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If your heart’s set on traveling to the City of Love, you’re probably knee-deep in planning itinerary stops and must-see sights. But if you don’t know the best time to visit Paris, you risk arriving when conditions are rainy, crowded, or très expensive.
Paris has a reputation as one of — if not the — best cities to visit in Europe. It’s a tall order to meet in a land with so much history, culture, and stunning architecture. But Paris reliably impresses even the most discerning travelers.
Whether you’re coming for a classical sightseeing tour, to meander the city’s lesser-known districts, shops, and eateries off the beaten path, or to familiarize yourself with the real culture and soul of this romantic city, knowing the best time to visit Paris will maximize your enjoyment.
That’s what we’re exploring below, so strap in and discover the best seasons to plan your trip to Paris for any travel goal.
We’ll highlight the best time to visit Paris overall, the cheapest, least busy, and worst time to go along with tips to make the most of your Parisian travels!
Why You Should Visit Paris in 2023
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Sightseeing
The Eiffel Tower is the most iconic landmark in Paris, but the city is home to a huge collection of sights worth visiting throughout its 17 arrondissements (districts).
In the 1st arrondissement, you can visit the sprawling Louvre Museum and Tuileries Garden. In the 4th, you’ll find Notre Dame Cathedral and the neoclassical Panthéon sits in the 5th. Luxembourg Palace and Gardens occupy the 6th arrondissement.
The 7th arrondissement is home to the Eiffel Tower, the 8th houses the famous Arc de Triomphe, and you’ll wander through a mix of trendy, unique, and historic neighborhoods in almost every district.
With a city pass, you’ll be able to save a little on entry fees and tickets, plus skip the line at many of Paris’ best attractions and sightsee without wasting away in queues all day.
History
Paris is an old city with roots dating back to 3rd-century B.C., it’s over 2,000 years old. Paris shows its impressive age with an amazing collection of historic sites and monuments, museums, galleries, original architecture, and ancient city infrastructure (like narrow cobblestone streets as old as the city).
When you’re here, you’ll not only witness the history of Paris, but you’ll be immersed deeply into it. Being able to walk past buildings like the 1,000+ year old Notre Dame Cathedral and La Sorbonne, founded in 1252, is amazing.
Wander the Louvre Museum with over 652,000 square feet of artifacts and objects, stroll Rue Mouffetard (the oldest street in the city), browse Musée d’Orsay and Musée des Arts Forains art, see knights’ armor at 6. Musee de l’Armee des Invalides, and visit the oldest museum in Paris, Musée Carnavalet.
You’ll walk down ancient streets, tour ornate cathedrals as old as time, pass centuries-old palaces and gardens, and take in the depth and importance of Paris’ long-spanning history.
Food and Wine
You can’t downplay the culinary and wine scene in Paris. This is a foodie city and always has been! Paris has long been at the forefront of fine dining and culinary trends, setting the pace with almost 200 Michelin-starred restaurants and chefs in the city.
French cuisine dates back to Medieval times and is still the basis for formal chef training. Today, Paris offers visitors chances to taste specialties from simple to complex and meticulously-prepared.
Enjoy crepes, croissants, Boeuf Bourguignon, steak tartare, French onion soup, croque monsieur, escargot, baguettes, Coq Au Vin, souffles, macarons, and more in the City of Lights.
The wine and Champagne in Paris can be light and fruity or full-bodied and bold, depending on where in France it originates from. Taste real Champagne sparkling wine, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Bordeaux, rosé, and more in Paris.
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Overall Best Time to Visit Paris
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The best time to visit Paris is between May and June to avoid the biggest crowds, enjoy balmy weather with little rain, and see Paris at its best with spring and summer festivals.
Paris is busiest in the late summer and early fall as visitors scramble to get to the city before the chill (and rain) of winter takes over. You can sidestep the biggest crowds by coming in May or June, which are our favorite months to see Paris.
May and June boast some of the best possible weather in the city, seeing daily highs between 51F and 74F with little rainfall to get in the way of your sightseeing and walking tours.
May is slightly wetter than June with around 9 rainy days in the month, but rain showers tend to be brief and are essential to bring Paris’ flowers, gardens, and parks to their colorful, verdant splendor.
June sees drier conditions and is truly prime in terms of weather and sunshine. As the days get longer, you’ll find more time to be out in the city to explore and see the sights.
It’s not cheap to visit Paris during this ideal period, especially in June (which tends to be the most expensive time to visit). Here’s a look at the average hotel rates this time of year:
- May: $102-$541/night
- June: $125-$702/night
Since May sees lower prices than June with the tradeoff of a little more rain, it’s up to you to decide which month is better for a visit. There are events and festivals happening around the city that can help you make your choice:
- Saint Germain des Prés Jazz Festival (mid-May) involves dozens of jazz concerts in the neighborhood with drinks and snacks offered at venues and theaters holding performances.
