Spring — March to May
Spring is when Paris earns its reputation. Temperatures climb from a cool 8–13°C in March to a genuinely pleasant 14–20°C by May. The Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens fill with blossom, café terraces reopen in earnest, and the light lengthens noticeably by late April.
March can still be raw and wet — Paris's oceanic climate means rain is possible in any month, and spring showers are frequent even on otherwise mild days. April and May are the sweet spot: comfortable for walking, gardens at their best, and crowds lighter than the summer peak.
Key events: Paris Fashion Week wraps its main womenswear shows in late February/early March, with a spillover atmosphere into spring. The French Open (Roland-Garros) runs late May into early June at Stade Roland-Garros, drawing tennis fans and a lively atmosphere to the 16th arrondissement. Late May also brings the first outdoor terrace culture back in full force along the Canal Saint-Martin and the Marais.
What to pack: layers — a light waterproof jacket for sudden showers, a jumper for cool mornings and evenings, and comfortable shoes for the cobblestones. An umbrella is never a bad idea in Paris, whatever the season.
Summer — June to August
Summer in Paris is warm rather than brutally hot, though heatwaves do occur. June is arguably the best month of the year — long daylight (sunset after 9:30pm), average highs of 20–24°C, and the city still functioning at full capacity. July and August regularly reach 25–28°C, with occasional spikes above 33–35°C during heatwaves (canicules), which have become more frequent in recent years.
August is unusual: many Parisians leave the city for their own holidays, so some family-run bistros and small shops close for two to four weeks. The upside is a quieter, more relaxed city with shorter queues at some attractions — though the major sights (Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay) remain busy with tourists year-round.
Key events: Fête de la Musique on June 21 fills every street corner and square with free live music — one of the best nights of the year to simply wander. Bastille Day (July 14) brings a military parade down the Champs-Élysées and a major fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower in the evening. Paris Plages (mid-July to mid-August) turns stretches of the Seine embankment into temporary urban beaches with deck chairs and activities.
What to pack: light summer clothing, sunscreen, a hat, and a light layer for air-conditioned interiors (rare in older Parisian buildings, which can also run warm). A compact umbrella still earns its place — summer storms arrive quickly even in a heatwave.
Autumn — September to November
Autumn is the other high point of the Paris year. September and October bring mild, often bright days (14–20°C) with cooler mornings, and the crowds thin noticeably compared to summer. The plane trees along the boulevards and the chestnut trees in the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens turn gold through October, and the café terraces stay busy on sunny afternoons well into the month.
November is the transition into winter: temperatures drop to 6–11°C, days shorten sharply, and rain becomes more frequent and persistent rather than the passing showers of spring. It's a good month for museums and long lunches rather than long walks.
Key events: Nuit Blanche (early October) is Paris's all-night contemporary art event, with installations, performances, and free access to venues across the city until dawn. Paris Fashion Week returns in late September/early October. The Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (early October) celebrates the harvest of the small Montmartre vineyard with a weekend of music and wine tasting. By late November, the Champs-Élysées and department store windows (Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché) begin their Christmas illuminations.
What to pack: a medium-weight jacket, layers for temperature swings between morning and afternoon, and a reliable umbrella — November is one of the wetter months in the Paris calendar. Waterproof shoes are worth it by late autumn.
Winter — December to February
Paris winters are mild by continental standards but grey and damp. Average temperatures sit between 3–8°C, and snow is infrequent and rarely settles for more than a day or two when it does fall. The bigger challenge is the lack of sun — Paris gets some of its lowest sunshine hours of the year in December and January, and overcast skies can persist for stretches at a time.
This is genuinely low season by Paris standards outside the Christmas period: shorter queues at the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, better hotel rates, and a more local rhythm to the city once the holiday crowds clear in early January. Cosy interiors matter more here than anywhere — this is the season for lingering in cafés, wine bars, and the city's grand covered passages.
The Christmas season (late November through early January) transforms the boulevards: the Champs-Élysées Christmas market, the department store window displays on Boulevard Haussmann, and skating rinks at the Hôtel de Ville and elsewhere give the city a genuine festive lift despite the weather. New Year's Eve draws large crowds to the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower for a midnight light show.
January and February are the quietest, greyest months — good for museum-heavy trips and long lunches, less good if you need sunshine. Paris Fashion Week's haute couture shows take place in late January, adding a burst of energy to an otherwise slow stretch of the calendar.
What to pack: a proper waterproof coat, scarf, gloves, and warm layers underneath. Waterproof, comfortable shoes matter more than heavy snow boots — the cold is damp rather than dry, and it gets into your bones faster than the numbers suggest.