Summer Must-Dos

From the book Go Well: A Summer Field Guide for Graduates and College Students · Updated October 2026

Where to stay, eat, and go out in each city, with 2027 dates as they’re announced.

Paris

Paris in July means long evenings, warm nights, and a lot of free culture in the parks and along the Seine. Book the restaurants that take reservations, and plan early mornings for the big photo spots.

Where to stay

BUDGET
The People Paris Belleville (formerly Les Piaules)
Belleville, 11th

Bar with DJ and jazz nights, a rooftop, curtained bunks with lockers; private doubles too (The People).

July price: Dorms from €25 (about $28); doubles from €90 (about $102); July runs higher

MID-RANGE
Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc Le Marais (3 stars)
Le Marais, 4th

Very walkable location. Rooms are small, and reviews mention weak air conditioning, which matters in July (Hôtel Jeanne d’Arc).

July price: About €170–300 (about $192–339) a night

SPLURGE
The Hoxton, Paris (4 stars)
Sentier, 2nd

A lively lobby bar and restaurants in an 18th-century building; the “Shoebox” rooms are the cheapest way in (The Hoxton).

July price: About €240–330 (about $270–370) a night

The Paris tourist tax in 2026 was €2.60 (about $2.94) per adult per night at a hostel or 1-star hotel, €5.53 (about $6.25) at a 3-star, and €8.45 (about $9.55) at a 4-star (GHR).

Where to eat: the best three

  • Bouillon Chartier (Grands Boulevards, 9th; budget). A Belle Époque dining hall open since 1896. Starters from €1 (about $1.13), mains from €7 (about $7.91), and desserts from €2 (about $2.26) (Bouillon Chartier). Order the oeuf mayonnaise, the escargots, or steak-frites with peppercorn sauce. No reservations; go mid-afternoon to skip the line.
  • L’As du Fallafel (34 rue des Rosiers, Le Marais; budget). A falafel institution since 1979, and a viral favorite (RankEat). Order the Fallafel Spécial to take away, about €10 (about $11). Use the takeaway line on the left; it moves faster. Closed Saturdays, and it closes early on Fridays.
  • Pink Mamma (20bis rue de Douai, Pigalle; mid-range). Four floors of Italian food with a greenhouse top floor, about €30–40 (about $34–45) a person with drinks. Order the truffle pasta, the famous one. Bookings open 30 days ahead; walk-ins should arrive 15–20 minutes before the noon opening (Third Eye Traveller).

Photo spots

  1. Trocadéro steps: the classic straight-on view of the Eiffel Tower. Go early morning.
  2. Pont de Bir-Hakeim: a two-level iron bridge that frames the tower, with fewer people. Best at blue hour or sunrise.
  3. La Maison Rose, Montmartre: the pink house on a cobbled corner. Go before it opens at noon, and be considerate of diners.

Shows

  1. Moulin Rouge, “Féerie”: the original cancan revue. A splurge: show with a drink from about €120–140 (about $136–158); the 11 p.m. show is cheaper.
  2. Cinéma en Plein Air, Parc de la Villette (free): outdoor films on a big lawn. In 2026, it ran July 22 to August 16. Bring a picnic.
  3. Paris Jazz Festival, Parc Floral (nearly free): free afternoon concerts in a garden; park entry is €2.80 (about $3.16). In 2026, it ran June 24 to September 6 (Sortiraparis).

Nightlife

  1. Rex Club: one of Paris’s best techno clubs, under the Grand Rex cinema, usually 11:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends (Paris je t’aime). Cover varies.
  2. Le Perchoir Ménilmontant: a seventh-floor rooftop bar with views of Sacré-Cœur at sunset. Arrive early or book.
  3. Rosa Bonheur, Buttes-Chaumont: an open-air dance hall in a park, casual, usually no cover.

Summer events

  1. Fête de la Musique (June 21, every year): free concerts and DJ sets all over the city (Paris.fr).
  2. Bastille Day (July 14): the Champs-Élysées parade in the morning and Eiffel Tower fireworks at night. In 2026, the fireworks moved to July 13 (Time Out Paris), so check the 2027 date. Viewing on the Champ-de-Mars is free; arrive hours early.
  3. Paris Plages (early July to late August): free beaches, deckchairs, and supervised swimming along the Seine and canals. In 2026, it ran July 4 to August 30.

