Paris Will Never Be The Same (Summer News & Updates)

A lot is changing for visitors this year, so in this video we round up the Paris summer 2026 travel updates you should know before you fly: airport and border changes, safety, rumors, new hotels and restaurants, ticket prices, summer events, and how to handle the heat. If you are planning a trip this summer, this is your briefing.

Arriving in Paris

  • Air France has moved its flights from Orly to Charles de Gaulle (its budget airline Transavia still flies from Orly).
  • The EU Entry-Exit System (EES) uses a face scan and fingerprints instead of passport stamps. The scan is quick, but plan extra time for the line.
  • When we filmed, ETIAS was not required this summer. Any site asking you to pay for it now is a scam.
  • Official taxi fares from CDG are fixed: €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank.

Safety, rumors and prices

Paris is safe. The main risk is pickpocketing, so keep valuables in front pockets and say no to strangers with clipboards or tablets. The Eiffel Tower is being repainted, not demolished, and the first four arrondissements now restrict car traffic, so your driver may drop you a short walk from your hotel. At the time of filming, Louvre tickets for non-EU visitors went up to €32, and the summit of the Eiffel Tower was €36.70 for an adult. Notre-Dame is free to enter: book only on the official site, and anyone selling skip-the-line tickets is a scammer.

Summer tips

  • Many hotels and apartments have no AC: confirm in writing before you book.
  • The sun sets around 10 p.m. in late June, so pack a sleep mask.
  • From late July through August many small bistros and shops close for holidays.
  • Paris Plages runs with free activities and swimming spots along the Seine and canals.
  • Exhibitions this summer include Calder at the Fondation Louis Vuitton and Lee Miller at the Musée d’Art Moderne. The Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation.

To land stress-free, book your airport transfer ahead of time, or download the G7 taxi app for fixed fares. You can book Fondation Louis Vuitton tickets and the Lee Miller exhibition here. Dreaming bigger? Start your move to France. And our Paris Guide Bundle has hotels, restaurants and itineraries by arrondissement.