Best Time to Visit Paris (& Which Month to Avoid)

Dreaming of visiting the city of lights but wondering what is the best time to visit Paris? Easy. The best time to visit Paris is in April.

Why is April the best time to visit Paris? Well, because there are fewer crowds, prices are lower, the weather is nice, and the city is beautiful during the spring.

As someone who has visited in different seasons I can say that spring in Paris is by far my favorite – and it will likely be a great time for you too.

In this post, I’ve detailed all the reasons why you should travel to Paris in April, other best months to travel to Paris, plus what month you should not go to Paris.

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The busiest time to visit Paris is in the summer, from June through August. Therefore if you want to avoid crowds, I highly recommend avoiding visiting Paris in the summer.

Paris in April will be less crowded than Paris in August, which is definitely a plus to visiting in the spring.

By visiting in April, the crowds will be more manageable plus you benefit from the other pros of Paris in spring – like good weather & a beautiful, romantic atmosphere.

However, if you really hate crowds and want to avoid them completely you may want to look into visiting Paris in January or February, as these tend to be the least crowded months (although the weather can be cold and not ideal in winter).

On average, daytime temperatures in April are around 17° C (62° F). Especially on a sunny day, it’s a great temperature for walking around the city without getting too warm or too cold.

Plus, you don’t have to worry about the intense heatwaves that have been hitting Paris in the summer time or the fact that most places in Paris do not have air conditioning.

On average, there are about 8 rainy days a month in April, which isn’t bad considering that summertime averages around 6-7 rainy days and in winter the average is around 9-10 rainy or snowy days.

Like I mentioned before, I’ve visited Paris in different seasons and I absolutely fell in love with the city during springtime.

Paris during summer? Lets just say it was slightly less beautiful and a much more crowded experience.

April is also a perfect time to take a day trip to Versailles and explore the palace and gardens. Not only is this one of the best historical sites near Paris, but the gardens of Versailles are also incredibly beautiful – especially in the springtime with the lush greenery.

Visiting Paris in April likely means cheaper airline tickets and cheaper hotels. Both of these things can really make a difference in how much you spend on your trip to Paris, and it is definitely a huge bonus of why you should visit Paris in April.

So, why is Paris cheaper in April? Well, its considered a shoulder tourist season and experiences fewer crowds than other times of the year. Therefore, the hotels and airlines typically lower prices due to lower demand.

In April, the only big public holiday to consider is Easter weekend, which usually falls sometime between late March or in April.

However, there are other months that have several public holidays (such as May and December). Additionally, in August, most French people take an extended 2-3 week vacation which means many smaller local owned shops and restaurants close in Paris during August.

So, a benefit to traveling in April is that you really only need to consider when Easter weekend is when making your travel plans.

Here is a list of the main public holidays in France.

Other Best Months to Visit Paris

If your travel plans don’t work for April then don’t worry! Paris truly is a year-round city, and there are pros and cons to each season. Some of the other best months to visit Paris include March, May, October, November, & December.

March especially will have cheaper prices and fewer crowds, but the weather will be a bit more chilly and rainy. There can even be snow in early March!

Paris in May will start to get more crowded and slightly more expensive towards summertime, but has warmer weather, blooming flowers, and a beautiful atmosphere.

Keep in mind there are several public holidays in May including Labor Day (May 1st), Victory Day (May 8th), Whit Monday (end of May), and Ascension Day (end of May). There are typically closures on these holidays.

So, if you are looking to visit Paris on a budget then visiting in January or February is the perfect time to go. Plus there are very few crowds during these months which makes it enjoyable.

While the weather is cold (and sometimes snowy) there is still plenty to do in Paris during winter. Paris has so many great museums to visit, shows like Moulin Rouge, and it is even a good idea to visit the Eiffel Tower or Palace of Versailles in winter.

This is especially true for the year 2024 as Paris will host the summer Olympics in August (which means extremely high crowds and prices).

If you do visit Paris in the summer, I recommend visiting some hidden gems in Paris that will be less crowded. Additionally, taking a day trip or weekend trip to places like Bruges, Belgium or alternative French cities would be a fun idea.

The big attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. and restaurants aimed at tourists will still be open in August, but if you prefer a more authentic experience it is better to avoid this month.

Plus, unlike the US, there isn’t really air conditioning in Paris except for some of the hotels. So restaurants, museums, and attractions can be very warm even indoors.

Additionally there aren’t many places to cool down outside. As someone that lives in Florida, even I have a hard time with the heat of Paris in the summer.

I love staying in the 6th arrondissement when visiting Paris. The 6th is one of the most beautiful places in Paris, one of the safest neighborhoods in Paris, and is close to many tourist attractions and transportation.

FAQ: Best Month to Visit Paris