Who said Paris is most beautiful in the rain? We disagree! There’s nothing like afternoon picnics by the Seine and long sultry evenings spent drinking on the terraces. They may complain in winter but the Parisians certainly know how to summer: visit any of the city’s hundreds of parks in June, July, and August and you’ll find the population flocking to enjoy their country’s gorgeously temperate climate. Only listen out closely for one fatal keyword… around mid-August you might hear the word canicule fall from the lips of a grumbly Parisian. It can only mean one thing: the heatwave is coming. Prepare for sweaty bodies in the metro and sun beating down on Hausmannian rooftops. But don’t freak, it’s a perfectly manageable scenario. Follow a few simple tricks from Theatre in Paris and your Parisian summer will be pure paradise, heatwave or no heatwave.

So what goes in the suitcase? Let’s race through this quickly: what are you bringing and what are you leaving wisely behind? Call it stating the obvious but... don’t forget the sunscreen. Apart from the general unpleasantness of walking around with blistery shoulders, no good Parisian would be seen dead with a sunburn. The same goes for sunglasses, and the bigger the frames, the classier the Parisian. Don’t be tempted to team those with a tacky beret, however… you may think you’ve ascended to the height of French chic, but the only thing berets are useful for in summer is hiding the sweaty foreheads they generate. And now for a more unusual one. Recent years have seen a rising trend amongst the residents of the French capital: during the hot summer months, you’ll find more and more Parisians clutching pleated or lace fans as if they depended on them for survival. That’s because they do... With air conditioning still in absence on the majority of the Paris metro lines, guerilla methods like these are the only way to maintain a steady air flow. Paris’ public transport operator, RATP, has been known to distribute hand fans for free in the summer months but we still recommend bringing your own. Which brings us to one final indispensable item: comfortable walking shoes. Everybody wants to look glamorous as they strut down the Parisian boulevards, but it’s worth keeping in mind that those things are long! The walkability of the French capital is one of its main attractions, so don’t waste it tottering around with blisters from your best stilettos. When distances are short and the weather is gorgeous, you’ll want to avoid overheated metro carriages like the plague.

Take a trip to the beach (without leaving the city) Did you know that every year for two months only, the banks of the Seine are miraculously transformed into a sandy pleasure beach? Paris gets a tropical makeover as benches are switched for deckchairs and pavements sprout palm trees overnight. This yearly event, an idea launched by the city council back in 2002, is known as Paris Plages and holds a cherished place on the calendar of all Parisians. As well as a whole lot of sand and children’s activities, there’s table football, beachy mini-golf, and a trio of giant swimming pools. So when you need a momentary break from city breaking, why not lounge and enjoy Seineside monuments like the Louvre, the Conciergerie, or the Musée d’Orsay, all from the comfort of a brightly coloured deckchair?

Seek out museums with outdoor space No visit to Paris would be complete without a stop at one of the city’s many and varied museums – but nobody wants to be stuck inside for long when the weather outside is gorgeous. Our solution: pick a gallery that comes with green space! It doesn’t get more spectacular than the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Designed by contemporary architect Frank Gehry and located in the heart of the leafy Bois de Boulogne (one of two parks known as Paris’ ‘lungs’), an outing to the gallery provides the perfect blend of avant-garde and idyllic. If the far west of Paris seems too far a trek, we also have some inner-city options. The Musée Rodin, Musée Bourdelle and Musée de la Vie Romantique all have beautiful incorporated garden areas where visitors can cool off after contemplating some of the finest French masterpieces. And last but not least, a special mention goes to the Petit Palais for the true oasis of tranquility that is its luscious interior courtyard. Our top picks of the best quirky museums in Paris

Sip tea in an alternative Parisian oasis Which brings us perfectly onto our next summertime suggestion. For a sanctuary unlike any you’ll find elsewhere in the city, we love the Grande Mosquée de Paris. Situated in Paris’ Latin Quarter but recalling the Moorish architecture of Southern Spain and Morocco, the Mosquée’s whitewashed walls and deliciously cool tiled floors are the perfect refuge from hot tarmac streets. Behind the ornate front entrance you’ll find an exquisite marble interior and a garden complete with fountains and foliage. And once you’ve absorbed all you can of this eclectic cultural history, it’s time to relax in the shade with mint tea and a Middle Eastern pastry. The mosquée’s courtyard café is one of the coolest you’ll find anywhere in the city.

