Heatwave in Paris

The last week of June, 2026, marked the worst heat wave Paris has known in the history of recorded temperature. (This in a non-verified statement from the man who fixed my AC three times during my week in Paris.) While I was there, the heat never let up, hovering between 95 and 104 degrees.

This event reminds us of a terrible heatwave in 2003 when 15,000 people died. This year too, a great number of people, mostly elderly, died from the extreme temperatures. Most households in France don’t have air conditioning, nor do stores, schools, museums, or places of business. Heat waves like this aren’t common enough to warrant the expense of AC, but that is changing. This year alone, there have been three or four periods of excessive temperatures.

Visiting Paris During a Heatwave?

For tourists who visit during that time, the vacation goes on. What else can they do, except try to enjoy Paris despite the discomfort? Of course, for those with extreme sensitivity and health issues, business as usual would be dangerous.

Although air conditioning isn’t common in homes, it is fairly easy to find hotel rooms and apartments to rent that have air conditioning. I used to think it was mainly in July the need was highest, but this year proved me wrong. Paris even had one shorter heatwave in May.

If you plan to visit Paris but note there’s a heatwave expected, there are things you can do to prepare. A hand-held mini-fan can be a game-changer in these temperatures. I saw many people with them and bought one myself at an outdoor market. Bring a retractable fan (the kind you wave) if you have one, as well as a hat and a wet cloth you can douse with water and put around your neck (look it up…they’re very practical. I used one during the heatwave of 2022.)

Since air-conditioned spaces are harder to find in Paris outside of your hotel room, what can you do? Armed with your hat, fan, cloth, and water bottle, you head for the museum. That is what I did, and saw some museums I’d never seen before, but always planned to visit. Now was my chance. You may wish to get a Museum Pass, if you think you’ll see enough to make it worth the price. Otherwise, make a short list and plan out your week!

I went to the Picasso Museum in Le Marais district, housed in a beautiful 17^th-century (private mansion. Admission is 16 €. After that, I wandered along the lively streets and dropped in on the Carnavalet Museum, a free museum of the history of Paris. The museum had been renovated. My favorite part was the room dedicated to medieval signs.

One thing I’ve always planned to do was visit Les Egouts, the sewer museum. It might be a surprising choice for a visit, but it was interesting to see how water in the city was processed for centuries, and still is. It was cool underground too. Admission is 9 €. If you ever go, I recommend getting the audioguide for an additional 3 €, since there weren’t very many explanations along the way, though there were more at the end.

Here’s an excursion that will definitely cool you off. Take a boat cruise down the Saint Martin Canal with the Canauxrama company. I started the tour at the northern end. Though there are 9 locks on the canal, our boat went through two of them. A unique experience! Then we went underground (cooler than above ground, as well as interesting.) We emerged at the Bastille end of the canal and continued into the Seine, where we saw Paris from the water. The two-hour cruise was 25 € and includes both the Seine and the canal. (Have a look at the video!)

For a waterside dinner that’s not in Tourist Central, head over to the east side of the Seine in the 13^tharrondissement, just over the bridge from Bercy Park. You’ll see a string of waterfront pubs and restaurants you didn’t know were there! Go a little further west and you may see people dancing on the paved banks.

For the first time, I visited the Musee du Moyen Age, or Museum of the Middle Ages, a museum built on the ruins of fa 3rd-century Gallo-Roman bath. Fascinating!. That’s where you’ll also find the famous 14^th-century tapestry of the young lady and the unicorn. (la licorne) I was amazed to learn that unicorn art and legends abounded for hundreds of years not only in Europe but the Middle East too. In the museum, you’ll see many sculptures, paintings, and book references to unicorns, along with the famous tapestry itself. There are also intricate wooden altarpieces from the 16^th century. Admission is 12 €.

Altarpiece in carved wood

Lastly, I saw the Pantheon, a stunning building that was once a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. During the Revolution, the church became a mausoleum for French heros and heroines of history and particularly the French Resistance. Background on the men and women buried in the underground floor is available in the hallways near their tombs. The day we went, the building was free, helping people escape the heat. Normally, it costs 13 euros.

Your museum choices might be different, but there are plenty to choose from. I always take a copy of Magical Paris with me. In the index you’ll see a long list of museums to choose from, and if you decide on a Museum Pass, you’ll benefit from a discount on many of them.

So, there are ways to escape the heat during a Paris heat wave! Of course, hydration is essential, as well as listening to your body, taking breaks, and seeking out cool spaces.