Paris is one of these cities that is always crowded. However, with a little bit of planning, you can enjoy The City of Love with a bit fewer queues and fewer crowds. The best time of the year to visit Paris is spring, with the best months being April and the beginning of May. The fall is as good as the spring, with the best months to visit Paris will be late September and October. Travel to Paris in spring; you will get warm weather and lovely blooming. Go to Paris in the fall and avoid the intense heat and the largest tourist crowds.
Best time to visit Paris
Winter may not be the best time to visit Paris due to the weather conditions. Paris is usually wet, and the temperatures range between +3C and +6C. The upside of visiting Paris in winter is that the city is less crowded and cheaper. You can visit famous museums and galleries without long queues and large crowds. Hotels and flights are cheaper due to the low season and a winter sale.
Vinter in Paris
Visit Paris in January
There are two seasonal sales in Paris—winter and summer. The winter sales start in early January and last until the beginning of February. Paris is home to all the most prominent fashion houses, and Paris Fashion Week is held this month. Winter will also be one of the best seasons to visit Disneyland in Paris, although the weather may be a bummer. January is usually the coldest month of the year, and I recommend wearing a layer-on layer and bringing your winter coat and shoes.
January is one of the best months to visit museums, but check the opening hours, which can be reduced. If you are a foodie, you can eat around Paris in almost empty restaurants, getting the whole place to yourself.
Temperature: Average +10C
Visit Paris in February
How about spending the most romantic day of the year in the most romantic city in the world? Yes, Valentine’s Day in Paris is not a bad idea. February is the month of the carnival, and Paris has its parade. There are several exhibitions and concerts throughout the year, so don’t forget to check the information about Paris before arriving. Paris weather in February is still chilly and wet. February is like January; it is perfect for visiting museums, especially if the weather is cold and wet.
Temperature: Average +12C
Travel to Paris in December
Mid to late December is a high season due to Christmas and New Year’s. Garlands of shimmering light up Champs-Elysée and the whole city is decorated festively. There are ice-skating rinks throughout the city where you can bring your kids, and you will find one in front of Hôtel-de-Ville. Christmas Markets are set up in different neighborhoods, with warm wood-roofed booths, vin chaud (hot wine), enchanting decorations, gifts, and gourmet treats. Sometimes, you might even get snow. December is the perfect month to spend on the streets of Paris, but it is also ideal to catch a show. Christmassy food, pastries, hot chocolate, and colorful macaroons will warm your heart and soul.
Temperature: Average +10C
Paris in spring
If you love gardens, parks, and blooming flowers, Paris in springtime is a beautiful idea. The weather is getting warmer, although it may still rain in March and April. Paris is a popular destination throughout the year, and although spring is a shoulder season, it is getting crowded. However, it is easier to get hotel and airline tickets at a decent price than during high seasons. You can do all the attractions during your spring stay in Paris, but remember to bring an umbrella.
Despite the rainy weather during the earlier months of spring, this is the best time of the year to visit Paris, speaking out of my personal experience. Who wouldn’t want to stroll on Champs-Elyseé for a while and then rest your feet on a sidewalk restaurant or cafe while having a glass of Crémant without waiting in queues to get a table? We have visited Paris in the early spring, mid-summer, and late fall, and I would say that Paris towards the end of April or the beginning of May is THE perfect time for a visit.
Another thing to consider is which neighborhood to stay in Paris. The lower the season, the closer you can stay to the best attractions.
Visit Paris in March
The weather can be grey and wet, and you must bring an umbrella when walking outside. We did a champagne cruise on the Seine when we visited Paris in March. It was a bit chilly, but we were lucky with the weather as it was dry, although slightly grey. You can check out the cruise on the Seine with Viator. You can get a seat inside or outside on the second deck, which is open. You decide where to sit when you board, and you get your glass of champagne at the bar. The boats leave from the Eiffel Tower so you can visit it first. If you love running, you can do a half-marathon or the Eiffel Tower challenge, where the goal is to be the fastest to climb up 1665 steps. Both events happen in March.
Temperature: Average +12C, occasionally wet
Visit Paris in April
April is getting warmer, and you will see blooming gardens towards the end of the month. Activity-wise, April continues like March with several running events, and you can participate in a marathon running through some of the city’s most famous attractions. You can also visit the trade show for runners.
Have you ever attended show-jumping? If not, you can do it in Paris on Sundays in April. Or how about vintage car races? Go crazy and do at least one thing you didn’t think you would.
Temperature: Average +17C, occasionally wet
Visit Paris in May
In May, the blooming continues along with the rising temperatures. Would you like to attend music festivals in Paris? No problem! May, with its warm weather of around +20C, offers a variety of different music events. You will get anything and everything from jazz concerts to open-air festivals.
In the last two days of May, you can experience the street performance festival. Watch magicians, dancers, puppet shows, and hear singers along the Canal Saint-Martin.
