le 17 juillet 2026
Bienvenue to this week’s postcard – your weekly roundup of the latest happenings in Paris.
In mid-July Paris begins its annual transformation. Schools have closed, many offices are winding down, and thousands of Parisians head south to the Mediterranean, west to Brittany, or simply anywhere that promises a slower pace. While the city never empties entirely, there is a noticeable shift. The hurried energy subsides, neighborhood cafés fill with lingering conversations, and summer days seem to stretch just a little longer.
If you’re fortunate enough to be in Paris this week, embrace the season as the locals do: stay cool, slow down, and savor the simple pleasures that make a Parisian summer so memorable. Here are some of my favorite activities for keeping cool while also enjoying some of the city’s greatest landmarks.
See Paris from the Seine
There may be no better way to escape the afternoon heat than from the water itself. July is one of the best times of year to take a cruise along the Seine. My favorite tour company is Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf, departing from the western tip of Île de la Cité. As you glide beneath Paris’s historic bridges and pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, you’ll experience the city from the perspective that has captivated visitors for centuries.
Afterward, continue the evening with dinner at La Rôtisserie d’Argent, just a short walk away. It is the perfect setting for classic French cuisine after an unforgettable evening on the river. Be sure to order the roast chicken!
Hop Aboard a Paris Water Taxi
If you’d rather use the Seine as transportation than a monument tour, consider spending the day aboard a Batobus, Paris’s hop-on, hop-off water shuttle. With nine stops along the river—including the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre—it offers a wonderful, relaxed way to explore the city while avoiding crowded Métro platforms and subterranean tunnels.
Unlike a traditional sightseeing cruise, the Batobus lets you set your own itinerary. Spend the morning exploring a museum, enjoy lunch at a nearby café, then simply catch the next boat when you’re ready to continue. With the breeze off the Seine and ever-changing views of Paris’s historic riverbanks, the journey becomes just as enjoyable as the destination.
Take a Dip in the Seine
One of this summer’s most remarkable experiences is also one of its newest. Truth be told, I have never done this, but I would like to try it one day. Public swimming in the Seine is the latest craze and as a result of the massive clean-up effort leading up to the 2024 Olympic Games. Now, visitors and Parisians alike can swim at designated locations:
- Bras Marie (Pont Louis-Philippe) – Paris Centre (4th arrondissement)
- Between Pont Louis-Philippe and Pont Marie, opposite Île Saint-Louis.
- The most central location, adjacent to Paris Plages.
- Bras de Grenelle – 15th arrondissement
- Opposite Île aux Cygnes with wonderful views toward the Eiffel Tower.
- Particularly popular with families.
- Quai de Bercy – 12th arrondissement
- The largest swimming area, featuring two pools, sun decks, and a beach-like atmosphere near the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
- Bassin de la Villette – 19th arrondissement
- This is not in the Seine—it’s in the Canal de l’Ourcq basin, indirectly connected to the Seine and a favorite summer swimming spot for years.
Whether you decide to take the plunge or simply watch others enjoying this historic return to the river, it is another reminder that Paris continues to evolve while honoring its past.
An Afternoon on Île Saint-Louis
If swimming isn’t quite your thing, spend a leisurely afternoon at the eastern end of Île Saint-Louis. I love this spot any time of year, but it’s particularly inviting in July.
Choose a terrace at Le Flore en l’Île, Le Saint-Régis, or Le Louis IX, and linger over a café, a chilled glass of rosé, or a refreshing citron pressé while watching life along the Seine drift by. There are few better places to embrace the slower rhythm of a Parisian summer.
Before leaving the island, treat yourself to a dish of Berthillon ice cream. This legendary artisanal ice cream has delighted Parisians for decades. Whether you choose a seasonal fruit sorbet or their famously rich chocolate, it’s one of those simple pleasures that perfectly captures summer in Paris.
Final Days: Two Exhibitions Worth Catching
If the afternoon temperatures begin to climb, there’s no better excuse to step inside one of Paris’s exceptional museums. This week also marks the final opportunity to experience two outstanding exhibitions before they close.
First, July 20 is the final day to visit Henri Rousseau, the Ambition of Painting at the Musée de l’Orangerie. Bringing together exceptional works by the self-taught artist known as Le Douanier, the Customs Officer, a nod to his days working as a toll collector and customs agent for the city of Paris. The exhibition explores Rousseau’s bold artistic vision and his lasting influence on generations of modern painters.
Then, through July 26, Sèvres, une passion Rothschild: From Paris to the Villa Ephrussi continues at the Mobilier national. The exhibition explores the Rothschild family’s enduring fascination with 18th-century Sèvres porcelain, showcasing extraordinary works that celebrate the artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage of France’s iconic porcelain manufacturer.
Whether your passion is Post-Impressionist painting or French decorative arts, both exhibitions provide memorable ways to spend a warm July afternoon in Paris before they close..
#ICYMI
Earlier this week, I shared Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution. Read the post to discover a more nuanced portrait of France’s last queen. And, for a bit of nostalgia, check out my 2008 post about enjoying Parisian views from the terrace of Le Flore en Île with a scoop of Berthillon ice cream.
As for me, this will be the final Paris Postcard before I head en vacances through the month of August. I’ll be back on September 1 with a new post and plenty of inspiration from France.
Until then, I wish you a wonderful summer—whether you’re strolling along the Seine, discovering a new café, or simply bringing a little bit of France into your everyday life.
xoxo, Jeannine
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