Best time to visit Paris: climate, seasons and events guide

Ah, the City of Lights…who doesn’t dream of spending time in Paris? Before you put on your beret and grab your baguette, be careful. Your Parisian holiday will be very different, depending on the time of year that you visit. Here’s everything you need to know to start planning your trip and discover the best time to visit Paris.

The climate in Paris

Paris is a city with warm summers and cold winters. There’s some rain all year round, so it’s always worth packing an umbrella. Take a look at what you can expect month by month:

Paris temperature in January

Brrrr! Because January is the coldest month of the year in Paris, you best bundle up. Daily highs hover around 7°C, while average lows are a mere 2.5°C. The good news? There are fewer tourists around than usual, as most visitors stay away from the cold winter weather.

Paris temperature in February

If you fancy a Valentine’s trip to Paris, make sure to bring a coat. It’s only marginally warmer than January: average daily highs creep up to 8°C, and lows are still under 3°C.

Paris weather in March

Romantic singers will tell you that Paris is at its best in the springtime, but weather-wise, it’s still pretty cold. In Paris, March temperatures are on the chilly side. By day, you can expect highs of 12°C, while nights are still a chilly 5°C on average.

Paris temperature in April

Now things are starting to warm up a bit. April sees average daily highs of 15.6°C. Nights are still just 7°C, so make sure you’ve got a jacket if you want to indulge in a long, leisurely dinner on a Parisian terrace.

May in Paris weather

Many travellers reckon that May is the best time to visit Paris. The summer crowds haven’t descended yet, but the weather is warm and pleasant. Expect daily highs of 19°C and lows of 10.5°C.

The weather in Paris in June

June sees the start of the Parisian summer. By day, temperatures hover around 22°C. Nights aren’t quite so cold anymore, with average lows of 13°C.

Temperature in Paris, France, in July

You might think of Paris in July as a glorious summer month, but be careful! On the one hand, temperatures are certainly high, with average maximums of 25°C and minimums of 15°C. However, July is the rainiest month in Paris, so don’t expect days of non-stop sunshine.

August temperature in Paris

August is the hottest month of the year. Daily highs often peak at a little over 25°C, while lows rarely drop below 16°C. The city streets are likely to be crowded with holidaymakers throughout this month.

September weather in Paris

At the start of September, the weather is still warm, but the temperature drops sharply by the end of the month. Daily highs are around 21°C on average across the month, with lows of 12.5°C.

October weather in Paris

By October, autumn has well and truly arrived in Paris. Nights are chilly once again, with lows dropping to 9°C. By day, the weather is still a fairly pleasant 16°C on average.

November in Paris weather

November may be the best time to visit Paris on a budget, as long as you don’t care about the weather! Daily highs are a distinctly chilly 10.2°C, while nightly minimums drop to just 5°C.

Weather in Paris in December

December is a cold, wet month in Paris. You can expect daily highs of just 6.8°C and nightly lows of 3.6°C. The magic of Christmas in the City of Lights may be enough to keep you warm, though!

Peak season in Paris

For many of us, the best time of year to visit Paris is simple: whenever other people aren’t visiting! The bad news is that Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world. If you want to enjoy the French capital without tourists, you’re out of luck.

That being said, Paris does have definite high and low seasons. The summer months are particularly busy, and prices tend to go up accordingly. As you might expect, Paris is also busy around Valentine’s Day. Don’t even think of booking a last-minute table for two on February 14th — you’re more likely to end up grabbing some street food from a kebab shop!

If you want to see the city with fewer visitors, then November may be the best month to visit Paris. You’ll never be completely alone in this tourist hotspot, but you won’t have to elbow your way through the crowds to get a good view of the Eiffel Tower.

The best month to visit Paris for local events

A trip to the French capital is always something special, but you can make it even better with a little forward thinking. Why not plan your trip to Paris to coincide with a special event? It’s a great way to embrace French culture and join in the local fun. Naturally, for such a large city, there are a number of events, festivals and other occasions throughout the year. The Paris calendar is never boring! Here are just a few of our favourite annual events that are worth booking a flight for:

Paris Fashion Week

Ooh la la! When it comes to mode, no city in the world can compare with Paris. There are actually several Paris Fashion Weeks during the year, but our favourites take place in January and again in June or July. This is when big-name French designers show off their haute couture while spectators gasp in awe at the cutting-edge fashions. You might not get in to see a show, but you can still do a bit of celeb-spotting in the city centre. Dress to impress as you wander around during Paris Fashion Week, and you may end up getting papped by a street-style photographer or two!

Fête de la Musique

There are a number of summer music festivals in and around Paris, but this is our favourite. Why? Because it’s mostly free, which is a rare treat in this expensive city. The festival takes place around the time of the summer solstice, when long, sunny days make the open-air concerts even more enjoyable. You’ll find free concerts of all different genres taking place in locations around the city, making this the best time to visit Paris if you want to get your groove on.

Paris Pride

Parisians know how to party, and there’s nothing quite like Paris Pride. It takes place in June, and a carnival atmosphere descends on the city. The big parade is a riotous celebration of LGBT culture, and the after-party lasts all night. Community members and allies from across France descend on the capital to celebrate love and enjoy some of the wildest parties of the year. The fun lasts for the whole month of June.

Bastille Day

The 14th of July is the most important day in the French calendar. Across the country, people celebrate the storming of the Bastille, one of the most pivotal moments in the French Revolution. In Paris, the event is one of fierce national pride. The day kicks off with a military parade down the Champs-Élysées, celebrating the French values of liberté, egalité, fraternité. In the evening, a spectacular fireworks display lights up the sky, with the Eiffel Tower as an unbeatable focal point. Every year, up to a million visitors fill the Champs de Mars to watch the fireworks.

Christmas

Christmas is one of the most magical times of year to visit Paris. This is when the City of Lights truly lives up to its nickname, as thousands of twinkling Christmas lights decorate its streets and avenues. At the city’s Christmas markets, you’ll find handicrafts, regional food, artisan wares and other fabulous last-minute gift ideas. Ice rinks are installed around the city for some skating fun. Spend some time on the ice, then warm yourself up with a mug of rich hot chocolate.

Best of all, though, are the window displays. The city’s best department stores and finest hotels put on extravagant Christmas displays, each one with a unique, magical theme. You may not have the budget to actually buy anything in one of these exclusive stores, but you can still enjoy taking a walk around the city centre and admiring the windows.

The ideal time to visit Paris for foodies

Gourmet travellers will find that any time of year is a good time to visit Paris. After all, this is France! If you really want to indulge in a full-on foodie fantasy, then try visiting in March. This is when the Fête de la Gastronomie takes place. For three days, the city is transformed into a celebration of French cuisine. Restaurants prepare special tasting menus, workshops are held to teach you the secrets of French cooking, and people flock to markets selling artisan produce. Loosen your belt —because this is the best time to visit Paris for a real feast.

If you’ve got more of a sweet tooth, then head to Paris in October for the Salon du Chocolat. As the name suggests, this event is dedicated to all things chocolate. An enormous exhibition hall is transformed into a Willy Wonka wonderland as the best chocolatiers from France and beyond lay out their stalls. Exhibits, workshops and tastings —lots and lots of tastings— make this a chocoholic’s dream come true.

Whatever the time of year, we’re always ready for a trip to Paris. Our five-day trip will let you see the highlights of the city before we whisk you away to the Champagne region to see how the famous sparkling wine is made — and yes, indulge in a glass of bubbly or two. Why not join us for a fabulous French getaway?