Nice

Nice is the easiest Riviera base on a budget: cheap street food, free beaches, and a train line to Monaco, Antibes, and Cannes. The Old Town (Vieux Nice) is where most of the eating and nightlife is.

Where to stay

BUDGET
Villa Saint Exupéry Beach
City center, near the Old Town

A big bar with happy hour, free walking tours, a kitchen; dorms and private rooms, all with bathrooms (Villa Hostels).

July price: About €50–66 (about $56–75) a bed in peak season

MID-RANGE
Hôtel Solara (2 stars)
Rue de France, about 200 meters from the beach

Air conditioning; top-floor rooms have terraces. Rooms and elevator are tiny (Explore Nice Côte d’Azur).

July price: About €128–250 (about $145–283) a night

SPLURGE
Hôtel Amour Nice (4 stars)
Just off the Promenade des Anglais

Rooftop pool, its own beach club, DJs and live music (Hôtel Amour).

July price: From about €155 (about $175) on summer weeknights; more on weekends

The Nice tourist tax in 2026 was about €1.07 (about $1.21) per adult per night at a hostel or 1-star hotel, €2.28 (about $2.58) at a 3-star, and €3.48 (about $3.93) at a 4-star. Under-18s are exempt.

Where to eat: the best three

  • Chez Pipo (13 rue Bavastro, port area; budget). Making socca, Nice’s chickpea pancake, since 1923 (Côte d’Azur France, Le Fooding). Order socca hot from the wood-fired oven, about €3.50–7.50 (about $4–8.50), plus pissaladière (onion tart). No reservations; go at opening, and check opening days before you go.
  • Lou Pilha Leva (10 rue du Collet, Vieux Nice; budget). All the classic Niçoise street foods at one counter, most under €10 (about $11), eaten at shared benches. Order pan bagnat (Nice’s tuna-and-egg sandwich), socca, and petits farcis (stuffed vegetables).
  • Le Plongeoir (below Mont Boron; splurge). A terrace built on an old diving platform above the sea, and the classic Nice sunset dinner, with mains about €45–55 (about $51–62) (Le Plongeoir). Book the sunset slot well ahead; open mid-March to mid-November.

Photo spots

  1. Castle Hill (Colline du Château): the classic view over the Baie des Anges, the Old Town, and the port. Free. In summer, the park closes at 8 p.m., before sunset (Explore Nice Côte d’Azur).
  2. Quai Rauba-Capeu and the #ILoveNice letters: the most-photographed spot in Nice. Golden hour for color, early morning to have it to yourself.
  3. Coco Beach: flat rocks, clear water, and a view of the whole bay at sunset. Take bus 98, and arrive early.

Shows

  1. Soirées Estivales (free): hundreds of free summer shows across the region, including free jazz at the port on Thursday evenings. In 2026, they ran June 26 to August 31.
  2. “Mon été cinéma” (free): outdoor films at 9:30 p.m. in parks and squares through July and August.
  3. La Kermesse Festival, Théâtre de Verdure: three nights of 2000s pop, R&B, and hip-hop. A listings site shows July 2–4, 2027; passes were about €137–202 (about $155–228).

Nightlife

  1. Wayne’s Bar (budget): a long-running Old Town pub with live bands every night. Free entry, no dress code.
  2. High Club: the biggest club in Nice, on the Promenade. The tourist office lists it as 20 and over. Strict dress code; cover about €15–30 (about $17–34).
  3. Plage Beau Rivage: a beach club that becomes a lounge bar with DJ nights; good for sunset drinks. Usually a minimum drink spend.

Summer events

  1. Nice Jazz Fest (mid-to-late July): two stages in the city center. In 2026, it ran July 23–25 (Nice Côte d’Azur). Day tickets about €32 (about $36).
  2. Les Nuits du Sud, Vence (early-to-mid July): soul, reggae, hip-hop, and world music in a village square about 25 kilometers from Nice (Côte d’Azur France). Tickets from about €22 (about $25).
  3. Fête de la Musique (June 21): free concerts across the city.

