This post lists the best things you can do in Paris in July, updated for 2024, including free events, festivals, concerts, nighttime, as well as family-friendly activities, popular tours and more.
For more ideas, check our post for things to do in Paris.
TOP 14 EVENTS AND THINGS TO DO IN PARIS IN JULY
This list will include a variety of different family-friendly, nighttime, and free activities for audiences of all ages.
If you’re looking for even more ideas, check the following posts:
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tours
- Where to Store Your Luggage
- Bicycle Tours
- Versailles Tickets
- Tourist Attraction Passes
1. Celebrate the Best in Sport
The biggest events in Paris, and indeed France itself, will be the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Paris 2024 will draw thosands of athletes and hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world, making the city both joyful and very crowded.
Luckily, even if you don't have tickets to particular events, there will be some events open to the public, and there will be zones were folks can watch the activities on giant screnes.
Some tickets are still available, and others will open up in the coming weeks.
If you're going to be visiting around this time, be prepared to travel long distances as even hotels in the suburbs are booking up.
Also, plan on spending more on public transport as the prices will be almost doubled during the games.
The Paris Olympics and Paralympics run from July 26-August 11.
Visit these websites for information on the Paris 2024 Olympics and to purchase tickets.
Visit these websites for information on the Paralympic Games of Paris 2024 and to purchase tickets.
2. Attend a Concert in a Cathedral
The stunning Gothic Sainte-Chapelle started its constuction in 1238, undergoing a number of additions and renovations over the centuries.
Inside are 15 windows with stained glass panes, one of the most "extensive 13-century stained glass collections in the world".
There are also sculptures, a reliquary, paintings, a royal chapel, and more.
One can't but feel awed by the majesty of this creation, making it the perfect place to attend a concert.
A calendar listing planned performances can be found here, and tickets can be found here.
Check out StubHub to find out who will be playing in Paris this month.
3. Celebrate Bastille Day
This July 14 national holiday celebrates the 1789 storming of Bastille, an important turn in the success of the French Revolution.
In Paris, celebrations range from an militaty parade down the Champs-Elysées and a flyover, an impressive fireworks display, concerts, dances, picnics, parties, and even balls at firestations.
This is a public holiday so business may be closed or have limited hours. You'll want to check on public transport hours as those may vary.
Find a good spot in which to view the Eiffel Tower because the spectacular fireworks show will take place behind it.
People will gather at the Champ de Mars for music at 21:00 (9 pm), and the fireworks will begin at 23:00 (11 pm).
4. See the Versailles Fountains Night Show
On Saturday nights from March 29- through October 31, 2024, you can see the spectacular fountains at Versailles Palace 'perform'!
Synchronized to classical music, the fountains play all kinds of tricks, pulling off interesting visual effects as well.
At the end of the evening, there is a fireworks display set to music from Louis XIV’s era.
This is an unforgettable way to spend a night. Check out our post on how to visit Versailles, for in-depth information on what to do and see at the palace.
You can also learn about Versailles Palace tickets and tours.
5. Have Fun at a Fun Fair
The La Fête des Tuileries is a family-friendly annual carnival takes place in Jardin des Tuileries.
There are games, rides, a Ferris wheel, food, and much more.
Admission is free although there is a cost to take more in the individual fairground attractions.
The festival runs from July through August.
Visit La Fête des Tuileries for opening hours and more information about what's on offer.
6. Admire the City of Lights from the River Seine
You will understand how Paris got its nickname, "The City of Lights" if you take a twilight boat ride on the River Seine.
For a full evening out, you can take a dinner cruise down the Seine.
Some will serve a 3-course dinner paired with French wine. While you dine, you'll see sights like Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.
This might be the perfect spot from which to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day!
There are many choices of types of cruises and boat tours in Paris. For an in-depth comparison of Seine cruises, read our post on Paris boat tours and cruises.
For other evening activities, see our post on things to do at night in Paris.
7. Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Pass
No matter where you’re planning to Paris, you can save some euros using a tourist attraction pass.
Depending on which pass you choose and how you use it, you could save anywhere from 15% – 50% off general admission prices.
Here are a few of the more popular attractions included with various Paris tourist passes:
Better still, most of these passes offer skip-the-line access at several notable landmarks. For more details, please read our post covering Paris tourist passes.
