11 things to see and do in Paris in July

If you travel to Paris in July, you can enjoy exciting and interesting plans such as the Tour de France, the huge (and free) Fnac Music Festival at the Hotel de Ville or the Bastille Day fireworks.

There are also parades, fire dances, free outdoor film festivals, concerts and art shows. Without a doubt, a month to enjoy this amazing city to the fullest.

Booking an excursion to Giverny and Monet's gardens from Paris is a must in July if you are a Claude Monet fan, as the impressionist artist spent the last half of his life in Giverny.

Giverny is a small town in Normandy about 45 miles**(approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes**) outside of Paris, where his famous water lily ponds bloom during the month of July.

Thanks to meticulous restoration, you'll see his house, gardens and water lily pond as they were when he lived there. Places where he painted some of his best masterpieces. And if you are also interested in this artist and creator of impressionism and your stay in Paris is not so short, you can book your ticket to the Louvre Museum and see some of his best works live.

And if you want to enjoy like a child or if you are going to Paris with your family, July is the ideal time to book your ticket to Aquaboulevard, the largest water park in Paris and one of the most popular in Europe, which has no less than 11 water slides, plus many other water activities and attractions

In addition, it also has a relaxation area with sauna, jacuzzis and baths to regain strength and energy.

On your trip to Paris in July you can not miss to book an excursion to Normandy from Paris with tour of Omaha Beach, cider tasting and lunch, in which you will learn about the prominence of this region in World War II with a professional guide who will accompany you throughout the tour and explain all the details about various enclaves such as:

• Omaha Beach, which is one of the beaches where the landing of the American troops took place and where many of the soldiers are buried.
• The American Cemetery, which commemorates the nearly 10,000 Allied soldiers who fought on these beaches where there are graves, a memorial and the great wall of the missing soldiers.
• The Utah Beach Landing Museum, where you will learn, among other things, what prior preparation the Alliance soldiers had, what happened during the battle or how both sides advanced.

The trip will last 14 hours and includes the round trip. In addition, you will enjoy lunch with apple cider tasting.

Since 1990, the Paris Summer Festivalhas been organizing artistic and cultural events throughout the city. This annual arts festival presents dance, music and theater events in various popular neighborhoods of Paris.

The festival lasts from early July to early August and the arts represented are theater, dance, circus and music. In addition, you can enjoy various art installations. Most of them are outdoors and outside the traditional entertainment venues.

For more information, feel free to visit the festival's official website. The events are free! In addition, you can become a protagonist of art by booking a graffiti workshop in Paris.

Bastille Day is the biggest summer festival in Paris as well as in the whole of France. It takes place on July 14, to commemorate the anniversary of the prison storming of the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789 and was a turning point in the French Revolution.

Military ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and the parade at 11 a.m. Also key on this day are the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, so if you book your night tickets for the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you will see how it is fully illuminated and in tune with Bastille Day. The tower's festival of lights will last about half an hour.

But the best place to see the Bastille Day fireworks is from the Seine River. So, book a Paris Seine River cruise with dinner, while enjoying the dazzling fireworks. priceless!

Paris' famous summer sales continue through mid-July. For many "savvy" fashion lovers, July marks the sweet spot for shopping, when stores proceed to the 2nd or even 3rd markdown, swapping the sale signs in their windows for 70% or even 80% percentages.

The best places to find bargains? Everywhere! Luxury brands like Chanel, Valentino and Armani attract huge crowds, as do Galeries Lafayette, BHV, Bon Marché and Au Printemps, and of course smaller boutiques and even global mid-market chains.

Are you a fan of Japan and its culture? If so, you must attend the Japan Expo. This is an exclusive July event that includes martial arts, video games, music and more shows. The event takes place at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, which is just one RER stop away from Charles de Gaulle Airport, so knowing your way around Paris will be crucial, especially by Paris metro.

