How to Stay Cool in Paris During a Heatwave

How to stay cool in Paris

On a very hot day in Paris:

1. Start sightseeing early in the morning.
2. Plan museums, a long lunch or another indoor activity for the hottest part of the afternoon.
3. Carry a refillable water bottle and use Paris's public drinking fountains.
4. Use the Metro or buses to avoid unnecessarily long walks.
5. Wear lightweight clothing, a hat and comfortable shoes.
6. Slow your itinerary down rather than trying to fit everything in.
7. Save outdoor walks and terraces for the evening.

The City of Paris also maintains a network of approximately 1,300 drinking-water points and publishes a map of around 1,400 places where residents and visitors can find some relief from the heat. 

Start your day earlier than usual

On a hot summer day, the hours before lunchtime are particularly valuable.

If you want to walk along the Seine, explore Montmartre, wander through the Luxembourg Gardens or spend time outdoors around the Eiffel Tower, consider doing it first thing in the morning rather than at 3 p.m.

This has another advantage: Paris often feels calmer earlier in the day.

You do not necessarily need to wake up at dawn on vacation. Even shifting your plans forward by an hour or two can make a considerable difference to your comfort.

Then, instead of maintaining the same pace throughout the afternoon, give yourself permission to stop.

A long lunch is not wasted sightseeing time. On a very hot day, it may be exactly what allows you to enjoy the rest of your day.

Visiting Paris at dawn allows you to discover the city while it's still asleep. 

Plan your day around the heat...

...Not just around a list of sights

We often encourage travelers to think in terms of pacing, rather than simply counting how many attractions they can fit into one day. This matters even more during a heatwave.

A summer itinerary might look something like this:

• Morning: outdoor sightseeing and walking
• Lunch: a relaxed meal somewhere comfortable
• Afternoon: rest at your accommodation or museum, exhibition or another indoor visit
• Evening: another walk, dinner and time outside once temperatures begin to ease

Paris has plenty of indoor options for the hottest hours of the day. The city itself recommends places such as museums, libraries and cinemas as possible refuges during periods of extreme heat. You can find the map here. 

Possible change of plans

Some museums might close earlier than planned, as most are in old buildings and have no air conditionning. Consult each museum's website if you are visiting on a hot day.

Choose the shady side of Paris

On a hot day, a slightly longer shaded route can be much more pleasant than the shortest route across an exposed square. Look for tree-lined streets, gardens and shaded sections of the riverbanks.

Paris also counts a lot of parks, gardens where people can find relief during hot weather. 

And remember that shade moves. The lovely shaded bench you spotted at 10 a.m. may be fully exposed by mid-afternoon. This may sound like a small detail, but in very hot weather these small choices make the day considerably more comfortable.

Carry a refillable water bottle

Here’s one of our most useful Paris summer tips: during a heatwave, the price of bottled water can sometimes creep up along with the temperature! So bring a refillable water bottle with you. You’ll find plenty of places around Paris where you can top it up for free — better for your wallet, and very handy on a hot sightseeing day.

Paris has an extensive network of public drinking fountains. Eau de Paris also operates fountains that combine drinking water with misting systems during hot weather.

The City of Paris publishes an online map and apps showing drinking-water points, some even have sparkling water!

 Paris water fountain map 

A small bottle that you actually carry with you is more useful than a giant one that you leave at the hotel because it is too heavy.

Useful apps 

Download this app to find all the water points in Paris:

 iPhone App: Chateau La Pompe  

Android App: Fontaines à boire Paris

Don’t overdo it in the heat in Paris

Visitors often walk much farther in Paris than they expect. You keep walking and suddenly, you are up to 20,000 steps!

A day in Paris might include:

• walking from your hotel to a café
• visiting a museum
• strolling through a neighborhood
• walking between sights
• standing in a line
• wandering around a garden
• and then walking to dinner

When very hot, we suggest you take a taxi rather than public transportation. 

Dress for the temperature... 

...And for the photograph!

Paris has a reputation for style, but Parisians also understand practical summer dressing, without any compromise to style: loose, lightweight clothing in light colors is a sensible choice in high temperatures. Copy the Parisians' style. 

A few useful items to have with you include:

• a lightweight hat - a Panama hat!
• sunglasses
• a small fan or more chic: un éventail!
• and comfortable open walking shoes: des sandales!

A folding fan is particularly convenient and chic in Paris. It takes almost no room in a handbag and can be surprisingly welcome while sitting outside. 

Adapt your plans

Make lunch part of your cooling strategy

A hot Paris afternoon is an excellent excuse not to rush lunch. Instead of grabbing something quickly and heading straight back into the sun, consider sitting down somewhere comfortable and giving yourself time to recover.

Very hot weather is not the best moment for an enormous lunch followed by a long uphill walk, but neither is it a good idea to spend the day sightseeing without eating enough. 

Drink water, eat properly and take a nap. This slower rhythm is also rather French.

Save some of Paris for the evening

One of the nicest things about visiting Paris in summer is that your day does not have to finish at 5 p.m. An evening walk along the Seine, dinner outside when conditions are comfortable, or a stroll through your neighborhood can feel very different from crossing the same streets under the afternoon sun.

This is particularly helpful if you normally try to pack every day with continuous sightseeing. Rather than spending twelve exhausting hours outside, think of the day as two enjoyable periods — morning and evening — with a slower nap interval in between.

Clara's swimming pool recommandations:

We always think of the Louvre, Orsay, the Eiffel Tower. . . But have you ever thought of going swimming?

Paris has about 42 municipal swimming pools, and during periods of hot weather they can be an appealing option... But not probably not the most beautiful pool setting you've seen!

Joséphine Baker Swimming Pool 

When your dream is to swim on the Seine and not in it. . . No sharks allowed here! This is one of my favorites: the view is just wonderful.

Pontoise Swimming Pool 

This pool will take you to the 1930s, with its colorful walls and doors. A travel in time!

Aquaboulevard 

The best to do with children - or for less swimming and more relaxing. 

Remember to always carry a 1€ coin for the lockers, and check what is compulsory and not allowed. . . You might need to buy a swim cap!

How can France Just For You plan your summer trip to France?

If you would like to combine Paris with a self-drive trip through other regions of France, we will design a tailor-made itinerary around your pace, interests and travel style. We carefully plan the flow of the trip so you can explore independently while benefiting from our local recommendations, detailed travel information and 7-day-a-week support while you are in France.

In summer, we will gladly recommend itineraries in cooler parts of France, like Brittany and Normandy.