8. Take a Sightseeing Tour
It is an excellent time to take a sightseeing tour. You can choose from walking tours, bike tours, bus tours. and boat tours.
There are a number of free, pay-what-you-wish walking tours which are great for the budget-minded but tend to attract large groups.
If you have a flexible budget and prefer a smaller group, you can pay for a 90-minute guided tour of the Montmartre district.
If you prefer to explore at your own pace, you can use one of our self-guided tours or GPS-led audio tours.
9. Check out Paris from on top of the Eiffel Tower*
This iron tower, the symbol of Paris, should be visited at least once.
You'll find exhibits covering the building of the tower, a post office where you can send out letters with an Eiffel Tower stamp, a gift shop, three restaurants, a champagne bar, and a Macaroon bar.
And of course, the observation deck provides stunning panoramic views of the city.
Hours in July run from 9:00 (9:00 am) to 24:45 (12:45 pm) for both the lift and the stairs.
There are varying options for tickets including "lift to the second floor", "lift to the top floor", "stairs to the second floor", "starts to second floor + lift to top".
Prices depend on age, with lower rates for youth (12-24), children (4-11), and the disabled. Children under age 4 get in for free.
10. Take a Food Tour
Discover the best of Parisian food and learn about the city’s history through a Paris Secret Food Tour.
One of the 3.5-hour tours visits the historic Montmartre district and features six food stops. You can upgrade the food tour to include a wine tasting.
Your guide will tell you about the history of this spectacular neighborhood and take you to the best places to try Parisian cuisine.
Other Secret Food Tours visit Le Marais, Saint Germain, and Notre Dame. There is also a cultural and historical culinary adventure, and a Chocolate and Pastry Tour.
You can read about each of these well rates tours here.
11. See a Cabaret Show
The Paradis Latin Cabaret offers dinner and champagne before the main event starts, which includes dancers, singers, and comedians.
You can find all the theatre productions in Paris here.
For more ways to spend your evening, see our post on things to do at night in Paris.
12. Go to The Louvre at Night
Take in the art at one of the most famous museums in the world as the sun is going down and the famous outdoor pyramid lights up.
One of the many great things about the Louvre is that you aren’t restricted to daytime entry as the museum is open late multiple days per week.
For more information that can help you plan your visit and also find savings on tickets, see our detailed post on the Louvre.
TIP: Skip-the-line admission to the Louvre is included with several Take Walks tours, including one that provides after-hours access to the museum.
13. Shop the Paris Sales
Fashionistas on budgets have come to Paris at the right time for fashion. Summer is the sale season in Paris and runs from June 26 - July 23, 2024/
As stores attempt to clear last season’s merchandise you can expect sales from 30% and up to 80% off normal prices.
You can find everything from high-end labels to hardware store options.
Expect to find larger-than-usual crowds in Paris’s department stores, boutiques, and other shops.
Prices drop in stages over the weeks of the sales and there is especially great competition over designer items.
If you like sales and are budget-minded, you may want to have a look at our posts on free things to do in Paris.
14. Cinema en plein air at La Villette (Open Air Cinema) | Due to the Olympics This Will Returning in 2025
Each summer, in a park in the 19th arrondissement, a free outdoor cinema series takes place.
For 30 years thousands of guests have gathered on the lawns of La Villette Park to view free movies, with a series often fitting a chosen theme.
Access to the Triangle lawn starts at 20:00 (8 pm), and screenings start between 21:30 (9:30 pm) and 22:30 (10:30 pm) depending on nightfall on that particular day.
Guests can bring a picnic and a blanket to sit on. Deckchairs can be rented.
The movies run between July 19th and August 20th, and all films are screened in their original version with subtitles.
Visit here to find a list of movies on offer for the 2023 season.
15. Paris Plages | Returning in 2025 Due to the Olympics
On the riverbanks of the Seine and Bassin de la Villette one will find what is basically a pop-up beach resort.
Deckchairs and umbrellas appear.
Activities for kids, a circus, theater, ballroom dancing, canoeing, board games, and more are on offer, in addition to ice cream and drinks.
At Bassin de la Villette you'll find swimming, sand, beach huts, and showers. It's truly the perfect place to enjoy the summer sun!
See more family-friendly entertainment in Paris.
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