- Fête du Pain (mid-May) is the French Bread Festival on the square in front of Notre Dame with samples, traditional ovens, and the aroma of fresh-baked bread filling the air.
- Spring Street Festival (mid-May) or Printemps des Rues Festival is filled with comedy and dance performers, artists, live music, food, and drinks around the Saint-Martin Canal.
- Paris Beer Festival (mid-May) celebrates the growing beer scene in Paris with pubs, bars, and breweries participating with food trucks, beer tastings, live music, and more in Marais and Canal Saint-Martin.
- Nuit Blanche (1st Sat. in Jun.) is an all-night art and light festival where artists, musicians, and dancers come together to welcome the summer season with light shows, art displays, and performances at museums, galleries, and streets.
- Paris summer sales (late Jun. to Jul.) feature famous 30-80% off brand mark-downs with Soldes signs indicating participating luxe and big box retailers around the city.
- Fête de la Musique (mid-Jun.) has pop-up stages all over the city for a massive street festival celebrating all genres of music around Paris with free concerts indoors and out from day late into the night.
- Marche des Fiertés Pride Parade (late Jun.) is a massive LGBT+ parade with floats, performers, live music, and food following a route that ends at Place de République.
- Parc Floral Music Festivals (late Jun.) at the Paris Botanical Garden in Bois de Vincennes include 4 festivals featuring jazz, classical music, children’s concerts, and contemporary music in the beautiful setting of the garden on Saturday and Sunday nights.
- Fnac Live Music Concerts (late Jun.) in the streets in front of Place Hôtel de Ville are part of the Paris-Plages summer leisure events sponsored by the city and local retailers. People pack the streets for free concerts in late June.
If you want the best Paris has to offer, come in June. If you’d like to save a little money and don’t mind sightseeing indoors to get out of the rain when showers occur, come in May.
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Cheapest Time to Visit Paris
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The cheapest time to visit Paris is December through March, when hotel prices drop as low as $79/night and flights are cheaper (after the holiday season).
Winter isn’t the best time to visit Paris in terms of weather and rain, but it does offer the best deals on hotels and flights if you’re interested in making your trip a little more affordable.
It’s important to consider the conditions you’ll arrive to, with average highs ranging from 38F to 55F, gradually warming as spring approaches. Rainfall is common in December, January, and March, but February is much drier. You may see snow between January and early March!
If you book your trip during the December-March period, you’ll benefit with lower prices on both your flights and hotel rooms. Skyscanner found that the cheapest months to fly to Paris from the U.S. are January, February, and March.
And hotel rates will give you nice break during this time of year:
- December: $93-$459/night
- January: $79-$397/night
- February: $88-$411/night
- March: $101-$487/night
With Christmas, the New Year, Mardi Gras, Easter, and early spring events planned during this part of the year, Paris is far from “dead” in the winter and spring. Here are a few events you can look forward to:
- Christmas markets (all Dec.) are fun to visit in December, but you’ll really love the Tuileries Christmas Market, La Defense Christmas Village, and Notre Dame Christmas market for crafts, gifts, refreshments, and decorations galore.
- Christmas concerts (all Dec.) take place at theaters, opera halls, and cathedrals around the city with many happening in the week surrounding Christmas Day.
- Enchanted Christmas (all Dec.) at Disneyland Paris transforms the theme park into a holiday wonderland with sparkling lights and decorations, themed character dinners and parties, and more.
- New Year’s Day Parades (Jan. 1) happen throughout Paris, but the biggest is the Grande Parade along Champs Élysées with floats, bands, and a cheering crowd to ring in the new year
- Winter Sales (Jan. to Feb.) are when Paris fashion designers and stores mark clothing and accessories down by 30% to 80% with “Soldes” signs. The best deals are in February, but January has the better selection.
- One Thousand and One Orchids Show (all Feb.) at Jardin des Plantes Botanical Garden displays 700+ orchids in amazing greenhouse arrangements for visitors to tour and marvel at.
- Mardi Gras (Feb. or Mar.) or Carnaval features massive parades in the 20th arrondissement of 5,000+ costumed performers, music, dancing, and the famous La Promenade du Boeuf Gras or March of the Fat Beef Cow.
While December through March is the cheapest time of year to go to Paris, you may see prices tick up around the Christmas holiday as people come to the city for festivities. Overall, we like February best for a visit this time of year with drier weather and great prices.
