By Francois Roux @ Shutterstock.com
Traveling to Paris during the summer can be a risky affair because so many of the city’s residents are on their own vacations. But, Paris resident and expert David Lebovitz suggests there are still good reasons to visit in August if you know where to go. He writes:
While it’s not quite August yet, things are winding down in France, and the juilletistes (July vacationers) are still out of town, while the aoûtiens (August vacationers) are either packed and ready to go…or have already left.
Paris is no longer the ghost town it once was in August—so if you’re visiting, no need to worry; some restaurants, cafés, and bakeries remain open. And while tourism is substantially up, locals have cleared out, so many neighborhoods (outside of the touristed areas) are more enjoyable. So feel free to explore areas away from the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, central Marais, and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés. And the outdoor markets are open as well, although you’ll find a lot fewer vendors at them the second and third weeks of August—because they want their vacation too.
If you want to do some exploring in Paris, interesting areas include the Upper Marais (rue de Bretagne) and rue Montorgueil, which are visitor-friendly but still have a neighborhood vibe. I also like the 9th and 10th arrondissements, or any of the other double-digit arrondissements, but parts of them may be a little scruffy because they’re not spiffed up for visitors. The 11th (where I live) is where a lot of the new restaurants are, and there are a lot of smaller restaurants on the rue Saint-Maur that leads to Père Lachaise cemetery, which never closes for vacation.
The Louvre and the d’Orsay museums are packed year-round now, but there are lots of smaller museums around town that are fascinating and offer a more detailed experience of France, such as the Musée des Arts et Métiers and the Musée Chasse et Nature, which focus on science and engineering, and nature and hunting, respectively. Even if you don’t think you’re interested in those subjects, trust me, you will be.
Other favorite museums of mine that are a little more off-the-beaten-path (and decidedly more offbeat) are the Musée de la Contrafaçon (Museum of Counterfeits) and the Musée de Fragonard d’Alfort (Veterinary Museum), the latter of which is not for everyone. But if you can handle animal science and want to do something non-touristy, there ya go.
Read more in his August 2023 newsletter.
Read more about Paris here.
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