Of all the cities in the world, the City of Light is one of the most visited – 30 million each year and counting. Determining the best time to travel to Paris is no small feat because the answer invariably is: that it all depends. When weighing the pros and cons, the size of the crowds and the state of the weather will often make your decisions for you, along with your family schedules and any special events you may want to take in. Weatherwise, June to October – summer and fall – are the best in general, with the shoulder seasons always encouraged. Let’s spin through the months to pinpoint the exact best month to go to Paris for you.
Being outdoors in summer is superb
The high season of June and July brings perfect weather, outdoor concerts, beach-going and lazy afternoons in the park, or sitting along the Seine. Bastille Day on July 14 and the Tour de France cycling race in July are great anchors for a celebratory good time. Summer is also the most expensive time to visit and the period with the highest volume of crowds, unsurprisingly. Yet sometimes, the more the merrier – particularly if you have private transportation, head-of-the-line exclusivity, and a penchant for people-watching.
Fair-weather fall has many benefits
September and October still offer very decent weather, along with fewer people, lower rates at the hotels in Paris, shorter lines at the galleries, and brilliant, seasonal foliage. The French really know how to wear a scarf with flair, too, as will you. Speaking of which, the autumn also brings Paris Fashion Week, as well as Nuit Blanche on the first weekend in October.
The winter is no slouch
Truly, there are worse places in the world to visit than Paris in the winter. She is still very beautiful from November through February, particularly when the Christmas markets gear up for the festive season. Parisians sport their most chic outerwear and trench coats – the winter can be rainy as well, though it rarely snows. The winter season is always a more economical time to visit Paris, too. The fun? Well, that is more or less a given, year-round.
Paris in the spring!
Sounds rather like a movie, doesn’t it? March through May is a magical time, the afternoon showers and warmer temperatures bringing the flowers to the boulevards and parkland. This is also the time for the French Open Tennis Championship and the Paris Marathon, sporting events that draw thousands of enthusiasts to town.
Whatever time of year you decide, know that your trip to Paris will be filled with romantic moments, historic epiphanies, incredible food, and treasured memories. And how many days? When will you have had enough of Paris? Quite possibly never – stay as long as you like.