Wearing shorts in Paris and Versailles (both genders)?

If it's hot, people wear shorts. You won't be alone.

It's very hot in Paris (and Versailles) now and you will see people of both sexes wearing shorts. Many will be tourists of all ages, and many will be young Parisians. I would not wear shorts to a restaurant for dinner.

I have been to Paris a few times now, typically in September. My husband wears shorts except for dinner. I wore skirts and dresses. I have a friend who lived in Paris for a few years. I asked her about shorts and my running shoes. Her response was that everyone was going to figure out we (and others) were tourists anyway. She also said it was unlikely that most Parisians would give it a second thought. It didn't seem like the churches wore picky about attire, either. My husband did go in the Notre Dame in shorts. I don't think sleeveless would be a problem, tho a tank top might.

If you had asked that question 10 years ago, I would have said no, but shorts are much more popular all over Europe than they used to be and many people wear them. Unless I’m in a beach area, I don’t wear shorts by choice, but I wouldn’t wear them to dinner or in a church.

Just recognize that Paris is a city, so many of the people going about their business in the city center are there for work, especially Monday through Friday. They are not wearing shorts to their offices. I notice this pattern a lot in New York City -- tourists are often conspicuously casually dressed. If you want to blend in, choose clothing that is more in the 'business casual' category. At dinner time if you are going to a sit-down restaurant, I think you'll feel more comfortable in long pants.

However, as a previous poster said, people will generally figure out that you're tourists whether you're wearing shorts or not.

"Do people in Paris wear shorts?"
Yes, if it is hot. Parisians, especially younger ones, do when it is hot and they are not going to work. But you will probably be going to tourist sites and as such will see all kinds of clothes including shorts and sneakers. As mentioned above, in cities like Paris, you will see people going to work and they will often be dressed more formally than tourists. By the way, last year in Venice, I met a group of Parisians who were all wearing shorts. While we spoke, I mentioned that some people think the French do not wear shorts and one of them told me something to the effect of "that's silly what are we supposed to wear when it is hot and we are on vacation."

"What about restaurants for dinner? Are short allowed then?"
It depends on the place. If it is a casual place with a lot of tourists, then yes but no, do not wear shorts to a classic, formal French restaurant. And if in doubt, do not wear shorts to dinner unless you are at a beach party because no one feels embarrassed wearing long pants or a skirt or dress (as the case may be) when others are in shorts but the opposite is rarely true. My husband and I had dinner last summer at Aux Pres on a hot night. He was not the only man there in shorts -- not even close. I asked when I made the reservation because my husband acts like he has a constitutional right to wear shorts in the summer while on vacation.

Depends on how good your legs are. (both genders)

Yes, 75020, much depends on the legs! My husband, whom I dearly loved, did not have the right legs for shorts and when he asked how they looked on him, I had to be honest in my reply. He was surprised but abandoned the idea of shorts thereafter.

I started off wearing long pants in Paris to blend in, but after a hot day I said heck with that.

We were walking 7 or more miles per day so shorts and running shoes were great.

We were just there in June and found that in the city mostly tourists wear shorts. Parisians wear pants and skirts/dresses, even when it was warm enough for shorts. At Versailles, shorts were more prevalent, especially for those touring the gardens, but most people there are tourists from all over the world. If you want to blend in, definitely do not wear shorts in the evening. It's not so much a matter of what is allowed, but what looks less like the equivalent of the fanny pack/white sneakered tourist stereotype. Have fun!

I just got back from Paris two days ago !!

It is HOT. We wore shorts , sundresses and skirts ( we being two women) .

I prefer skirts and sundresses because I find shorts hotter and short expose part of your legs that will stick to any seats you sit on ( and anyone else’s sweat who sat on the seat before you ! )

It was hot , so of course many men wore shorts ! Don’t worry about that at all , however as noted if going to a NICE restaurant for dinner I think shorts may be inappropriate, if at a sidewalk cafe for pizza then no worries .

When you say shorts, I am assuming you wear Bermuda shorts or city shorts or something like that and not gym shorts or Daisy Dukes.

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. Yes, I meant shorts that go down to just above the knee. To the one who asked about gym shorts or Daisy Dukes, no I did not mean those. By the way, I had to look up Daisy Dukes. Never heard of that one before.

Well, technically, Daisy Dukes are very short denim cutoffs. More generally, I guess I could have said booty shorts. LOL. Back in the day, I think people would have called them hot pants. What I was trying to get at are very short, cheek-showing shorts, but I think you got the picture. Have a great trip.

Thanks, JHF.

There are plenty of people in shorts, I can assure you. And not everyone in the center of Paris is a business person. My commute takes me to a very central point daily, but I see people dressed in everything - because there are students, creatives, visitors, all sorts of people. And plenty of shorts!!!! Probably not for dinner at a restaurant though.

Good Lord. If you want to be comfortable in the summer heat while walking miles per day and standing for long periods, wear a nice pair of shorts and polo with running shoes. There will be plenty of others more sloppily dressed, my friend. You will stand out like a blade of grass on a golf course.

Are you sure about that Barbra? Having spent the last 13 days in Italy with temperatures averaging 90-95 midday and 80s in the evenings, we’ve encountered a decent amount of locals wearing shorts. Not to mention the Germans, French, and Spanish I’ve met who have also been wearing shorts while on their vacations.. Some Brits too. I’m not saying it might be more common for locals to be wearing pants (as many of them are working...I wouldn’t wear shorts to my job either) but I think it’s more common than you think. I would just wear the shorts and not worry. I was planning to wear capris the entire time as I rarely wear them at home unless working out but caved shortly after arriving. It’s too dang hot for any vacationer, regardless of nationality. Wear the shorts.