In addition, there are signings, speakers, workshops and master classes, where famous artists (animators, illustrators, video game creators, film producers, musicians and composers) will reveal their secrets and tips. There is also room for music, from rock, RnB, J-pop, punk, electro, shamisen, koto, sanshin, to traditional genres. There will also be hands-on workshops to teach the basics of drawing, modeling, ikebana, origami and calligraphy.

And, of course, there can't be a festival of Japanese culture without a trace of video games. Many video games will be available for free where you can try out the latest releases and participate in tournaments. Video game creators will also be there to tell you about their work and expert advice. There will also be an area dedicated to martial arts where you can learn the basics of Ninjutsu, kendo, judo, aikido and karate.

Free outdoor movies return to the Parc de la Villette every summer with the Cinéma en Plein Air (Open Air Cinema). During the month of July, Wednesday through Sunday, you'll see a great mix of classic films and recent hits shown in their original language with French subtitles as soon as it gets dark in Paris.

Bring a blanket to sit on, a picnic dinner and a bottle of wine. Plus, the park is one of the most striking in Paris and one of the largest in the city at 55 hectares, surrounded by theaters, cafes, kindergartens and several dining spots.

The Fête Foraine des Tuileries is held in early July in the Tuileries Garden in Paris, which is located between the Louvre Museum and Place de la Concorde. For more information, visit the event site.

You can enjoy a giant Ferris wheel, carousels, bumper cars, "fun houses," rip-roaring rides for thrill seekers, children's games and much more. This carnival entertains families with children, teenagers and everyone else looking for fun. A perfect plan if you're going to Paris with kids.

And, of course, you can also buy cotton candy, waffles, ice cream, fried dough, barbecued dishes and drinks at the various stalls.

Don't miss the free live concerts of up to 30 international artists in front of the Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall) from dusk to midnight. This musical event is widely known in Paris, usually lasts about 3 days and usually falls in early July.

The French company Fnac is the usual sponsor of the concerts and musicals at this event, and up to 100,000 fans attend. City Hall is located very close to the museum area of Paris (between the Louvre Museum and the Carnavalet Museum).

For more information, visit the concert website. If you are going to Paris for 3 days in July and you like the festive atmosphere, rejoice because you already have plans!

Attend one of the annual Firemen's Balls (Bals des Pompiers) on July 13 and/or 14, as the main firehouse in each arrondissement of Paris opens its barracks and courtyards and welcomes the public to this all-night party that includes music, dancing and drinks. While attendance is free, food and drink must be paid for.

The Bals des Pompiers usually starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 4 a.m.. Depending on the firehouse, the event may take place on July 13 or 14, and in some cases on both dates. For more updates on this event I recommend the following website.

Visiting Paris in July will make for some warm evenings as well as cool nights. As such, be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen, a hat for the hottest days and lots of light, easy-to-wear clothing. Sandals and shorts are perfect for this type of weather.

However, it's also important to keep in mind that July is also the summer month with the heaviest rains, so be sure to pack an umbrella just in case, as well as some waterproof and comfortable shoes.

Summer sales at stores all over town will make you want to reserve a little space in your suitcase to bring home a couple of souvenirs. Known as "les soldes," sales in France are regulated by the state and can only be held twice a year; once at the end of July, and once at Christmas time in Paris.

For those looking for a bargain while in France, this is the time to shop!

If you're looking for summer accommodation in the city, then it's worth bearing in mind that prices may be a little higher than usual, as there tends to be a lot of demand.

However, there are still plenty of places to stay in Paris, as well as options to suit all budgets. That said, the earlier you plan your trip to Paris in July the cheaper it will be!

The summer months bring many long, hot days. As such, July is the perfect weather to enjoy the Parisian café culture, where bar seats and striped chairs spill out onto the wide boulevards making the aroma of coffee always waft through the streets.

For the month of July, Paris weather tends to fluctuate between 16 and 25 degrees Celsius, with an average of 20 degrees, providing the perfect weather for exploring all that the city has to offer. That said, evenings can be a bit cooler, so you'll want to keep a light jacket handy for when you feel like exploring Paris at night.