City Guide

In August, Parisians traditionally leave for their annual holiday, and the city serves visitors on a skeleton staff. July has also become a popular vacation month, with many restaurateurs taking a holiday then.

Hotels, especially first class and deluxe, are easy to come by in July and August. Budget hotels, on the other hand, are likely to be full during these months of student invasion. You might also try to avoid late September and the first 2 weeks in October, when the annual auto show attracts thousands of enthusiasts.

The Weather: April in Paris?--Balmy weather in Paris has prompted more popular songs and love ballads than weather conditions in any other city. But the weather here is actually quite fickle. Rain is more common than snow throughout the winter, prompting longtime residents to complain about the occasional bone-chilling dampness.

In recent years, Paris has had about 15 snow days a year, and there are only a few oppressively hot days (over 86°F, or 30°C) in summer. What will most likely chill a Parisian heart, however, are the winds that sweep along the city's boulevards, channeled by bordering buildings. Other than these occasional winds and rain (which add an undeniable drama to many of the city's panoramas), Paris offers some of the most pleasant weather of any capital in Europe, with an average temperature of 53°F (12°C).

Holidays--Holidays in France are known as jours fériés. Shops and banks are closed, as well as many (but not all) restaurants and museums. Major holidays include January 1 (New Year's Day), Easter, Ascension Day (40 days after Easter), Pentecost (seventh Sun after Easter), May 1 (May Day), May 8 (VE Day), July 14 (Bastille Day), August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin Mary), November 1 (All Saints' Day), November 11 (Armistice Day), and December 25 (Christmas).

City Guide

Paris France Tourism: When to Go

When to Go

Paris Travel & Vacation Deals

Paris Travel Deals