There are two kinds of Parisians – those who LOVE the city in August and those who would rather be ANYWHERE else than here. Traditionally, August is when a LOT of Parisians go on holiday, so this means the city gets REALLY quiet. So if you like a calm atmosphere and walking peaceful streets without much traffic – and you don’t mind the heat – then August could be the perfect time to come.
If you like being at the heart of a buzzing ambiance, you’re better off visiting at another time, especially as a lot of places tend to close this month. The situation isn’t so cut and dry, so in this article, I’ll give you the lowdown on what it’s like visiting Paris in August, including what’s open and some other perks of visiting at this time of year.
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What stays open in Paris in August?
Fortunately, Paris isn’t a complete ghost town in August. You’ll still be able to have a fabulous time if you’re visiting Paris in August, but it’s good to know what sorts of places close and which ones stay open. In addition to a lot of locals being away in August, and certain shops closing for a few weeks, August 15th is a public holiday in France. This means that the city is even QUIETER around that day, especially if it’s close to a weekend.
Here are some general guidelines as to what stays open in Paris in August:
Are attractions open in Paris in August?
Virtually all museums and sites stay open in August. The only issue you might come across is with temporary exhibitions, as certain ones end in July. Some smaller museums close on the August 15th public holiday, but otherwise it’s everything as usual.
While a lot of Parisians go away in August, there are still a decent number of tourists, so August doesn’t mean empty museums and sites. So, like any time of year, I still recommend going to the Louvre when it’s open late on Wednesdays and Fridays, which is when this excellent “closing time” tour is offered. You’ll also be better off taking a guided tour to Versailles, which will help you navigate the crowds.
Will performing arts be running in Paris in August?
This is probably the worst-affected cultural activity when it comes to August closures. Virtually ALL theater, ballet, and opera finishes up by August. So, unfortunately, if you were hoping to take in a performance at the Opera Garnier, you won’t be able to in August.
However, if you’re a fan of live music, there are concerts that are held in August. For example, the historic Caveau de la Huchette jazz club stays open in August, and you can also enjoy free jazz and classical music concerts in the Parc Florale.
Image Courtesy of Bouillion Pigalle via Facebook
Are restaurants closed in Paris in August?
More and more restaurants are staying open in August, but not all. At any time of year, I recommend you plan out a few of your restaurants before arriving in Paris, this is even more crucial if you’re visiting Paris in August. If you don’t, you might end up eating at mediocre places because the restaurants you were hoping to go to are closed.
Many websites now have a booking system, so that’s a good way to know if they’ll be open in August (and then reserve your table). Or you can check their social media, since most places will put up a post about August closures.
There are some restaurants that almost always stay open in August. Bouillon-style restaurants, like the Bouillon Pigalle and Petit Bouillon Pharamond, stay open in August. Casual “brasserie” restaurants (what you might think of as a “café”) usually stay open in August, and you’ll find these all over the city. For example, the fun, modern brasseries of the Nouvelle Garde group stay open in August, and you can also reserve online.
Image Courtesy of Paris.fr
Are bakeries, markets, and food shops open in Paris in August?
Open-air food markets, which take place a few times a week in different areas, usually stay open all summer, but tend to have fewer vendors. Since the weather is usually pretty good, you can stop by one of these for picnic supplies.
Small food shops, like fruit and vegetable vendors or cheese shops, often close for a few weeks in August, but most supermarkets will stay open the whole month. So you won’t have to worry about going without basic necessities.
The French can’t live without their daily bread – or rather baguette – and so there’s always one bakery in each neighborhood that’ll be open on any given day in August. I think the neighboring bakeries actually talk to each other to make sure that their holidays don’t completely overlap.
Closed bakeries will usually put a note on their door with their holiday closure dates and the name of the nearest open bakery. Even if you don’t understand French, these little notes are pretty easy to figure out, and all you need to do is type in the name of the open bakery into your map apps to find it.
