The French take their vacation time very seriously, and August is basically when everyone disappears to the beach, countryside, or somewhere with rosé. There’s even a cute word for it: an aoûtien (an “Auguster”), which is someone who goes away in August, while a juillettiste escapes in July.
Because most Parisians are aoûtiens, the city gets wonderfully quiet in August. Many smaller independent shops close for a few weeks, specialty food stores take turns shutting down (don’t panic, there will still be baguettes), and some restaurants disappear behind handwritten “fermé pour congés” (closed for holidays) signs until September. But before you reconsider coming at this time of year, there’s still plenty open, and August comes with some pretty fantastic perks.
You’ll be treated to super peaceful streets, easy-to-find café seats, and a more relaxed version of the city that feels almost suspiciously calm by Paris standards. From wandering nearly empty neighborhoods to soaking up free summer events, here are some of my favorite things to do in Paris in August.
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Soak up the heavenly empty streets and café terraces
As I said, a LOT of Parisians go away in August, which means there’s a quieter vibe all across the city. Café terraces that are normally packed magically have open tables, and with fewer cars around, it’s the perfect time to wander beautiful neighborhoods like the North Marais and Saint-Germain without constantly dodging traffic and crowds.
Both areas have dreamy streets, elegant buildings, and thankfully, enough cafés and restaurants open so you won’t go hungry. Since these are popular shopping districts, you’ll also find a good array of boutiques open and eager to welcome you.
And when the summer heat kicks in, you’ve got lovely green spaces nearby for a little recharge. The Place des Vosges in the Marais is ideal for lounging in the shade with a pastry, and the Luxembourg Gardens are made for lazy summer afternoons.
Our Paris Itinerary includes walking routes through both districts, plus my favorite cafés, shops, and restaurants along the way. Just make sure to double-check Instagram before planning to go to a specific restaurant, as they usually put up a post on their account if they’ll be closed.
Image Courtesy of Devour Tours
Eat your way around Montmartre
Some parts of Paris can feel very sleepy in August, but Montmartre is an exception. This former hilltop village keeps a bit more buzz during the summer, and more restaurants, bakeries, and shops tend to stay open here than elsewhere in the city.
That makes August the perfect time for a food tour, like this Montmartre Like a Local tour. The guides will already know which places are actually open (a very handy skill in August), so you can skip the trial-and-error approach of wandering around hoping your dream pastry shop isn’t on vacation.
Along the way, you’ll stop into award-winning bakeries, dangerously tempting pastry shops, and cozy spots for cheese and wine tastings. It’s fun, delicious, and a fabulous way to discover the neighborhood beyond the crowds around Sacré-Cœur.
Book the Montmartre Like a Local food tour.
Image Courtesy of Boutique Tours
Zoom around to Paris’s top sites on an evening bike tour
Bike tours are always a great idea in Paris, but I have to say that August is really the best month for them. With lighter traffic and quieter streets, the city’s much calmer, especially in the evening, when everything starts glowing golden and becomes that much more photogenic.
This evening bike tour is one of my favorites because you get to zip around many of the city’s biggest landmarks while the temperatures cool down and the crowds thin out. You’ll pass icons like the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and Notre-Dame de Paris, plus some of the prettiest bridges along the Seine.
There’s something especially magical about Paris on a summer evening by bike, with mild air, sparkling monuments, and far fewer people trying to walk directly into your path. Your guide will stop to share stories and history along the way, so it’s a really fun intro to the city.
Book your spot on this evening bike tour of Paris.
Stroll, picnic, or cruise along the canals
As much as I love a classic stroll along the Seine, the canals in eastern Paris are where you’ll find a more local, laid-back vibe, and way fewer crowds in August. They wind through the east of the city and change names a bit as they travel north.
The best-known stretch is the Canal Saint-Martin, lined with trendy cafés, little boutiques, and plenty of spots to sit with a picnic and pretend you fully live in Paris now.
Keep heading north, and you’ll hit the Bassin de la Villette, where things get even more summery. This is where you can rent cute little self-drive boats from Akwa, and you can even bring your own picnic aboard. It’s one of my favorite things to do with friends once the weather gets warm.
If you still have energy after that, continue farther north, and the canal becomes the Canal de l’Ourcq. The atmosphere gets a little edgier up here, with cool street art, relaxed bars, and more of a local neighborhood feel. I’ve included all my favorite canal spots on the Day 4 route of our Paris Itinerary, and you pick and choose which ones you want to experience.
