01Weather
Paris weather in August
Afternoons in August average 25.4 °C (78 °F) and nights cool to 15.2 °C (59 °F). The month brings about 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain spread over roughly 10 days, with around 340 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with July it is 0.1 °C warmer; September is 3.6 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical August | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 31 °C / 88 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 21 °C / 69 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 12 °C / 53 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 4.3 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.0 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 31 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest August day 2016–2025 | 37.4 °C / 8.7 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August | 06:24 | 21:29 | 15.1 h |
| 15 August | 06:43 | 21:06 | 14.4 h |
| 31 August | 07:06 | 20:35 | 13.5 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 96 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris).
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in August
moderate Paris hotels registered 1,359,677 arrivals in August 2019, an index of 0.96 against the monthly average of 1.0 (1,321,829 in August 2022). What drives it:
- Parisians away, business travel stops
- Assumption on 15 August, some shops closed for weeks
- Paris Plages to 30 August
School holidays that fill the city in August
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Summer (all zones) | 3 Jul – 1 Sep 2027 |
| Germany (16 states, staggered) | Summer (earliest Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland 28 Jun to latest Bavaria 13 Sep) | 28 Jun – 13 Sep 2027 |
| England (local authorities set dates; Royal Greenwich shown, most councils within a few days) | Summer | 23 Jul – 1 Sep 2027 |
| United States (college spring break, no national calendar) | Summer break (most universities) | 15 May – 20 Aug 2027 |
04Public holidays
Public holidays in August 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Paris in August
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Versailles Musical Fountain shows (Grandes Eaux Musicales) | 1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 | Gardens of Versailles, weekends and some weekdays · source |
| Giverny, Monet's gardens open season | 1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 | Fondation Claude Monet, Giverny (75 min from Paris) · source |
| Paris Plages | 4 Jul – 30 Aug 2026 | Parc Rives de Seine and Bassin de la Villette · source |
Every year in August
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Rock en Seine | late August, Domaine de Saint-Cloud | music |
06Closures
What is closed, and what to book
- Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Non-EEA adults pay €32 since 14 January 2026, EEA residents €22.
- Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required.
- Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays.
- Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
- Catacombs: Reopened 8 April 2026 after renovation; closed Mondays; online timed booking only, no tickets at the door.
- Giverny, Monet's house and garden: Open 1 April to 1 November 2026 only; closed all winter.
- Shops and markets: Winter sales 6 January to 2 February 2027 (national dates, to be confirmed by decree). Most shops close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; many close on Sundays except in tourist zones.
07Packing
What to pack for Paris in August
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
- sunglasses
- something for heat: 4 days a month pass 30 °C on average
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
August is the month the hotel figures contradict the guidebooks: arrivals fall to 1.36 million, four percent below the yearly average and well under June's 1.59 million, because French business travel stops and Parisians leave for the coast. The city itself does not close, but a share of family-run bakeries, bistros and small shops shut for two to four weeks around Assumption on 15 August, a public holiday; the big museums, department stores and chain restaurants stay open. Hotel rates soften in the middle of the month, the only summer window when they do.
Weather is the warmest of the year on average, 25 °C by day with about four days above 30 °C and a one-in-ten chance of any afternoon passing 31 °C. The air is still and the stone holds heat into the evening, so the shaded gardens of the Palais-Royal and the air-conditioned Louvre, closed on Tuesdays, are the afternoon refuges. Paris Plages runs to 30 August 2026, with the canal basin at La Villette open for swimming. Rain falls on about ten days, mostly as evening thunderstorms. The German summer holidays, staggered from late June to 13 September 2027, keep international arrivals steady through the month. Most of what closes reopens in the first week of September, La Rentrée, when the city changes gear.
09Compare
Paris month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 13 | 106 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C | 11 | 149 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| March | 12 °C | 4 °C | 13 | 225 | moderate 0.99 | Good |
| April | 16 °C | 6 °C | 10 | 306 | busy 1.04 | Mixed |
| May | 19 °C | 10 °C | 13 | 340 | busy 1.03 | Good |
| June | 24 °C | 14 °C | 12 | 354 | very busy 1.12 | Good |
| July | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 367 | very busy 1.1 | Good |
| August | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 340 | moderate 0.96 | Excellent |
| September | 22 °C | 12 °C | 10 | 270 | busy 1.06 | Good |
| October | 17 °C | 10 °C | 12 | 205 | very busy 1.09 | Good |
| November | 11 °C | 5 °C | 13 | 140 | busy 1.02 | Mixed |
| December | 8 °C | 3 °C | 13 | 106 | moderate 0.91 | Mixed |
Not sure about August? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
August in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in August | 22 °C | 8 |
| Amsterdam in August | 23 °C | 12 |
| Dublin in August | 20 °C | 14 |
| Barcelona in August | 30 °C | 4 |
| Venice in August | 29 °C | 6 |
| Prague in August | 26 °C | 10 |
11FAQ
Paris in August: your questions
Is August a good time to visit Paris?
August is one of the best months to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 25 °C (78 °F), rain falls on about 10 days, and hotel arrivals run below the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in Paris in August?
Expect warm days around 25 °C (78 °F) and nights near 15 °C (59 °F), with about 340 hours of sunshine over the month. One August in ten brings afternoons above 31 °C, and one in ten stays below 21 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in August?
August brings about 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain over roughly 10 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 31 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in August?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three.
Is Paris crowded in August?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,359,677 arrivals in August 2019, 4 percent below the monthly average, so expect moderate conditions. Main drivers: Parisians away, business travel stops; Assumption on 15 August, some shops closed for weeks; Paris Plages to 30 August.
What time does it get dark in Paris in August?
Around the middle of August the sun sets at about 21:06 and rises at 06:43, giving 14.4 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in August?
Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required. Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays. Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
Are there school holidays in August that affect Paris?
Yes: France summer (all zones) 3 Jul – 1 Sep 2027; Germany summer (earliest hesse/rhineland-palatinate/saarland 28 jun to latest bavaria 13 sep) 28 Jun – 13 Sep 2027; England summer 23 Jul – 1 Sep 2027; United States summer break (most universities) 15 May – 20 Aug 2027. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.