Paris: When to Go

 
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WHEN TO GO TO PARIS

Paris is great anytime of the year but depending on what you are optimizing for (Holiday Lights vs Gardens in Bloom or Long Summer Days vs Cheaper Hotel Rates). Between my husband and I, we’ve been to Paris a combined 8 times, across all seasons. We recommend Summer for a first-time trip.

  • Spring is great in Paris, as all the gardens are blooming and the city is coming to life. It can be cold and rainy, so it’s important to pack clothes (and shoes) that can get wet. The gardens are pleasant and the days are getting longer so you can plan to spend time outdoors with less worry about changes in weather.

  • Summer is our favorite. It’s the best season to go if you only have a few days to spend in the city, as it’s light until 9:30 and you can squeeze much more in. Additionally, the gardens are full of people (great people-watching when you need a break for your feet). Everything in the city is humming - people sit out at Cafés on warm summer evenings until late into the night.

  • Fall is lovely in Paris as it’s not quite as hot as summer and there’s plenty of daylight and less rain than Spring. However, the gardens do tend to be less impressive and it can get a bit chilly as it gets closer to November, but this is a great time to go with lower costs while still having plenty of daylight to see things and spend time out of doors.

  • Winter can get quite cold in Paris, and while the city all decorated for Christmas is magical, it requires packing for cold weather. It’s also tricky because every time you want to rest, you need to go to a Café or some other establishment as the parks are too cold to sit in. Because people aren’t lounging around the city as they might in Summer, there’s less people watching opportunities. Still, Paris is magical in the winter and a great place to spend New Year’s Eve.

When to Go for Specific Travelers:

  • Budget Travelers: Late Fall or during France’s national summer break (July-August)

  • Garden Lovers: Late Spring

  • First Timers: June-August

  • Christmas Travelers: November 25-January 5

TRAVELNatalia JanelleComment