Best time to visit · Paris · France
The best time to visit Paris
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Didier B ( Sam67fr ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
The best times to visit Paris are April to early June and September to October, when days are mild, gardens are at their best and crowds are lighter than in July. Winter (November to February) is the lowest-priced and quietest season for museums, while December adds Christmas lights and markets.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March and November–December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 25°C (77°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 7°C (45°F))
- Rainiest month
- December (~11 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Paris has a mild oceanic climate: cool, grey winters rarely below freezing, warm summers with occasional heatwaves, and rain spread fairly evenly through the year.
March–May
Spring
Blossom in the gardens, café terraces reopening and comfortable walking weather, with showers and busy Easter and May bank holidays.
June–August
Summer
Long evenings, open-air festivals and Paris Plages, but the most crowded and expensive season, with occasional heatwaves and some August closures.
September–November
Autumn
Settled September weather, cultural events and autumn colour; it turns damp and grey by November, when prices fall.
December–February
Winter
Cold and short days, but quiet museums, low prices outside the holidays, festive lights in December and the January sales.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | 3°C | 10 | 8.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 8°C | 3°C | 9 | 10.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 12°C | 5°C | 10 | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 16°C | 7°C | 9 | 13.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 20°C | 11°C | 9 | 15.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 23°C | 14°C | 8 | 16.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 25°C | 16°C | 7 | 15.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 25°C | 16°C | 7 | 14.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 21°C | 13°C | 8 | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 16°C | 10°C | 9 | 10.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 11°C | 6°C | 10 | 9.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 8°C | 4°C | 11 | 8.3 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early January); Lunar New Year parades in the 13th arrondissement (late January or February) |
| February | Salon International de l'Agriculture — farm and food fair (usually late February) |
| March | Paris Fashion Week (women's ready-to-wear, usually late February to early March); Paris Marathon (usually early April, sometimes late March) |
| April | Paris Marathon (usually early April); Foire du Trône funfair (spring) |
| May | Nuit Européenne des Musées — free late museum openings (usually mid-May); Roland-Garros tennis (starts late May) |
| June | Fête de la Musique — free street concerts citywide (21 June); Pride march (usually late June) |
| July | Bastille Day parade and fireworks (14 July); Paris Plages — riverside summer beaches (usually July–August) |
| August | Paris Plages continues (usually until mid/late August); Rock en Seine festival (late August) |
| September | European Heritage Days — free entry to normally closed buildings (usually third weekend); Paris Fashion Week (late September to early October) |
| October | Nuit Blanche — all-night contemporary art event (usually early October); Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre — grape harvest festival (usually mid-October) |
| November | Christmas lights switched on along the Champs-Élysées (usually late November); Beaujolais Nouveau release (third Thursday) |
| December | Christmas markets at the Tuileries and other squares (usually late November to early January); New Year's Eve on the Champs-Élysées |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in January–February and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Paris?
The best times to visit Paris are April to early June and September to October, when days are mild, gardens are at their best and crowds are lighter than in July. Winter (November to February) is the lowest-priced and quietest season for museums, while December adds Christmas lights and markets.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Paris?
Usually in January–February and November. Cold and often grey, but museums are quiet and the winter sales (les soldes) usually start in early-to-mid January.
+What is the rainiest month in Paris?
December, with about 11 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Paris get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 16°C (61°F).