Best Time to Visit Paris

Our favorite months to go on a Paris sightseeing tour are May, June, September, and October. Although the average maximum summer temperature is around 25°C/77°F, it can get much hotter, especially in August. In 2023, temperatures reached around 38°C/100°F during summer heat waves.

In the winter months, the weather can drop to as low as 3°C or less, and the days are shorter. So unless you're planning to enjoy the festive Christmas atmosphere, we recommend waiting until at least March to visit Paris, or preferably April, when the weather tends to be much better.

Visiting Paris during late spring, early summer and early fall will help you to avoid the most extreme temperatures, and are the ideal times to enjoy walking tours and the city parks.

In this month-by-month guide, we recommend the best things to do in Paris depending on the time of year you wish to visit.

We invite you to browse our self guided driving tours including Paris, so you can explore France at your own pace with guidance from us, the experts.

Paris by Month

January and February (winter)

We don’t recommend visiting Paris in the winter because of the short days and generally unpleasant weather. Snow isn’t that common in Paris, but you should definitely come prepared for very cold, wet conditions, with temperatures hovering around 5°C/41°F.

Winter could be an option for travelers who prefer fewer crowds, or if you want to explore Paris's world-class museums, go shopping, enjoy theater shows or sample some typical delicacies in Paris’s best cafes and bakeries (all experiences you can enjoy indoors away from the cold!).

Our favorite Paris museums include the famous Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, of course. To experience something a bit different, we also recommend visiting the Musée de l'Orangerie (to see Monet’s water lilies), the Musée du Chocolat (no explanation needed!) and the Atelier des Lumières (an amazing digital art exhibition space).

If you want to go shopping, you might find some bargains in the winter sales (soldes d’hiver). Check out Galeries Lafayette and Printemps on Boulevard Haussmann or the gorgeous Samaritaine department store in Le Marais district. High fashion enthusiasts will find all the famous French designers - Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent etc - on the Champs-Élysées avenue. You may also find some hidden gems in Paris’s covered passages.

There are usually temporary ice-skating rinks open at sites like the Hôtel de Ville or the Tuileries garden until the first or second week of January. The exact locations vary from year to year.

If you’re in Paris around Epiphany (January 6) be sure to try a galette des rois (King's Cake) in one of the city’s many bakeries. Look out for the lucky charm inside!

If you’ll be visiting Paris with us for Valentine's Day, we’ll recommend a romantic Seine river cruise.

For more ideas, check out our blog posts on the best things to do in France in January and the best things to do in France in February.

March and April (early spring)

As winter recedes, temperatures start to climb, reaching 10-15°C/50-59°F. Paris bursts into color as spring blossoms arrive and the longer days mean you’ll have more time for sightseeing. 

This shoulder season offers a sweet spot of moderate crowds and improving weather. It's an ideal time to see the first blooms in Luxembourg Gardens or have a picnic in the Bois de Boulogne on a nice day.

If you like cherry blossoms, you’ll be able to see dozens of them at Parc de Sceaux, just outside of the city.

Art Paris, the main spring event for modern and contemporary art, is held for a few days in the first week of April. From 2025, it will be returning to the spectacular and newly renovated Grand Palais. 

Bookworms may enjoy exploring the Paris Book Fair (Festival du Livre) held in mid-April.

For more inspiration, check out our France in March and France in April articles, or see our Paris and Provence tour.

May (spring)

May is one of the best months to visit Paris, as warmer weather (around 18°C/64°F) makes outdoor activities in the city much more pleasant. While tourist numbers start to increase, it's still possible to enjoy the city's attractions without the peak summer crowds.

Exploring Paris on foot is a great option in May. Here’s a suggested walking tour of Montmartre, which includes the Moulin Rouge, Vincent van Gogh’s former residence and the gorgeous Rue de L'Abreuvoir and La Maison Rose. If you’d prefer to learn more about the city with an expert guide, we can arrange this as part of our tours that include Paris.

If you’re in Paris in mid-May, you can experience Paris’s European Night of Museums. This one-night event gives you the opportunity to discover many of Paris’s most famous museums at night, with special workshops, guided tours, screening and more.

The city's famous parks and gardens are in full bloom at this time of year, and longer days mean extended hours for sightseeing and dining al fresco. 

We recommend a visit to the Rodin Museum’s sculpture garden, which is lovely to stroll through when the weather’s good and an ideal picnic spot.

To escape beyond Paris’s most popular tourist attractions, take your picnic to the lovely Bois de Vincennes, just southeast of Paris. It has a gorgeous flower garden, a zoo, a boat lake and a Buddhist temple. Keep in mind that there’s also a space reserved for naturists in the park!

For tennis fans, the French Open normally runs from mid-May until early June. Expect the area around the Roland Garros Stadium, to the south of the Bois de Boulogne, to be particularly busy at this time.

Explore beyond Paris with this 20-night tour that takes you from Paris to Nice.