Least Busy Time to Visit Paris
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The least busy time to visit Paris is between January and April when the weather is cool in between peak tourism times.
January through April are the months with the fewest visitors in Paris. April sees the fewest tourists of all, and surprisingly, it’s a really nice time to be in the city with warmer weather, minimal rain, and less-crowded streets and attractions.
The weather in Paris varies between January and April, with temperatures hanging in the upper 30s and mid-40s in January and February, warming up to the 40s and 50s in March, and reaching the mid-40s to low 60s by April.
Rain can enter the equation during the winter and spring with most precipitation around the first of the year and in March. February and April are the driest months during this less-busy period.
We love visiting Paris when it’s less crowded because it makes sightseeing a lot more enjoyable and less hectic. The city’s never deserted, but you’ll find shorter lines and smaller crowds around the biggest attractions and restaurants.
Around mid-March through April, Paris starts bursting in bloom (thanks to all the rain) and the city transforms into a colorful display. This is an ideal time to visit the grand gardens and parks in the city at their greenest and most fragrant.
Hotels are less expensive than the peak season during this time of year as well, with January and February seeing the lowest prices:
- January: $79-$397/night
- February: $88-$411/night
- March: $101-$487/night
- April: $90-$504/night
While you’re here for the low season, you can check out Paris festivals and events that happen in late winter and spring (you can see more listed above in the Cheapest Time to Visit Paris):
- Chinese New Year (15 days in Feb.) happens on the Lunar New Year, featuring Chinese lanterns, music, costumed performers, and huge parades through the streets.
- Foire du Trone (late Mar.) is the start of the annual Throne Fair in the 12th arrondissement featuring rides, games, toy prizes, street food, and millions of visitors.
- Easter (Mar. or Apr.) sees festive events all around Paris, with church services, themed seasonal treats at bakeries, gatherings at local parks, and Easter concerts at venues around the city.
- Festival du Livre de Paris (mid-Apr.) in the 7th arrondissement is Paris’ huge book fair with thousands of events, authors, and readings around the district with workshops, meet and greets, and books for sale.
Overall, we love a visit to Paris when things are less crowded and quieter in the winter and spring. February and April stand out as the best times to visit during the low season with drier conditions (and April with warmer weather).
Worst Time to Visit Paris
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The worst time to visit Paris is during August and September. Paris largely shuts down in August, while September is very crowded and expensive.
While August does boast smaller crowds than the peak summer months and September, it’s not dead in terms of tourism — but many of the businesses, shops, and restaurants around the city shut down as Parisians leave on vacation.
The result? You’ve got fewer truly local places to visit while you’re in town and will be left with sightseeing at major tourist attractions and eating at chain restaurants and cafes.
The main attractions — Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame — also tend to be very crowded in August since many online guides send tourists this month with the promise of “you’ll feel like you’ve got the city to yourself.”
September jumps to another extreme, seeing the city flooded with tourists and locals alike as people get back from vacation and Fashion Week descends on the city at the end of the month.
It’s not a terrible time to visit because the weather is really nice in August and September, seeing highs between 60F and 71F with mostly sunny conditions and little rainfall.
But you’ll pay upwards of $580/night this time of year if you’re staying in a 5-star hotel:
- August: $119-$581/night
- September: $130-$658/night
If you have to come during August or September, look for these events and festivals to entertain you:
- Night at the Invalides (Aug. and Sept.) is a yearly outdoor sound and light show with cool projections on the Les Invalides facade at nighttime during both months.
- Cinéma en Plein Air festival (early Aug.) at Parc de la Villette shows films from around the world with French subtitles while you sit on the lawn and enjoy a picnic dinner with wine.
- Jazz à la Villette Festival (late Aug. to Sept.) is also in Parc de la Villette with jazz concerts at two venues performed by musicians from across the globe over two weekends.
- Rock en Seine (late Aug.) is the summer concert you can’t miss with 3 days of 75+ artists performing rock hits on 6 stages around Parc de Saint-Cloud.
- European Heritage Days (mid-Sept.) features historic reenactments, free museum tours, and walking tours around the city with 300+ venues participating like Élysées Palace and Palais Royal.
- Paris Fashion Week (late Sept. to Oct.) requires invitation-only tickets, but you’ll see the city spring to life with models walking the streets and massive crowds of paparazzi around the city.
If you had to choose between the two less-ideal months of August and September, August would be the better choice with lower prices and smaller crowds than September.
Things to Consider
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Planning with the best time to visit Paris in mind, you’re already off to a good start in making the most of your trip to France’s romantic capital. But with the following considerations, you’ll feel like as seasoned traveler.
