July in Paris is sizzling hot days and glorious warm evenings with fêtes and fireworks to celebrate Bastille Day! The month is filled with stellar events like the Tour de France and, for 2025, the Paris Olympic Games, which don't start up until the 26th. July is the perfect month to take a dreamy Seine River dinner cruise, a day trip to Claude Monet's gardens at nearby Giverny; to make a royal visit to the Chateau de Versailles, or explore the D-Day beaches in Normandy. Discover the best things to do in Paris, the July 2025 edition.

Esprit de Paris – The Top Experiences

Things to Do in Paris July 2025

Bateaux Parisiens VIP Dinner Cruise

We think you're going to love this dinner cruise along the Seine as much as we did. Not only do you see the famous landmarks, you dine on a four-course classic French meal. Everything looks better from a bateau sailing along the river at night. Choose the 8:30 PM sailing and the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience. Not available during the Olympic Games, July 18-26.

Experience the Magnificence of Versailles

The day starts in central Paris, whence your driver/guide whisks to the royal estate of Versailles. Included in your dossier are priority, skip-the-line tickets. Go directly inside to experience the grandeur of the chateau on a guided tour. Then stroll through the gardens. Afternoon finds you at the Grand Trianon and Marie Antoinette's farm, before you're driven back to Paris. Everything is included, even lunch.

Maxim's of Paris Dinner Cruise

Maxim's of Paris supper club debuted in 1900 and became one of the city's most celebrated Art Nouveau restaurants. Now, you can combine a Seine river dinner cruise with all the classics made famous by the historic Paris brasserie. Dine on lobster, truffles and fresh seafood as you take in the landmarks of Paris, lit up at night. Not available during the Olympic Games, July 18-26.

Discover the Masterpieces of the Louvre

Million of visitors means the Louvre is full of art lovers who have waited in long lines to get in. Do it differently — book a skip-the-line tour to get past the crowds and into the museum quickly. See masterpieces of the Greeks, the Renaissance, and French painters. Spend time with Venus, Nike and Mona. After the tour you can stay in the museum and browse for as long as you like.

Bastille Day Evening Dinner Cruise + Fireworks

You — on a river cruise — on the biggest holiday in France — Bastille Day. The 9:15 pm sailing ensures you'll see the only fireworks show of the day, held at the Eiffel Tower. On board, you'll have the best views of the show while enjoying a classic gourmet 3-course dinner with champagne. (Oddly, the cruise is currently listed as Valentine's Day, but in the calendar, July 14 is bookable.) Space is limited and this will sell out

Classical Music in Paris

The acoustically-perfect La Saint-Chapelle is travelers' favourite classical music venue in Paris. Located on the Île de la Cité, its roots stretch back to 1289 when Louis IX built his Holy Chapel. Today, Palais Garnier, the Belle Epoque opera house in Paris, is the center of cultural life. Attending a ballet or opera performance is worth it just to get the chance to see the fantastic interior. Find out what's playing in Paris in July!

Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower

If you listen to one piece of advice from us let this be it. Don't just show up at the Tower and expect to go directly to the top. The Eiffel Tower is immensely popular and the line-ups are long and boring. Since we hate waiting in line, we always search for an Eiffel Tower activity that lets us skip the queues and go directly up the tower. Luckily, we've found quite a few! Book now as these sell out quickly!

Moulin Rouge Dinner + Cabaret

Yes you can Can-Can! The Moulin Rouge — with its signature bright red windmill — has been the most popular cabaret since it opened during the Belle Epoque of the 1890s. Cut to today where your night at the Moulin Rouge begins with a leisurely multi-course meal featuring classic French food and champagne. After dinner, settle back and enjoy the amazing cabaret show.

Champagne & Food Tour of St-Germain-des-Prés

Your adventure begins in the historic neighborhood of St-Germain-des-Prés where you'll explore the ancient streets with a champagne & food expert at your side. Get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in French food, culture, and the best of French bubbly. Each of the champagne tastings (and there are several) are paired with French cheeses, pâtes, and delicate chocolates & pastries.

