This post lists the best things you can do in Paris in July, updated for 2023, 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 Discount Passes
1. 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.
2. Attend a Pro Sporting Event or Tour Stade de France
Sports fans can find a few games and tournaments to attend this month.
Football (Soccer)
- Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
- Paris FC
These are all great options for families. See more family-friendly suggestions from our post on what to do with kids in Paris.
If you’re with the family, it could be fun to take a guided tour of Stade de France and see where their football and rugby teams spend most of their time for home games.
Admission is included with the Paris Pass!
Find all sporting events in Paris here.
3. 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 impressive fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower, concerts, a Fireman's ball, a military parade and flyover, and more.
As there is every year, at 10:00 am there will be a military parade military ceremony near the Arc de Triomphe and a flyover.
Find a good spot in which to view the Eiffel Tower because there will be a spectacular fireworks show 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 June 10th - through September 16, 2023, 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. 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.
The three-course dinner will be paired with French wine. While you dine, you'll see sights like Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.
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.
6. Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
No matter where you’re planning to Paris, you can save some euros using a tourist attraction discount 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.
7. Paris Plages*
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.
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 €15 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 23:45 (11:45 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.
This 3.5-hour tour 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.
Learn more about the Paris Secret Food Tour here.
11. Cinema en plein air at La Villette (Open Air Cinema)
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.
12. 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.
13. 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 discounted 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.
14. 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 28th - July 25th, 2023.
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.
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