Paris in September: Should You Visit + Things to Do, Weather, What to Wear, & More!

Paris in September used to be a bit of an underrated time to go. People would say “Skip August and visit Paris in September as it is less crowded.”

This isn’t fully wrong…it’s just outdated.

September is actually one of the busier months in Paris! In fact, because locals leave the city and business travel halts during August, hotel prices dip. 

Whereas in September, prices jump up again. Yes, the weather is better than August, and the city feels more lively again as locals are returning from their vacations. However, September being a hidden gem shoulder season time to visit isn’t as much of a thing anymore.

That being said, it’s still an amazing time to be here!

There are fun events around the city, the weather is usually nice, and everything is back up and open after a lot of shops and restaurants closing in August.

If you don’t mind spending a bit on hotels, you’ll find September is a fabulous time to visit. 

In this guide, I’m sharing all you need to know before visiting, including Paris weather in September, what to wear, events, things to do, and whether I think it’s worth visiting this time of year!

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Want a full guide to Paris including itinerary ideas, where to stay, all the travel tips, a packing list, and more? Check out my ultimate guide to Paris!

Paris in September Weather

It is true that the weather in Paris this time of year is typically far better than the peak of summer when it can get really hot!

BUT I will never put it past Paris to sneak in a final heat wave before finally cooling down in the autumn months, especially after the May heatwave this year. It can also be cooler too.

I will share estimated averages below, but it is always a good idea to check the weather forecast ahead of time to get a better idea of what to expect on your visit. (The Weather Channel works just fine!)

• Average high: 66-74ºF / 19-23ºC
• Average low: 53-58ºF / 12-14ºC
• Average number of days with significant precipitation: 6 days
• Hours of daylight: 13 hours, 25 minutes to 11 hours, 43 minutes

Yes, on September 1, you’re looking at sunrise around 7:07 am and sunset at 8:33 pm and on September 30, it’s 7:48 am for sunrise and 7:31 pm for sunset. The days are rapidly getting shorter as you race toward December.

That being said, you’ve still got a lot of daylight to burn!

Overall, expect mild days and potentially chilly mornings and evenings!

I’ve visited in mid-to-late September and having a coat is nice! I’ve also visited in early September and was pretty warm. September can be a bit unpredictable like that.

What to Wear in Paris in September

Now that you know the weather, let’s talk about what to wear! 

• Sneakers. Yes, these are essential for walking around all day. I love my Adidas Sambas, and they’ve served me well.
• Socks. You’ll need socks for your sneakers! 
• Flats or Loafers. I personally enjoy a loafer, but most importantly, wear something you feel comfortable walking in! This is optional too because sneakers are so common!
• Jeans/trousers: Jeans and trousers are always popular in Paris, and now that it is getting cooler, you’ll definitely want more of these instead of shorts. Men’s jeans/trousers here!
• Skirts. A cute midi skirt is so fun to wear! You could also wear a shorter skirt/skort on warm days or with tights! 
• Tights. This is a great idea to wear under a shorter skirt on a kind of chilly day!
• Short-sleeve tops. For those perfect warmer days, a short-sleeve top is nice to have! Men’s tops here.
• Long-sleeve tops. September has many days where a long-sleeve top is perfect! Men’s tops here.
• Dresses/Jumpsuits. I love a cute long-sleeve dress or even a jumpsuit on nice days! 
• Cotton over shirt. This is a great compromise between no jacket but not completely having that extra layer. A white casual cotton button up can be layered over so many things on a slightly chilly evening/morning!
• Light jacket. You’re definitely going to want to consider bringing a jacket, like a trench coat or even a cropped trench for cooler days/mornings/evenings as it cools off this month. Men’s jacket here. 
• Umbrella. September isn’t typically a rainy month, but it does get some rain!
• Scarf. For chillier mornings/evenings, a scarf can be useful to have!

Layers are going to be your friend here!

In my experience, having a light jacket like a trench coat has been perfect. I’ve even found a scarf could be useful in the later part of the month. But by mid-day a nice long-sleeve shirt (or even short-sleeve on warm days) can be great! 