Another fun option is hopping aboard one of the canal cruises run by Canauxrama. Their boats travel between Bastille and the Bassin de la Villette, and part of the journey actually goes underground through old tunnels, which adds some mystery to the experience. Depending on the departure time, you can easily combine the cruise with a canal-side stroll and make a whole afternoon of it.
Chill by the water at Paris Plages
One of the city’s biggest summer traditions is Paris Plages (beach in French). This annual event kinda feels like Paris turns into a beach town, or at least down along the Seine. Every summer until the end of August, sections of the riverbanks transform into urban beaches, complete with lounge chairs, palm trees, games, misting stations, and actual sand in some spots.
You’ll find the “beaches” spread out along the Parc Rives de Seine, a Right Bank riverside promenade that runs from Bastille to the Louvre, and along Les Berges, a Left Bank promenade that goes between Concorde and Pont d’Iéna. Some areas are more about relaxing with a book in a deck chair, while others are geared toward families and activities.
If it’s a really hot day, you can even take a dip in the Seine. Yep, there’s a designated swimming area in the Seine in summer. Whether you feel brave enough to jump in or prefer watching other people do it while staying safely dry is entirely up to you. Either way, it’s a really fun and unexpected way to experience Paris in summer, especially in August.
Image Courtesy of La Villette via Facebook
Watch a free open-air movie
At the northern end of the Canal de l’Ourcq sits the huge Parc de la Villette, which hosts one of the best things to do in Paris in August: an open-air cinema festival.
From late July through mid-August, you can watch both classic and newer films on a giant outdoor screen. This is on a massive lawn where you can bring a blanket and a picnic. Many of the films are shown in English or with subtitles, so it’s a great activity even if your French is currently limited to bonjour and ordering pastries. The movie usually starts around 9:30 or 10 pm, once it’s finally dark enough, so plan to come earlier to stake out your spot.
Another fun option is movie night at Le Bar à Bulles, one of my favorite rooftop bars hidden above the Moulin Rouge. They host free screenings on Wednesday evenings in August, though you’ll need to reserve a seat online ahead of time. It’s definitely worth checking their program to see what’s playing during your trip.
Image Courtesy of Festival du Parc Floral via Facebook
Visit Paris’ largest park and take in a free concert
Paris has no shortage of beautiful parks, but if you want something that feels a little more spacious and almost like the countryside, head out to the Bois de Vincennes on the eastern edge of the city.
It’s the largest green space in Paris, filled with shaded walking trails, lakes, gardens, and enough space to temporarily forget you’re in a bustling capital city. You can rent little rowboats on the lakes, wander through wooded paths, or simply stretch out on the grass for a very relaxed afternoon.
If you’re in the mood for drinks or even dancing, the Rosa Bonheur out here is a fun stop too. It’s got a huge outdoor terrace and a laid-back summer atmosphere that almost feels like a mini holiday.
On weekends in August, another highlight is the free jazz and classical concerts held inside the Parc Floral de Paris, the botanical garden tucked within the Bois de Vincennes. The concerts themselves are free, but you just pay the small entrance fee for the park. Before or after, make sure to wander through the gardens because they’re absolutely gorgeous in summer bloom.
Image Courtesy of Bouillon Pigalle via Facebook
Eat well without the August restaurant struggle
While it’s true that plenty of restaurants close in August, the city doesn’t turn into a complete ghost town. Classic neighborhood cafés and brasseries are usually your safest bet during August because many stay open all month long. And honestly, this is a great excuse to settle into long, lazy meals at old-school Parisian spots like La Coupole or Brasserie Bellanger.
Another excellent August option is a bouillon. These large, lively restaurants serve traditional French comfort food at very affordable prices, usually in gorgeous historic dining rooms. Places like Petit Bouillon Pharamond and Bouillon République are ideal when you want a classic French meal without spending your entire souvenir budget on dinner.
And these days, more modern bistros and neighborhood restaurants are staying open through August too. The best strategy is simply to check restaurants’ websites or Instagram pages a few weeks before your trip. They’ll usually announce their summer opening dates there.
Get the last deals of the summer sales
The French summer sales (les soldes) officially begin at the end of June, so they start before those juillettistes head off on vacation. Technically, the sales wrap up by the end of July, but early August is often when the really good bargains appear.
By that point, shops are trying to clear out whatever summer stock they still have left, which means you can sometimes stumble across some amazing deals.
A lot of independent boutiques close in August, but larger French chain stores and department stores definitely stay open. Your best bet is to head to one of the shopping neighborhoods from our best areas to shop in Paris guide and simply wander around a bit. Half the fun is spotting unexpected finds you absolutely did not plan on buying.
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