Paris - August 2025

I would say you should definitely stay in a place that works well for you and you will enjoy.

Make sure not to miss the spots and activities that you really don't want to miss.

Wise people say regarding the weather that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing / preparation.

Have a great trip!

Be prepared for warm weather. Paris can be quite hot in August You do not say how long you are staying. If it is more than three days, I recommend that you look for a short-stay apartment rather than a hotel. You can find many sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. As to where to stay, that depends on your personal preferences. If you want to be where the action is, you should consider Arrondissements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. But it will be full of tourists. If you want something quieter, consider the 7th, 15th, 16th. But remember that since Paris has a great public transport system, you can always get to the sites you want to see by either metro or bus Art? Architecture? Food? Shopping? great views of the city? Peter

Since you are coming in August, I would recommend that you check that the place you are staying has a/c so you can get a decent night's sleep. That is much more important than whether you stay in a hotel or an AirBnB.

As for "what not to miss," you can find our host's appraisal of the importance of various sites right on this website at https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/paris, when you expand the "At a Glance" heading. That and other articles on this site will help you begin to figure out what appeals to you.

As for August, I agree with others that you should prepare for hot weather. Rick also has an article somewhere on the website about "Paris when it sizzles."

Learn to use the Search feature at the top of each page of this website, at least on my laptop. There is search available from your phone too. When you get serious buy a guidebook.

My suggestions:

Book a hotel with AC.

Search the forums, especially reading trip reports.

Borrow from your local library or purchase a couple recent travel guides.

After a bit of research, come back and ask more specific questions.

Enjoy the planning.

Whenever I visit a place for the first time, hotel location is the last thing I decide on. Map out all the places you want to visit and then choose the location based on convenience and price.

Paris is very big and so if you want to see everything, there is no 1 location that is close to all things. However, arrondissement 6 is best for first timers followed by 5, 1, 3-4.

Budget will have a big say in it and so will your preferences. I love the crowds and love walking so I always choose based on that which means the above in Paris.

The good thing is Paris has a great transit system and you are basically no farther than 20 minutes to anywhere. In that case, 14th arrondissement is my favourite.

Welcome to the forum with your first post!

Another vote for making sure your hotel has AC. I was in Paris in August 2016 during a heat wave. It was 97 some afternoons which was too hot for me! I wound up going out very early to see gardens and then planned to be back to my cool hotel room by about 3P with a dish of gelato in hand. I tried to wait to eat dinner until it cooled down a bit but those stone buildings hold heat in the street. Still, you might be lucky and not get very hot weather when you are there.

Are any museums on your list of things to see? IF you go to the Louvre, I'd recommend getting a timed entry for 9A. The glass pyramid makes the whole main entry hall VERY hot and there is not enough air exchange in some of the galleries for me to stay comfortable in there in the heat. The Orsay is not as bad but the Impressionists Gallery is on the top floor so best to be there early in the day as well.

What kinds of things attracted you to Paris?

Thank you all for your suggestions and recommendations. Coming from India, I was surprised to learn that Paris can get so hot. I’ll definitely book a stay with air conditioning.

As I begin planning the trip, I’ll need more help from you all.

My primary objective is to visit Disneyland and Giverny, in addition to exploring the city’s own attractions. I’ve come across the Navigo Pass, and I’m hopeful it will be beneficial for tourists like myself.

Il va faire chaud! (It's going to be hot)

I echo those that sing the praises of la clim (air conditioning). Don't overpack your days. It's going to be hot wherever you are. Some places may be closed, and there will be fewer Parisians. But you will have an absolute blast.

The last two Augusts in Paris were not that hot. It was a scorcher in the south of France and around the Mediterranean, but in northern France it has been relatively mild. Weather is the weather and anything can happen, I am making no predictions for this August.

The most important element in choosing hotels is to stay in Paris, not outside. Any one of the 20 arrondissements can work. I would suggest the 3rd, but many like the 5th or 6th. If you would like specific recommendations, include your budget window, preferably in euros. Luckily, August is low hotel season in Paris and prices will be much lower than in September for example. I recommend always booking directly with the hotel.

I’d recommend going to L’Orangerie and Musée d’ Orsay, since you’ll be seeing Giverny as well. I love Monet, and think these places are really special. Off the beaten path is the Musée Marmottan, a private home with many Monet paintings hanging around the home. We enjoyed visiting there, and walking through the beautiful neighborhood from the bus stop to the Marmottan let us feel like locals for a while.

I agree about the ac recommendations. One trip we were there in a heat wave, and ended up spending so many more hours than we’d planned in the Louvre, as the temps were more tolerable there than outside!

That was also the trip where I was glad to have my thermos, which I filled with ice each morning before we left our hotel.

Have a great time!
Laurie