Ok, so those shorts-wearers are either Americans, non-Continental Euros, or Germans.
You won't see many, if any, French, Italians, Spanish wearing shorts in town in their home countries.

Wrong, Barbra. I see French people in shorts every single day in the summer.

But what do I know, I only live here 365 days a year for the past 12 years. Silly me to think I know what I see with my own eyes.

Leave the shorts at home and then you won't need to worry about it. It's one less thing to pack.

A civilized pair of light khaki pants work everywhere and are just as comfortable as a pair of shorts.
Nothing screams TOURIST as loudly as walking into a decent restaurant or a church wearing baggy shorts with hammer holders and leg pockets...other than white tie shoes, a white patent leather belt and a MAGA hat.

“ locals “ on their way to WORK don’t wear shorts , however locals on vacation DO !
Europeons do not wear shorts to nice restaurants for dinner , but europeon vacationing wear them at side walk cafes and out for casual lunches .

My family is French and I’ve been visiting since 1972 , I also have spent my summers at my grandmothers ( about an hour outside Paris ) ,what “ locals “ do on vacation is much the same as anyone .

Comparing yourself to Mr or Mrs local who are on their way to the office is ridiculous.

75020 nailed it!

I have a pair of loose fitting linen pants. somewhat lighter than khaki colored. They are wonderful in hot weather, and I never feel under-dressed. However, full disclosure, I seldom wear shorts at home. I'm just not comfortable with how I look in them. I do wear them on long camping trips, or hiking in very hot weather.

But wear what makes you comfortable. I tend to dress better when we travel, especially to Europe. Slacks, pull-over tops. Nothing that isn't very comfortable. And I find I can go anywhere without being self-conscious.

We just got back from Paris a couple of months ago, and I didn't even notice what people were wearing. Some people on our tour wore shorts, but mostly the men, if I recall correctly.

Just feel good in whatever you're wearing.

“ locals “ on their way to WORK don’t wear shorts , however locals on vacation DO !

Actually, that's not accurate. Some of my younger co-workers (late 20s and early 30s) wear shorts to the office when it's hot. These are engineers and geologists. Perhaps if you worked at a law office or in retail that would not be the case, but it's inaccurate to make a blanket statement such as you've written.

Those working in "artsy" East Paris where tech and other startups are located, frequently wear shorts to work as their jobs are in a less formal environment than those in central Paris. In my out of the way neighborhood, shorts (mostly on men) come out on the first sunny days taking advantage of the principle (after a long grey winter) " It's sunny so it must be warm."

The daughters of my Paris friends have flippy sheer skirts and blouses that they can put on over their tank tops and shorts. Right now, tulle as in ballet is worn by some.

The wearing of shorts depends on who, where and when. Paris is a big place where, as mentioned above, blanket statements about anything usually don't apply

I don't wear shorts in Paris. Or anywhere else except when I am working in my garden. I simply don't like them because I was brought up being told only young boys wore shorts and if you wanted to be seen as an adult you don't wear shorts. I am more comfortable in a pair of cotton denim jeans anyway. But that shouldn't impact your decision.

I see plenty of people wearing shorts everywhere.

YES they all wear shorts! I was there this June when it was mildly warm and then VERY HOT and people were wearing shorts, and women in short skirts and dresses. I’d recommend a skirt for women, as they are much cooler than shorts. I (49) wore shorts to dinner, with my big athletic shoes (!) but we did not go to “fancy” restaurants. My mom (68) tried to tell me “they don’t wear shorts” but she saw for herself, too! She even wore a sleeveless top in public (for the first time ever) bc it was so dang hot!

Don’t forget air-conditioning is not as common as many places here in the US. To cool off, we popped into little grocery stores and “pretend” shopped for frozen food. In our shorts. LOL! Bon voyage!

When we tried to "blend in" in Paris it failed. Everyone seemed to know before I said a word that we were Americans.

This is advice we recieved from our Parisian friends. "We know you are not from Paris. We know you do not speak perfect French. We know you do not live and work here. So stop worrying about trying to fit in. Stop worrying about trying to structure your sentences perfectly. Enjoy your vacation here, because we wish we were on vacation too."

Maybe years ago, Parisians and folks elsewhere in France were snooty like many seem to say. I have been to France three times in the last four years and spent time both in Paris and other places in France. Just twice we encountered people that were slightly unpleasant and I would place the blame on us, as well. A vendor in the flower market was unhappy with my husband's backpack in which he carries photography gear. He is very careful, but others are not. At Versailles, I was looking for something and I rushed up to a guard and said, "where is. . .". She could and should have been nicer, BUT, I should have greeted her with a smile and a polite, :Bonjour". I can provide MANY examples of French people being extra helpful and nice and I'm fairly certain they know immediately that I'm a tourist, and they don't care, or are appreciative of tourists and the dollars they bring in. My husband and I dress modestly, avoid clothing that screams, "U.S.." but beyond that wear what allows us to pleasantly and efficiently explore the wonderful country. In many places, locals have struck up a conversation knowing that we were tourists and made helpful sight seeing or logistic/suggestions.