Imagine landing in Paris on a not-so-random summer day, only to find the entire city had turned into one epic music festival; no tickets, no lineup, no gates, just music taking over the entire city (and country) for a whole day. This is exactly what experiencing the Fête de la Musique feels like.
If you’re planning a trip to France this summer, you might want to plan your whole adventure around this specific June day, because it’s absolutely worth it! Paris is definitely one of the top French cities to experience this, so here’s everything you need to know about it.
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Fête de la Musique: When and Where It Happens
Held every June 21st, during the Summer Solstice, this vibrant festival turns the entire country of France into a massive, open-air concert. From street corners to grand stages, musicians of all genres fill the air with music.
If you’re traveling to France in June, this is an event you can’t miss! This day was definitely one of my most memorable memories in Paris; scroll all the way down for my story!
Fête de la Musique: What to Expect
Concerts are often held for free to make them available for everyone to enjoy, as an attempt to celebrate music. Public spaces are usually blasting with music; streets, cafés, parks, everywhere! And if you’re wondering which genres to expect, expect it all: jazz, EDM, pop, you name it! All kinds of musicians will be taking over the streets of Paris and all of France, both amateurs and professionals.
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Best Spots to Catch the Music
Moving on to one of the most important questions: Which Parisian neighborhoods are especially lively on Fête de la Musique?
Le Marais, Canal Saint-Martin, Latin Quarter, and Montmartre (where I went). Check out local bars and cafés online beforehand as they’ll most likely be promoting their own programs.
Aside from entire neighborhoods, here are a few iconic venues to experience the festival:
- Place de la République
- Parc de la Villette (known for epic concerts in general)
- Courtyard of Palais Royal
- Banks of the Seine
- River cruises with music
Tips for Enjoying the Fête de la Musique as a Solo Traveler
- Start your day early to hit as many spots as you can.
- Wear comfy shoes; you’ll most likely hit your biggest step record!
- Beware of pickpockets and stay vigilant. Make sure to read my Paris safety guide.
- Bring water and stay hydrated.
- Use public transportation; the metro stays open late that day.
- Check out my Europe apps guide to know which apps will be useful for you to download beforehand.
Planning Your Trip Around the Fête de la Musique
If you’re traveling to Paris in June specifically for the festival and planning your entire trip around it, here are a few tips that’ll help you plan wisely:
Book flights and accommodation early
Summer is the peak travel season for lots of European destinations, including Paris. That’s why flights and accommodations’ prices will cost a pretty penny, and it’s definitely wise to book in advance.
Book your tours online
Also, due to high summer demand, expect annoyingly long queues. That’s why, if you want to make the most of your trip to Paris (and time), it’s best if you book all your museum tickets and tours online and in advance.
Use public transportation
Another way to save money during that pricey time is to commute on foot, if it’s within walking distance, or use public transportation, rather than riding a taxi or an Uber. Paris has one of the best and most extensive public transportation networks, which will make commuting easier than ever for you, especially if it’s your first time there. Don’t forget to read my full guide on getting around in Paris.
Look up other events happening around the same time
Lots of events take place in the summer, be it concerts, sports events, or other festivals. So, make sure you look up other events happening in Paris or nearby destinations during your trip to make the most of your time.
Include summer activities in your itinerary
June in Paris is mostly sunny, so include summery outdoor activities in your itinerary. Visit a local French market, check out a wide range of fresh fruits and cheeses, and enjoy a Parisian picnic experience. Be it at one of Paris’s many beautiful parks or on the banks of the Seine. Just don’t forget to make a stop at the boulangerie to bring along a freshly baked baguette or croissants.
I’ve compiled a list of 10 unique activities to do in Paris, so make sure you check it out for inspo.
My Fête de la Musique Experience
My first Fête de la Musique was insane; in fact, it was one of my most memorable travel experiences and one of the main reasons why I made amends with Paris.
So, my OG readers and followers know that a decade ago, I spent a semester in Rennes, France, so I’ve already been to Paris before then. Unfortunately, Paris didn’t live up to my expectations at the time and ended up being a huge disappointment. Let’s be honest, Paris is one of those destinations that are so heavily promoted to the extent that it forms unrealistic expectations for its visitors. I was personally able to make amends with the City of Love when I decided to experience it as a traveler and not a tourist, and just go with the flow. Fête de la Musique 2023 was the first stepping stone in this incredible journey.
To be quite honest, I first stumbled upon Fête de la Musique by pure coincidence. That specific visit to Paris wasn’t really Paris-focused. I was in Europe during that time to attend AfroNation music festival, and I just made a stop in Paris the week before, mainly to attend a dance class with one of my favorite choreographers of all time! Yes, I basically went to Paris to attend a dance class! In case you were wondering, it was epic.
Anyhow, the day I arrived in Paris was the 21st of June, Curls en Route’s blog-aversary, and coincidentally Fête de la Musique. After a power nap and lunch at my hostel, I headed out to the streets of Paris, and my plan was: TO HAVE NO PLAN. I decided to just walk aimlessly and wing it.
My feet led me to the Montmartre area, and as I marveled at the Sacré Coeur Cathedral, my ears led me somewhere else. The OGs here would also know that I’m a sucker for live music, and I’d often randomly follow the music on my trips and end up at wonderful places. This is exactly what happened. I ended up watching a super cool show by a marching band, and that was when I realized what was happening.
