12 Best Things To Do In Paris in Fall In 2024 (+The Weather, Where To Stay & What To Pack)

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

From strolling through the beautiful parks of Paris and marveling at the red, orange, and yellow-hued leaves, feeling a gust of wind while sitting by the Seine and holding onto your loved one a little tighter, drinking specialty hot chocolate with cinnamon, marshmallows, whipped cream, and more, being blown away by the new art exhibits at the museums to getting chills on your spine as you spend Halloween amongst the Paris catacombs, Paris in Fall is like a dream that you can actually experience!

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With the wine harvest season, cafés serving signature coffee and hot chocolates, the spooky season with cemeteries, the catacombs, and more, your autumn in Paris will be one for the books!

Fall is actually one of the best times to visit Paris! The summer crowds have disappeared, Parisian shops that had closed to take their summer holidays in the south of France reopen and a new Paris covered in fall colors is reborn.

Though the days start getting shorter and chilly, fall in Paris is pretty much still enjoyable if you plan your visit well.

So, to help you plan your trip better, I am sharing with you this complete guide to enjoying Paris in the fall. Whether you’re just spending one day, a weekend in Paris, or a week, this guide will give you all the info you need.

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

MUST-DO EXPERIENCES HAPPENING NOW IN PARIS
Luminiscence at Saint-Eustache Church: A music and lighting show in one of Paris’s most beautiful churches: (4.7/10)
Candlelight show: Perfect if you want to be treated to a candlelit music show in a beautiful Parisian venue: (4.8/10)
Cabaret at Moulin Rouge: A cabaret in the iconic Moulin Rouge is a must: (4.7/10)

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 is a good mix of warm, sunny days and enough breeze to make every moment cozy and romantic.

Coming second to summer, Paris in Fall is a favorite among tourists, especially those in Europe. With average temperatures ranging from a high of 17°C (62°F) to a low of 8°C (46°F), you’re sure to feel the winds.

During the fall months (September, October, and November), the temperature varies widely, with the weather getting colder closer to the end of November.

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 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 Fall, here are my professional recommendations!

Budget Accommodation

The People Hostel – Paris 12: Featuring a beautiful expansive terrace and all essential amenities at a reasonable cost, The People Hostel – Paris 12 is the perfect stay for budget travelers. It is located in close proximity to Ópera Bastille, The Louvre, and the glorious Notré Dame Cathedral. With impeccable service and rooms for all kinds of travelers; those going solo and prefer dorm rooms, private rooms, or family rooms for huge groups, there’s no better place to stay without breaking the bank than at this place!

>>> 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

Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées: Equipped with large suites for short and long-term stays, this apartment is located on the famous Champs – Élysées, automatically positioning you amid the city’s most popular districts. The suites are well-furnished, with a living room, kitchenette, bedroom(s), and even an ideal Parisian balcony overlooking the famous Parisian street, the Champs – Élysées.

>>> 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 which create a beautiful reflection on the river’s water.

Another area that 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!

With pleasant weather when the sun is out, a stroll in a Parisian garden or at the banks of the Seine in the fall is unbeatable!

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 to sit at one of the many Parisian parks, 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. Appreciate Paris’ Art and Culture by Attending local autumn events

Visiting Paris in the Fall is so popular because of the number of local autumn events that are organized!

Fun for locals and tourists alike, you’ll get a chance to participate in events like Journées du Patrimoine (the Heritage Days) in September where landmarks and monuments open their gates for people to learn about France’s heritage for free, Nuit Blanche, which is the city’s all-night art festival on the first Sunday of October that lets people enjoy exhibitions at museums and private art galleries and enjoy various concerts, all for free. There are also several more that celebrate the art and culture of Paris!

The city also hosts the International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) where galleries put on a contemporary art show in the Temporary Grand Palais for 4 days in October.

If you’re an art enthusiast, you’ll truly enjoy fall in Paris as it comes with lots of art-themed festivals and events!

4. Explore the art museums

Parisians often believe that Autumn is, in fact, a new start for the city, as they all reclaim their city back from the tourists that take over it during the summer.

Besides this, it’s also the time of year when new exhibits go up at the museums, and the art scene in the city is renewed.

After a summer of packed museums, when in Paris in Fall, be sure to visit the museums (The Louvre, Centre Pompidou, and others) and truly immerse yourself in the art of Paris without the long queues that come with summer.

But even though the lines are shortened, it’s still better to buy skip-the-line tickets in advance.

Some of the tickets you can buy in advance include this skip-the-line ticket to the Louvre, this Centre Pompidou ticket to have access to both the permanent and temporary exhibits, this Orsay museum ticket, and many others.

You can also check out my complete list of Paris skip-the-line tickets that will save you time. But if you’re traveling on a budget, then you can opt for the free Parisian museums instead.

5. Visit the catacombs for the spooky season

Lying beneath the ground are Paris’ Catacombs, 320 kilometers (200 miles) of tunnels full of underground ossuaries that preserve the remnants of over six million people.

It is a memorial for the thousands of unnamed Parisians whose bodies couldn’t be buried in the overflowing cemeteries of the 1720s.

Here, you’ll also be able to catch sight of beautiful sculptures that were sculpted by a member of Louis XV’s army decades before the remains were moved in.

With the catacombs leaving you with an eerie feeling all year, visiting them in the spooky season will be ten times more exciting!

