Perfect Paris Autumn Guide: 19 Epic Things to Do in Paris in the Fall

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Experiencing a Paris autumn can be a charming time. For starters, the way the city completely changes colors is pure perfection. All the lovely gardens and parks gradually go from colorful and flower-filled to golden and red as the leaves turn. 

And you cannot imagine the relief of everyone as the sweltering heat of summer has finally abated, leaving a nice, chill atmosphere that is matchless for wearing a nice trench coat and a fun scarf as you wander the streets of the city. 

In short, Paris in the fall is idyllic in many ways, even if the changing weather also brings in more rain and fewer sunny days. 

If you’re lucky enough to visit Paris this time of year, then here are the top 19 things to do in Paris in the autumn plus other tips in this Paris fall guide. 

19 Epic Things to Do in Paris in the Fall

Here are hands down the best things to do in Paris in the autumn. 

1. Stroll the Streets of Paris

Who doesn’t love to wander along the streets of Paris? Fun neighborhoods like Le Marais, Montmartre, the Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Pres are all fun places to meander around in the autumn, and it is also nice to walk along the Seine. 

From here, you’ll see several trees and gardens full of colorful leaves. Plus, now that the weather has finally cooled down from summer, you can enjoy wandering around without the intense heat. 

2. Wander Through the Parks of Paris

Okay, you know strolling along the streets of Paris is a lot of fun, but the parks are remarkable! Jardin des Tuileries, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and Jardin du Luxembourg are perfect places for a midday stroll or picnic with friends on the benches. 

And if you would like to go for a longer stroll, opt for the Bois de Vincennes in the eastern part of the city. This is Paris’s largest park, full of lakes, walking paths, and more! 

3. Celebrate European Hertiage Days (Journees Du Partrimoine) 

During the 3rd weekend of September, Paris celebrates European Heritage Days. This is a time to enjoy museums and monuments around the city for free to learn about France’s rich history. 

This event is actually celebrated all around Europe in various cities! 

I was lucky enough to be in Paris during Heritage Days in September 2021 and got to witness the most beautiful harp and opera performance at the Musee de la Vie Romantique for free! 

There are events happening all over the city, including at the Arch de Triomphe and Musee d’Orsay, but also at places like the Palais du Luxembourg. 

Find out more about European Heritage Days here. 

4. Enjoy the Festival d’Automne

From September through December, the Festival d’Automne occurs, with theatres and event spaces across Paris hosting cultural events. 

This includes theatre, music, film, dance, and visual art events across Paris. So if you want to enjoy some culture and want to skip the museums, this is a great thing to do in Paris in the fall. 

Find all the events here. 

5. Partake in Delicious Hot Chocolate

You’re probably well aware that Paris has some of the world’s best hot chocolate. There are several places around the city that are most famous for selling this hot cup of delicious molten delight. 

It truly is otherworldly. And when the air gets a little chilly, it is the perfect time to sit down with friends or a good book as you sip soul-warming hot chocolate at various places around the city. 

Personally, my absolute favorite hot chocolate spot is Carette at Place des Vosges. This place is next to the gorgeous Place des Vosges Park and the hot chocolate is so rich and creamy. Plus, it comes with a mountain of whipped cream on the side which is just as tasty as it is aesthetically pleasing. 

Other great places to enjoy hot chocolate around the city include Les Deux Magots, Cafe de Flore, and Angelina. 

6. Embrace Cafe Culture 

Parisians usually love to sit at a cafe with seats facing the street to sip their coffee during the day and wine or beer in the evenings. It is the best place to socialize with friends or just people-watch. 

But in the fall, there is nothing better than a hot coffee and pastry as you sit watching the world go by and the season changes around you. It feels that much more cozier during the autumn months compared to the rest of the year. 

Plus, again the weather is cooler than in the summer, making it a pleasant experience overall to do. 

7. Head to a Market For Seasonal Fare

Shopping seasonally is a big thing in France, and there is no better way to embrace that than going to a local market.  

Head to a covered market like Marche San Quentin or Marche les Enfants Rouges or an outdoor market like Mouffetard Market or Bastille Market to search for local produce fit for the season like pumpkins, squash, mushrooms, chestnuts, pears, and more! 

8. Eat All the Warm, Hearty French Comfort Food

Cooler weather certainly makes one want to put on a sweater and enjoy hearty cold-weather food. France does this so deliciously well. Enjoy things like onion soup, tartiflette, raclette, fondue, boeuf bourguignon, and coq au vin that tastes that much better during the autumn months when the air is crisp. 

Some great places for some French comfort food include La Jacobine for amazing onion soup and coq au vin and Le Vieux Bistro for all the French alpine food like tartiflette and fondue. 

9. Partake in the Grape Harvest Festival in Montmartre (Fete des Vendanges)

The autumn months in France are well known as being the time for harvesting grapes. Places like Burgundy, Bordeaux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and countless others will be busy as they start bringing in the harvest for the year to create more of that magical liquid we call wine. 

