Paris
Paris in the rain
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.
- Stops under a roof: 8
Data checked on October 4, 2026
A rainy day, stop by stop
A day built only from stops that are under a roof, in an order that keeps the walks short.
Day 1
Île de la Cité · Louvre, Tuileries and Opéra
3 stops · 6 h 30 of visits · 22 min on foot
Open this day's route in Google Maps-
9:30 am11:00 am
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The restored cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Entry is free, and you queue to walk through the nave.
Arrive early, or reserve a slot, to avoid the longest queue.
A free time slot can be reserved on the official site a few hours before your visit. It is optional, but it shortens the wait.
Open every day. Monday to Friday 07:50 to 19:00, with closing at 22:00 on Thursdays. Saturday and Sunday 08:15 to 19:30. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Source: Notre-Dame de Paris, checked October 4, 2026
- 22 min walk
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11:22 am2:52 pm
Louvre Museum
The largest museum in Paris, in a former royal palace. The collection is too big to see in one visit, so choose a few wings and expect a security queue at the Pyramid.
Go at opening time, or on a Wednesday or Friday evening when the museum stays open late.
Book a timed ticket on the official site before you go. The museum strongly recommends it for every visitor, including those with free entry.
Closed on Tuesdays. Open until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays. Entry to the museum is free after 18:00 on the first Friday of each month, except in July and August. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Source: Musée du Louvre, checked October 4, 2026
- Too far to walk in comfort (about 47 min on foot). Take public transport.
- Lunch break
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4:12 pm5:42 pm
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The white basilica on the Montmartre hill. Entry to the nave is free, and the front steps look over the whole city. The dome climb is a separate visit.
Early morning is the quietest time on the steps.
The basilica is open every day from 06:30 to 22:30. Dome hours are listed separately and we did not check them.
Source: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, checked October 4, 2026
Every stop under a roof
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Louvre Museum
The largest museum in Paris, in a former royal palace. The collection is too big to see in one visit, so choose a few wings and expect a security queue at the Pyramid.
Source: Musée du Louvre, checked October 4, 2026
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Notre-Dame Cathedral
The restored cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Entry is free, and you queue to walk through the nave.
Source: Notre-Dame de Paris, checked October 4, 2026
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Sacré-Cœur Basilica
The white basilica on the Montmartre hill. Entry to the nave is free, and the front steps look over the whole city. The dome climb is a separate visit.
Source: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, checked October 4, 2026
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Musée d'Orsay
A former railway station that holds a large Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection. The museum notes some renovation work, so check access conditions on its page.
Source: Musée d'Orsay, checked October 4, 2026
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Sainte-Chapelle
A Gothic royal chapel inside the Palais de la Cité, known for its walls of stained glass. Expect a security check, and leave large bags at your hotel because they are not allowed.
Source: Sainte-Chapelle (Centre des monuments nationaux), checked October 4, 2026
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Panthéon
A neoclassical building that is now the burial place of figures from French history. The crypt is the main part of the visit.
Source: Panthéon (Centre des monuments nationaux), checked October 4, 2026
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Palais Garnier
The 19th-century opera house. The self-guided visit covers the grand staircase, the foyers and the library-museum, and the auditorium when it is open.
Source: Opéra national de Paris, checked October 4, 2026
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Musée de l'Orangerie
A small museum in the Tuileries Garden, best known for Monet's Water Lilies in two oval rooms. It is easy to combine with the Louvre or a walk to Place de la Concorde.
Source: Musée de l'Orangerie, checked October 4, 2026
Rainy days by month
Climate averages: Météo-France.