Things to do on Bastille Day in Paris, France (Guide & Tips for 2025)

One European celebration that you should not miss is the French National Day: ‘Bastille Day“In France!

It is called by several names: National Day (national celebration), Bastille Day (Bastille Celebration), or Le Quatours Juliet (July 14th), this amazing event is celebrated annually July 14. With French people all over the world Celebrating this dayOf course, it’s a huge celebration – and even more so in Paris where they hold festive events for all tastes and ages from the wee hours of the morning until the wee hours of the night.

That’s why I was so happy this year when I was invited to “City of love“To join to celebrate!

About Bastille Day

• Bastille Day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille (A castle and prison for those who opposed the kings of France) On July 14, 1789, marking the French Revolution.
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• Bastille Day only became a national holiday in 1880, and the French continue to celebrate it today as a way to acknowledge the importance of this event that heralded the end of the royal monarchy and the beginning of its modern republic.
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• You will only be able to see Bastille Day on Bastille Day in Paris The oldest and largest Regular military parade in Europe! It takes place on the morning of July 14 on the Champs-Élysées.

So what was it like for me? Well, I certainly had a great time spending Bastille Day in Paris – it was unforgettable and I highly suggest you make it a point to attend too!

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Things to do on Bastille Day

» 9 a.m.: Watch the military parade (Deville Militaire) On the Champs Elysees

As I mentioned earlier, this is the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe. So, it’s a great sight to see!

All traffic is usually closed starting at 7am on the Champs-Élysées and the surrounding streets, and in fact around 10am the program starts from the Arc de Triomphe – however, I mentioned 9am because it is always better to come early. Given the hype surrounding this military parade, it can get very crowded!

So during this parade, the horns are often the first signal of the arrival of the President of the French Republic, and the Air Force will begin flying low in the sky either doing stunts or spreading colorful smoke. (of course in the colors of the French flag and often happens around 10:45 am), After that, elite units of the French army will begin to parade down the picturesque street all the way to Place de la Concorde On foot, on motorcycles, on horses, on tanks, on jeeps, etc.

Recently, it has become customary for France to invite units of its close allies to participate in the parade. This year, they invited troops from Australia and New Zealand.

Useful tips:

• There will be a large crowd. A large number of people will be lining both sides of the Champs-Élysées and security will be tight as well! Given this fact, it is advisable to come early; Or if you can’t, bring a chair to stand on (I’ve seen some people do this).
• It is best to avoid standing under a large tree because you may miss seeing the air show during the show. One of the best locations to be at is down George V Street.
• Another option is to arrive around 8am or earlier to reserve a seat at one of the cafés or restaurants open on the Champs-Élysées, located on the top floor of the building.
  • You can also book Airbnb or Paris hotel Which has the necessary observation point to have a look at the street (Just make sure there are no trees in the way of your view!)
• Some metro stations near the Champs-Elysées will be closed from 8am to 12pm. It’s not always the same every year, but most of the time the Concorde, George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Elysées Clemenceau and Tuileries stations will be closed. However, be sure to check before you go!
  • Before and after the show, I took the Saint-Philippe du Roule metro station and it was only a 5-minute walk to the boulevard area.
  • To find out which metro stations will be closed, Go here.
• After the Bastille Day parade, you can walk on the Champs-Elysées until 6pm because it turns into a pedestrian-only road at the moment, so enjoy taking photos in this place!

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» Rest of the day: Sightsee Paris or watch a free outdoor movie

Although it’s a national holiday, many of Paris’s restaurants, museums and attractions remain open – some of which are free to enter. For this reason, you should take advantage of this time to visit Louvre Museumthe Notre Dame de Paristhe Musée d’Orsaythe Chateau de Versailles And much more!

For ideas, go read my guide here:

“It reads: Top 10 free things to do in Paris

However, if you just want to relax with friends, you can attend a free Open air cinema in green lawns Parc de la Villette Which is located in the 19th district in the northeastern part of Paris. It’s shown from July to August as part of its annual outdoor film festival, so it’s one of the best things to do on Bastille Day.

You can always rent chairs and blankets on site if you don’t have the opportunity to bring one. But like I said, it’s open to everyone! If you would like to access the lawn on other dates, you need to register for La Villette Website. (However, most films are in French, but there are also foreign films that are shown but with French subtitles.)

For more information, you can check through here.

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» 9pm: Watch a live concert and fireworks display on the Champ de Mars

Another highlight of the day that is great to do with friends is to bring a picnic blanket, some food, and bottles of wine!

So, first of all, the live classical concert will start at 9:15pm at the foot of the Eiffel Tower featuring French National Orchestra And the French Radio Choir – This could change in the coming years, but so far they have done so consistently. They will be performing the show’s tunes and popular soundtracks by the end of the night (during the fireworks show) They will play the French national song: Le Marseille.

The fireworks show will start at 11pm and the dazzling lights will come off from the Eiffel Tower and Paris gardens. Trocadero For approximately 35 minutes.

Useful tips:

• As usual, Parisians and visitors alike will flock to this place, so if you want the best view, reserve a picnic spot on the Champ de Mars at around 5pm. (Some people even start marking their territory in the wee hours of the morning!)
  • Rest assured, there are other places in Paris suitable for watching fireworks (Like that on Seine River Cruise). I couldn’t get a place on the Champ de Mars so I ended up in a bridge Pont d’Alma Which still has great views of everything (As you can see in my video and in the photo above)! For other best places to watch the fireworks show, you can read my post below…

“It reads: Best locations to watch Bastille Day fireworks in Paris, France

• Be aware that there are very few public toilets and they will also be crowded; So I suggest you prepare some cash in advance to buy cheap drinks at nearby cafes or bars in order to use their bathrooms.
• As with the Bastille Day military parade, metro stations in the vicinity will be closed before and/or after the parade.
  • Even if there are nearby metro stations open after the fireworks show, they will be crowded with people, so I suggest you wear comfortable walking shoes as you may need to walk a little further from the Champs de Mars area to reach a metro station that is open and less crowded.
  • After the show, I had to walk a bit to get to the Inna metro station (Since it was the closest connection to the hotel I was staying at which was located in the Bastille district). When I was there, I had to wait for about 10 minutes until the crowd thinned out a bit.
  • To find out which metro stations will be closed, Go here.
  • If you think you can get a taxi or Uber – no. The surrounding area will be crowded so it’s really best to walk.

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» Late Night: Attend the Fireman’s Ball (Les bal des Pompeiis)

One good way to avoid crowded subway stations after a fireworks show: detour and attend a nearby firefighter party!

As the name says, this party is held at fire stations (Cacernes) About the 20 arrondissements of Paris – so yes, you can celebrate it (hot) Firefighters and French people! *wink*

While there are plenty of options to choose from for a Firemen’s Balls party, the best parties are said to take place on the eve of Bastille Day (July 13). You can see on This link List of participating fire stations.

These are not just for entertainment but for charity as well as there is a small entrance fee to pay and of course snacks and drinks to buy. If you’re up for it, the firefighters will also be selling raffle tickets, and again, all proceeds will be given to charities or to improve their own facilities.

If you stay in these places until late at night, most of them will turn into a dance club full of young people, with a DJ.

Useful tips:

• These all-night parties start at around 9pm until the early hours of the morning (But most of it will calm down around midnight)
• These parties are held not only on July 14, but also on July 13; But note that metro stations are only open until 2:15 AM during these days.
• If you want a complete list of Fireman’s Ball parties held in Paris, check this out This link.

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