The music then led me to party number 1 at Benelum bar, which was fire! At one point, the entire street turned into a dance floor; EDM and hip-hop mashups blasting, including unexpected techno remixes of hip-hop legends like Kendrick Lamar. Above that scene, neighbors leaned out of their windows, vibing; even senior citizens and pets joined the party.
I hated to leave that party, but I had to make a trip to a nearby supermarché for a bottle of water; responsible partying requires hydration! As I made my way there, I couldn’t help but hear a tabla, a familiar sound that reminded me of home! This sound led to a Lebanese restaurant, called Chez Zena, and suddenly, for a second there, I felt like I wasn’t in Montmartre anymore and that I had teleported to Mar Mikhael in Beirut!
As an Egyptian, vibing to Arabic, and mostly Egyptian Arabic music, in Paris was irresistible. I didn’t leave and stuck around till the end of the night. It was not just the perfect start of my trip, but also a major sign from the universe. You see, I shot a video there, and it went super viral, and the story behind it was even more special!
The Story of How I Went Viral in Paris
This wasn’t just a viral video; it was more.
For context, let’s go back to the last quarter of 2022. If you’ve been following me on Instagram back then, you probably know I was in Jeddah for 2 months because I was hired to work on a project there. And if you’ve been following closely, then you know it was taking a toll on my mental health even though I was trying hard not to show it.
One day, I woke up, and out of nowhere, I decided to play the song (the one in the viral video) every single morning to set a positive intention for my day. For the non-Arabic speakers here, “Eh el youm el helw da”, the name of the song, means “oh what a beautiful day.” It turned into an inside joke even with friends and colleagues, but I actually believed in my own joke. I took that silly joke so damn seriously that I even put it on sticky notes on my desk and bedroom mirror. I firmly believed that my good thoughts could attract “good things”. Whenever I felt down or whenever I needed to feel good at the beginning of a day, I played the song.
Fast-forward to mid-2023, June 21st, the 5th anniversary of my blog. It’s my first day in Paris, a city, and I wind up at a Lebanese restaurant, and of all the Egyptian songs they played, I was so excited when they played this one.
That whole moment was surreal, so I obviously had to document it. For me, before anyone or anything else. That day, I filmed a lot of videos that I knew were content-worthy, but I had to post this one; it seemed like my good luck charm, and it was!
I knew exactly what I was doing when I was uploading this video; I’m not gonna lie. I knew it had the tendency to blow up and was uploading it with that intention. To be honest, though, I would’ve never thought it would blow up to that extent! I mean, just 4 days into my trip, that reel had garnered half a million views, and by the end of the trip, it had reached 1.3 million views. Today, it has 1.6 million views; I’m still in disbelief.
So after this long story, I guess what I’ve been trying to say is that I felt this was a sign from the universe to keep going. To keep doing what I do. Being a full-time creator is not easy; this road is often paved with lots of moments of discouragement. Building my blog has always made sense, and the work I put in it was always rewarding with tangible results. But on the other hand, building social media presence was always burning me out; it still is. Even if you do everything by the book, it doesn’t always reap the results you’ve been working hard for. And that alone can be very frustrating.
To be honest, I was never looking for vanity metrics or virality. I’ve actually worked in content long enough, in my pre-blogging 9-5 days, to know what’s guaranteed to go viral. There were things that I knew I could do, and blowing up was guaranteed, but I never did those things because I didn’t want to change my voice, that’s 1, and 2 is that virality isn’t always a good thing because it doesn’t bring in your target audience. And to me, that was way more important. But still, this moment of encouragement was the validation I needed at the time. We still need signs like that from time to time.
What’s Next?
So, if you ever find yourself in Paris on June 21st, all you have to do is follow the music. Don’t overthink it; this is what Fête de la Musique is all about. Just an entire city coming alive and people from different backgrounds all coming together in the most spectacular way possible.
If you’ve already booked your ticket and are packing your bag (I don’t blame you), I’ve got your back. Whether you’re figuring out where to stay, how to get around, what to do, or how to stay safe, I’ve put together multiple Paris blog posts that’ll help you make the most of your trip:
- Where to Stay in Paris: How to Pick a Solo-Friendly ‘Arrondissement’
- Transportation in Paris: How to Get Around the City of Light
- 10 Unique Things to Do in Paris as a Solo Traveler
- Is Paris Safe? A Solo Female Traveler’s Ultimate Guide
- Paris Travel Tips: How to Make the Best of Your Solo Trip
- How to Get From Charles de Gaulle to Paris: 6 Modes From Airport to City
Let me leave you with one thought: Once you’ve experienced Paris during Fête de la Musique, you’re bound to return for more. It sure helped me make amends with the French capital; chances are, it’ll do wonders for you too.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
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Booking a trip soon? Here are some useful travel resources:
- Book your flight with Skyscanner, Kiwi, CheapOair, or WayAway.
- Book your hostel with Hostelworld.
- Book your hotel with Booking.com.
- Get your travel insurance with SafetyWing.
- Hire a car with Skyscanner, Discover Cars, Rentalcars, or AutoEurope.
- Book your tours with Get Your Guide, Viator, Tiqets, or Klook.
- Download an eSIM from Airalo or Jetpac.
- Check out my trip planning tools for more travel resources.
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