Good to know: there are no July 14 fireworks in Nice. The city has held a memorial instead since the 2016 attack. For fireworks, take the train to Antibes, Cannes, Menton, or Juan-les-Pins (Fréquence Sud).

Barcelona

Barcelona runs late: lunch at 2, dinner at 9 or 10, clubs until 5 or 6. Book the Gaudí sites online in advance, and keep your phone and wallet zipped away on La Rambla and the beach.

Where to stay

BUDGET
Generator Barcelona
Gràcia

Bar, social events, female-only dorms, and many private room types (Generator).

July price: Dorms from about €14–15 (about $16–17); twins from about €59 (about $67); July runs higher

MID-RANGE
Hotel Praktik Bakery (3 stars)
Eixample, near Passeig de Gràcia

A working bakery in the lobby and full air conditioning; small rooms (Praktik Bakery).

July price: About €110–265 (about $124–299) a night

SPLURGE
Casa Bonay (4 stars)
Eixample, near Tetuan metro

A design hotel in an 1856 building with a rooftop bar (Casa Bonay).

July price: About €265–310 (about $300–350) a night in summer

Barcelona’s tourist tax rose in April 2026. The combined city and regional tax is about €6 (about $6.78) a night at a hostel and €7 (about $7.91) at most other hotels, rising at higher-end hotels, with planned increases through 2029 (Catalan News).

Where to eat: the best three

  • La Cova Fumada (Barceloneta; budget, about €10–20 or $11–23 a person). The family-run bar where the bomba, a potato-and-meat croquette with spicy sauce and aioli, was invented in the 1950s (Barcelona Navigator). Order the bomba, grilled sardines, and cuttlefish with chickpeas. Lunch only most days; go early, since bombas often sell out. Bring cash.
  • El Xampanyet (El Born, near the Picasso Museum; budget). A classic standing-room cava and tapas bar, with small plates about €3–8 (about $3.39–9) (Gimme Some Oven). Order house cava, Cantabrian anchovies, and pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread) with ham. Stand at the bar and order a few plates at a time.
  • Disfrutar (Eixample; the once-in-a-lifetime splurge). Named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2024, with three Michelin stars (Michelin Guide). The tasting menu was about €290 (about $328) in 2024, and bookings sell out far ahead. For most readers, La Boqueria market (closed Sundays; go early) is the better food splurge.

Photo spots

  1. Park Güell: the mosaic terrace and Gaudí’s gingerbread-style lodges. Timed tickets online only, €18 (about $20), and they sell out; book the earliest slot (Park Güell).
  2. Sagrada Família: free to photograph from outside; shoot the Nativity façade in morning light. Inside needs a timed ticket: €26 (about $29), or €24 (about $27) for under-30s and students (Sagrada Família).
  3. MNAC steps, Montjuïc: a wide view down to Plaça d’Espanya, free, and best at sunset.

Shows

  1. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (free): a water, light, and music show that reopened in September 2025 after a drought shutdown (Barcelona City Council). Check the summer schedule.
  2. Sala Montjuïc open-air cinema: a live concert, then a film, in the moat of Montjuïc Castle. In 2026, it ran July 10 to August 5, with tickets at €10 (about $11) (Barcelona Secreta). Picnics allowed.
  3. Flamenco: Tablao Cordobés on La Rambla for top-tier dancers, show with a drink about €48 (about $54), or Los Tarantos in Plaça Reial for a cheaper option.

Nightlife

  1. Razzmatazz: five rooms with a different theme each night, the best fit for this age group (Razzmatazz). Cover varies.
  2. Opium Barcelona: a beachfront restaurant by day and a house-music club by night. Smart dress; check the guest list on its website.
  3. Sala Apolo: a historic dance hall in Poble-sec with indie and electronic nights.

Summer events

  1. Sant Joan (night of June 23): bonfires, fireworks, and beaches full all night. The metro runs all night.
  2. Grec Festival (late June to early August): theater, dance, and music at the open-air Teatre Grec and around the city. In 2026, it ran June 23 to August 2. Some events are free.
  3. Festa Major de Gràcia (mid-August): a week of decorated streets and free concerts. In 2026, it ran August 15–21.

