13 Best Things To Do In Paris in the Fall In 2025 (+The Weather, Where To Stay & What To Pack)

Planning to visit Paris in the fall? This guide will show you all the unique things to do, plus the practical tips for an amazing trip!

There’s something special about Paris in the fall. The air turns crisp, the leaves start to change, and the city slows down in a nice way. Shops reopen after the August break, tourist crowds thin out, and autumn-themed menus start showing up at local cafés.

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It’s that time when the city feels more local and a little easier to explore. You’ll find shorter lines at popular attractions, neighborhood events throughout the city, and plenty of exhibitions to check out.

To help you make the most of it, I’ve put together this complete guide to visiting Paris in the fall. Whether you’re chasing fall colors in the parks, exploring new museum exhibits, or joining in the spooky fun around Halloween, fall gives you a chance to experience Paris differently.

Before You Go, Here’s How to Plan Your Visit To Paris: Practical Quick Tips

THINGS TO BOOK BEFORE COMING TO PARIS
Consider getting a Paris museum pass if you plan to visit many attractions. It will save you money, and time, and you’ll skip the line at most sites.
Book this private transfer from CDG airport to Paris to avoid the hustle of figuring out how to get to Paris from the airport.
Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.

Psst… Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more. If you’re considering travel insurance for your trip, check out World Nomads.

Fall Weather in Paris

Fall weather in Paris can be a little unpredictable! You might get sunny afternoons that feel like the tail end of summer, followed by chilly mornings that call for a scarf and coat. Daytime temperatures average around 17°C (62°F), while nights can drop to about 8°C (46°F).

As the season moves from September through November, the days gradually get cooler and shorter, so packing layers is the best way to stay comfortable.

The city is also notorious for rain during this time of the year, with an average of 8 days of rain at two inches per month.

And if you want to catch a Paris sunrise, in the autumn, the sun rises between 07:25 am – 08:09 am (depending on the exact fall month), which is doable for most people, unlike in the summer when you’ll need to wake up at around 5 am to catch it.

But if sunsets are your gem, they’re between 05:12 pm and 08:05 pm (November – September, respectively)! Say hello to shorter days!

Temperatures in Paris in the Fall

To get an idea of the weather and how to best prepare for it, let’s get into specifics about the temperature in each fall month.

• Paris fall temperature in September: 21°C (70°F) high and 12°C (53°F) low.
• Paris fall temperature in October: 16°C (61°F) high and 10°C (50°F) low.
• Paris fall temperature in November: 11°C (52°F) high and 6°C (43°F) low.

Now that you know what the weather is like in Paris in autumn, let’s look at where to stay for a perfect trip to the city of love.

Where to Stay in Paris in Fall

If you’re looking for ideas on where to stay, whether budget-friendly, mid-range, or even luxury, during your stay in Paris in the fall, here are some of my recommendations!

Budget Accommodation

The People Hostel – Paris Bercy: Featuring a beautiful, expansive terrace and all essential amenities at a reasonable cost, The People Hostel – Paris Bercy is the perfect stay for budget travelers. With impeccable service and rooms for all kinds of travelers (dorm rooms for solo travelers, private rooms for couples, and family rooms for huge groups), there’s no better place to stay without breaking the bank than at this hostel!

>>> Check rates and availability on Booking.com <<<

Mid-range Accommodation

Hotel Duquesne Eiffel: This hotel is in the proximity of the Iron Lady, Champs de Mars, and Les Invalides, as well as the Ecole Militaire Metro Station, giving you easy access to the entire city! With quaint rooms with a typical Haussmannian balcony offering a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower, accommodating staff, and a lovely bar lounge, it is the perfect hotel for your stay if you’re traveling on a mid-range budget!

>>> Check rates and availability on Booking.com <<<

Luxury Accommodation

Hôtel Regina Louvre: If you’re looking to sleep in style, at Hôtel Regina Louvre, you’re sure to have the perfect Parisian stay! Located in the city’s heart, in the museum, shopping, and art district, while also overlooking the Louvre, its opulence is at its finest. Here, you’ll be within walking distance of the famous Parisian landmarks and get a chance to feel like a royal in the city of light.

>>> Check rates and availability on Booking.com <<<

Apartment Rental

LE MATISSIA: This apartment hotel is located in the 9th arrondissement, surrounded by local cafes and restaurants, and near metro stations, so you can easily get around. The apartments are well-furnished, with a living room, kitchenette, bedroom, and the staff are very helpful.

>>> Check rates and availability on Booking.com <<<

If nothing caught your attention in the above recommendations, you can go through my list of Paris hotels that give Eiffel Tower views or these hotels near the Louvre museum.

If a homey stay is what you prefer, I also have articles on rental apartments with Eiffel Tower views, luxury rental apartments in Paris, or these budget-friendly apartment rentals in Paris. There is a wide variety to choose from!

Things to do in Autumn in Paris

Here is what you shouldn’t miss while visiting Paris in Autumn!

1. Chase the fall foliage

There’s nothing better than taking a walk in Paris’ autumnal colors, and with a plethora of public parks and gardens, there is plenty of fall foliage to enjoy.

You can choose from favorites like Jardin des Tuileries, Buttes-Chaumont, Place des Vosges, Luxembourg Gardens, and many others. For even more fall colors, head to Bois de Boulogne, a forest on the outskirts of Paris.

With river streams, paved walkways, and various trees clad in orange and yellow, Bois de Boulogne is the ultimate outdoor experience in autumn in Paris.

Besides the parks, some parts of the banks of the Seine also put on a beautiful display of fall colors.

Another place you shouldn’t miss while chasing fall foliage is the area around Pont de Bir-Hakeim. From here, you can enjoy the beautiful fall colors with a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower!

2. Picnic in the autumnal-clad gardens

A picnic in the city of love is an excellent idea at any time of year, but with the golden and orange-colored foliage, slightly chilly winds, and spectacular sunsets, a Parisian picnic is a must at this time of the year.

Be sure to carry a picnic blanket, all the picnic essentials, and your camera to make sure that you capture your memories!

But if you don’t feel like packing a picnic on your own, many Parisian cafes offer ready-to-pick-up picnic baskets with everything you might need.

3. Visit usually closed landmarks on Journées européennes du patrimoine

Every third week of September, Paris takes part in the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days), a weekend event where many buildings that are usually closed to the public open their doors for free.

During these 2 days, you can visit places like the Hôtel de Ville (Paris’s City Hall), the Bank of France, and Ministry buildings. Some private mansions, museums, and historic libraries also join in.

The lines can be long at the most popular sites, so if there’s something specific you want to see, it’s worth arriving early, or book your free ticket in advance, as some have limited tickets.

You can check the entire list of places that participate in this event here.

Journées européennes du patrimoine dates: 20th – 21st September 2025

4. Explore New Art Exhibitions

Fall is one of the best times to explore Paris’s museums. The summer crowds have disappeared, and a new season of exhibitions begins, giving the city’s art scene a fresh energy. Even the big-name museums like the Louvre and Orsay feel calmer, making it easier to take your time and actually enjoy what’s on display.

If you’re visiting this fall, here are a few exhibitions to look out for:

• Centre Pompidou is hosting Wolfgang Tillmans: Nothing could have prepared us – Everything could have prepared us, a thought-provoking exhibit that mixes photography and contemporary art. It runs until 22nd September 2025.
• Musée d’Orsay will have several exhibitions throughout September and October. Check for details here.
• Musée de l’Orangerie will present Michel Paysant: Voir Monet, an immersive experience that reinterprets Monet’s Water Lilies through art and technology. The exhibit runs from 1st October 2025 to 26th January 2026
• Musée des Arts Décoratifs is marking the centenary of Art Deco with a major exhibition called 1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco, from 22 October 2025 to 26 April 2026.
• The Louvre is holding an exhibition with a focus on Jacques-Louis David from 15th October 2025 to 26 January 2026.

5. Attend the Paris Photo Fair

The Paris Photo is the world’s largest art fair dedicated to photography and image-based art. It brings together hundreds of photographers and galleries from around the world. If you’re into photography, this one is worth adding to your Paris itinerary.

Paris Photo Fair dates: 13th – 16th November 2025

6. Visit the Paris catacombs

If you’re up for something a little eerie but incredibly fascinating, the Catacombs of Paris are worth a visit. Beneath the city’s charming streets lies a massive network of underground tunnels lined with the bones of over six million Parisians.

They were created in the late 1700s, when the city’s cemeteries became overcrowded, and officials decided to move the remains underground. Today, you can walk through a section of these tunnels and see the neatly arranged skulls and bones that stretch on for what feels like forever.

Just be sure to book your ticket in advance to save time, or book this guided tour to learn more about the catacombs and even have a chance to visit some secret places that are only accessible if you go with a guide.

7. Drink wine and celebrate the Grape harvest season

Though France is famous across the globe for a plethora of things, its wine is definitely one of them!

If you’re holidaying in the city and wondering what to do in Paris in the Fall, your answer is to drink wine and celebrate the grape harvest season!

Many events take place to celebrate the harvest, but the most popular is Fête des Vendanges (Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival), which takes place in October in Montmartre.

During this festival, food and drink stalls are set up, there are dance and music performances, and even a parade.

You can even get a chance to visit Vignes du Clos Montmartre, the only remaining vineyard in Paris, but only if you book this tour of Musée de Montmartre, since it comes with a visit to the vineyard.

Fête des Vendanges dates: 8th – 12th October 2025

8. Drink Wine on Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Every third Thursday of November, Paris celebrates Beaujolais Nouveau Day, a long-standing French tradition that celebrates the release of the first wine of the harvest. It’s not a big festival or citywide event, but you’ll definitely spot signs in cafés, wine bars, and even supermarkets promoting the arrival of the Beaujolais wine.

The tradition began in the Beaujolais region, just north of Lyon, where winemakers would bottle and ship their new wine just weeks after harvest. Over time, what started as a local celebration became a nationwide ritual, not because the wine is exceptional (it’s actually not), but because it symbolized a successful harvest.

