Go ahead and imagine it: you’re strolling along the Champs-Élysées on a perfectly sunny day. You’re hydrated. You’re wearing the high-SPF French sunblock that you picked up at the corner pharmacy. You’re ready to face a day of sightseeing, and you are – bien sûr – wearing an outfit that makes you look perfectly chic without trying too hard. Sound like a dream? Well, it’s not impossible if you’re traveling to France in summer, and without too much fuss or expense.
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When I go to Paris, I pack mostly for comfort and the weather, with one eye on style. Here’s what goes in my suitcase.
Some outfit inspiration from the Parisians themselves. Amir Hamja for Lonely Planet
Keep it simple
Here’s the thing about France in summer: it’s hot. Sometimes it’s very, very hot. Let this be your singular guiding principle when you start packing. Focus on the absolute basics in lightweight fabrics and light colors: T-shirts, sundresses, tank tops, polos and pants in cotton or linen all work.
The French are relaxed dressers, but they always feel a notch more formal than what most Americans would consider casual. Shorts are great, but maybe avoid the basketball kind, unless you’re a teenage boy or LeBron. Athleisure can work if paired with more dressed-up items, but keep it in perspective. If your outfit could also be worn to a yoga class, you’ll probably look a bit underdressed, and probably American.
Comfortable footwear is required for long days of sightseeing, and although this wasn’t always the case, athletic shoes are the norm in France. Wear them with pride and in comfort.
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The best thing about this kind of clothing? It packs small and often doesn’t require a ton of ironing or hanging upon arrival. If you’re traveling for a week, try swapping out your big bag for a carry-on.
Accessorize to beat the heat
Accessories can make or break a hot-weather trip to Paris. Great pair of sunglasses? A must-pack. A visor or a sun hat? Indispensable. That’s especially true if you’re doing a lot of walking outdoors or seeing an event with seats in direct sun. Even attractions like the gardens at Versailles offer very little shade. A hat can save the day and your literal skin.
Sunblock is another thing you’ll want to have handy. Pack it or, even better, buy it in France at the local pharmacy. Brands like La Roche-Posay and Vichy come in high-SPF and tinted versions that would likely cost you more at home. Plus, they’re more like skincare than the sticky goop you slather on the kids at the pool.
A personal fan is another way to keep cool. There are motorized versions that hang around your neck or are small enough to be stashed in a pocket. You could also pack a manual folding version for Karl Lagerfeld-level drama.
Follow these hydration hacks
For your own health and safety, staying hydrated is important when the weather is hot and you have a packed schedule. Always carry a water bottle, and check the regulations before you attempt to bring it into an attraction or event, as there are often limits on bottle sizes and materials. You can fill up for free, 24 hours a day, at Paris’s famous green cast-iron Wallace fountains, a beautiful holdover from the Belle Époque.
To stay hydrated longer, bring along electrolyte powder packets or gummies. They’re great for when you’re spending a lot of time at a single attraction without a break, like when you’re wandering the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay. Sugar-free versions are available. And of course, if you’re a meticulous hydrator, you’ll want a condensation sleeve so your water bottle won’t sweat onto the other items in your bag.
Download these apps
You can now buy and use Paris Metro tickets on an app. The IDF Mobilites app lets you purchase up to 20 one-way, zone-one Metro tickets (two packs of 10) at a time. While those little paper Metro tickets make fun souvenirs, they’re also easy to misplace, and it can be hard to figure out which ones have already been used. Go digital and avoid the confusion.
SNCF Connect is the official app of France’s inter-city train system. It’s another place where you can purchase and store train tickets – a nice convenience if you’re visiting multiple cities in France. It also lets you avoid ticket lines and translation issues at the train station.