However, I’ve also visited Paris in early September and wore a skirt and tank.

As always, check the weather forecast before you go to gauge what to wear!

September Events in Paris

While Paris doesn’t have any public holidays in September, there are plenty of events going on! Parisians are back from their big vacations in August, and they’re ready to take in some fun events! 

• Jazz à la Villette (August 28-September 6, 2026): This is a jazz festival that takes place at the end of summer in different venues around La Villette!
• Global Black Pride (September 9-13, 2026): Celebrate the Black LGBTQI+ community with a music festival, parties, a march, and more! 
• Paris Design Week (September 10-19, 2026): If you love design and art, this is definitely worth checking out! 
• Festival de l’Automne (September 11, 2026-January 10, 2027): This festival celebrates the arts like music, dancing, theatre, and more! It happens in various venues around Paris, and it is a great way to take in some culture with the locals!
• European Heritage Days (September 19-20, 2026): This is an event that happens throughout Europe, but in Paris, this is a great opportunity to enjoy events highlighting France’s heritage. It typically is the 3rd weekend of September in Paris. There are many events happening throughout the city from tours to demonstrations to performances and more! We happened to be at Musée de la Vie Romantique several years ago during European Heritage Days and had the pleasure of hearing a harpist performance.
• Paris Rooftop Days (September 26-28, 2026): Explore rooftops of Paris including performances, workshops, and more! The last 2 days are open to the public (book tickets for things in advance).
• Fête des Jardins (September 26-27, 2026): Enjoy special events in the gardens of Paris on this fun weekend in the fall!
• Paris Fashion Week (September 28-October 6, 2026): Womenswear for spring/summer 2027 is happening at the end of the month!

There is no shortage of fun events in September!

Things to Do in Paris in September

The locals are back in town, and the city is buzzing from the last days of summer and the early days of fall. Here are great things to do in Paris in September. 

1. Soak in the Sunshine at a Park.

I rave about going to parks in most of my monthly guides (except maybe in winter). But something that I LOVE about Paris and one of my favorite things about Paris is that they have an abundance of parks.

French people love a good picnic, and who can blame them? It’s super easy to head to a market or grocery store, get some charcuterie, cheeses, and wine, get a baguette at a boulangerie, and then head to a park to enjoy.

Some fabulous parks to do this include:

• Jardin du Luxembourg: Amazing people-watching and so much to see!
• Jardin des Tuileries: Again, great people-watching and there are sometimes fun events happening here!
• Parc Monceau: Peaceful tucked away park with several ducks.
• Parc des Buttes-Chaumont: Probably my favorite park in Paris. It’s definitely off the tourist trail, but it is a stunning hilly park with a temple on a hill on the lake.
• Place des Vosges: This is a small green space in Le Marais but a lovely place to have a picnic.
• Square des Batignolles: Again, super cute and local park.
• Bois de Vincennes: The area around Lac Daumesnil is so adorable and perfect for a picnic.

Alternatively, you could just park it along the Seine and enjoy! 

2. Wander Canal Saint-Martin.

I love Canal Saint-Martin! It’s a local area of Paris that is buzzing with life. And in September when the locals are all back in town, it’s a nice area to explore. There are places to sit and have a picnic, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby!

You can even cruise on the canal on certain dates!

3. Go to the Market!

If you have a place where you can cook, it’s fun to peruse the market for fresh seasonal produce like pumpkins and squash, mushrooms, apples, carrots, figs, and more!

You can also get French cheeses and many markets have stands for takeaway food! Going to a market in France is a cultural experience you have to try!

