Want to know what to do on a hot day in Paris? When the sun is out, the French capital bursts to life with people enjoying being outdoors and embracing all of the fun things to do in Paris in summer including rooftop bars, picnics in the parks, alfresco dining and summer festivals. Temperatures in Paris can reach highs of 27 degrees in the summer, so here’s how to make the most of the heatwave when you’re visiting the City of Light.
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Alfresco Dining
Sit on an outdoor terrace to soak up the sun and enjoy a glass of a crisp white French wine with your meal. Alfresco dining in Paris is quintessential in the summer with quaint, charming boulangeries, bistros, brunch spots and French cafes opening up their outdoor seating areas for hungry customers when the sun comes out. Some favorites include La Fregate, Les Jardins de Bagatelle, and Maison Blanche. With countless affordable alfresco eating options in the city, you’ll never be short of choice.
Alfresco French restaurants
For French food, we recommend Le Valmy near Canal Saint Martin, Les P'tites Indécises near Parmentier (located in a pretty sun-lit square) and Chez Casimir in Gare du Nord - at each of these quaint eateries you can sit outside under the balmy sun and indulge in French classics.
Terraces
For a hearty lunch amongst a lively atmosphere, head to Belushi’s Bar where there’s a beautiful outdoor terrace to enjoy juicy burgers and waterside views of Canal Saint Martin. Or head to A La Folie for a young, edgy crowd where you can enjoy some beers on the vast outdoor terrace.
Check out Belushi’s Bar
Enjoy the city parks
While you may think of Paris as a concrete jungle, 10% of the city is actually made up of beautiful green spaces and parks. The hot weather attracts plenty of locals and tourists to the city parks for summer strolls, to read their books, to walk their dogs or to simply enjoy the sun and have a Parisian picnic. Pop to a local supermarket and buy some french baguettes, ham, wine and cheese. Throw in some macarons and you’re sorted for your lunch in the park. Our favourite parks in Paris for a hot day are Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement, The Tuileries Garden in the 1st arrondissement and Parc de Belleville in the 20th arrondissement.
And Rooftop bars…
What's a better way to cool off than a cocktail on a rooftop? Some of the best rooftop bars in Paris include Le Perchoir Marais, Le Rooftop, Terrass Rooftop Bar. Want to beat the heat but not break the bank? Head to the affordable terrace at Mama Hotel. The colourful rooftop terrace at the Mama Hotel is the dream in the summer where you can enjoy drinks and play games under the sun including ping pong and table football. There’s even a BBQ!
Hang out by the canal
What’s better on a hot day than cool drinks by the canal? In the summer Canal Saint Martin is buzzing with young locals and working professionals who make the beautiful canalside theirs in the summer. There are plenty of cool bars that line the canal where you can stop for a drink and hang out with friends. Our favourite canalside bars include Point Éphémère, a hipster hang out and Cafe Odilon, a calm summer bar serving up tasty pizzas and an top-notch selection of wines by the canal. Boasting a great view of Quai de la Marne, waterside bars don’t get much better than this.
Taste Paris’ best ice cream
Ice cream is the perfect remedy for any hot day.Cool yourself down on a hot day with one of the best ice creams in the city where you can try inventive flavours, rich classics and gelato that will rock your world. Paris is home to some incredible ice cream parlours such as the famous Berthillion. With more than 60 flavours on offer and a velvety creamy texture, you won’t be disappointed so come here for your ice cream fix. Other spots include Bachir, Pozzetto, and . Vegan options in the city include Amorino Paris and Impronta. Squeeze in time for a tasty treat to beat the heat.
Attend a summer music festival
Make some summer memories in Paris at an epic music festival. This city is playing host to many festivals this year and the next two big ones coming up next are Lollapalooza (16th - 17th July) and Rock En Seine (25th - 30th August). At Lollapalooza 2022 there is an incredible line-up including Dua Lipa, Metallica, J. Cole, Glass Animals, Charli XCX and many more. And at Rock en Seine it’s your chance to see Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, Rage Against the Machine, James Blake and more. There's no shortage of music this summer in Paris so don't miss out on the fun.
Get cosy at an Outdoor Cinema
Like many of the world’s big cities, Paris has taken on the outdoor cinema trend. When it’s a warm sunny evening, head to one of the cities outdoor cinemas where you can enjoy a movie on a deck chair and a picnic with friends. Our favourite outdoor cinema this year is Cinéma En Plein Air taking place from July 17th to August 18th on the park in La Villette. You can see what movies are showing on the website. Find out more here .
There’s also the Cinema Under the Stars taking place between July 4 through August 18 at Caisse de Notre-Dame-de-Grace.