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Paris in the sun, obviously you couldn't ask for better! But when the mercury gets past 30 degrees, it is good to know the best places to get some air and enjoy the coolness!
This map lists the different places to cool off: fountains, misters, free swimming areas ... It also classifies parks according to their exposure to the sun. A second version of this map lists cool spots at night.
Paris has 1,200 water fountains, ideal for quenching your thirst on hot days! Paris City Hall has increased its measures to help people stay hydrated, installing 48 water misters and 35 2-in-1 fountains (for drinking and being sprayed with water), as well as 2 new fountains offering water misting and drinking water to walkers in the 4th and 13th arrondissements.
Paris’s many parks and gardens are ideal places to find a spot of shade as you explore the city. Classic parks and gardens include the Jardin des Plantes in the 5th, or the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and the Parc Montsouris where you can picnic or stretch out on the grass under a tree.
If you prefer to be seated, the Café des Marronniers, in the heart of the Tuileries, is full of charm. It is a delightful place to relax and serves delicious snacks!
The centre of Paris is also full of more or less secret spots that you’ll love to drop into to cool off; well worth mentioning is the garden of the Musée de la Vie romantique, in the 9th, the Musée Zadkine’s garden in the 6th and the less-well-known gardens of the Archives Nationales, in the Marais. After which you will soon feel revived and ready to set off again!
Feeling thirsty? Have a drink before you stretch out on the grass; it is worth noting that in addition to the 1,200 drinking water points throughout the city, there are also now several self-service sparkling water fountains in many parks and gardens, like the Jardin de Reuilly (12th), the Parc Rives de Seine (Quai Anatole France, 7th) or the Parc Clichy-Batignolles - Martin Luther King (17th).
And if you are yearning for big open spaces, take a trip over to the Bois de Vincennes or the Bois de Boulogne. In the latter, the Jardin d’acclimatation has heaps of fun activities for families, a little zoo, and cafe and restaurant terraces surrounded by greenery, as well as a mist-spray area in summer. Right next door, you can visit the impressive Fondation Vuitton, which has a number of water features integrated into its grounds. After a tour of the Foundation’s contemporary art collections, relax and cool off in the shady grounds of this architectural masterpiece designed by Franck Gehry.
💡Throughout the year, 140 parks and gardens are open all night. During the summer, some parks and gardens are open until midnight, including:
💡In the event of a heatwave, six other large parks will be open exceptionally until midnight:
And finally, if you still want some coolness, just head to one of Paris’s greatest tourist attractions: the Catacombes! Moderate temperature guaranteed!
When the heat rises in Paris, it's easy to get away without breaking the bank!
Thanks to the public transport network, there are many cool, free places to visit in Île-de-France. Forests, lakes, shady parks... Just a few stops away, you can breathe and relax in the cool air.
A sunny day is also the ideal time to enjoy the wonderful waterways of Paris! With the Seine running through the city, the Canal Saint-Martin and the Ourcq canal basin, Paris has any number of waterside spots.
To fully enjoy the majestic setting of the French capital, hop over to the Rives de Seine, for example. They offer the perfect setting for a beach break, with their palm trees, misters and sunbeds! You can relax, and also have a drink on a cafe terrace, either by the water’s edge, on the quayside, or on a barge, such as the Rosa Bonheur.
In the north-east of the city, the Ourcq canal basin buzzes with life in summer, with activities on the water and its picturesque port atmosphere. It is a great place for having a drink with friends on one of the various barges or a beer at the Paname Brewing Company, and enjoying stunning views of the canal basin. Finally, at Bastille, the quiet little Port de l’Arsenal is a great place to stroll and admire the pleasure boats. And the terrace of Le Grand Bleu is a perfect getaway, far from the traffic, to contemplate the water.
Sunny days are also an ideal time to enjoy Paris by the water! And there are plenty of places to choose from, starting with numerous swimming pools. Some outdoors or with open roofs are hugely popular spots in summer, like for example the Piscine Joséphine Baker, on quai François Mauriac, or the swimming pool at Butte aux Cailles, both in the 13th.
Be a sailor for a few hours and explore Paris’s waterways. You can rent a boat that does not require a boating licence from Akwa. An unusual way to discover the city that is particularly pleasant in hot weather.
And for those who would just like to enjoy the spray of water, there are Paris’s fountains: those at the Parc André-Citroën are a great hit with kids, and the water feature at Place de la République with its jets of water and mister sprays is also much appreciated on hot days.
When the heat is on, ice cream is your best friend!
In the Marais, head to Pozzetto to treat your taste buds and cool down at the same time! And if you're in the 6th arrondissement, a visit to Grom is a must.
On Avenue Kleber, you'll find a place to quench your thirst at We are Juice. This mainly organic juice bar is a haven of freshness in western Paris.
On a different note, the patio of the Mosquée de Paris in the 5th arrondissement is a very pleasant place to quench your thirst with a good mint tea. The Manufacture de Glace d'Alain Ducasse, on Rue de la Roquette, is the place to savour the great chef's delicious ice creams and melt with pleasure. Praline and hibiscus, three vanilla or raspberry and redcurrant... the classics and the most original flavours all have their own unique touches. Small stands on Rue des Petits Champs and Rue Cler also offer a few flavours.