Musée d'Orsay Skip-the-Line Impressionism Tour

Skip the lines at Musée d'Orsay to marvel at stunning Impressionist works by the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Renoir on this tour led by an Impressionism expert guide. D'Orsay holds the world's most important collection of Impressionist art. Once the tour finishes, you're free to spend as much time as you want perusing the masterpieces.

Sainte-Chapelle, La Conciergerie & Notre Dame

Experience the rich history of Paris as you explore its ancient heart on Île de la Cité. This a guided tour takes you to the breathtaking sights, including La Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame. An expert guide leads this captivating exploration of the very center of the very center of Paris, giving you the chance to witness the city's beauty.

Private Airport Transfers

Know what's going to happen when you land at the airport — arrange transportation into Paris in advance. We recommend booking a private transfer where your driver meets you on arrival, helps with your luggage, and takes you directly to your Paris hotel in a private, air-conditioned sedan. THAT'S the way to start your vacation in style!

The Best Left Bank Hotels

The historic and charming Left Bank is the most wonderful place to stay in Paris. Luckily, it's also home to some of our favorite hotels in the city. Here, you are in the center of things, with easy access to Saint-Germain, the Marais, the Seine, Notre Dame Cathedral. Let's take a look at our newly-updated, 2025 list of the best hotels on the Left Bank.

The Wonders of Versailles

Things to Do in Paris July 2025

Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles

If you don't want to spend a full day at Versailles, then we recommend this highly-rated half-day tour that also starts in central Paris. It's with a small group to ensure that you get individual attention from your expert guide. Choose from morning and afternoon tours.

Versailles + Monet's Gardens in One Day

This 2-in-1 activity takes you to two essential landmarks in one day — the chateau and gardens of the royal estate at Versailles, plus the magnificent gardens of Impressionist master Claude Monet at nearby Giverny. Save time with skip-the-line entrance to the Château de Versailles and its elegant garden. This small-group tour (no more than 8 people, to ensure personal attention) includes transportation from central Paris and lunch.

Versailles Bike Tour + Chateau Visit

Kickstart summer with this 2-in-1 tour. You'll cruise the country around Versailles as your guide takes you through forests and pastures, to the local market and then into the gardens of Versailles to ride past the historic buildings, including Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet. Then use your passes to explore the chateau as long as you like. A great tour, but be sure to book right now!

Glorious Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2025

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region

Visit the Land of Bubbly. On this day tour your driver/guide picks you up at your Paris hotel to take you to the Champagne Region, just about an hour away. You start your visit in Reims at the historic cathedral. But the day is mostly about visiting champagne makers and sampling, sampling, sampling. Lunch at a regional restaurant is included.

The Historic D-Day Beaches

It was the largest seaborne invasion of World War II. The Normandy landings were the beginning of the road to liberation. On this compelling day trip from Paris you will visit the memorials, landing beaches and cemeteries that dot the haunting landscape. Also included is a special tasting session of the region's famous ciders.

Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte

Before there was Versailles there was Vaux-Le-Vicomte. Louis XIV was so taken by its magnificent chateau and gardens that he stole the idea (and most of the workers) to create his own royal estate. This day trip takes you to the other stunning estates in the Paris region — Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte. It all makes for an amazing day away from the city, one you're not likely to forget.

Monet's House & Gardens in Giverny

To spend the day with Claude Monet at his house & gardens in Giverny, choose this affordable, small-group afternoon tour that includes transportation from central Paris. The gardens will be at their peak of summer perfection as well as the waterlilies at the idyllic pond where Monet painted for 43 years. Also available as a private tour.

The Loire Valley – Chateaux & Wines

Discover the Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley and the wines produced in this fertile valley on a day trip from Paris. The day begins with a drive to the largest castle, Château de Chambord. But the day isn't all about castles: you'll also have a chance to taste the best of the region's wines. The final stop is Château de Chenonceau, considered the loveliest of the Loire Châteaux.

