In my opinion, visiting Paris is magical anytime of year but given how much I enjoy the season of Fall, I am partial to Autumn in Paris. A trip to Paris in Fall often means you’ll be blessed with beautiful weather, less tourists and a quieter, slower pace than Spring & Summer offer.
For me, strolling through Paris during the Autumn months offers an even more idyllic, cozy and romantic feeling than any other time of year. If you plan to travel to Paris this Autumn, this post has been freshly updated and should help you in planning your time – all curated by myself, the founder of En Route to Rêverie.
If you’re planning a trip, be sure to check out my post, Paris in October, for a recently updated guide.
Paris is always a good idea but Paris in Fall happens to be exceptionally good and truly is one of my very favorite times to visit. So, what should you do when visiting Paris in Autumn? I’ve got you covered.
What to do in Paris in Autumn
Go up the Eiffel Tower.
Once the trees have changed colors it is so fun to see Paris from above. The Eiffel Tower makes the perfect vantage point to see the Fall trees in the French capital.
Visit the Parks.
Parisian parks are always a favorite way to spend my time when in the city of lights but particularly in Fall when the leaves have started to turn and the groundskeepers have installed beautiful florals in seasonal colors.
The famous Jardin du Luxembourg and the Jardin des Tuileries are particularly lovely in the Fall on sunny days. You can take in the Fall colors, read a book or picnic.
And the Luxembourg Gardens in particular are a wonderful spot to people watch or enjoy an afternoon reading session.
Indulge in French food.
I love French cooking year round and primarily eat French dishes when in Paris no matter the time of year, but I find Fall a particularly good time to enjoy certain classic French dishes like bouef bourguignon and coq au vin.
Related: The Best Traditional French Food in Paris
Eat at cozy restaurants.
Relatedly, we love curating some of our favorite cozy restaurants in the city for our En Route to Rêverie clientele.
Embrace the rain.
Sometimes autumn in Paris can mean the weather in Paris is a bit extra rainy. But fear not…I’ve got you covered in my What To Do in Paris When It Rains guide.
Rainy days in Paris can actually be my favorite at times. The city is so quiet and romantic. Just don’t forget to pack a great travel umbrella, too.
Utilize an expert to maximize your time.
Overwhelmed by how to spend the days you have in Paris? Hiring an expert can help you prioritize your time and really maximize what you’re able to accomplish while in the city of lights. If you’d like us to help you plan your trip, head to En Route to Rêverie to request our team’s help.
What our clients say about En Route to Rêverie
Museum hop.
Into contemporary art or love special exhibitions? No matter your art preference, Paris has over 100 museums to keep you entertained.
The Rodin museum is wonderful year round but I enjoy the gardens in the Autumn as well in particular.
Drink the Beaujolais Nouveau.
Every November, the French celebrate the release of the “Beaujolais nouveau” wine. It is consumed immediately after harvesting and is beloved for its affordable price tag and easy drinkability. Beaujolais Nouveau Day is always worth celebrating in my opinion.
Nouveau is different to almost every other French wine and doing a wine tasting in Paris at one of its many wine bars is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.
I have some wonderful wine bar recommendations I often provide to our En Route to Rêverie clients. And if you’re a big time wine connoisseur, you’re going to want to work with our wonderful partner who can magic happen in Paris when it comes to wine. Think tastings with the top sommeliers in France, access to Champagne houses not usually open to the public, etc…
Wander Montmartre.
I love Montmartre in the Fall because so many of the homes and buildings are covered in leaves that begin to change creating a scene that feels out of a movie set. It’s utterly cozy and romantic to wander its streets during Autumn.
If you happen to be in Paris in early October, you may get lucky and be able to visit the Fête des Vendanges – an annual grape harvest festival.
Visit Le Clos Montmartre.
Did you know there is a secret vineyard in Paris? La Vigne de Montmartre is the oldest vineyard in the capital. It consists of the the most classic varieties of the wine-producing regions of France and is a great spot to visit for wine lovers! In the Fall, if your dates align, you can even attend the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival.
Attend Nuit Blanche.
