Anyone that says that Paris isn’t that great is a hater or just hasn’t done the city right.
Paris is an amazing place with a diverse spectrum of things to do for any type of traveler (except beaches).
This guide will get into the nitty-gritty of when to travel to Paris regardless of the type of traveler you are. From weather patterns to best deals on fancy hotels!
Last Updated: August 25 2020
Tips & Structured Options
If you like this article, definitely check out our guide on where to stay in Paris. We make serious suggestions on the neighborhoods, roads and squares you should look for accommodation near to make the decision process easier.
Also, once you decide which time to visit Paris, check out our Paris tours and other great experiences. Our prices drop during lower seasons and our website is normally updated a year in advance.
What This Article Covers:
- Weather: Warmer and Cooler Months
- Weather: Rainy, Windy and Humid Months
- When to Get the Best Prices & Deals
- Events & Holidays in Paris
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1. Weather: Warmer and Cooler Months in Paris
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the weather averages in Paris stay between 37F – 78F (3C – 26C). There are almost definitely spikes outside these ranges as these are monthly averages.
The good news is that Parisian temperatures are relatively mild. For a guy like me who doesn’t like either hot or cold weather, Paris is pretty perfect.
Rain, wind, and humidity will make these temperatures feel warmer or cooler which is something to consider. Check out our pricing graph in section 3 to see how weather and average hotel prices correspond to one another.
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2. Weather: Rainy, Windy & Humid Months in Paris
Humidity & Rain in Paris
Weather-and-Climate.com reports that average humidity in Paris is roughly 78% which is pretty high.
April – July/August: least humid months
Oct – Feb: Most humid months.
High humidity means higher chances of rain. Low humidity means lower chances of rain. This would explain how it rains perpetually in Paris.
When the air is moist (high humidity), it makes things difficult for your clothing and body to store heat. High humidity, therefore, means cool weather can feel even cooler. This is why a relatively mild Paris can feel pretty cold at times.
Wind Speeds in Paris
Unsurprisingly, the windiest months in Paris are from October 12th to April 18th according to Weatherspark.com. They even say that the windiest day of the year is January 16th each year. I guess avoid being outside in Paris on January 16th.
Also unsurprisingly, April through October are the least windy times of the year (same source as above). August being the absolute calmest month for wind in Paris. August is a month you probably could enjoy a cool breeze.
What does this mean? Again, while Paris enjoys a mild range of temperature its wind and humidity can cause winter months like January to feel pretty cold. That said, if the hotel prices are much lower you can bundle up when you go out and enjoy a luxurious and warm hotel room!
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3. When to Get the Best Prices & Deals in Paris
I specifically avoided using the word “cheap” or “cheapest” in my title as Paris is not a cheap place. You can get better prices, but I don’t believe the city can be done cheap and done well at the same time.
If you have budget restraints and want to see the city of lights, by all means, try to do it on the cheap. I, Sean from Youtube, believe Paris specializes in nice things and you should plan your trip under the premise that you will be budgeting for the finer things in life.
My Travel Style
To gear you up for Paris, I recommend either finding a 4star + hotel or a cool Airbnb. That said, I am not nor will I ever pay 500€+ for a room. I try to set my budget around 200€/night to 300€/night max when I am traveling for a special occasion. My recommendations will be based on this travel style.
When can you get the Best Prices & Deals on Hotels & Airbnbs in Paris?
Statista, a great website for finding all types of data and trends on travel, create this graph on average hotel rooms and prices in 2016 & 2017. Yes, the data is a bit old, but data is always at least a year old.
While the average monthly price may go up or down, the cheapest and most expensive months will stay the same relative to all the other months.
As you can see, August and November through February are historically the best times to get deals on hotels in Paris. This data should also apply to Airbnb rates. The internet provides an open and competitive market so you will find similar trends.
Does Paris Completely Shut Down in August?
August is unsurprisingly the cheapest month to go. This is due to many Europeans taking holidays in August and leaving the major cities. This means more small restaurants and bars will close down for a few weeks in the middle of August.
That said, Paris in August is definitely the best deal month to go. My recommendation is to look up the restaurants or attractions you want to see and make sure they are open in August. If they are, it appears to be the cheapest month to travel to Paris with the best weather.
Discounts on Tours in Paris
We also discount our Paris tour prices based on the same supply and demand curve.
November – December: Cheapest deals on Paris tours (Xmas – New Years excluded).
Jan – March: Also great deals but reduced amounts of departures.
April: You could definitely find a deal or two outside of Easter week.
May – July & Sept – Oct: You probably won’t find any deals on our top-selling tours in Paris.
August: You can find a deal or two.
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4. Events & Holidays in Paris 2021
Here is a list of major holidays in Paris & France in 2021 that could affect travel prices and crowds.
Friday, Jan 1, 2021: New Years Day – A lot of closures and peak season travel rates.
Friday, April 2nd, 2021: Good Friday – Peak season travel rates.
Sunday & Monday, April 4th & 5th 2021: Easter – Sunday is the religious holiday and Monday is the bank/national holiday. Expect serious closures, reduced metro service, and higher prices. While closures will only happen on Sunday & Monday, room rates and flights will remain high for a week on each end of Easter in Paris.
Saturday, May 1st, 2021: Labor Day – Expect reduced mass transit schedules and closures throughout the service industry. While you are approaching peak season, you may even find lower prices on flights and hotels due to closures.
Saturday, May 8th, 2021: Victory in Europe Day – Expect reduced mass transit schedules and closures. You will see parades and such throughout Paris. Especially along the Champs Élysées. Pretty cool day as a visitor but from my experience, Parisians treat it like any other day off in the spring which does mean day-drinking.
Thursday, May 13th, 2021: Ascension Day – Religious celebration and generally a quiet day. Expect some reduced mass transit schedules and closures outside of the tourist centers.
Monday, May 24th, 2021: Whit Monday – Yes, it is spelled “Whit”. This is Pentecost weekend and the Monday following is a bank holiday (national holiday). People will be off work and the non-service industry businesses will be closed. Not much effect for visitors.
Wednesday, July 15th, 2021: Bastille Day – This is the holiday of holidays in Paris. It is a massive blowout party and dressing up like a firefighter has some serious perks on this festive day in Paris. The night before is a huge party and the day of is even better. Expect parades, concerts, and general dancing in the streets. Read more on the history of Bastille Day and what do.
Sunday, Aug 15, 2021: Feast of the Assumption – Possible reduction in mass transit service. Empty city and all the museums are open. Expect serious restaurant closures. As we get closer to August 15, 2021, we will create a list of open restaurants.
Monday, Nov 1st, 2021: All Saints Day – This is a Catholic holiday where Parisians are supposed to visit the dead in cemeteries. Most points of interest for tourists will be open. Restaurants could vary but there will be something open. A cool thing to do is to visit Père Lachaise Cemetery and see all the tombs. It will probably be pretty packed and a good way to observe traditional customs.
Thursday, Nov 11th, 2021: Armistice Day – Normally an Arc de Triomphe morning ceremony followed by a parade from there to Invalides. Expect modest closures fo restaurants and reduction in transportation schedules.
Saturday, Dec 25th, 2021: Christmas Day – Expect everything French to be completely closed. Ethnic food will be the way to go today.
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