Summer’s here and your family are heading to Paris. So are about a million other people, literally. But luxury apartment rentals while visiting Paris will help you beat the crowds and have a peaceful, restful haven to come back to each day. With a luxury apartment, you can avail of concierge services, shop, stroll the neighborhood and begin your day with the offerings from the local bakery, just as the natives do.

Paris is the world’s top travel destination
As of 2015, there were 16.06 million international overnight visitors to the city. The largest number of visitors are from the U.K., followed by Americans, Germans and Italians. Chinese, Japanese and Middle Eastern visitors also travel to Paris in significant numbers. While the tourist industry is capable and experienced in greeting visitors, choosing apartment rentals instead of a hotel gives your holiday a unique flavor.

Paris in the summer is full of special things to see and do. Here are some of them:
Bastille Day
If your trip to Paris falls in July, you can help the French celebrate their Independence Day on July 14. Bastille Day marks the beginning of the French Revolution, commemorating the storming of the notorious prison and the freeing of prisoners in 1790. The Champs-Elysees is closed for a parade and there are fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. And in the nearby UNESCO World Heritage city of Carcassonne in Languedoc-Roussillon, more than 700,000 visitors watch the display and fireworks.

Sports events: Paris Open and Tour de France
These legendary events are a must-see even if you’re not a diehard sports fan. But plan ahead, as tickets for the French Open are sold out months in advance. The Tour de France literally does a three-week tour of France, ending up in Paris on the last day. Join the cheering crowds to encourage the cyclists.

Street fairs: Foire Saint Germain
If that sounds deliciously medieval, that’s because it is. The fair dates back to 1176 and has been a meeting place for the barter and sale of goods. There are antiques, food, music and the famous theatre. The fair runs from May to early July.

Shopping: summer sales
Summer is one of the two officially designated seasons for sales in France. From June 24, famous stores like the grands magasins Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and Le Bon Marche, as well as small boutiques, offer discounts of 20 to 60%.

Outdoor activities and dining
Head out to the Luxembourg Gardens to relax and people watch. Most restaurants have outdoor seating and dining. With outdoor movies at the Parc de la Villette and music at the Fete de la Musique on the summer solstice, there a chance to enjoy the weather and culture in one of the world’s great cities. With music from rock to classical as well as cutting edge art and theatre, you’ll never run out things to see and do.

There are also the museums, the sightseeing trips by boat, and of course, day trips to the wine country. Vacationing in Paris can be exciting and exhausting. Especially for those traveling with kids, apartment rentals can be a good way to establish a comfortable base from which to explore.