Greetings, we had been planning a Paris visit in October, but are now looking at the last week of August so we can combine it with a friend's wedding in Provence over Labor Day weekend (more ?s about what to wear to come)

The guidebooks advise that smaller restaurants and shops will likely be closed in August and I'm curious if those who have visited at the end of August found there was not much to do? Are the bouquinistas along the Seine still there? Thanks for any feedback!
Ellie

As a tourist, I doubt you'll notice anything unusual about Paris in August. It's still a big city with loads of tourists and activity. Yes, some shops and restaurants will be closed, but that is very, very unlikely to affect you, as thousands of them will still be open.

I was planning on going in August, now its pushed back to October. I think I prefer August. At the end of August very few restaurants will still be closed, and my experience has been that even fewer stores. The weather is more to my liking, and the streets are less crowed with traffic. Enjoy

We were in Paris for the first time last August and had not been inconvienced at all- I did not notice anything in particular closed. We had a great time and the weather was great!

Thanks all for the positive feedback!

Like, my favorite time to visit Paris? The 6th arr. is just hopping with people, everyone is in a good mood, no shops that I know of or care to browse or closed, and that goes for brasseries as well, The traffic is much lighter, the city relaxed-it is a joy -you'll love it.

I'll be in Paris the last two weeks of August. So far I have found that there are no free fashion shows at Galleries Lafayette and the Opera Garnier's season ends in July and starts in August. Anything else that might not be open? What about the free church concerts- like at St. Eustache?

Elle, we attended a wedding in the Camargue region of France last August so I might be able to help you a bit with wedding stuff. Wedding styles can vary so much just like in the US that what we experienced might not be the same for you.

There were several wedding traditions typical of the Camargue that we were fortunate to experience

sorry, hit the wrong button

anyway, I had all kinds of concerns about Paris in August, we were in France from the 1st to the 29th.

Just prepare for all variations of weather. I noticed several restaurants and small shops were closed while we were there but the advice from posters here was correct. It was "You'll always be able to find someplace to eat, shop and have a good time.

The lines for the Eiffel tower were terrible so I was glad I wasn't going there Deborah

and the Plage! The beach along the Seine...dancing, music, etc? I think that would make it quite fine.

Paris is full of tourists in August and the merchants are ready and willing to serve them. In non-tourist areas, you might find some places closed.

Almost all cities' regular performing arts season is closed in July-August, so the Garnier being closed is the norm.

There are always some concerts in churches and venues like that, but there aren't actually as many towards the end of July and August as at other times, I notice the schedule is definitely slimmer. I go to a lot, though, if you only want one or don't care that much about the repertoire or where it is, you will probably have no problem. They may do those tourist concerts at Ste Chapelle in August regularly, as tourists are the main clientele of those (but they aren't free, of course), but there aren't as many other ones. But there are always some, although many are not really "free" totally, even if cheap.

August, which is not high season in Paris according to the Paris Tourist office, is very different than other months in some regards:

Less smog - Paris suffers from some kind of inversion and can get rather smoggy - especially in warm weather. As much of it is due to vehicular exhaust and many of the Parisian drivers are on holiday in August the air is noticeably, to me at least, clearer and the views from Eiffel all the better

Less traffic - dramatically less so as again many parisians are at the beach or down south - this makes the city much more pleasurable to me - even the obnoxiously loud main road along the Seine is closed and filled in with sand to create Paris Plage - a veritable beach that has become very popular the past few years. So bring you swimsuit (as unlike most any French beach, this one has been ruled not topless so bring a top too)

Parking is free (i believe) and you can actually find a place again as locals leave town lemming like in August

So besides long lines at museums and lots of tourists Paris in August has its pleasures

Parking is not free everywhere in August -- always look at the 'horodateur' (parking machine) to read the rules of the area.

August-September , is my favourite time in Paris.