Famous landmarks slash visiting hours as deadly heat wave threatens tourists

Under its usual schedule, the Louvre opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. on most days, with a late closing at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum says it received nine million visitors in 2025, roughly 25,000 per day on average.

Tourists still lined up outside the iconic museum, as visitors shielded themselves with parasols and umbrellas. Far fewer guests lingered outside to admire the Louvre's glass pyramid, with many hurrying past the sun-baked plaza.

The Eiffel Tower's reduced hours cut into a summer schedule that normally runs well into the night. During peak season, the monument is typically open from 9 a.m. until 12:45 a.m., but it closed to visitors at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with last entries at 12:15 p.m., Reuters reported. 

The disruption also hit schools, with France closing 845 of them on Monday and allowing students at roughly 1,800 others to leave early, AFP reported via Euronews.

Travel was also disrupted in other parts of Europe.

London's Changing of the Guard ceremony was scaled back because of the extreme temperatures, while Florence's Uffizi Gallery temporarily halted ticket sales after an air-conditioning malfunction, Reuters reported. 

Additionally, train operators reduced service. About one in 10 trains in the Paris region were canceled over infrastructure risks, Euronews reported.

Sports were disrupted as well. AP reported that French authorities canceled some outdoor sporting events, while Spain's Basque region suspended outdoor competitions.

Paris sweltered through record-setting heat this week, with temperatures climbing above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, AP reported.

Officials continue to advise travelers to drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, and seek air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.

Reuters contributed to this report.