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06/02/20
August is the second hottest month of the year in Paris and also the time when locals go on their annual vacation. Actually, some people start their summer holiday with the weekend of 14 of July. That makes Paris a strange place to be: hot, sun-drenched, and without any local feeling.
However, if this is the only time you have to visit Paris, not all is lost. There are many summer events and fun outdoor activities so if you know what to expect and how to avoid crowds, Paris in August has its charm, and summer evenings are always special.
We expect Paris in August 2020 to be special: after the world pandemic and lockdown, some people might decide to wait a bit before traveling again so people who travel to Paris during the first months after lockdown will be able to experience the City of Lights almost entirely to themselves. Paris in August 2020 will be a golden opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Paris with the sun, blue sky, and without crowds!
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PARIS TRIP PLANNER
» Basics: Language is French but English is widely spoken; Currency is Euro
» Paris Travel Guide
» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; check out when is the Best Time to Visit Paris;
» Flying to Paris: find the best prices and book your flight tickets with CheapoAir.com
» Paris by Train: find the best prices and book your train tickets with Trainline
» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris
» Find your Bearings in Paris: Districts of Paris Quick Guide
» Getting around: Metro of Paris Quick Guide; Paris by Bike Guide
» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:
Want skip-the-line access and awesome discounts at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
» Food & Drinks: Paris Food Guide
» Side Trips: Versailles Quick Guide, check out the Best Day Trips from Paris
Is Paris in August busy? Crowds Forecast
Paris in August is very busy!
Despite the hot weather, August in Paris is the high season, when most of the people have holidays, and it is a must to book accommodation and tickets to the main attractions and shows well in advance.
Hotels, especially good ones with a pool, sell out fast or charge ridiculous prices for last-minute bookings and it is normal for places such as the Eiffel Tower to have tickets booked out months in advance.
As locals leave for their summer holiday, the tourists are the only people around and, of course, they tend to gather around Paris’ tourist attractions! So a good tip for avoiding crowds in Paris in August is to explore the lesser-known districts of Paris.
PARIS AUGUST 2020. As mentioned above, we expect to see lesser crowds this August in Paris. However, we also expect to see the main tourist attractions reducing their quota of daily visitors to avoid big gatherings so booking well in advance for a trip to Paris in August is always a good idea.
Weather in August in Paris
Paris in August is hot and sunny. The average temperatures in Paris are 25C maximum and 16C minimum with an 11% probability of rainfall.
The good news is that we never experienced days of canicule (heatwave) in August. Still, it is a good idea to avoid physical activities, protect your head from the sun, adapt your outfits to the temperatures, and drink continuously water.
What to Wear in Paris in August [2020]
What to pack for Paris in August? The month of August calls for summer clothing!
Leave your jeans at home and pack natural fabrics, summer dresses, short sleeve tops, and sandals. Also, it is important to protect your head and eyes from the sun.
We also suggest adding a light jacket or shawl for when you want to visit a church as shorts and tank tops are not allowed.
Paris is the city of fashion and chic and Paris people’s clothing tends to be more dressy than in other European cities, even in the summertime. If you are wondering what to wear in Paris in August check out our Packing Lists for Paris. We have dedicated artºicles for men and women that come with our best tips and suggestions for outfits to wear in Paris this year 2020.
How to Get to Paris from the Airport
Check out the best ways to get from Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airports to the city:
| OPTION | TO | DURATION | PRICE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train Paris CDG Airport | Gare du Nord or Châtelet | 30-40 min | 10,3€ | 4.50 am – 11.50 pm |
| Welcome Pickups CDG Airport (Private transfer) | Your hotel | 30-40 min | 60€ approx | 24/7 |
| CDG Airport Shared transfer | Your hotel | 60 min | 18.75€ approx | 24/7 |
| Taxi CDG Airport | Your hotel | 30-40 min | 60€ approx | 24/7 |
| Orly Bus Paris ORY Airport | Denfert- Rochereau | 30-40 min | 9.5€ | 6 am – 0.30 am |
| Welcome Pickups ORY Airport (Private transfer) | Your hotel | 30-40 min | 50€ approx | 24/7 |
| ORY Airport Shared transfer | Your hotel | 60 min | 18.75€ approx | 24/7 |
| Taxi ORY Airport | Your hotel | 30-40 min | 50€ approx | 24/7 |
These are what we consider the best options to go from one of the Paris airports to the city but there are many more, public and private.
- Click here to see all the options Paris CDG Airport to city
- Click here to see all the options Paris ORY Airport to city
Best tips for visiting Paris in August
Check out the latest updates, do’s and don’ts, and our best tips for visiting Paris after lockdown:
First-timers in Paris who want to visit the main sights usually find it convenient to purchase a Paris tourist pass. Check out this Paris Pass Comparison to find the best tourist pass for you.
Another good way to save time is to buy single skip-the-line tickets or combo tickets for the top tourist attractions.
Don’t overcharge your daily schedule with lots of sights and activities. Leave some floor to improvisation, you may want to have some breaks during the day if the weather is too hot.
Some trains (the oldest) of the Parisian metro do not have air conditioning so metro rides can be challenging. Check out our best tips for using the Parisian metro in the summer.
Need insurance for France? Be sure to check France travel insurance rates and coverage with our recommended provider, SafetyWing.
Best things to do in Paris in August
Apart from the main attractions and other beautiful sights that you will find in our Paris Travel Blog, these are the seasonal things that we recommend for your coming visit to Paris in August 2020.
You may also want to have a look at our Paris July 2020 Quick Guide as you can enjoy most of the proposed activities also in August.
