I’m the traveler who despises crowds and waiting in line, which means I travel during the off-season. In October 2024, my fiancé and I celebrated our engagement in Paris. And last October, we returned to spend a few days before our wedding in the Loire Valley. I’m here to explain why fall is the best time to go to Paris.
The saying that Paris is always a good idea is true. I’ve been a handful of times; the first was in May with spring flowers budding everywhere. Last year in February I celebrated my birthday in Paris, when it was dreary and chilly. But after two Octobers there, I discovered fall in Paris has a particular charm to it. Here’s why.
Why Fall is the Best Time to Visit Paris
Fall Weather in Paris is Perfect
Paris has pretty mild weather year-round, but fall in Paris is especially charming. With temperatures hovering around the 60-65 degree mark, the sun still feels warm but as the day winds down the crisp air requires a light jacket. And since it’s France, adding a scarf is not only practical, but chic! In October, a trench coat and a scarf became our daily uniform.
As if Paris couldn’t be more beautiful, when the trees turn colors and decorate the sidewalks with leaves, it’s even more impressive. And flowers still fill gardens and streetside shops even in fall, adding more color to the city.
One of the best things to do in Paris is enjoy some wine outside at a street-side café. And even in fall, it’s warm enough to sit outside. In fact, one day we sat directly in the sun and it was so warm we took our jackets off!
The Crowds Are Smaller in Fall
Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, receiving nearly 49 million visitors in 2024 alone. Peak tourist times are mostly in the summer, followed by the Christmas season. While there’s no time of year when the crowds fully leave, fall in Paris means less tourists.
Don’t get me wrong: there are still plenty of crowds in the trendiest tourist spots. Like the Louvre, which in 2023 began capping the number of daily visitors at 30,000, hits that number daily all year round.
But there are places with less crowds if you’re like me and try to avoid them. One of our favorites was the Conciergerie, the former prison best known for holding Marie Antoinette captive. Other places, like the Catacombs and the Notre Dame, require tickets with time slots, making the crowds more manageable.
And be strategic when you go to popular places. We took a day trip to the D-Day sites in Normandy on a Saturday and the crowds were manageable. But it was still more crowded than the previous year when we took a similar D-Day tour (while staying in Normandy) on a weekday.
Fall Food is the Best
In a country where farm-to-table isn’t a restaurant concept but a way of life, seasonal produce matters in France since most restaurants use local ingredients. The France Department of Agriculture actually releases a monthly list of what foods are in season. September is peek leek season, along with cauliflower, turnips, mirabelle plums, apples, blackberries, and grey shrimp from the Bay of Biscay. Plus native oyster season starts September 1st.
October is the grape harvest, both for eating and for wine-making. It’s also the season for pears, chestnuts, squash, mushrooms (especially oyster, pied-bleu, shiitake, and champignons de Paris), celeriac, sea bream, cuttlefish, and pork. In November, look for Mogette de Vendée beans, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, apples, red mullet, and rabbit.
Besides all the fresh produce, classic French comfort foods are perfect for fall. Beef Bourguignon on a crisp fall day? Perfection.
The French Countryside Surrounding Paris is Stunning in Fall
Paris is a spectacular city that can entertain you for… well, ever… if you let it. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t venture outside of Paris. And especially in the fall, when the leaves start to change, you should definitely see somewhere outside of Paris.
I’m a big fan of day trips and there are plenty to do from Paris. Seeing the D-Day sites in Normandy is possible but, trust me, it’s a really long day. Venturing to Champagne for wine tastings is also possible in a day, but read these tips first! Of course, there’s also the Palace of Versailles (more on what to know for a day trip to Versailles). It’s best to work with a guided tour; here are some guided day trip tour ideas.
So if you have more time, I recommend spending a few days in Normandy, doing Champagne tastings in Champagne, or touring wineries in the Loire Valley. All are beautiful in the fall! After our wedding in the Loire Valley, we spent a few days touring wineries in the region. (More on that soon.) And the grape vine leaves had turned the most beautiful fall yellow!
It’s Always Beautiful in Paris
The bottom line is that anytime you can get to Paris, take advantage! But if you’re looking to experience pleasant weather, deal with less crowds, and taste even more delicious food, fall in Paris is when to go.
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Related :: A Day Trip to Champagne from Paris, A Day Trip to Normandy from Paris, and the Best Itinerary for Wine Tasting in Champagne
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