- Plan for the high end of your budget. The more you can afford to spend in Paris, the better your experience will be. It’s an expensive city and spending on the high end of your budget will land you better accommodations and the chance to get skip-the-line tickets at crowded attractions, delicious meals at famous local bistros and restaurants, and extras like fine French wines.
- Don’t skip the sales. Paris’ winter and summer sales are a big deal for both locals and tourists. You can save 30% to 40% during the beginning of these sales (January or June) and as much as 80% toward the end (February or July) at top designers like Chanel, Hermes, and smaller boutique retailers.
- Go beyond the major attractions. Everyone comes to Paris to see the main landmarks and museums, but once you go beyond those areas and further out into the neighborhoods, you’ll come to see Paris as it really is. From Canal Saint-Martin to Belleville, there’s so much more to Paris than the highlight reel.
- Get familiar with the layout of the city. Arrondissements, unfamiliar bus routes and street signs, and jumbled itineraries can make it confusing to get around Paris. Study a map of the city and learn about the Paris public transportation to easily get around and explore the areas you’re interested in by subway, tram, bus, or train.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Every trip to Paris promises excitement, wonder, and deliciousness, but learning more about the city and frequently asked questions from other travelers can really enhance your visit.
Which month is best to visit Paris?
May and June are the best months to visit Paris overall with balmy spring and early summer weather in the 60s and 70s, smaller crowds ahead of the peak season, and tons of city-wide festivals and events as the weather warms up.
May and June are ideal times to sightsee around Paris, visit the famous gardens and parks, stroll along the Seine, and see Paris with its gorgeous flower displays in full bloom. These aren’t the cheapest months to visit, however, and May is a bit more affordable than June.
What is the cheapest time to go to Paris?
The cheapest time to go to Paris is between December and March, with January seeing the overall cheapest prices on hotels and flights of the entire year. You could pay anywhere between $79-$397/night for a hotel in Paris in January.
December, February, and March are also more affordable months to go to Paris, owing to the cooler, wetter conditions during the winter and early spring.
How many days in Paris is enough?
Anywhere from 3-5 days is enough in Paris if you’re just here for the major attractions and want to move at a fast pace.
To take things slower and spread out more into the neighborhoods and “real” Paris, you’ll want to spend 6-10 days in the city.
What are the most expensive months to visit Paris?
The most expensive months to visit Paris are June ($125-$702/night), September ($130-$658/night), and October ($135-$687/night). The most expensive months align with the busiest times to visit Paris when you’ll run into bigger crowds and longer lines.
These prime summer and fall months have great weather, but can be crowded and cost a lot more. June, September, and October also boast lots of events and festivals that you can check out during your trip.
What month is Paris least busy?
Paris is least busy during the cooler, rainy low season months of January through April. It's just after the holiday season and ahead of the busier summer season.
You can avoid big crowds, long lines, and peak-season prices by visiting during the low season between January and April.
Don't waste your hard-earned money. Get the best deal on your trip by finding flight and hotel deals on Expedia.com!
- Options for all travel styles & budgets
- Hotel price match guarantees
- Exclusive last-minute deals
So, When Should You Travel to Paris?
Paris is home to a plethora of architectural wonders that have gained worldwide acclaim for their awe-inspiring beauty. Regardless of the time of year, there will always be many visitors and crowds. If you’re just looking for a cheap vacation, winter is the best time to visit.
Although Paris is a popular tourist destination, keep in mind that it receives upwards of 30 million visitors each year. However, with such amazing sights and rich history, you’ll fall in love with the city, no matter when you go.
World-renowned architecture, landmarks, and a long-spanning history that dates back over 2,000 years makes Paris an unforgettable place to visit — especially when you know the right time to go.
For the best Paris has to offer, head there during May or June. You’ll arrive to balmy, mild weather, avoid the biggest crowds, and be able to see Paris decked out in lush green, fragrant blooms, and city-wide festivals celebrating the warmth and sunshine.
To save on your trip, book a trip to Paris between December and March when prices are at their lowest. Hotels and flights are cheaper this time of year, but may rise slightly around Christmas.
If a quieter, calmer Paris is what you seek, going between January and April will be delightful. Fewer tourists are in the city, meaning lines are shorter, prices are a little lower, and you’ll enjoy some cool (if a bit rainy) weather.
Try to avoid an August or September visit if you can. Parisians take long vacations in August, leaving many shops and bistros shuttered. September is one of the busiest and most expensive months to visit.
While these recommendations will help you plan the perfect time to go, remember that Paris is a year-round destination that will never leave you disappointed.
Keep these tips and seasonal periods in mind as you get your travel plans in order and get ready to embrace the light, color, history, and beauty of this romantic city with open arms!