Paris
April to May and September to October.
April, May, September and October are the easiest months, with highs from about 17 to 22 °C, fewer people than in summer and no heat to plan around. July and August are the busiest and the hottest, with highs near 26 °C, and some small shops and restaurants close for part of August. Winter is cold and grey with short days, but the big museums are calmer then.
Data checked on October 4, 2026
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8 °C | 3 °C | 10 | · |
| February | 9 °C | 3 °C | 9 | · |
| March | 13 °C | 6 °C | 10 | · |
| April | 17 °C | 8 °C | 9 | Best |
| May | 20 °C | 11 °C | 9 | Best |
| June | 23 °C | 14 °C | 8 | · |
| July | 26 °C | 16 °C | 7 | Busy |
| August | 26 °C | 16 °C | 8 | Busy |
| September | 22 °C | 13 °C | 8 | Best |
| October | 17 °C | 10 °C | 10 | Best |
| November | 11 °C | 6 °C | 10 | · |
| December | 8 °C | 4 °C | 11 | · |
Climate averages: Météo-France.
8 to 17 °C · about 9 rainy days a month
Highs climb from 13 °C in March to 20 °C in May, and rain falls on about nine days a month. Gardens come into leaf and the queues are shorter than in summer.
What to wear: Bring layers, a light waterproof jacket and shoes that handle wet cobbles.
15 to 25 °C · about 8 rainy days a month
July and August average 26 °C at the warmest, and heat waves can push well past 35 °C. The evenings are long, the quays fill up after work, and the main sights have their longest queues.
What to wear: Pack light clothes, a hat and sunscreen, plus a scarf or shirt that covers your shoulders for churches.
10 to 17 °C · about 9 rainy days a month
September is still warm at a 22 °C average high, while November drops to 11 °C and the rain days rise to ten a month. October is quiet enough to walk most areas without a plan.
What to wear: Dress in layers with a proper rain jacket, and take closed shoes with a good grip.
3 to 8 °C · about 10 rainy days a month
December to February highs sit between 8 and 9 °C, nights are close to freezing, and daylight ends before 17:30 in midwinter. Snow falls on a few days a year and rarely lasts.
What to wear: A warm coat, hat, gloves and waterproof shoes will do more for you than extra layers indoors, because museums are heated.
It rains on about nine or ten days a month all year, so keep a wet-day plan ready. The Louvre, Orsay, the Orangerie, Sainte-Chapelle, the Palais Garnier and the Panthéon all work in rain, and Notre-Dame is free to walk through. The Eiffel Tower summit loses its view in low cloud, and the official site says access can be limited in severe weather.
Heat is the problem in July and August, when the Eiffel Tower queue and the 284 steps of the Arc de Triomphe have little shade. Spend the middle of the day in a museum or a church, and use the early morning and the evening for open-air stops. Carry water, and use the public drinking fountains in parks and squares.