A Local's Guide to Paris in August, Paris, France

Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our feature Paris in August: A Local’s Guide to the City That Slows Down.

The familiar rhythm of the city softens. The morning rush becomes gentler, the streets feel quieter, and a certain calm descends over the capital. As Parisians pack their bags and leave for their annual summer holidays, Paris takes on a different personality.

Every summer, a familiar ritual takes place: Parisians pack their bags, tape handwritten ‘fermeture annuelle’ signs to their storefronts, and flee to the coast. Millions of locals leave the city during Les Grandes Vacances, France’s great summer holiday tradition. Families head to the coast, the countryside, the mountains or their favourite holiday spots, often returning only at the end of the month. Yet at the same time, visitors from around the world arrive to experience the City of Light during one of its most popular months.

I still vividly remember my first August in Paris after moving to France. I had arrived full of energy, ready to explore the city, only to find local shops and boutiques shuttered. The local butcher, the corner grocer, and the nearby bistro had all vanished behind metal grates. At first, I felt a wave of panic-had I arrived in a ghost town? ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).