But before you go, be sure to buy this Catacombs skip-the-line ticket to save time. And if you want to learn more about this unusual place, I recommend booking this guided tour which comes with a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide.

With this tour, you’ll also have a chance to visit some secret places that are only accessible if you go with a guide.

6. Drink wine and celebrate the Grape harvest season

Though Paris 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; the most popular of all being 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, fireworks, and even a parade.

You can even get a chance to visit Vignes du Clos Montmartre which is 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.

You can also partake in Le Grand Tasting, which happens at Grand Palais, or Beaujolais Nouveau Day, a wine-tasting ritual in November all across the city!

7. Immerse Yourself in the coffee and hot chocolate culture of the city

Known worldwide for its coffee and hot chocolate, there’s no better time to fall in love with Paris’ hot chocolate and coffee than in the Fall.

With petit gorgeous bistros and cafés sprinkled all across the city, you must take advantage of the chilly weather by always having a hot cup of something in your hand.

Though you’re spoiled for choice, some of the best places to grab a hot chocolate in the city are the Angelina (pair it with their Paris Brest and you’ll say Oh La La), Jacques Genin (for their thick and delicious hot chocolate), and Carette (if you visit the one at the Trocadero, you’ll be able to enjoy your hot chocolate with a view of the Eiffel Tower).

You’ll also be able to get world-class coffee (in whichever form, from cold brew to cortado) at nearly any reputed café you visit, but one you shouldn’t miss is Caféothèque if you want to enjoy your coffee by the Seine!

So, grab that coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy Paris fall in style! You can also check out this list of the best coffee shops in Paris to know where to go.

8. Celebrate Halloween in Paris

If you’re in Paris in autumn and happen to be visiting during Halloween, there are so many ways to make your spooky day as unique as everything in Paris is.

You can choose to visit the ​​Manoir de Paris, Paris’ famous haunted house located in the 10th Arrondissement, or visit a theme park like the Parc Astérix or Disneyland Paris (which are a little out of the city), or spend some time at local Halloween parties!

The town is usually overcome with feelings of love and light, but on the night of 31st October, you’re sure to have a spooky night (especially if you go to the haunted house).

Irrespective of whichever activity you choose for Halloween day or night, be sure to taste Parisian chocolates even if you don’t go trick-or-treating!

9. Take a food, chocolate, or patisserie workshop

There’s no better time than Paris autumn to immerse yourself in the Parisian culture of pastries, chocolate, and other French foods!

The Fall is when many products like wine, seasonal veggies, truffles, and more take over the market, and what better way to celebrate that than to take a culinary workshop to learn a tad bit about authentic French food?

If savory dishes aren’t your beat, you can always set up a workshop with any of the several chocolatiers all over Paris to dabble in the sweet side of things and taste a lot of it as part of the job, too!

With so many traditional delicacies that you’ll find nowhere else in the world, there’s no better time to learn from chefs who’ve been serving world-class food for years and spend some time indoors in case the weather isn’t too nice!

If you’re down for that, you can opt for this chocolate workshop at Edwart Chocolatier (the best if you ask me), or this pastries workshop that will teach you how to make various desserts.

And if learning how to make baguettes and croissants has been on your Paris bucket list, you won’t go wrong with this fun baking workshop.

But if you prefer savory to sweet, this cooking workshop (that comes with a 3-course meal) will be the best fit for you.

10. Pay Your Respects at a cemetery

Though not everyone’s cup of tea, the cemeteries of Paris are as beautiful as they come.

With a sense of love and admiration in the air, Paris’ cemeteries have magnificent tombstones, some even with stained glass windows, cobblestoned pathways, sculptures, and more.

Besides being beautiful, all covered in the red, and orange hues of autumn, several cemeteries in Paris are the final resting place of well-known figures of art literature, and culture.

For example, the Père-Lachaise cemetery which is the biggest cemetery in Paris is the final resting home to Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and many others.

It is free to visit but if you want in-depth knowledge, you can book this guided tour for an incredible cemetery experience.

There are also other smaller cemeteries like Passy Cemetery in the 16th arrondissement, Montmartre Cemetery in the 18th, and Montparnasse Cemetery in the 14th where you can take a stroll, feel more connected to those you love, and pay your respects to the dead.

But for a full fall foliage experience at a cemetery (weird as it may sound), head to Père-Lachaise Cemetery.

11. Go on a Ghost Tour

Another activity that you usually wouldn’t get a chance to do unless you’re in Paris in the Fall is to take a ghost walking tour.

Though usually the city of love and light, the city does have a dark, spooky, and sinister side that you can unravel on your mysterious adventure.

You can pick from several services that offer the ghost walking tour and learn the parts of Paris’s historical stories that are often hidden away.

If you’re brave, enjoy the spooky season, and want to go in-depth into Paris’ mysterious and dark past, this mysterious night walking tour of Paris is the perfect activity for you.

12. 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 flippant (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 and 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 flippant 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 as well.

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.

Day pack: This daypack from Osprey will help keep all your daily essentials close to you at all times but you can also opt for this cute backpack if you prefer looking cool and chic.

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, eating hot and authentic French food that makes the idea of visiting Paris in Fall irresistible.

So, pack your scarves, and soak in the autumnal air of Paris as soon as you can!

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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