In Paris, you can enjoy the spirit of the harvest around the neighborhood of Montmartre. In 2024, it takes place from October 9-13, but each year, it is typically around the second weekend of October. Enjoy concerts and street performances and taste regional products and wines during this event in October. 

You also get to visit the iconic Montmartre Vineyard next to the Montmartre Museum during this time. 

Check out the event here!

10. Listen to Jazz at Jazz Sur Seine

Each year in October, the Paris Jazz Club puts on an event called Jazz Sur Seine, where 450 artists play more than 180 concerts during two weeks in October. This year, it is on October 6-21. 

Celebrate French jazz culture as you partake in this incredible Paris autumn event. 

Check out the event here!

11. Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Beaujolais Nouveau Day takes place on the third Thursday of November every year. This day is when the Beaujolais Nouveau wine is released. 

Is this considered a public holiday in France? No. Do people get excited about it nonetheless? Absolutely! 

Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes from the Beaujolais region of France. It is called “nouveau” or “new” because it is only fermented for a few weeks before being released on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, so it is a young wine. 

However, this purple-hued wine is absolutely delicious! So you may as well partake in the holiday and buy a few bottles to share with friends and family. 

For those of us here in the US, you can get it here too! It is actually a popular wine for Thanksgiving because of the release being right before then. 

And for those celebrating in Paris, there are places to taste the new wine in the city among other festivities. In fact, Vedettes du Pont Neuf has a Beaujolais Nouveau cruise the weekend it is released where you can sample the wine as you sail along the Seine. 

12. Get Into Spooky Season With a Ghost Tour

With Halloween around the corner in October, it is the perfect time to take a ghost tour. This Paris by Night Walking Tour includes information about ghosts, mysteries, and legends of the city. 

This evening tour shares the darkest secrets of Paris, including its ghosts. 

13. Visit the Catacombs

Again with the spooky theme, you can pay your respects to the millions of people whose bones were placed in the Catacombs under Paris. 

There are several tours of the Catacombs you can take. This is a really great tour with extra access!

14. Explore the Cemeteries of Paris

Whether you want to see some famous people’s gravesites or you’re interested in the macabre, you can visit cemeteries like Pere Lachaise, Montmartre Cemetery, or Montparnasse Cemetery. 

Pere Lachaise also offers many tours including this tour about its famed residents and ghosts. 

15. Spend Halloween Evening at Le Grand Rex 

Now Halloween isn’t as big of a deal in general in France, but if you want to celebrate the holiday spooky-style, then head to Le Grand Rex cinema for scary movies and horror films alike. 

16. Amazing Thing to Do in Paris in Autumn for Kids: Disneyland’s Halloween Festival

Trying to find fun things to do in Paris in the fall with kids? Then head over to Disneyland Paris for the day for the Halloween Festival! 

Meet Disney villains, admire the decorations, and celebrate Halloween with Mickey at Disney’s Halloween Party on October 31st. 

This Halloween Festival takes place during the month of October at Disneyland Paris. 

17. Explore Museums on a Rainy Day

As I’ve discussed before, there can be rainy days during the fall in Paris. This isn’t every day, but on particularly gloomy days, you’ll want to enjoy time spent indoors at the famous Parisian museums. 

While there are several museums to visit, there are a lot of smaller museums to see in Paris that are epic. And if you plan to visit more popular places like the Louvre or Musee d’Orsay, be sure to book tickets in advance. 

While the autumn months start to see a decrease in crowds, it is still pretty busy, so getting tickets in advance will save you a lot of time! 

Book your Louvre tickets here!

Book your Musee d’Orsay tickets here!

Some other fun museums in Paris include Musee de l’Orangerie, Musee Rodin, Gustave Moureau Museum, Carnavalet Museum, CLUNY Museum, and the Picasso Museum. 

18. The End of Autumn in Paris Brings the Start of the Christmas Markets!

The tail end of fall in Paris is actually the start of the magical Christmas markets! Last year, I visited the lovely Tuileries Christmas Market at the end of November and it was lovely. There were Champagne tasting booths, fun rides for the kids, tasty treats, and more! 

Other markets that open in late November/early December include the La Defence Christmas Market, Alsatian Christmas Market at Gare de l’Est, and Saint-Germain-des-Pres Christmas Market.

19. Enjoy the Early Holiday Season with Christmas Lights and Window Displays

From mid-to-late November you’ll start to see the Christmas lights up around the city! Enjoy visiting the Champs-Elysees, as well as the lights and window displays around Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marche, and more! 

So if you don’t mind the weather being a bit chillier at the end of autumn, and you really want to catch the Christmas season before it gets crowded in December, this is a great time to visit Paris! 