Image Courtesy of Instagram via Puces De Saint Ouen Paris
Are clothing shops and flea markets open in Paris in August?
Most “chain shops” stay open all of August, but smaller independent boutiques usually close for a few weeks because the owner is usually the only employee, and they need a little break, too. Like bakeries, these shops will put a note on the door with their holiday dates.
For the shops you DO find that are open, you might be able to get some great deals by shopping in August. Although the summer sales are officially over in August, there are usually some sales racks, so look out for these.
Paris’s main flea market, Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, stays open all year round. However, like small individual boutiques, some owners might take a few weeks off in August. So you can still visit, but it’ll definitely be a little quieter, which, given its size, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Great things to do in Paris in August
Image of Parc des Buttes Chaumont via Paris.fr
Visit parks and woods near the city
It can get really hot in Paris in August, but it’s generally a tad cooler in parks, and some even have sprinklers or water misters to help you cool down. The Parc des Buttes Chaumont, in northeastern Paris, and the Parc Montsouris, in southern Paris, are really nice in summer.
Le Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne, the large woods on either side of the city, are also great places in summer. Both have small lakes where you can rent boats, and there are tons of bike paths too. So I definitely recommend you spend some time exploring these fantastic green spaces.
Image courtesy of Château de Fontainbleau via Facebook
Take a day trip
Since Paris is a little quieter and the weather is likely going to be nice, you might enjoy getting out of the city. There are all kinds of great places to visit around the city, and I’ve included the best of these, like the Château de Fontainebleau and the art village of Auvers-sur-Oise, in our Paris Day Trips Guide.
Image Courtesy of Vintage Side Car tour via Viator
Take a vintage sidecar tour around the city
Since there’s less traffic in August, it’s the perfect time of year to do a vintage sidecar tour. These are super fun and a great way to learn about the city in a unique way. You’ll get to see some of the city’s most famous sites, including the Louvre, the Champs-Elysées, the Moulin Rouge, the Eiffel Tower, and stop for a little glass of champagne along the way.
Image Courtesy of Festivals du Parc Florale via Facebook
Enjoy some special events
Paris has some AMAZING special events in summer. These are great ways to mix with locals, too. In August, the best of these events are Paris Plages, the Paris “beaches”, with sand areas, relaxed seating, and seaside vibes along the Seine and the Basin de l’Ourcq, the open-air cinema at Parc de la Villette, and the free concerts in the Parc Florale.
Image Courtesy of Take Walks
Stay cool in the Catacombs
You can stay cooler in Paris in August by heading underground in the Catacombs. It’s a pretty popular place and the lines can be insane, but you can skip these by joining a guided tour, like this great tour offered by Walks. After meeting your guide outside, you’ll go straight into the Catacombs with skip-the-line tickets. Your guide will give you all the details on this quirky site and take you to some secret spots most visitors don’t know about.
Stroll or picnic along the Seine or Canal St-Martin
The days are still pretty long in August, I love taking evening strolls along the river. It’s cooler down there, plus if you walk towards the west (like starting around the Conciergerie), you’ll be able to take in the sunset as you stroll. If you’d like to have a picnic, just keep in mind that when it gets dark, there can be rats (yikes!) in some places. So if you think you’ll be out late, consider picnicking along the Canal St-Martin, where rats are less of a problem and where Parisians like to hang out more.
Image Courtesy of Take Walks
Discover Bohemian Paris on an evening walking tour
As I mentioned above, the days are pretty long in summer, and it gets dark around 10pm in August. So you can make the most of your sightseeing by taking a tour in the evening, like this Bohemian Paris tour of the Left Bank. Your guide will weave you in and around the lovely streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter while you learn about the writers, intellectuals, and artists who once lived here. You’ll also see Notre Dame Cathedral, Pantheon, the Church of Saint-Sulpice, the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Shakespeare and Company bookstore.
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