If you’re planning a trip to France, you may be wondering when the best time is to visit Paris. This guide will take you through my personal recommendations and after living here for 7 years, I’ve got a pretty good idea!
The city of light, is one of the most visited cities in the world. Romanticised by many tourists, it is certainly a magical city with so many things to do and visit. Yes it’s not perfect that yes it’s now always dream-like but it is definitely worth visiting – even when the weather is bad!
So you’re planning your trip, now the question is when is the best time to visit Paris?
When You Should Visit Paris
I’ve been living in Paris for over 7 years now and I’ve been lucky to explore all the amazing attractions, restaurants, bars and cafés in the city. Paris (and indeed France) has its quirks, as you’ll see later, and it’s important to factor these in when planning your visit. Read on to see my recommendations on when to visit Paris.
May – Early June
I believe the best time to visit Paris is in May or early June. There’s a few reasons for this;
It starts to get warm
Temperatures in Paris in late May to early June easily reach between 21-27c / 72-81f. On average Paris has a temperature of 18c in May and 22c in June. Temperature is never guaranteed of course but these are historical averages. Naturally there are exceptions to this and Paris has seen a high of 38c in May!
Late May to Early June therefore makes it particularly pleasant to do sight-seeing and taking in the city on foot. As it gets warm the seasonal bars on the River Seine open up which is one of my favourite areas to grab a drink outside. Read our guide on the best bars on the Seine below:
The days are longer
June is the month with the longest days with an average of 16 hours of day light. The longest day of the year is on the 21st June (summer solstice) which is also the Fête de la Musique in Paris. This also means it’s a perfect period to visit one of the many rooftop bars in Paris to enjoy a drink after dinner with an incredible view. See below on our guide to the best rooftop bars in Paris:
Guide to the Best Rooftop Bars in Paris
There’s less tourists
Despite what you may read online there’s really no ideal time to visit Paris to avoid other tourists. Yes there will be less tourists in January and February but there are always queues for popular sights such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre gallery. That said, May – Mid June is where you’ll see less tourists compared to the busy period of July.
September – October
My second choice on when to visit Paris would be late Summer / Autumn during the months of September. After La Rentrée (the back to school period in French!), the city gets moving again after the long vacation month of August. September can often bring “Indian Summers” to the city and on average the temperature is 22c/72f. Although as I’ve experienced the temperature at the start of the month can be very different to the end. There’s also a big decrease of tourists compared to the month of August.
Finally October can also be a good time to visit although generally there is more in rain during the month compared to September.
When NOT to Visit Paris
I would definitely avoid August if possible when planning a trip to Paris. Why you ask? August is very much the month of vacation where most of the city’s workers take 2-3 weeks off and leave to go to the South of France or abroad.
It’s not just office workers, many restaurants, butchers, cafés and other businesses close their doors for the entire month. Due to this, it can be difficult to visit popular restaurants or bars and instead be faced with only tourist traps. There’s also a distinct ghost town feeling to the city which can be great if you want to avoid busy metros but it definitely looses some of it’s charm.
Visiting Paris by Season
Summer
Summer time in Paris can be incredible! The weather, on the whole, is fantastic and during June and July, the city is buzzing with Parisians having late night drinks on the many café terraces. It’s also, of course, the time of the year where heatwaves can hit the city and temperatures can hit uptown 40c/104f. There’s also some key events happening in the city during the Summer:
- Fête de la Musique (21st June)
- Bastille Day (14th July)
- Arrival of the Tour de France
Autumn/Fall
Fall in Paris can be a great time to visit. The parks turn yellow & brown as the leaves turn, and warm, inviting cafés await after long walks. Queues will naturally be shorter than those in the Summer but you’ll trade the warmer weather for colder, shorter days.
Winter
The coldest time to visit Paris but it can often be the most charming. Try Winter warming dishes such as Raclette or Boeuf Bourguignon at one of the city’s Bouillon restaurants. There’s also the city’s Christmas markets to explore with an obligatory cup of vin chaud (mulled wine) and of course a Crêpe. It’s, unsurprisingly, the season with the least tourists owing to the cold weather.
Spring
As the short, cold Winter days become longer Paris comes to life. The city’s terraces fill up and the trees lining the Seine spring to life. There’s also the famous cherry blossom which you can see in various spots in Paris including next to the Pont des Arts on the left bank. Seasonal bars start opening up for longer and museums and galleries extend their opening hours.