June (early summer)

Another lovely time to be in Paris, the weather is even warmer in June, but still not too hot. 

Experience Paris’s famous cafe culture, with locals and tourists enjoying outdoor terraces late into the evening.

The pleasant weather also makes it a perfect time for cruising the Seine or exploring charming neighborhoods like Le Marais, the Latin Quarter or Montmartre.

The Rue Montorgueil and Rue St. Antoine are also very nice to stroll along on foot, with restaurants, cafés, bakeries, wine shops and many other small businesses to explore.

For some gorgeous views over Paris, visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse Tower, or Centre Pompidou. We also love the view over the Seine from the top of the rooftop cafe of the Institut du Monde Arabe - a hidden gem most tourists don’t know about!

June also brings vibrant events like the Fête de la Musique on the summer solstice (June 21), filling the streets with live performances.

This tour will give you a real taste of France in 14 days

July and August (mid-summer)

These are the hottest months in Paris, with temperatures often reaching 25°C/77°F or higher. 

Although July and August mark the peak international tourist season, many Parisians take their vacations in August, so the city may seem less busy than you would expect. For the same reason, some local businesses may be closed, as many owners leave Paris during August.

On the hottest days, you’ll probably appreciate the air conditioning of some of Paris’s museums. Alternatively, you could head to the beach - without even leaving the city! From the beginning of July to the beginning of September, the banks of the Seine transform into urban beaches, known as Paris Plages. The plages are open daily, with locations at Bassin de la Villette, Canal Saint-Martin and the Parc Rives de Seine.

For something a bit different, check out the events of the Paris Summer Festival if you’re in France in July. It includes dance and theater performances and art installations.

Bastille Day celebrations on July 14th are a highlight, with impressive fireworks displays over the Eiffel Tower.=

The Tour de France cyclists arrive on the Champs-Élysées on one of the last Sundays in July, so watch out for that!

The Parc Floral de Paris - the flower garden inside the Bois de Vincennes - hosts theater shows and festivals over the summer, including the Paris Jazz Festival, which runs from late June through late August.

On a warm night you can enjoy outdoor movies at various open-air cinemas throughout the capital. These are open at different times in the summer months, so check the schedule beforehand. A popular option is the open-air cinema at the Parc de la Villette, which will open again in summer 2025.

If you enjoy music festivals, the Rock en Seine festival happens at the end of August each year just outside of Paris. It normally includes rock, pop, and indie music acts from around the world, with Lana del Rey headlining in 2024.

The summer is a great time to explore Northern France at your own pace

September and October (late summer/early fall)

September through mid-October is a lovely time to visit Paris. The weather generally remains mild, with temperatures ranging from 18-21°C/64-70°F, perfect for outdoor exploration. 

As summer crowds thin out, you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere at the most popular sites. As fall arrives, Paris takes on a golden hue, making October the perfect time for photographers to capture the city's parks adorned in vibrant fall colors. As well as the parks we’ve already mentioned, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is particularly pretty in the fall.

This is also an excellent time for food lovers, with many seasonal delicacies appearing in markets and restaurants.

For a few days in late September, Les Journées du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) in France offer the public a unique opportunity to visit historical and cultural sites, often closed to the public or requiring an entrance fee, for free. Remember to book tickets for the most popular sites in advance.

Nuit Blanche, the all-night art festival, is held in Paris every year, usually in early October. This huge festival features all-night public transportation, with museums, cultural institutes, and libraries hosting special free events for the public. Many tourist attractions remain open late, and the city comes alive with street entertainment and art installations.

The Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival typically takes place in mid-October. This annual event celebrates the grape harvest from the Montmartre vineyard, offering a lively mix of wine tastings, parades, and cultural festivities.

In the fall, a tour of Paris, Burgundy and the Loire Valley is a lovely option

November and December (winter)

As Christmas approaches, Paris takes on a magical quality. It’s not our favorite time to visit Paris because of the cold, dark days, with temperatures of around 7-10°C/45-50°F, but you might feel that the city compensates with its festive charm.

Photographers may like to go to the Paris Photo fair at the Grand Palais, which will run for a few days in November and exhibit work from photographers all over the world.

Christmas markets begin to appear in late November, and by December, the Champs-Élysées is aglow with holiday lights. The Festival of Lights at the Jardin des Plantes is particularly beautiful.

Tourist numbers are generally lower, except around the Christmas and New Year period. Ice skating rinks pop up around the city, and window shopping becomes an art form as department stores unveil elaborate holiday displays.

For more ideas, check our post on things to do in Paris in December

In summary, the best time to visit Paris is in May, June, September and October. These months offer a balance of pleasant weather, moderate crowds, and the chance to experience the city's beauty in springtime bloom or with fall colors.

We warmly invite you to browse our self guided tours of France including Paris. Explore Paris and beyond by car at your own pace, with a full itinerary provided by us!