When is the best time to visit Paris?

Traveling to Paris might be once in a lifetime adventure (especially if you live outside of Europe), so choosing the best time to visit Paris is very important to enjoy your visit as much as you can.

As far as gotravelyoursef.com is concerned, the best time to visit Paris is today, but we are not really impartial here. 😊

The best time to visit Paris also depends on your personal preferences and your own schedule, so it will be solely up to you to decide. Let’s explore different options.

When is Paris most crowded?

Definitely in summer, especially July and August. Most of the tourists come then as people are travelling the most during summer holidays. Also, many families come to Paris with children on the way to Euro Disney. And to top it off, July and August can be really hot in Paris, so keep that in mind. If you don’t like crowds and cannot stand hot weather (it can be really hot in Paris in July and August), this is not the best time for you to visit. We recommend to visit during the summer if you want to spend few days in Paris only and go further explore surroundings and rest of France. Otherwise, try and visit outside of July-August period.

When is Paris least crowded?

Both during spring time (April through June) and during fall (from September until end of November). These are two periods in between high seasons that makes it somewhat less crowded, although many visitors tend to visit at this time for exactly the same reason – to avoid crowds! So, if you are happy with less crowded place and with mild weather, this is the best time for you to visit Paris. Keep in mind that there might be few rainy days, but this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Another advantage of city being less crowded is that you will have more enjoyable city tours: walking or bike tours or foodie tours.

When is staying in Paris the cheapest?

This is usually in the off season, starting from November, all the way until end of February. You can find some great deals and some cheap flights and also enjoy Christmas time in this wonderful city. Individual hotels in Paris don’t actually offer off season discounts, but you will be able to get good deal if you buy package – flight + hotel. If you use AirBnB or other non-hotel accommodation service, you might find great deals if yu book in advance during this period.

What is the best time to fly to Paris?

The peak season for flights to Paris is April, June and July. The low season for purchasing tickets is January, February and October. Paris is served by these airports: Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA), Paris Orly Airport (ORY), Chalons Vatry Airport (XCR) and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Direct flights to Paris are offered by 103 airlines.

Please take into consideration expenses of transfer from and to airports, as this might add to total price of your trip considerably. For an example, you might find great bargain for a ticket to BVA airport, but transfer from this airport is much more expensive than from CDG.

So, what is the best time to visit Paris?

It is up to you. If you can afford (meaning that you can take days off) to visit in less crowded times, do it, otherwise you can go visit when most of visitors come – in July and August and be prepared for long waiting times for attractions and crowded streets. Every option has its ups and downs. But, whenever you visit, we can guarantee you that you will have great time in this fabulous city!

Top attractions in Paris

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, located in the Place Charles de Gaulle, on the western end of the Champs-Élysées,

Louvre Museum

The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the biggest art museum in the world, located in Paris, France, and is also a historic monument. A city’s main landmark, it is...

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a walled iron tower 324 meters high (with antennas) situated in Paris, at the northeastern end of the Champ-de-Mars Park, on the banks of the Seine...

Palace of Versailles

From 1682, under Louis XIV, until the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789, under Louis XVI, the Palace of Versailles was France’s principal royal residence. It is located in...

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame de Paris (‘Our Lady of Paris’) or Notre Dame Cathedral, is a medieval Catholic cathedral, located on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.

Champs-Élysées

Wide, centrally located avenue in Paris, almost 2 kilometers long, Champs-Élysées is stretched between Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde.

More travel info about Paris and France

Paris: culture, history, fashion and food

Paris, ‘city of lights', truly deserves this romantic nickname. It is globally known not only as France's capital, but as a European and world center for art, culture, fashion and...

Visit France: 14 things you need to know

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