Best Time to Visit Paris
Paris has something to offer in every season, but temperature, crowds and opening hours shift a lot between a sunny June afternoon and a quiet January morning. Use the month-by-month breakdown below to match your trip to the weather and pace you want.
April to June, and September to October
Mild temperatures, blooming parks or crisp autumn light, and shorter queues than midsummer make these the most comfortable months to see Paris on foot.
December
Cold but atmospheric, with Christmas markets and illuminated streets that make up for the short days, if you don't mind higher prices.
July and August
The hottest, most crowded months, and some family-run restaurants and small shops close for the traditional August break.
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 to 8°C | Low | Low | Quiet streets and the shortest queues at the Louvre, but short days and a real chance of rain. |
| February | 4 to 9°C | Low | Low | Museums stay easy to book and hotel rates are still low, even as school half-term breaks bring a short crowd bump. |
| March | 6 to 13°C | Medium | Medium | Parks start to bloom and crowds are still manageable, a good trade-off before the spring rush arrives. |
| April | 8 to 16°C | High | High | Mild days and blossoming gardens draw the first big wave of visitors, so book time-slot tickets for the Eiffel Tower and Louvre well ahead. |
| May | 12 to 20°C | High | High | Long daylight hours and flowering parks make this one of the busiest, priciest months, with public holidays adding extra crowds. |
| June | 15 to 23°C | High | High | Warm evenings and terrace season peak just as school trips wind down, so reserve popular sights for early in the day. |
| July | 17 to 26°C | High | High | Peak summer heat and the year's biggest crowds coincide, and some family-run restaurants close for their own holiday. |
| August | 17 to 26°C | Medium | High | Many Parisians leave the city and some neighbourhood shops and bistros shut for weeks, even though hotel prices stay at summer highs. |
| September | 13 to 22°C | Medium | Medium | Cafes and shops reopen, the heat eases, and the light turns soft, making this a favourite month with return visitors. |
| October | 10 to 17°C | Medium | Medium | Cool, walkable weather and fewer queues than summer, though it is worth packing rain gear. |
| November | 6 to 11°C | Low | Low | Grey skies keep crowds down before the Christmas lights switch on toward the very end of the month. |
| December | 4 to 8°C | High | High | Christmas markets and illuminations pull in visitors and push up hotel rates, especially around the holidays. |
April to June, and September to October December July and August