Good to know: two big June festivals have announced 2027 dates: Primavera Sound, June 3–5, and Sónar, June 17–19 (Sónar). Drinking in the street is banned in Barcelona.

Mallorca

Palma works well as a base: the old town, the cathedral, and the bar districts are all walkable, and buses and boats reach the beaches. July is the busiest and most expensive month, so plan the famous coves for early morning.

Where to stay

BUDGET
El Josemari Youth Hostel
Palma old town

A former convent with curtained pod beds, air conditioning, a terrace bar, and female-only dorms; dorms only (El Josemari).

July price: About €80 (about $90) a night in July

MID-RANGE
Apuntadores 8
La Llotja, on the main tapas street

A rooftop terrace with cathedral and bay views; some rooms share bathrooms (Apuntadores).

July price: Varies widely; check live rates

SPLURGE
Nakar Hotel (4 stars)
Avinguda Jaume III, central Palma

A rooftop pool and bar with weekend DJs, and a spa (Nakar Hotel).

July price: About €400 (about $450) a night in August

The Balearic tourist tax (see “What it costs” below) applies from May to October.

Where to eat: the best three

  • Ca’n Joan de s’Aigo (Palma old town; budget). Palma’s oldest café, from the 18th century, and the classic place for an ensaïmada, the spiral pastry dusted with sugar (Mallorca.com). Order it with thick hot chocolate or almond ice cream. Three items usually cost under €10 (about $11). Go at breakfast.
  • Mercat de l’Olivar (behind Plaça d’Espanya, Palma; budget to mid-range). Palma’s main food market, with tapas bars and oyster counters (Palma Weekly). Order oysters with cava, tapas, and pa amb oli, Mallorca’s olive-oil bread. Open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; arrive between 9 and 11.
  • Marc Fosh (Hotel Convent de la Missió, Palma; splurge). The most affordable Michelin-star meal on the island: book the set lunch, about €65–69 (about $73–78), not dinner (Table Journey).

Photo spots

  1. Palma Cathedral (La Seu): Palma’s Gothic cathedral right beside the sea. Shoot from Parc de la Mar at golden hour; student discounts exist for visits (Catedral de Mallorca).
  2. Cap de Formentor: dramatic cliffs and the lighthouse viewpoint. From mid-May to mid-October, private cars can’t drive to the lighthouse between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.; take TIB bus 334 or go outside those hours (DGT).
  3. Caló des Moro: the island’s most famous cove, with turquoise water between pine cliffs. Arrive at sunrise, wear proper shoes for the steep path, and never block residents’ driveways.

Shows

  1. Nits a Bellver: open-air concerts, including the Balearic Symphony Orchestra, in the round courtyard of Bellver Castle on about 20 nights in July and August.
  2. Cinema a la Fresca, Parc de la Mar (free): outdoor films below the cathedral on summer weekend nights. Arrive around 9 p.m. with a blanket.
  3. Es Jardí summer concerts, Calvià: big-name concerts through July and August.

Nightlife

  1. FITZ Mallorca, Paseo Marítimo: a new house and techno club with bay views, opened in July 2026 (Mixmag). Cover not confirmed.
  2. BCM, Magaluf: the island’s biggest club, with headline DJs. Buy tickets in advance.
  3. Santa Catalina and La Lonja bars, Palma: bar-hopping with no cover before the clubs.

Summer events

  1. Mallorca Live Festival (June): the island’s biggest music festival, confirmed for June 11–12, 2027, its 10th anniversary (Majorca Daily Bulletin).
  2. Nit de Sant Joan, Palma (June 23): a midsummer bonfire, a correfoc (fire run), and concerts. For the fire run, wear cotton, long sleeves, and closed shoes.
  3. Moros i Cristians, Pollença (August 2): a free re-enactment of a 1550 battle against pirates. Get a spot early.

Good to know: Magaluf and Playa de Palma have strict alcohol rules. Shops can’t sell alcohol from 9:30 p.m. to 8 a.m., drinking in the street can be fined €500–1,500 (about $565–1,695) or more, and party boats are restricted (TravelSupermarket).

Prices and rules change. Everything on this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book.

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