Stroll at the Jardin de Luxembourg, the famous gardens in Paris. Chill in Paris’s most laid-back neighborhood, the Latin Quarter, with its cafes, restaurants, small shops, and Paris’ University Sorbonne.
If you are into sports, the French Open starts in mid-May and runs through the first week of June.
Temperature: Average +21C
Is summer the best time to go to Paris?
Summer in Paris is hot, crowded, and expensive. The school summer break starts in July, and most locals will spend their holiday in France. They flee to the coast in August, and many small shops and restaurants are closed. Due to the lack of business travelers, accommodation prices might be lower during August.
The second annual sale – the summer sale – starts around the last week of June and runs through July. Check out shopping opportunities in Paris. This summer we spent only one afternoon in Paris. We did some shopping on the Champs-Elysées, took many shots of the Arc de Triumph, and strolled around. The heat and the crowds were a real turnoff.
Visit Paris in June
June is like May – a month of music. Many open-air events occur, such as Mini Opera Cote Cour in Bercy village and La Plage de Glazart. The latter is a “seaside” concert with sunbeds, sand, pétanque tournaments, food trucks, outdoor clubbing evenings, and free concerts.
Other activities beyond the tourist trails are the Champs-Elysees Film Festival, Paris Pride, and Paris Jazz Festival. And remember, the semi-annual sales are on.
Temperature: Average +25C
Paris in July
July is probably slightly better for heat than August, but I would avoid visiting Paris during these months. There are, however, quite a few highlights in July, such as the Tour de France and Bastille Day (French National Day) celebration with food, drinks, concerts, and fireworks.
The right bank of the Seine is transformed into a series of sandy beaches. The sunbeds and palm trees create a feeling of being at the seaside.
The sales are still on, and if you love markets, Paris has 82 food markets, organic markets, flower markets, art markets, and so on.
Temperature: Average +28C
If you are considering doing a road trip in France, I have a perfect 10-day road trip itinerary starting from Paris
Paris in August
I’m sorry, but I’ve said it before: the heat might be awful. August is the hottest month in Paris. Locals flee to the coast, leaving the city to tourists. However, the music and film festivals continue, and you can experience a traveling film festival in Montmartre, among other things. You can also attend several exhibitions to get out of the heat.
25th of August, you can join Parisians in their celebration of the Liberation of Paris from the nazis. Meet up at the Hotel de Ville and enjoy the ride.
Temperature: Average +30C
Visit Paris in the fall
Beginning to mid-September in Paris is still a high season. The weather is still warm, queues are always long, and prices are still high. However, it is much better than in the summer season. Even though it is still crowded, the most significant tourist mass has gone. Towards the end of September and mid-October is the perfect time to visit Paris. Most tourists will be gone by then, and flights and accommodations will be cheaper than during the high season. The weather is still lovely and can get as warm as +20C. Mid-Oktober is the start of the rainy season. Although flowers are past their peak, fall brings out unique colors.
Visit Paris in September
The month when Paris comes to life again after the summer holidays. The heat might still be present until the middle of September. However, towards the end of the month, you can have beautiful weather with up to +20C. If you visit Paris in September, you can discover quite a few little-known places. European Heritage Days are held in September, and many iconic cultural sites will be open for one weekend. The design and fashion return to the city in September, hosting Paris Design Week and Fashion Week. There are still many exhibits and musical events to attend. Pop-up beaches La Plages are still in use.
Temperature: Average +22C
Visit Paris in October
I love contemporary art, and in October, you can experience contemporary artists taking over the city from morning to evening. On the first Saturday of October, artists will propose installations, exhibitions, concert performances, and creations that explore all facets of contemporary art throughout the city, allowing you to see Paris differently. Public transport stays open all night so spectators can design their route among the dozens of avant-garde projects of international artists. Who wouldn’t love an opportunity such as Nuit Blanche provides?
Would you like to indulge your creativity in a different way? Culinary activities might be for you. Why not learn how to make macarons, croissants, or other French delights?
During five days in October, eight areas of the 18th arrondissement arrange a series of festivals celebrating the harvest, offering local and foreign tastings (the website is in French)
Temperature: Average +18C, occasionally wet
Visit Paris in November
Christmas decorations, lights, gastronomy, exhibitions, shows, and festive spirit. It all starts in November. You can visit all the museums and attractions you desire. This is an off-shoulder month, and you can get cheap flights and accommodation, especially if you come during the early days of November.
Temperature: Average +12C wet
Regarding the iconic attractions of Paris, I recommend you get your tickets in advance. You will still need to stand in line for the entrance, but you will skip the ticket line. Even though I have shared some attractions under certain months, you can choose to do them whenever you are in the city.
Due to the current situation, some activities and attractions have either been canceled or have limited capacity and opening hours.
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