Nuit Blanche is an annual all-night arts festival in Paris. All across Paris on this night you will find concerts and exhibitions at cultural institutions including museums in Paris open and free of charge.
I’ve had the chance to take in Nuit Blanche on a couple occasions and it is such fun to experience the French capital come so alive at night.
Take a cooking class.
On a day where the weather may be less than stellar, head indoors to my favorite cooking school in Paris: La Cuisine Paris. Their croissant class is particularly good in the Fall but you can’t go wrong with whichever class you take. (And if you can’t get to Paris, take one of their online courses!)
My En Route to Rêverie clients are treated to a special discount for all La Cuisine Paris classes.
Go on a self-guided coffee tour.
Paris coffee culture has much improved over the years and there are so many spots you can get cozy at over a good cup of coffee. Here are some of my favorite coffee shops in Paris.
Enjoy café culture.
My favorite pastime in Paris is to take a good book to a café and just sit outside enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee while reading and people watching. I get chills thinking about the joy this brings me. Better yet? Put your phone on airplane mode and totally tune out.
Indulge in hot chocolate.
No better time to drink thick, creamy French chocolat chaud than in Fall (and of course, Winter). I love the hot chocolate at the famed Angelina but also at Laduree (whose ambiance I prefer. Their Saint Germain location is my favorite).
But my very favorite hot chocolate spot is reserved for my En Route to Rêverie clients!
Visit Versailles.
You’ll be greeted by far less tourists and the weather should allow you to still enjoy both the palace interiors and the spectacular gardens.
For our En Route to Rêverie clients, we arrange private tours where you can get access to parts of the palace that others can’t! Our clients who use our private guides always come back saying it was some of the best money they spent on their trip. (We all know not all guides are created equal!)
Tour the Palais Garnier.
Home to the Paris Opera, this stunning building is worth a tour. En Route to Rêverie clients can arrange private or after hour tours with us. I’ve done the after hours tour and it is next level.
After your tour, be sure to pop by nearby Galeries Lafayette Gourmet afterwards for a delicious treat or stroll the happening Rue de la Paix.
Visit The Catacombs.
One of Paris’ spookiest spots, The Catacombs holds the history of many Parisians. Head underground and get a dose of fright in the city’s underground maze of stories known and unknown.
As they are a little spooky, Fall (and especially October) makes for an especially good time to take a tour below ground.
Flânerie.
There’s no better city on earth to stroll with no real destination in mind than Paris and Autumn is a particularly beautiful time of year to do it.
You’ll take in the city’s many sights but also see it as the colors change and as businesses embrace seasonal decor.
Take in some jazz.
For any En Route to Rêverie clients going to Paris in October, I always recommend Jazz Sur Seine. It’s an annual festival usually over two weeks with loads of jazz shows at venues all over the city. Doesn’t get much better than a crisp night with cool jazz spreading over the city of Paris.
Catch a walking tour.
If you feel overwhelmed with discovering Paris and its various neighborhoods, a walking tour is a great way to explore. Guides are so knowledgable about French history and also how the various neighborhoods had changed.
Fall is a great time for good weather in Paris often so a walking tour is a great reason to be outside. I have some wonderful tour guides I recommend to my En Route to Rêverie clients.
. . .
You’ll be hard pressed to make any wrong decisions when it comes to spending your time in Paris in Autumn but these are certainly my favorite ways to spend my days in the city during this time of year.
Have you been to Paris in the Autumn? I’d love to hear about your trip!
Do you need ideas on what to wear in Paris in the Fall? Don’t miss the What to Wear in Paris in the Fall Guide and the French Wardrobe Staples For Fall Guide.
If you’re looking for a more customized trip to Paris, you request our help planning your trip via En Route to Rêverie.
Heading to Paris? Request to book En Route to Rêverie and get customized recommendations based on your travel preferences to make your next trip to Paris the best one yet.
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Oh my goodness, I am now counting down the days until Beaujolais Nouveau season! It is just one of my favorite things about fall in general! I really that you continue to have some travel posts, so it feels like we can go places, Meghan 🙂 happy Monday!
Libby