Paris is worth visiting every day of the year, but here are 10 reasons why fall might be the city’s best season. Now that the locals have returned to the city after their August holidays in Provence and Corsica, the city seems more alive and exciting than ever. Add beautiful fall colors, sunny weather that’s still going strong (for now), and about a million different cafe terraces to choose from, and you’ll understand why fall is the perfect time to plan your Parisian getaway.
1. It's less crowded
background with wooden deck table and Eiffel tower in Paris (iStock)
When high season in Paris is over and the hordes of people in front of every single monument in the city are less extreme, it’s undeniably more enjoyable to experience the city—especially as a first-time visitor. Those two hour–long waits to get up the Arc de Triumph or Notre Dame dwindle; even the sidewalks suddenly feel emptier (you don’t have to worry about hitting someone every time you swing your bag over your shoulder).
2. The Palais-Royal Gardens are lovelier than ever
The Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal is right next to one of the loveliest parks in Paris, the Palais-Royal Gardens (pictured). The hotel's location really is hard to beat, especially during chillier days when you don’t want to walk too far—in this case, both the Louvre and the famous Rue Saint-Honoré shopping street are your neighbors. (4 rue de Valois, 75001 Paris)
3. You can experience the city as a local
Small street with cobblestone pavement in historic center of Paris, France (iStock)
Strolling the streets of Paris in the fall will make you feel more like a local than if you visit in other seasons. You can walk among the true Parisians picking up their baguettes for breakfast or running errands in the Marais, rather than getting stuck behind a tour group in neon yellow vests on Île Saint-Louis. When high season is over it’s easier to blend in—and perhaps even be mistaken for a Parisian! Bundle up with darker colored jackets, and always be sure to wear a scarf and a cool pair of boots (if you really want to do it the Parisian way, check out our tips for dressing like a French woman).
4. It's hot chocolate season
Gourmet Hot Chocolate Milk with Cinnamon and Marshmallows (iStock)
What’s the best thing to do once the leaves start to fall off the trees and the temperatures start to dip? Cuddle up with an interesting book while nibbling on some scones with jam and a cup of warm tea or hot chocolate. Luckily, this is exactly what you can do at Merci’s Used Book Café, pictured. You're also in the city that never runs out of chocolate treats or delicious Nutella crêpes. The colder weather makes for the perfect excuse to swing by Angelina for a take-away cup of their famous hot chocolate or to warm up your hands with a warm crêpe while strolling through the Jardin des Tuileries. For anyone with an extra-soft spot for chocolate, Les Marquis de Ladurée and Patrick Roger (a great place for dark chocolate) are two shops you shouldn’t miss out on while in Paris.
5. There's color everywhere
Autumn scenery with dry leaves and sunshine (iStock)
No season is as beautiful as autumn is in Paris (maybe spring—if it doesn’t rain nonstop, that is). The city takes on hues that seem to belong in watercolor paintings, and the parks of Paris turn yellow, orange, and bright red. The most photogenic season of the year looks exceptionally good in the Jardin du Luxembourg, Places des Vosges, Jardin des Tuileries, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and Parc Monceau.
Check out more reasons to visit Paris in the fall.
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