Paris in July??

You'll find that some family owned restaurants and places are closed for a few weeks, but most of the touristy sites (if not all) are there to cater to the tourists. It's a shame, really, that money drives the world now.

Most European schools and businesses break in August for 6 weeks, which means in July you'll get less tourists than say, August. This isn't to say there aren't hordes of tourists no matter when you go.

IME, Paris is touristy year round. I have no idea why anyone would state it's less touristy in July. The Parisians leave Paris by the end of July. Parking is actually free during the month of August because none of the residents are around any more. IT just means more room for the tourists.

I think Alexander is reciting the old saw about August rather than July. The city is packed with tourists all summer. No closings will be apparent to the average tourist either month. Bastille Day is still celebrated in July, right?

I've read that it is less crowded because European tourists don't tend to vacation in cities in summer--they head to the beach or mountains or farm. It's like that in the US, too; I find great hotel deals in New York City during the height of summer, because spring and fall are high season in NYC. A lot of people just don't want to spend a summer vacation in a hot, muggy city. That doesn't mean that there still aren't a lot of people in Paris (or NYC) in the summer.

There are two groups in France when it comes to vacations. Those that go in July and those that go in August. This is why anyone in their right mind avoids French roads during the "changeover" weekend at the end of July / beginning of August. July in Paris is just as busy as any other month, thanks to the tourists, and in addition it can be horribly hot. July 14 is often referred to as the Fete Nationale rather than Bastille day.
Roger

Paris has tourists from all over the world in July: lots of eastern Europeans, Asians, North and South Americans, let's throw in Africa and Australia to complete the list. It's just some of the Parisians who leave for vacation. Nearly half of the French can't afford to go away on vacation.