Things to do in Paris France on your first trip while learning about joie de vivre

Elena Sullivan — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:41:31 +0000

Croissants, baguettes, macarons, flowers, soulful Bordeaux wine, bicycles and beautiful streets – all of this is, of course, wonderful. But the blazing sun and exhausting heat can fog your brain, and at some point you stop noticing even the most beautiful things around you. You only have enough energy for one thing: finding shade, a bar with air conditioning, or at the very least a fan, and sitting there waiting for your body to cool down to a point where curiosity and energy for wandering the city return.

Paris, France is beautiful. No matter what people say about the snobbishness of the locals (and yes, we met some of those too), the city inspires you with its appearance, architectural greatness, and majestic sculptures. Walking through its streets, you start to feel that joie de vivre is real and that it can actually be experienced in everyday life, rather than being just a romanticized idea from TV series like Emily in Paris.

A lifestyle where you can enjoy life and still work, make plans, achieve goals, casually flirt, drink light wine, and have unhurried conversations about the smallest, most delicate details of life. Somehow, the French have managed to combine all of this into a lifestyle that attracts millions of people from all over the world.

On this Paris trip, my beloved husband and I were tourists in Paris. Nowadays there is a strong trend (especially on social media) to experience a place as NOT a tourist. It creates this idea that being a tourist is somehow, at the very least, not respectable. For a long time, I also tried to travel as “not a tourist.” But what I kept forgetting to ask myself was: as what then? A local resident?

There are so many slogans coming from magazines, travel guides, and online images – sometimes AI-generated, sometimes carefully crafted by marketers – all pushing this idea of “blend in, don’t be a tourist.” But the truth is simple: how can you be a local when it’s your first time in a city?

Even the most popular books about “non-touristic travel” can’t turn you into a local. Reading is one thing, but to truly know a city, you need to live in it. And to understand Paris, France you need to live in the rhythm of the joie de vivre lifestyle, which takes time to learn. All of us, slightly overwhelmed children of the bright capitalist world, where the only thing that matters is being busy and productive every moment, need time to understand joie de vivre. And we also need good Bordeaux, conversations with real French people, and full immersion into the rich culture of this country. There are so many things to do in Paris, but perhaps the most important one is simply to slow down and experience the city in its own rhythm.

Experiencing joie de vivre while traveling in Paris France

Now let’s return to the very real topic of heat because it was everywhere. Where I currently live on the Costa del Sol in Spain, the sun is intense but during our Paris trip, we felt like we recharged our solar batteries for months ahead. I have never experienced such heat even living in Cancun, Mexico, where it’s hot 365 days a year, but there it feels different, and there are air conditioners and fans everywhere.

In Paris, those modern comforts are not as common. Either it’s a tribute to history, architecture, and the joie de vivre lifestyle, or simply a lack of adaptation – you really feel it. Later, after returning home, I read about the heatwave that swept across many European countries, especially France, and the extreme temperatures that unfortunately took the lives of more than a thousand people. I learned that in France this is still a relatively new phenomenon, and many buildings are simply not designed for air conditioning, it’s not something traditionally considered. Heat happens in summer, then winter comes with cold that requires heating anyway, so perhaps it hasn’t been prioritized.

So maybe, in a place so full of joie de vivre, people simply haven’t yet fully adjusted to this new reality. The Airbnb we stayed in had one air conditioner in our room, while another was in the owners’ living room. They looked very interesting, almost toy-like. I think I’m used to more modern, sleek air conditioners from living in Mexico and then the United States, so I initially perceived these differently, not very seriously. But the most important thing is: it worked, and it helped a lot.

Speaking of Airbnb, I’m completely in love with it, especially because of the warm welcome we received from the owners, Claude and Paul. If any of you are planning a trip to Paris, here is the link to their Airbnb. The location was very convenient, just 5–7 minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops. I will forever remember breakfasts with Paul, which he prepared for us every morning, and our conversations in a French-English mix. I also remember my modest attempts to read French using Google Translate, most of the time my pronunciation was so broken that I eventually just showed Paul the translated text on my phone. As it turned out, that was far more effective.

These four days in Paris were incredibly intense and yes – extremely hot, but they were also full of impressions, enough for many articles and many photos. For the first one, I suggest this collection. There are so many things to do in Paris, but sometimes the most memorable parts of a trip have nothing to do with ticking famous places off a list. For the first Paris trip, I suggest these places:

Places to Visit in Paris for the First Time

Things to Do in Paris for the First Time

Take a Seine River cruise
Watch the sunset from a Paris viewpoint
Walk along the Seine
Explore Montmartre on foot
Have a picnic in a Paris park
Try French pastries, cheese and wine
Visit a local food market
Explore Parisian cafés
Take a walking tour
Ride a bike around the city
Browse small art galleries
Enjoy Paris at night

How to Enjoy a Paris Trip Without Letting the Heat Ruin Your Trip

Don’t underestimate a European summer

Europe (including Paris, France) isn’t always mild anymore. Heatwaves above 35 – 40°C are becoming much more common, and many cities aren’t built to handle them.

Always check if your accommodation has air conditioning

Unlike the US, Mexico, and many other countries, air conditioning isn’t standard in Europe. Even hotels and Airbnbs that advertise AC may have only one unit for the entire apartment or cooling that isn’t very powerful. Double-check before booking, especially if you’re traveling during the hottest months.

Buy a handheld fan or better yet, pack a rechargeable neck fan

This was probably our best purchase of the trip. On our very first day traveling in Paris, after realizing just how intense the heat was, we bought handheld fans while walking around the city. They made a huge difference. If I were packing again, I’d definitely bring a rechargeable neck fan, it keeps your hands free and can make sightseeing much more comfortable.

Explore early and late

Do your walking in the morning, take a long lunch or visit museums during the hottest part of the day, then head back outside in the evening.

Stay hydrated

Heat sneaks up on you faster than you realize, especially when you’re distracted by beautiful streets and landmarks. If you run out, don’t worry, street vendors usually sell cold bottles of water for around €1, and you’ll also find plenty of small convenience stores along the way.

Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses

Not because it’s fashionable (although it can be), but because you’ll genuinely enjoy your day much more.

Don’t feel guilty about slowing down

Take the metro, grab a taxi, sit at a café for an hour or more. You don’t have to prove anything by walking 30,000 steps a day. We also discovered that some of the best places to escape the heat were ice cream shops, pharmacies, and especially chocolate stores. I definitely sampled more chocolate than I had planned on this trip but in the name of staying cool, I think it was completely justified.

All images in this article were taken by Elena Sullivan, ArsVie Photo Studio and are protected by copyright. If you are interested in using any of the them, please contact me for permission. Thank you for understanding!

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