When the thermometer spikes and the Parisian asphalt turns into a griddle, you don’t need to flee to the coast to find relief. Here’s our pick of activities and spots to help you get through a heat wave without (too much) suffering.
1. Take refuge in an air-conditioned museum
Paris’s major museums are often air-conditioned and offer guaranteed hours of cool relief. The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Rodin, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton all let you spend the afternoon staying cool while soaking up culture. During heat waves, the City of Paris also opens cooled spaces in certain municipal museums such as the Petit Palais. Book online ahead of time to skip the line in full sun.
2. Take a dip in a Parisian pool
Paris has about forty municipal swimming pools, including the Piscine Joséphine-Baker (Quai François Mauriac, 13th arrondissement), a floating pool with a retractable roof and views over the Seine. Check the full schedule of Paris pool hours before heading out, as they can change during periods of extreme heat.
3. Enjoy free outdoor swimming
Every summer, the City of Paris opens free outdoor swimming areas as part of Paris Plages, notably at the Bassin de la Villette (40 quai de la Loire, 19th arrondissement), with swimming areas and wading pools supervised by lifeguards. Swimming is also permitted in the Canal Saint-Martin, in the Récollets area (10th arrondissement), depending on the day’s water quality. It’s a great way to swim outdoors without leaving the city — and for free.
4. Find shade in the big parks
The Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes offer miles of shaded woodland, ideal for a walk or a picnic away from the sun. The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and the Jardin du Luxembourg, more central, also have lovely wooded areas.
5. Play in the fountains and misting stations
Many Parisian gardens set up misting stations in summer, notably the Jardin des Tuileries and the Parc de la Villette. Kids (and grown-up kids) also love the water features at the Parc André Citroën.
6. Head underground
The temperature stays cool year-round in the Catacombs of Paris (14th arrondissement) or the Paris Sewers Museum (7th arrondissement). An offbeat visit that has the added benefit of sheltering you from the heat for a good hour.
7. Browse the air-conditioned department stores
Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché, and the BHV are all perfectly air-conditioned. Even without buying anything, it’s the perfect excuse to admire the architecture — the dome at Galeries Lafayette is worth the detour — while staying cool.
8. Settle into a library
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (Richelieu or François-Mitterrand site), the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, or your neighborhood library are air-conditioned, quiet, and free — some even offer official cooled rooms during heat waves. A great option for working or reading in peace.
9. Go to the movies
A film in an air-conditioned theater remains one of the best escapes from the heat, especially during the day when ticket prices are lower.
10. Cruise the Seine or the Canal Saint-Martin in the late afternoon
A bateau-mouche cruise or a ride on the Batobus lets you enjoy the breeze on the water, especially in the late afternoon or early evening. The Canal Saint-Martin, with its shaded quays and houseboats, is also a reliable spot for a cooler stroll.
11. Enjoy ice cream in the shade
Head to Berthillon on the Île Saint-Louis (4th arrondissement), a Parisian institution since 1954, or one of the neighborhood’s many other great ice cream shops, and enjoy your cone on a shaded bench along the Seine.
12. Visit a greenhouse or indoor garden
The Serres d’Auteuil or the Grande Serre at the Jardin des Plantes offer a surprising tropical escape, with humidity-controlled temperatures that remain comfortable even in the heat.
13. Dine in a vaulted cellar
Some Paris restaurants, especially in the Marais or the Latin Quarter, are set in former vaulted cellars that stay naturally cool. A good trick for lunch without sweltering.
14. Go out in the evening
The heat typically eases after sunset. Take advantage with a late picnic along the Seine, a walk on the quays, or a terrace drink late in the evening, once the air becomes breathable again.
15. Follow the official heat-wave guidance
During periods of extreme heat, the City of Paris activates its heat-wave plan, with nearly 1,400 designated cool spots — parks, cemeteries, pools, misting stations, and air-conditioned buildings — mapped on an official interactive map. Cooled rooms are opened in district town halls (mairies), and some parks stay open until midnight. In case of extreme heat, you can call 3975 (the City of Paris hotline, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for information and advice. The city’s Reflex program also allows people over 60, those with disabilities, or otherwise vulnerable residents to be reached by phone in case of an alert.
Good to know: drink water regularly, avoid physical exertion during the hottest hours (noon to 4 p.m.), and check in on isolated friends, family, or neighbors.
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