Delectable Food & Wine Experiences

Things to Do in Paris July 2025

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cheese Cellar

In Paris, the top cheese sellers (fromagères) also age their cheeses in special cheese caves beneath their stores. This unique & unusual tour is led by a Master Affineur, who ages and sells cheese. You not only get to taste some of the most famous cheese of France, but you learn about their history, production techniques, and which wines to drink with them.

Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise + Live Music

This well-liked dinner cruise along the Seine is perfect for creating memories of Paris that will stay with you for years. Cruise the river on a magical evening while viewing the city's sights. At your private table enjoy a classic 4-course French dinner, with live music as your bateau lazily floats past illuminated landmarks like the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower. Not available during the Olympic Games, July 18-26.

A Taste of Montmartre Food & Wine Tour

Join a food-expert guide for a walking tour of historic Montmartre to taste some of the best foods found in France — charcuterie, cheeses, wine, pastries, chocolate, bread. Be sure to spend some time to view Paris from its highest point. This quartier on the hill is famous for its cobblestone streets, café and terraces, and for the bohemian crowd who once lived here.

Dine on the Eiffel Tower at Madame Brasserie

Dining on the Eiffel Tower is as amazing as it sounds. Read the rave reviews of Chef Thierry Marx's Madame Brasserie and you'll see what we mean. With Paris at 200 feet beneath you, and a glass of champagne in your hand, you'll congratulate yourself on having made this reservation in advance.

The Food & Wine of the Marais

This delightful small-group food tour through the Marais is garnering high praise. You start the tour at the oldest food market in the city, and then follow your food-expert guide through the historic Marais neighborhood to visit the top food & wine shops, tasting the best of French food like cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and wine.

Chocolate & Patisserie Tour of Saint-Germain

Paris + Chocolate + Pastries. Could any three things be more perfect together? Is it a wonder that we (and our readers) love this guided walking tour? It gives us a chance to get behind-the-scenes of Paris patisseries (pastry shops) and chocolateries (chocolate shops), along with plenty of sampling of course!.

French Food Highlights Private Tour

It's a good feeling being be an insider. This private tour gets you to the most exquisite culinary destinations in Paris, all in one evening. François, your French food & wine guide, ushers you to insider's restaurants, boulangeries, and cheese shops to taste the best of the city's culinary treasures. Bring your walking shoes and your appetite! This is one of our new favourites and the reviews are spectacular.

Bateaux Parisiens Gourmet Lunch Cruise

Spend an afternoon on the Seine the Paris Insiders Way. This fun & casual river cruise includes a classic multi-course lunch. Relax and dine with friends as the best of the Paris landmarks drift past your view. Take a break from sightseeing to combine great dining with a tour of Paris… riverside. Not available during the Olympic Games, July 18-26.

Learn to Make Croissants with a Pastry Chef

Sure, you can eat croissants and pain au chocolat during your trip to Paris. But instead, why not learn how to bake them yourself? That's what happens in this hands-on, small-group pastry class. Meet your chef/instructor in the professional kitchen to, then roll up your sleeves to learn the step-by-step secrets to making these iconic French pastries.

Small-Group French Cooking Class & Market Tour

At an historic outdoor food market in the Latin Quarter you meet your expert chef and shop for the ingredients you will need to make lunch. Then your small group (limited to 8) returns to the Paris cooking studio to create a three-course meal. You will prepare a delicious lunch — including entrée, plat, and dessert — and enjoy your creations, with a glass of wine.

New Exhibits at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris July 2025

The Louvre & d'Orsay In One Day!

Yes, you can cover a lot of art history in a few hours! The only thing you have to do is relax and enjoy the masterpieces. No need to worry about buying tickets or standing in line. This combination museum tour takes you to the best at the Louvre and the d'Orsay museum with a knowledgeable guide. Group size is limited to eight.

Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism

2025 is the the 150th anniversary of Impressionism! On April 15, 1874, the first exhibition by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley, Cézanne and 28 other painters was held outside of the official Paris Salon exhibition. See 130 works by these legendary artists and discover details about Paris in 1874.
• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends July 14, 2025
• Information…

Le Corps En Mouvement – The Body in Motion

To mark the occasion of the Paris Olympics and the Paralympic Games, the Petit Palais celebrates The Body in Motion with a journey through its permanent collection. Fifty works from Antiquity to the 20th century trace the origins of the Olympic Games with paintings, sculptures, art objects, drawings and prints.
• Petit Palais
• May 15 to November 17, 2025
• Information…

1874 – The Immersive Experience

Experience the first Impressionist exhibition through virtual reality. It's Paris, April 15, 1874; 30 painters are presenting 165 of their works, all rejected by the official Paris Salon. Claude Monet, Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Cézanne, and Edgar Degas changed the history of art. This immersive experience brings together architectural plans, aerial photographs, studio archives as well as reviews by journalists and critics of the time

• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends August 11, 2025
• Information…

Hector Guimard & the Paris Metro

In 1899 Architect Hector Guimard won the competition held by the Compagnie Générale du Métropolitain to design the entrances to the stations of the brand-new Metro system, le plus modern mode of transportation. His inspired designs set the tone of Paris for the 20th century. Learn about the history of Guimard and see his original drawings exhibited for the first time!

• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends July 14, 2025
• Information…

Robert Ryman: The Eye in Action

This is American artist Robert Ryman's (1930-2019) first large-scale exhibition in France since 1981. Regarded as the founder of the American Minimalist movement, Ryman's unique approach focussed on surface, space and light.

• Musée de l'Orangerie
• Ends July 1, 2025
• Information…

La Collection – Revoir Picasso

In 2014 Pablo Picasso's most important public collection was permanently installed in the lavish setting of the Hôtel Salé, a mansion in the Marais. A decade later, the museum pays homage with a three-year retrospective starting with a tribute to Françoise Gilot. Beyond her famous book — Living with Picasso, published in 1965 — Gilot's own artistic career spanned from Réalités Nouvelles to her large compositions of the "emblematic paintings" of the 1980s.

• Musée Picasso
• March 12, 2025 to March 12, 2027
• Information…

La Fontaine des Innocents

Delve into the story of the Fountain of the Innocents during its large-scale restoration. Built during the Renaissance, this monument, originally called the Fountain of the Nymphs, was sculpted by Jean Goujon and designed by the architect Pierre Lescot. Learn about the history and restoration of this famous fountain of the Marais.

• Musée Carnavalet
• April 24, 2025 to August 25, 2025
• Information…

Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy

Discover the roots of the first modern Olympic Games, and how the sporting competition of ancient Greece was reinvented in modern times. The exhibition will show how history and archaeology came together to create the world's greatest and most-watched sporting event.

• Louvre Museum
• Ends September 16, 2025
• Information…

The Top Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris July 2025

Bastille Day Celebrations – July 14, 2025

Vive la liberté ! Bastille Day commemorates the start of the French Revolution and is the biggest celebration in Paris, and in all of France. In Paris, the military parade starts at 10 AM on the Champs-Elysées. The Eiffel Tower fireworks start at 11 PM, and the best vantage point is from the banks of the river.
• July 14
• Bastille Day Celebrations…

Tour de France

The historic cycling race this year starts in Italy but then winds its way through Dijon, Orleans, Pau, NÎmes, and Gap, before landing in Nice for the final laps.

• June 29 to July 21, 2025.
• Information…

Paris Japan Expo

This annual event celebrates Japanese manga, martial arts, animation & J-music.

• Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
• July 11 to 14, 2025
• Information…

Annual Paris Jazz Festival

One of the truly magical international jazz events, held in the beautiful gardens of Parc Floral.

• Parc Floral de Vincennes
• July, 2025
• Information…

Festival Paris L'Été – Arts, Scenes & Sun

This event features 100 performances at 40 locations throughout Paris — near monuments, in parks, and public squares. What a way to celebrate summer in the city!

• Throughout Paris
• July 2025
• Information…

Lollapalooza Paris

The annual live music festival returns to Paris in 2025 (Covid and all) for three-day event with an amazing line-up that includes Rosalía, Kendrick Lamar, and K-Pop's Stray Kids.

• Hippodrome de Longchamp
• July, 2025
• Information…