Month guide · Paris · France
Paris in March
What March is really like in Paris: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 5°C (41°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 11.7 hours of daylight. Days lengthen and the first blossom appears in the parks, though showers are frequent.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 11.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Paris: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 5°C (41°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with February (8°C (46°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:04
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:56
- Daylight
- About 11.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom in the gardens, café terraces reopening and comfortable walking weather, with showers and busy Easter and May bank holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in March
- Paris Fashion Week (women's ready-to-wear, usually late February to early March)
- Paris Marathon (usually early April, sometimes late March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Landmark · Champs-Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
Use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées; never try to cross the roundabout on foot.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Experience · Seine
Seine river cruise
An hour on the river passes Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower, with most of the bridges in between.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
Religious site · Île de la Cité
Sainte-Chapelle
Visit on a bright morning; the upper chapel is at its most spectacular when the sun is on the south windows.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Garden · Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Luxembourg Gardens
The Senate's formal gardens are where Parisians read on the famous green chairs, children sail wooden boats on the octagonal pond and older locals play pétanque.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 5°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Paris?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Paris in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Paris?
It is a shoulder-season month. Days lengthen and the first blossom appears in the parks, though showers are frequent.
+How warm is Paris in March?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Paris in March?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.