I recently returned from a 6-day trip to Paris with my 70-year-old parents, and it happened to coincide with a major heat wave, which made the entire stay extremely hot and uncomfortable.
Having air conditioning in our Airbnb turned out to be essential. Without it, we likely would have struggled significantly. Even at night, the city did not cool down, and while my parents are not particularly sensitive to heat, it still made conditions difficult. This was in May, and adding AC last minute was one of the best decisions we made.
Public transport, especially the metro, was manageable but quite warm. It was still an improvement compared to my experience living there about a decade ago.
Overall, locals were friendly and accommodating, especially toward my English-speaking parents, which felt like a positive change.
We enjoyed visiting major attractions like the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, which were surprisingly not overly crowded. Walking through areas like Le Marais was also still enjoyable despite the weather.
One major downside was the smoking, which felt much more noticeable in the heat and made outdoor dining unpleasant since most cafés lack air conditioning. It often made sitting outside uncomfortable.
At CDG airport, we also faced long delays and queues for baggage check-in, which added to the frustration.
Despite everything, Paris remains an incredibly beautiful city, although I’m not sure I would bring my parents back under similar summer conditions.
0