from Level 3, you see the city spread beneath you. Everything is included.

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 10 Best Walking Tours Of Paris…

Paris Seine 9 PM Dinner Cruise

The riverboat company Paris Seine is well known for its dinner cruises, and has a fleet of glass-walled boats to give diners the best nighttime views. Comfortably seated at a private table, you admire the beauty of the City of Light as you glide over the water. Along the banks of the Seine you'll see the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Musée d'Orsay, and much more.

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.

7 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, 2021 list of the best hotels in the Latin Quarter, with current prices.

The Best Ways to Visit Versailles from Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2021

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

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.

Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles

If you don't want to spend a full day at Versailles, then we recommend this highly-rated half-day tour that also starts in central Paris. It's with a small group to ensure that you get individual attention from your expert guide. If you prefer, you can opt for a private tour, for just you and your group.

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.

The Top Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2021

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.

Loire Valley – Castles + 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.

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. Mondays. Also available as a private tour daily.

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.

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 + Cider Tasting

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. Lunch is included as is a special tasting session of the region's famous cider.

The Top Food & Wine Activities

Things to Do in Paris July 2021

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.

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

Lunch Cruise with Paris Seine

Spend Saturday afternoon on a riverboat on the Seine. Even better, this cruise includes 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? Take a break from sightseeing to combine great dining with a tour of Paris… riverside.

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.

Wine Tasting in the Heart of Paris

You really can't be in 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. Also see, Five Places to Taste Wine in Paris…

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 the fruits of your labor with a glass of wine.

New Exhibits at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris July 2021

Picasso – Rodin

This stunning and much-anticipated exhibition will run concurrently at both the Musée Picasso in the Marais and the Musée Rodin in the 7th Arrondissement. It will graphically demonstrate how the two artists, individually and jointly, heralded a turning point in modern art.

• Musée Picasso & Musée Rodin
• Ends January 2, 2022
• Information…

The Olmecs and the Cultures of the Gulf of Mexico

Learn about the fascinating Olmec civilization and the little-known world of other pre-Columbian cultures of the Gulf of Mexico. The exhibition sheds light on this Mesoamerican civilization with rare items, shown for the first time outside Mexico.
• Quai Branly
• Ends October 3, 2021
• Information…

Augustin Rouart: Painting as legacy

See an impressive collection of Rouart's major works along with pieces by Maurice Denis.
• Petit Palais
• Ends October 10, 2021
• Information…

Pharaoh of the Two Lands

Discover the ancient history of Sudan and the Nile Delta. This exhibition also commemorates the bicentenary anniversary of the godfather of Egyptology, Jean-Francois Champollion. A professeur at only nineteen years old, Champollion later translated hieroglyphics while working at the Louvre.

• Louvre, Hall Napoleon
• Ends July 25, 2022

Paris to Athens – Birth of Modern Greece

To celebrate the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution, the Louvre presents an exciting exhibition that traces the artistic link between Greek and European culture; specifically focussing on Paris and Athens. The show concludes with works by the Greek group TECHNE, which exhibited in Paris in 1919.

• Louvre, Hall Napoleon
• Ends July 25, 2022

Magritte in Full Sunlight – The Renoir Period, 1940-1947

This exhibition brings together paintings and drawings from the end of the 1930s, when Magritte predicted the imminent outbreak of war. Along with his works are some of Renoir's masterpieces plus contemporary paintings by Jeff Koons.

• Musée de l'Orangerie
• Ends July 19, 2021
• Information…

The Top Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2021

Bastille Day Celebrations – July 14, 2021

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…

La Nuit des Musées

After a long lockdown, museum doors are finally open! Don't miss this annual (if you don't count 2020!) Paris all-night-open-museum event. La Nuit des Musées is a great time to stay up and catch some art action. The idea started in Berlin in 1997; in Paris we have former mayor Bertrand Delanõe to thank for grabbing the idea and making it even bigger with guided tours, workshops, screenings, tastings, and live entertainment.
• July 3, 2021
• Information…

Paris Japan Expo

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

• Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
• Rescheduled for July 14 to 17, 2022
• 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, 2021
• Information…

Paris Quartier d'Été Festival

The annual Neighborhood Festival includes dance, music and theatre performances in neighborhoods across Paris.

• Throughout Paris
• July 12 to August 1 2021
• 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
• Mid July to late August, 2021
• Information…

Tour de France

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

• June 26 to July 18, 2021.
• 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 12 to early August 1, 2021
• Information…

The Peacock Society Festival

Music fans gather to celebrate electronic music and arts at Parc Floral de Paris in Bois de Vincennes. Normally held in July, the festival has moved to September for 2021.

• Parc Floral de Paris, Bois de Vincennes
• September 4 to 5, 2021
• Information…

Lollapalooza Paris

The annual live music festival will return to Paris in 2022 (Covid and all) for two-day event at Hippodrome de Longchamp and will feature Pearl Jam.

• Hippodrome de Longchamp
• Rescheduled for July 16 to 17, 2022
• Information…