Paris in Autumn Weather

Paris in the autumn definitely gets cooler than in the summertime. Here is a monthly average breakdown:

• September: High of 71ºF/22ºC and low of 55ºF/13ºC. Average number of rainy days: 7 days.
• October: High of 63ºF/17ºF and low of 50ºF/10ºC. Average number of rainy days: 8 days.
• November: High of 52ºF/11ºC and low of 43ºF/6ºC . Average number of rainy days: 9 days. 

It does get progressively cooler and rainier the further you get into the season, and the daylight gets shorter as well. 

Also, note that Daylight Savings Time ends the last Sunday of October, meaning that will affect daylight times as well. 

What to Wear in Paris in the Fall

I always recommend checking the weather before you visit, because sometimes September can be unseasonably warm or cold. I mean this can happen in any month. So be sure to check the weather before you pack and determine what to bring. 

I do have a whole blog post on my other website about what to wear in Paris (including what NOT to wear).

However, for fall specifically, jeans work just fine for every day. I also either wear my white sneakers or these warmer black boots for cooler days. It is so important to wear comfortable walking shoes. 

For tops, cute sweaters or just nice long-sleeved tops work just fine. 

As far as jackets, this depends on when you visit. Definitely bring a scarf in the fall, as it can be chilly at any time. But in early fall, I like to wear a nice trench coat, and as it gets closer to winter, I’ll put on my warmer parka from TheNorthface. 

If you choose to wear a dress, I recommend wearing tights underneath and long sleeves. 

I recommend wearing basics that you can mix and match. Black is always a popular color to wear, but you can throw in some fall colors too in your wardrobe. 

And this may be the only time of year when wearing a beret isn’t a huge red flag as to being a tourist in the city. It is if you’re wearing a vibrantly colored one, but yes, you will even see Parisians sport a black or brown beret from time to time in the autumn months in Paris. 

Things to Know Before Visiting Paris in the Fall

I have a whole guide on first-timer tips for Paris for general travel tips, but here are a few tips for fall:

1. Paris is still in the high season in September and October. While not as bad as the mid-summer crowds, there are still definitely crowds in the city. If you don’t want to wait hours to see your favorite attractions, always book in advance! 

2. Know the public holidays in the fall. There are 2 main public holidays that occur in the autumn: All Saint’s Day and Armistice Day. 

All Saint’s Day, or Toussaint,  occurs on November 1 every year and is a way to remember those who have passed, especially Christian saints. Armistice Day, or Jour d’Armistice, is a day to remember the end of WWI and honor the veterans of WWI and WW2. 

It is important to know these dates as things could be closed in observance of these holidays. And if these holidays happen to fall on a Sunday, they are typically also observed on the following Monday, meaning things could be closed on that Monday after the holiday as well. 

3. Days Get Shorter. September sees about 12.5 hours of sunlight each day, while October gets about 11 hours and November gets a little over 9 hours, respectively. While summer days are very long in Paris, note that it will get dark around 5 pm in November and not rise until 8 am. However, September still has fairly long days with an average sunrise around 7:30 am and sunset around 8:00 pm. 

4. Pack an umbrella! You will likely have some rain during your trip to Paris in the fall. So pack a small umbrella that you can easily bring along with you during the day. 

5. Public water fountains are turned off around November 15. If you’re visiting Paris in late fall, you may have to be prepared if you want water. While you can usually fill up your water bottle at fountains all over the city, they are shut off to prevent freezing in mid-November. 

Why Visit Paris in the Autumn?

I’ll be honest, I love visiting Paris any time of the year. And while I’m a huge fan of springtime in Paris, fall also holds a place in my heart. 

The colors around the city are stunning, you can be out and about all day without getting super hot as you do in the summer, and it is honestly the perfect time to either explore the streets or visit museums depending on the weather. 

And while yes, it is still considered high season in parts of fall, it isn’t as bad as July and August in Paris when it comes to crowds. Fall in Paris feels like the perfect time to just take it slow, enjoy long walks, and really savor all that the city has to offer. 

If you’re a fan of fall, there are few cities better than Paris to visit! 

Where to Stay in Paris

I have a whole guide on where to stay in Paris based on your travel style, so be sure to check that out! Some favorite hotels include Hotel des Artes- Montmartre, Le Temple de Jeanne, Hotel Rochechouart, and Maison Souquet. 

These are the top 19 things to do in Paris in the fall as well as the ultimate guide to Paris in Autumn. Would you like to visit Paris this autumn?

Want more Paris ideas? Check out these posts! 

• Ultimate Paris Olympics Guide
• Things to Do in Paris in the Summer
• Paris in a Week Itinerary
• Ultimate Solo Travel Guide in Paris
• Best Weekend Trips From Paris
• Hidden Gems of Paris
• 1 Day in Paris
• 2 Days in Paris
• 3 Days in Paris
• How to Spend 4 Days in Paris
• When is the Best Time to Visit Paris
• Most Romantic Things to Do in Paris
• Paris Bucket List
• Guide to Visiting Paris in January
• Paris Day Trip to Versailles
• 31 Top Paris Gifts

For more France travel inspiration, check out these posts! 

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