Paris in August

Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 01:33 PM
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Paris in August

We are thinking of heading to Paris with our teen kids mid August for 1 week. It is a last minute trip.
However, I know that the locals are all on vacation in August so is August a bad time to visit Paris?
Will it be just us and other tourists? Will a lot of places be closed?
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 01:49 PM
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Locals gone makes Paris a great place to be in August IME -much less obnoxious traffic and better air (Paris air pollution can be terrible at times) and there is a beach instead of a main road along the Seine's Right Bank - no matter when you go you will likely be with other tourists in Paris' central tourist area. In these areas most places will be open and the belief that all of Paris closes down in August is no longer true I believe - hard to imagine any area a tourist stays would be a ghost town- cafes, supermarkets, etc will be open.

Major museums will all be open as usual. Trains run as always. As does the RATP (metro, buses, RER). Metros will be less packed and that is also nice!

Not something to be worried about and maybe to be glad about- all of Paris being a Ghost Town IME of being there many Augusts (but not recently) is an urban myth IMO - at least for the tourist and what they want.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 01:50 PM
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August has been my favorite time to be in Paris because it is so tranquil and the air is generally cleaner, although if this is your first time in Paris & you are headed there with an agenda to use that 1 week to see as many of the most famous sights as you can every day -- then yes, your experience of Paris will mostly be just you and other tourists crowded together at the famous sights.

If you & the teen kids were thinking on splashing out on the most talked about restaurants in Paris, a good many mighty be closed in August those open are likely already booked solid. However, there will be plenty of places to eat enjoyably open in August.

If you really want to go with your teens to Paris next month, I wouldn't let anything you've heard about Paris in August stop you. If you're having 2d thoughts and wondering if maybe some other vacation might be more fun, there are plenty others if you want to save Paris for a different time.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 02:02 PM
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Hello, I had the same questions a few years ago. I found plenty to do. Yes, there were a lot of tourists but it is such an amazing city, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I am not a foodie but I heard that some restaurants were shut for August. Other than that, it was bustling and beautiful.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 02:10 PM
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If you & the teen kids were thinking on splashing out:

https://www.aquaboulevard.fr/

Europe's largest urban water park - for a break from sightseeing or let the teens go on their own.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 02:10 PM
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I have been in August twice. Worth going, no question. Plenty is open. There are lots of restaurants that are closed but you will find plenty that are open, as well. Never a bad time to visit Paris.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 02:35 PM
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What you miss in Paris in August is major exhibits at art museums and major concert activity. But the city never sleeps; there's always plenty to do, and plenty of bistros that cannot afford a month off.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 04:04 PM
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And not nearly all Parisians anymore make a mass migration to the seaside or south in August - the demographics of Paris I would hazzard to guess has changed from times when that may have been true. Lots of folks I think just never leave for a month because of finances and or lack of the whole of August vacation that; I understand that a majority of Parisians don't even have a car - I guess because of the cost so a vacation may be a luxury they can't many may not be able to really afford.

I also would think probably the month-long vacation is changing- many Parisians will still be at work, including those in the tourist industry, or take 2-weeks off only.

So I'd be interested in knowing from Parisians here if such changes have happened as one would expect in today's world. Or do most Parisians abandon Paris for the month which would make non-touristed areas rather somnolent.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 05:45 PM
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What we missed in August were the hordes of young students in the museums, herded by their teachers. It was bliss.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 09:31 PM
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I also would think probably the month-long vacation is changing- many Parisians will still be at work, including those in the tourist industry, or take 2-weeks off only.


You are correct, the 4 week vacation was changed some years back. It is now 5 weeks.

Why would someone only take 2 weeks of a 5 week vacation?
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 09:49 PM
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If you are coming from overseas, you will only have 4 to 5 actual days in Paris, due to arrival and departure.
I'd recommend staying in an air-conditioned hotel, because you will definitely need it.
Though the temperatures have been low lately, it's better to be safe than sorry.
There are plenty of international and French tourists in Paris. Money is tight, so many simply go to enjoy museums, etc.
Some businesses will take advantage of mini-vacations during the year, so many will be open in August.
You won't starve...
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 09:51 PM
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I understand that a majority of Parisians don't even have a car - I guess because of the cost.

Cost? Not really. Why would anyone want a car when parking places are difficult to find, traffic is becoming even more terrible as Paris tries to get rid of car caused pollution and our public transportation system is superb?
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 11:17 PM
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No, lots of places aren't closed in Paris in August.m Just because some locals are out on vacation doesn't mean its bad time for tourists to visit Paris. http://www.parisinsidersguide.com/th...is-august.html
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 03:46 AM
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Thank you for all the helpful replies. We had a local trip planned mid August that suddenly got cancelled so we now have a free week which is why I got the Paris idea. It looks like FF seats are available which I am surprised at. My husband and I have been before (not recently though) but the kids have not been. We don't have any set agenda, really just want them to get the flavor of Paris. One kid is studying French in HS so I am also hoping to inspire him to study harder in French class
Since it is only a week, it does not seem to make sense to travel outside of Paris.
Kids are pretty well travelled to Asia and Europe but we have mostly avoided the most popular destinations (London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, etc.) due to cost reasons. Any fun ideas and things to do would be appreciated. We usually try to do a mix of touristy and non-touristy activities. Love finding stuff off the beaten track.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 03:58 AM
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If your kids are teens, presumably they are plugged into the internet. Let them research and decide what THEY want to do. A good start would be the very detailed official website of the Paris Tourist Office.

You can also steer them to guidebooks and maps and let them make their own decisions on what they'd like to see and how to get around.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 04:37 AM
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https://www.loumessugo.com/en/blog/e...with-teenagers
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 08:33 AM
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Let your kids run over to the nearest patisserie and let them practice their French - the desk staff can point them in the right direction - and you can sleep a little later.
Let them buy "chocolate hot dogs" (eclairs) for breakfast, or see what else they come back with.
I recommend giving them a €20 bill to cover it all.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 08:59 AM
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One of the many things possible for kids is activity at the Bassin de la Villette. Of course activity here depends on weather, but this part of the 19th has become a lively place for locals. I hope this link workd

https://uk.tourisme93.com/document.php?pagendx=10020
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 09:09 AM
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The catacombs might be of interest to the kids.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 09:20 AM
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And the Egouts or Sewer tours -my son about 10 really liked the mystery of doing that. Entrance near Eiffel Tower - cancelled in times of rain.
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