NB: Some of the activities or dates still need to be confirmed. Keep clicking for the latest updates.
Other articles to help you planning your trip to Paris in August:
CLIMB UP THE EIFFEL TOWER BEFORE SUNSET
The Eiffel Tower is a must-see in Paris but it is a terrible place to visit during the day in August. Go up the Eiffel Tower after 8 pm so get some fresh air and see how the sun sets in Paris, it’s a magical experience!
Tickets from the Eiffel Tower website can be purchased only 2 months in advance. To be sure you get the date and time slot that you want in August, you can buy Eiffel Tower tickets for more than two months in advance with Get Your Guide.
ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL FROM THE BEST ROOFTOP BARS
This is one of the best things to do in Paris at night in August. Look for the best rooftop bars in Paris and see the city from above with your favorite cocktail in hand. Some of these cool rooftop bars are part of stylish hotels but they are happy to welcome also non-guests.
JOIN A NIGHT TOUR
Paris is a great city to walk but for some, it may be hard to walk kilometers and kilometers under the sun. Discover the magic of Paris when it is lit up at night on this guided 2-hour walking tour. Be amazed by the beauty of Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, and learn interesting things about the City of Lights.
This top-rated Paris Segway Night Tour is a fun alternative for exploring Paris at night.
One of the beautiful places to visit in Paris in August is Versailles (click here for our Versailles Guide). The Versailles Gardens are great to explore in the summer when all the grooves are open to the public and the musical gardens and musical fountains shows take place. We especially like the Musical Fountain show, with their water features spouting to the rhythm of the music.
If you are visiting Paris in August, the Musical Gardens Show takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays until 30 October 2020 whilst the Musical Fountains Show takes place on Saturday and Sunday from until 1 November 2020.
GO TO AN OUTDOOR CINEMA
In the summer, La Villette in Paris 19 turns an outdoor arena offering delightful opportunities for al fresco evenings in the city. Amongst these activities outstands its outdoor cinema, from 15 July to 16 August 2020, always with an interesting program of films.
Many people like to arrive at La Villette earlier to block a good spot to watch the film, which is usually preceded by a picnic and some glasses of wine.
We will update this article with the relevant link as soon as the program is published for 2020.
EXPLORE OLD MONTMARTRE IN THE AFTERNOON
Montmartre is the highest part of Paris and late in the afternoon is a great time to go to get some fresh air while exploring one of the most picturesque areas in Paris. This Stories of Old Montmarte walking tour covers the main sights of Montmartre. After the walk, look for a restaurant-terrace nearby for an alfresco dinner in one of the most beautiful areas of Paris.
SAIL THE PARISIAN CANALS YOUR OWN WAY
Marin d’ Eau Douce, located at Canal de la Villette in Paris 19, proposes electric self-drive boats for 5, 7, or 11 people. These electric canal boats do not require any kind of boating license and they are a fun way to explore Canal de la Villette and Canal de l’Ourcq, perhaps with picnic on-board and a bottle of rosé.
SUMMER FUN AT PARIS PLAGES
Paris Plages is not only a tourist attraction, but it is also the only opportunity for families with lesser revenues to experience some fun summertime without leaving the city. The City Council already confirmed that Paris Plages will take place also in July – August 2020, perhaps a bit lighter. Click on our Paris Plages post for the latest updates, when available.
GO ON A DAY TRIP
If you are spending more than 2 days in Paris, don’t hesitate to explore beyond the French capital. Usually, the small towns near Paris are a bit dead in July or August. Our recommendation goes to Monet’s Garden in Giverny to see the famous water lilies. The water lilies start to bloom in July so you can see the water lilies in bloom plus dahlias, cosmos, and hibiscus.
Another good day trip to do in August is the D-Day Landing Beaches in Normandy. Enjoy the refreshing sea breeze whilst visiting one of the most important historical sights in France.
Click here for other beautiful day trips from Paris
HAVE FUN AT L’ÉTÉ DU CANAL
L’Été du Canal is a fun event that takes place in July and August along the banks of Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Denis. Get ready to party, have a drink by the canal, or dance in a summer guinguette or on a boat.
GO TO THE POOL
I know you are not in Paris to go to the pool but trust me: in August, you will want to be near one! The city boasts unique art deco swimming pools which are also listed historical monuments. These pools, overlooked by rows of open walkways with old-fashioned cabins for private hire, are the perfect opportunity to relax and cool down in a beautiful atmosphere.
We recommend Piscine Pontoise, in Paris 5. This swimming pool is very central plus it opens until 11.45 pm from Monday to Friday.
The Josephine Baker swimming pool is also special. This pool is floating on the Seine River, moored in Paris 13 close to Bibliothèque Francois Miterrand. This one-of-a-kind swimming experience is even more special in summer when the glass roof opens up to reveal a huge sun deck providing a fabulous view of the Seine.
15 AUGUST – PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN FRANCE
On the 15th of August, the Catholic Church feasts the assumption of Mary and it is a public holiday in all France.
This is a day off for French workers and affects the opening hours of public offices and smaller shops.
In Paris city center, around the main tourist sights, you are unlikely to notice the impact on the 15th of August but public transportation may be affected and be less frequent and some restaurants may be closed.
The list of top sights opened on 15th August includes the Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum, Château de Versailles, Centre Pompidou, Arc de Triomphe, Montparnasse Tower and all the castles near Paris. Also, make you have extra time to get anywhere on this day and do remember that local shops are likely to be closed.
We hope you enjoyed this Paris in August 2020 quick guide and it helped you plan your August in Paris. Bon voyage!
Click here for the best time to visit Paris
