Ile-de-France, France
Destination guide
Crammed with iconic buildings, world-class art and a culinary scene steeped in history, Paris is one of the world’s great capitals, overflowing with style, romance, and art de vivre.
Travel bucket list idea:
Bastille Day
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Credit Shutterstock.com / DreamSlamStudio
Last updated: 10 March, 2024
France’s national holiday marks the 1789 French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille prison with huge festivities in Paris – with a mixture of fun and formality.
Partying starts on the 13th July, with discos run by the fire brigade at local fire stations. On the 14th July there’s a grand military parade of troops and tanks and a fly-over down the Champs-Elysees. In the evening, fireworks are set off from the Trocadero – best seen from the Champ de Mars.
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 7+
Frequency: annually
When: 14th July
Duration: 1 day
Getting there & doing it
This is a non-ticketed, non-bookable event. Get to the Champs-Elysees well before the military parade begins at 10am on the 14th July if you want to be in with the chance of a decent view – note that the metro stops along the avenue itself will be closed, so get to the nearest one you can and walk from there. Expect big crowds on the Champs-Elysees, but that’s all part of the fun.
When to do it
The festival is held on the 14th July each year.
Destination guides
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience