Destination
When should you visit Paris?
Weather, crowds, prices and events for all twelve months — and one clear recommendation.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
My recommendation
May
Warm, bright and long-evening weather arrives before the summer crush, so terraces and parks are at their best while queues and rates stay manageable.
Least crowded
November
The emptiest month of the year.
Best weather
September
The most reliable sun.
Best value
November
Best hotel rates by some margin.
May scores
Plan around
What to know before you book
- French public holidays
- Several holidays cluster in May and can close museums and shops at short notice — check dates before you lock in plans.
- Fashion Weeks and trade fairs
- Hotel availability tightens citywide during these weeks even if you have nothing to do with them.
- The August exodus
- Parisians leave and many independent restaurants close for the month. Check individual closures before booking.
- Christmas fortnight
- Prices jump sharply. Early December delivers the same atmosphere for far less.
May
Late February/March and late September
August
18 December – 2 January
Month by month
All twelve months, at a glance
Tap any month for full scores, temperatures and planning notes.
- Temperature
- 3–8°C
- Cold, damp, frequent grey skies
- Crowds
- Low
- Post-holiday lull, tourists gone, city back to locals
- Prices
- €€
- Lowest hotel rates of the year outside the first week
Book the Louvre for a weekday morning. Pack for rain rather than snow.
- Museums
- Shopping
- Cafés
- Architecture
- Temperature
- 4–10°C
- Cold and damp, occasional bright spells
- Crowds
- Low
- Fashion Week lifts demand briefly, otherwise quiet
- Prices
- €€
- Low, except during Fashion Week
Avoid Fashion Week dates unless that's the reason you're coming.
- Museums
- Fashion
- Food halls
- Temperature
- 6–14°C
- Mild, unpredictable, longer days
- Crowds
- Low-Moderate
- Tourism ramping slowly ahead of spring break
- Prices
- €€€
- Still reasonable before the April climb
Carry a light rain layer; book nothing that can't move indoors.
- Parks
- Walking
- Markets
- Temperature
- 8–18°C
- Mild with showers, plenty of sun
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Spring holidays across Europe push visitor numbers up
- Prices
- €€€
- Rates climbing, Easter week spikes
Book headline museums ahead; travel outside Easter week if you can.
- Gardens
- Terraces
- Museums
- Walking
- Temperature
- 11–21°C
- Warm days, cool evenings, plenty of sunshine
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Busy but nothing like July — queues stay manageable
- Prices
- €€€
- Moderate-high, worth booking six weeks out
Check French public holidays before locking in museum days.
- Terraces
- Parks
- Neighbourhoods
- Day trips
- Temperature
- 14–24°C
- Warm and sunny, occasional storms
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Summer arrivals begin, Fête de la Musique fills the streets
- Prices
- €€€€
- High and rising
Do the big sights at opening; keep afternoons for parks.
- Terraces
- Riverside
- Festivals
- Temperature
- 16–26°C
- Hot, occasional heatwaves, mostly dry
- Crowds
- Very High
- European and international holidays overlap
- Prices
- €€€€€
- Highest of the year
Book everything weeks ahead and plan around the afternoon heat.
- Riverside events
- Evening walks
- Temperature
- 16–26°C
- Hot and dry with humid spells
- Crowds
- High
- Tourist sites stay busy while Parisians head south
- Prices
- €€€€
- High, easing late in the month
Check individual restaurant closures before you book anything.
- Walking
- Parks
- Big museums
- Temperature
- 13–23°C
- Warm, dry and clear — the most reliable month
- Crowds
- Moderate
- La rentrée returns the city to locals; tourism drops off
- Prices
- €€€
- Moderate-high, spikes around Fashion Week
Check the trade fair calendar before booking hotels.
- Terraces
- Museums
- Neighbourhoods
- Day trips
- Temperature
- 10–18°C
- Cool, crisp, mixed sun and rain
- Crowds
- Low-Moderate
- Post-summer calm apart from half-term week
- Prices
- €€€
- Moderate and negotiable midweek
Midweek stays are noticeably cheaper than weekends.
- Museums
- Parks
- Cafés
- Shopping
- Temperature
- 6–12°C
- Cold, damp, frequently overcast
- Crowds
- Very Low
- Lowest visitor numbers of the year before festive season
- Prices
- €€
- Best hotel value of the year
Plan an indoor-first itinerary and enjoy the space.
- Museums
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Temperature
- 4–8°C
- Cold and grey with occasional clear days
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Quiet early, very busy from around 18 December
- Prices
- €€€
- Reasonable in the first two weeks, then high
Travel in the first two weeks for the atmosphere at half the price.
- Markets
- Shopping
- Museums
Climate
Paris weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C / 46°F | 3°C / 37°F | 51 mm | 11 |
| February | 10°C / 50°F | 4°C / 39°F | 45 mm | 10 |
| March | 14°C / 57°F | 6°C / 43°F | 46 mm | 10 |
| April | 18°C / 64°F | 8°C / 46°F | 49 mm | 9 |
| May | 21°C / 70°F | 11°C / 52°F | 75 mm | 9 |
| June | 24°C / 75°F | 14°C / 57°F | 54 mm | 9 |
| July | 27°C / 81°F | 16°C / 61°F | 57 mm | 7 |
| August | 27°C / 81°F | 16°C / 61°F | 59 mm | 8 |
| September | 23°C / 73°F | 13°C / 55°F | 49 mm | 8 |
| October | 18°C / 64°F | 10°C / 50°F | 57 mm | 10 |
| November | 12°C / 54°F | 6°C / 43°F | 58 mm | 11 |
| December | 9°C / 48°F | 4°C / 39°F | 67 mm | 12 |
Climate data: Meteociel. Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
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