Why August is the Perfect Time to Visit Paris

We planned our trip to Paris in August mostly because that’s where we wanted to spend our anniversary in 2016. But we also knew there were pros and cons to visiting the City of Lights during its off-season. The biggest con is that some stores, restaurants, and sites are closed in August. Because of this we did miss out on visiting E. Dehillerin, the kitchen supply store that Julia Childs frequented during her time in France, as well as a few other places we hoped to see. But in the end, the pros to visiting in the off-season far outweighed the cons and we fell in love with Paris. Here are four reasons why August is the perfect time to visit Paris. 

Fewer Tourists

When I told family and friends we would be traveling in August, they all seemed to think the same thing, “But so much will be closed!” As I mentioned above, there will be closures to deal with, but most stores remain open, and all of the major attractions as well. However, because so many people believe that most of Paris is shut down during the month, you’ll find you’ll have to deal with far fewer tourists on the street.  

Shorter Lines at Major Tourist Attractions

Fewer tourists means you’ll also encounter shorter lines at major tourist attractions. But don’t be fooled, you will still have to wait in line if you don’t get their early. Even though we purchased our Paris Pass, we still had to wait an hour to get into the Louvre. And we made the big mistake in not prepurchasing our tickets to Château de Versailles and had to wait two hours there. However even if we had gotten our tickets early, we still would have waited an hour. And if you want to get an upclose look at the Mona Lisa you’re just going to have to push your way through the crowds, no matter the time of year. This makes me wonder what the lines must look like during peak season!

Airfare and Accommodations are Cheaper

The cheapest month to fly to Paris is actually in February. But if you prefer to travel in warmer weather, August through October are your next best bet. As airfare goes, so goes accommodations. Our Airbnb was a steal for less than $100 a night. 

Warm Weather means you can Pack Lighter

I am not a huge fan of packing heavy sweaters and winter wear. It takes up too much room in a suitcase and it’s heavy. It also isn’t fun to have to run through an airport terminal (I always end up almost missing a connection when I fly international) and sweating because you have your coat wrapped around you. That being said, I’ll travel any time of the year because I love it, but I prefer traveling during warm weather because it’s just so much easier!

Have you been to Paris? What’s your favorite time of year to visit?