Roll out your picnic mat on the banks of the Seine Summertime in the land of baguettes can mean one thing and one thing only: picnics by the Seine! Make the most of the good weather to bypass grumpy waiters and sky-high restaurant prices by dining outside instead. Grab a baguette from the boulangerie and some cheese from a local market; you’ll end up throwing in a bottle of wine too when you’ve seen the prices at the supermarket. Then choose a spot to set up camp. Anywhere will do but special shout-outs go to Quai de la Tournelle for its view of Notre Dame and the Square du Vert Galant for making you feel like you’re floating on the Seine. Or if you really want to do as the Parisians do, switch the Seine for the Canal Saint-Martin or the Bassin de la Villette. Pass by République or Stalingrad of a summer evening and you’ll find a hurd of hipster Parisians enjoying an apéro on the waterside.

Or get gourmet food to go If picnic food feels too makeshift, there are plenty of other ways to eat outdoors in the sunshine. Paris’ hundreds of open air markets have been running for centuries and help to give the French capital its quaint, traditional feel. Explore your local area on a Saturday morning and you’re bound to stumble across some food stands selling mouthwatering French fare. For more international flavours, you can try the world famous falafel vendors of the Marais neighbourhood, or any of the countless food stands in global cuisine hotspot Rue Mouffetard. Across the summer season exclusively, you’ll also find gourmet food trucks positioned outside Saint Lazare station and on the decking that surrounds Paris’ impressive national library, the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand. Street food is a fast swelling business in Paris and options will always be the height of haute cuisine. Discover spring and summer food festivals in Paris

Get involved with the age old game of pétanque (no seriously…) You might think that a game which involves tirelessly rolling a set of steel or wooden balls might tend to attract audiences at the older end of the spectrum. You’d be wrong… in Paris the traditional French game of pétanque is a hit with players of every age and walk of life. So don’t be put off! When the weather is fine and the parks are open late, why not blend in with the Parisians and build up your own ball rolling stamina? Grab yourself a set of boules from any French sports or home store then head out to one of the city's many pétanque hotspots: the Jardin de Luxembourg, Jardin du Palais-Royal, or Chez Bouboule, a bistro and bar with its own dedicated pétanquing alley. For a still more customised alternative, check out an oh so Parisian start-up, Paris ma belle: reserve with these guys and they’ll deliver a complete set of balls, referee, and temporary court directly to your door stop.

Sample the best ice cream in the city It may not be a staple of French cuisine but the Parisians master ice cream like they do most things. One parlour, in particular, has gained a worldwide reputation for its unforgettable frozen flavours. A family business passed down through five generations, Berthillon now counts over 70 parfums on its seasonally rotating menu of sorbets and ice creams. Exotic combinations like pineapple and basil join more timeless classics like a salted caramel concoction that does much more than melt in the mouth. Berthillon’s plain wood panelled exterior may not look like much but the queues backing up outside its headquarters on the Île de Saint Louis say it all. This scenic spot is the perfect place to devour your chosen scoop(s): wander over to either of the riverbanks that straddle the island and enjoy your blissful ice cream there.

Image by Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin © Catch an outdoor film at La Villette Are you a film buff seeking some evening entertainment? Look no further than the annual outdoor film festival at the Parc de La Villette. Every year throughout July and August, a diverse programme of films is selected for screening on the lawn of Paris’ third largest parkland. The range goes from family favourites like Wall-E and anime classic Ponyo, to arthouse movie Her or Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs. For lovers of sci-fi especially, summer 2019 is set to be a big year. Most importantly, there’s no need to fret: the La Villette line-up features enough English language films that its more than accessible to non-natives. Don’t mind the French-translated film titles (a quick google search should throw up the English version) but do choose your night carefully because original French films will not come with subtitles. Check out the programme here and don’t forget your picnic blanket!