What to do on Bastille Day, July 14

Bastille Day is on July 14. It’s when Parisians celebrate the French Revolution, also known as Fete Nationale or Quatorze Juillet (that stands for July 14).

This celebration and all the Bastille Day festivities are about the storming of Bastille prison in 1789. If you are in Paris at this time of the year, I think it’s a great idea to join the Bastille day celebration. It’s the possibility to immerse yourself in French culture. You can choose from many things so here’s what to do in Paris on July 14.

Where to go and what to do on Bastille Day

If you are looking for the 14 July celebration perfect for you, note down parades and concerts.

• Military ceremony. If you want to see a traditional 14 July celebration, go to Avenue des Champs Elysees to admire the military parade by military aircraft. French National day celebrations start at 10 am, at the Arc de Triomphe. At 10.45 am there will be a flyover of military aircraft too!

Amber

A very nice idea: be there on time and sit on the upper
level of a café in that area. You will enjoy the parade
from a comfortable position!

• Fireworks. If you go to the Eiffel Tower around 11 pm, you can enjoy the fireworks! Plus, they will also take place across the Seine. It is a unique show to see and it changes from year to year. It will last about half an hour. If you like fireworks and you want to see it from a boat, you can book a special cruise on the Seine, have dinner on board and then admire the show.

• Concerts. When you want to celebrate Bastille Day with music, you can go to Champ de Mars at 9.30 pm. There will be classical music and opera performed by many musicians. This is a special show too because they pay attention to lighting effects too!

• A Ball. At the end of the day, you might have the energy to continue partying. Go to the Firemen’s Ball (Les Bals des Pompiers in French) and enjoy the party that will take place in many of the Fire Stations of Paris! They usually start around 9 pm to continue until 4 am!

Good to know

Since Bastille Day is a huge celebration, you need to pay attention to the closure time of transports. For example, metro stations close around 7 pm. Wear comfy shoes because you might need to walk back to your accommodation. Also, remember that this type of celebration is super chaotic: beware of pickpockets when you are in a very crowded place.