Paris in August : a ghost town - French à La Carte
Why everything is closed in Paris in August ?
Paris in August is a ghost town. The Parisians have left and the tourists have taken the city over. On the first day of August, Paris starts to empty out as everyone takes a month off for les grandes vacances.
Passing in front of several family-owned shops you will find signs in the stores’ windows such as “en Vacances…Retour en Septembre, etc.” Paris in August can be a real struggle for tourists. Nothing serious is possible before September and la rentrée. One must know this and plan accordingly.
Many restaurants have stacked their chairs and put down the blinds. Except in the highly touristic places, bistros are closed, museums change their hours, and the best-laid plans can be foiled. Although it can be slightly annoying to find your local boulangerie closed, it’s nice to discover another side of Paris, less congested. Stroll in the desert streets of Paris on a sunny morning or have an early morning walk in Le Jardin du Luxembourg and you will be totally won over. Take a walk at night in a pittoresque parisian area far from the crowd, and enjoy the fact that you won’t be disturbed by the noisy atmosphere of cars, pollution, … Of course, it’s not as if Paris is completely abandoned by Parisians but you will make this experience unique as long as you decide to escape from the touristic spots and accept the fact your expectations in terms of service might not be entirely satisfied.
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