Here are markets to check out:

• Raspail Market: Tuesday & Friday from 7 am-1:30 pm.
• Rue Mouffetard Market Street: Everyday except Monday from around 8 am-1 pm. However, weekends are the best time to go.
• Rue Cler Market Street: There are many shops and things that have varying opening times. Many are closed on Monday all day and Sunday afternoons. But it is typically open all day until around 8 pm Tuesday-Saturday.
• Place Monge Market: Wednesday & Friday from 7 am-2:30 pm. Sunday from 7 am-3 pm.
• Maubert Market: Tuesday & Thursday from 7 am-2:30 pm. Saturday from 7 am-3 pm.
• Marche d’Aligre: Tuesday-Friday from 7:30 am-1:30 pm and Saturday-Sunday from 7:30 am-2:30 pm. The covered market is open from Tuesday-Friday from 9 am-1 pm and 4-7:30 pm, Saturday is from 9 am-1 pm and 3:30-7:30 pm, and Sunday is from 9 am-1:30 pm.
• Bastille Market: Thursday from 7 am-2:30 pm and Sunday from 7 am-3 pm.

4. Head to a Cafe.

September may be one of the best months for sitting outside at a cafe. Yes, September is no stranger to a bit of rain, but on nice days, those cafes call my name.

You can sit, have a nice coffee or hot chocolate, or even sip a glass of wine with friends as you people-watch.

Parisians love people-watching, and so do I. For me the best place for people-watching is Les Deux Magots. Yes, it is touristy, but I see locals there early in the morning also enjoying its ambiance.

There are many great cafes all over Paris though, and honestly, if you just walk around and see a place with a terrace and people enjoying their drink and conversation, it’s as good a place as any to enjoy!

5. Head to the Museums.

I will admit that the popular museums will be busy this time of year. Remember, it’s still a busier time to be here, so it can be crowded. But let’s be real the popular places are busy year-round. 

However, there are some lovely smaller museums to check out this time of year with outdoor components to enjoy the lovely weather!

• Rodin Museum: The sculpture garden is stunning!
• Petit Palais: This is free and has a lovely outdoor area.
• Musée de Montmartre: Learn the history of this enigmatic neighborhood, see the Montmartre Vineyard, and enjoy the Renoir gardens.
• Musée de la Vie Romantique: This is a charming museum that was once the home of Dutch-French painter Ary Scheffer. There is a lovely outdoor tearoom here. The permanent collection is free too!
• National Archives: Learn about French history (it’s free!) before exploring the gardens! 

And for a rainy day, I love the CLUNY Museum (Museum of the Middle Ages). It has Roman bathhouse ruins in the basement, tons of Medieval art and artifacts, and the famous Lady and Her Unicorn tapestries. 

6. View the Eiffel Tower.

I mean, this is stunning year-round. However, with sunset times decreasing throughout the month, you can catch her sparkle in the evening a bit earlier. The Eiffel Tower sparkles for the first 5 minutes of the hour from nightfall until midnight in September. 

Now at the beginning of the month, the first sparkle isn’t until 9 pm, whereas toward the end of the month, it is at 8 pm! 

This means you could catch the Eiffel Tower lit up and sparkling before a later dinner (or basically when the French go to dinner) depending on your visit!

What’s more- you could book tickets to be up there for when it sparkles OR you could go on a cruise to try and see it!

7. Day Trips From Paris in September. 

Want to take a day and get out of the city while visiting in September? Here are some great day trip ideas!

• Giverny. Monet’s House & Gardens are a great day trip from Paris, and September is a lovely time to visit! I went in September, and the water lilies were in bloom! But the gardens are open through October, so enjoy the last couple of months this place is blooming! You can go on your own via the train and shuttle or book a day trip here!
• Reims. Hop on a quick train to Reims in the heart of Champagne! Sip Champagne, visit Reims Cathedral, and tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site cellars! This is a good one you can do on your own or even go on a day tour from Paris!
• Mont Saint Michel. I’ve also been to Mont Saint Michel in September! It was a little moody the day I went with cloud cover, but still lovely! Visit the abbey at the top and walk around the Medieval village. I do recommend booking a day tour for this to figure out logistics as it’s quite far from Paris.
• D-Day Beaches. Explore famous D-Day sites in Paris on a day trip. I do recommend booking this as a tour as well because it is further out. Here is the Canadian tour option as well.
• Versailles. September is a lovely time to visit Versailles with the gardens and it’s not as hot in the palace. You can do this on your own, via a guided day tour, or you can even do a bike tour to explore the town market and visit most of Versailles!
• Loire Valley. The chateaux are slightly less busy than peak tourism season and have gorgeous gardens to explore! I recommend a guided day tour here again because of logistics. 