In Paris, people take part by having a glass of Beaujolais wine at a nearby bar or grabbing a bottle from the supermarket, so you can also join in on this French tradition while you’re in town.

Beaujolais Nouveau Day: 20th November 2025

9. Celebrate Halloween in Paris

Halloween isn’t a major holiday in France, but it’s definitely grown in popularity over the years, especially in Paris. You won’t find full neighborhoods decked out in decorations like in the US, but there are still plenty of fun ways to join the spooky spirit.

Theme parks like Disneyland Paris usually go all out with Halloween-themed parades and special shows, and the Parc Astérix Halloween days are known to be even scarier, with haunted houses and late-night openings.

Around the city, you’ll also find costume parties at bars and clubs, horror film screenings at cinemas, and seasonal treats in pastry shops.

10. Attend the Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie

If you’re a fan of chocolate or pastries (or both), the Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie is worth checking out. This event brings together some of the best chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and dessert artisans from around the world.

You’ll find everything from tastings and live demos to workshops and pastry competitions. There’s also a chocolate fashion show, where models walk the runway in outfits made entirely out of chocolate.

Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie dates: 29th October – 2nd November 2025

11. Pay Your Respects at a Cemetery

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a trip to Paris, but visiting a cemetery here can be surprisingly enjoyable, especially in the fall.

The most famous one is Père-Lachaise Cemetery, which is also the biggest cemetery in Paris. It is the final resting place of famous figures like Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and many others. You can visit on your own for free or join this guided tour to learn more about the history of this cemetery.

If you prefer something smaller, Passy Cemetery in the 16th arrondissement, Montmartre Cemetery in the 18th, and Montparnasse Cemetery in the 14th are also worth a stroll.

12. Go on a Ghost Tour

Another activity you should do while in Paris during the fall is to take a ghost walking tour.

Though dubbed the city of love and light, Paris does have a dark, spooky, and sinister side that you can unravel on this mysterious night walking tour.

13. Watch a show at a Parisian theatre

Theatre is a lifestyle in Paris, and you surely should catch a show at a famous Parisian theatre whenever you get the chance.

However, in the Fall specifically, not only can the weather be unpredictable (so watching a show indoors will be perfect), but Fall is also a time of culture and art renewal for the city.

You can catch a show at Palais Garnier or Théâtre du Palais-Royal, which are the most famous theatres in the city, or you could visit the uncommon but still splendid ones like Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse and Théâtre Edouard VII to have a night of Parisian theatre that you’ll remember for years to come.

What to Pack for Fall in Paris + What to Wear

With rapidly changing weather and so many different kinds of excursions that you can do during the autumn months in Paris, it’s paramount that you pack the right essentials.

So to help you prepare, here is a brief on what to pack for Paris in the Fall.

Trench coat/Leather jacket: Since Paris in fall comes with chilly temperatures, you’ll need to carry either this trench coat or this Leather jacket to keep warm while walking the streets and once again, feel as fashionable as Parisians are.

Scarf: Parisians love scarves, so you should take one like this if you want to keep yourself warm while remaining fashionable.

Woolen socks: I love these woolen socks as they not only keep your feet warm but also dry.

Comfortable Walking shoes: To be able to walk on the Parisian streets with ease, as the weather can be a little fickle during this time of the year, you’ll need to carry comfortable walking shoes. These boots will look super cool in your fall photos, but you can opt for sneakers.

Windproof Travel Umbrella: Make sure you’re prepared in case of rain and avoid getting drenched by taking this windproof travel umbrella.

Universal Travel Adapter: To be able to charge all your devices with ease wherever you go, I recommend taking this universal travel adapter. This European travel adapter works well in Paris, too, but it’s very limiting if you travel to other countries with different power outlets.

Camera: To capture photos of your Parisian autumn that you’ll cherish for decades.

Portable power bank: To charge your phone and all your other devices while you’re on the go, I recommend taking this portable power bank.

Passport/ID: For obvious reasons.

FAQs About Visiting Paris In the Fall

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Final thoughts on the Best Things to do in Paris in the Fall 

The city is magical all year round, but there’s something about the warm drinks held with glove-clad hands, the misty Seine on a rainy day, cuddling into your partner when it suddenly becomes breezy, and eating hot and authentic French food that makes the idea of visiting Paris in the Fall irresistible.

NEVER TRAVEL TO PARIS WITHOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

One of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make when planning a trip to Paris is to forego Travel Insurance!

You might think that it’s expensive, but when you think of how much it will save you when you lose your valuables or even get sick, then you’ll know that it’s NOT that expensive!

Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for
more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more. If you’re considering travel insurance for your trip, check out World Nomads.

Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Paris

• What to do in Paris at night
• Best things to do in Paris in January
• How to spend Christmas in Paris
• Fun facts about Paris
• Best things to do in Paris in Spring
• Where to find the best views of Paris
• Big mistakes to avoid in Paris
• What to Pack for Paris
• Skip the line tickets for Paris’ popular attractions
• Interesting jokes about Paris
• Paris captions for Instagram
• Famous quotes on Paris

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