Where to Stay in Paris in September

There are 2 big considerations for booking hotels in Paris in September: AC and cost. Air conditioning is important because it can still be warm, and I wouldn’t put it past Paris to throw in another random heat wave. 

And cost because hotel prices spike again in September. While they temporarily dip in late July/August, they go back up in September, rivaling peak summer prices. That’s because again tourists are still visiting, but business travel is back. Plus, Paris Fashion Week brings in crowds.

So here are some options that have AC and can suit your budget.

Hotel du Printemps: I stayed here recently and really enjoyed it! The room was small, and it’s in the 12th, but it’s in a local area which was lovely and well connected via the metro. Plus, it has AC and is an affordable hotel in September.

Book it here!

Hotel Joyce-Astotel: I also stayed here recently and it’s a lovely hotel! It’s in my favorite arrondissement, the 9th, so it’s close to a lot of things and has AC. It is a good, reasonably priced hotel.

Book it here!

Hotel Odeon Saint-Germain: This one is a moderately-priced hotel, but it does increase prices in September. However, it is in a fabulous location (Saint-Germain-des-Pres in the 6th arrondissement) and has AC. I’ve stayed here twice, and both times have been lovely! 

Book it here!

Is It Worth Visiting Paris in September?

I will always say there isn’t a bad time to visit Paris! And September is definitely one of the better times!

The weather starts cooling off, the days are still long, and everything springs back to life after half the locals leaving in August. 

It’s a great time to visit! 

However, hotel prices spike, and it can be a bit more expensive because of that. You’ll want to plan in advance.

It can also be really busy with tourists coming in, business travel, as well as locals back at work. It’s no longer the shoulder season month it once was. 

However, yes, I think it is well worth visiting in September! I’ve enjoyed all my visits to Paris in September! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some helpful answers to your frequently asked questions in regards to visiting Paris in September.

1. Is September a busy time to be in Paris?

Yes, while not as bad as peak summer, it is a busy time to be in Paris. However, you can visit lesser-known museums and parks and still have a lovely time without the crowds!

2. How many days should you spend in Paris in September?

More is always better while visiting Paris! However, to get a good feel of the city, I recommend 3 days at least if you can to see the main attractions! Check out my 3-day Paris itinerary here!

However, 4-7 days is lovely too, and that leaves you with time for a day trip and to explore more! Here are my itineraries for spending more time in Paris:

• 4 Days in Paris
• 5 Days in Paris
• 7 Days in Paris

3. Do you need to book attractions in advance in September?

Yes! For popular attractions like the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, Eiffel Tower, etc., I would book in advance. 

Also, for restaurants, definitely make dinner reservations in advance! 

4. Can you still eat outside in September?

Yes! The weather is typically really nice in September. However, it does cool down, so having a jacket and/or scarf is a good thing to have depending on the weather. 

5. Is September a good month for a Seine River cruise?

Absolutely! Bring a jacket on cooler days, but the days are getting shorter to admire the Eiffel Tower sparkling before like 11 pm, and the temperatures make it a fairly comfortable time to enjoy a Seine River cruise.

Book yours here!

6. Are restaurants and shops open in September?

Yes! Most restaurants and shops should be open and operating regularly by September. While some close in August, everything is basically back to normal by September. 

7. Is September better than October for visiting Paris?

This is so hard to say! September gives you the last bits of summer and early fall with warmer temps and longer days. However, hotel prices are higher and it is typically more crowded than in October.

Whereas October starts to get chillier, but there is fall foliage in parks around the city and less tourists. It’s lovely, but also be prepared for more rain in October. 

The downside of October, though, is that you’ve got French school holidays beginning around the middle of the month, making things a little busier.

However, both are fantastic times to be here! 

There you have it! This is your ultimate guide to Paris in September including weather, what to wear, things to do, events, and more! Would you like to visit this time of year?