When is the Best Time to Travel to Paris?

No matter how many times you've been, there's always something new to see or do in Paris, or a new way to visit it. The truth is that depending on the time of year you go, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities or even feel like you're in a completely different city.

There are months, such as those in winter, when the lower number of tourists makes it seem much quieter, with fewer queues and even cheaper, although it may be so cold that you have to make plans indoors. If you want to enjoy the outdoors, there are many more events and activities waiting for you in the spring and summer months. Which one will you choose?

The French capital is always a perfect holiday destination where you can plan thousands of activities, but if there is a time when you can enjoy it most, without the crowds, with mild temperatures, more events and lots of light, it is in spring in Paris, between April and June. What's more, the long days and colours of spring fill every corner of the city, making it even more special.

Think of all the gardens and parks in Paris... with all the plants in bloom and their sweet scent permeating your walks. What's more, at this time of year, when rainfall is rare and the days are longer and sunnier, Parisians begin to flock to the famous bistro terraces, so you can join them while enjoying a good wine.

Special times but with more crowds

Although the weather is also good in summer, you will find more people at tourist attractions and higher prices for accommodation.

Another equally special time of year is December. Although Christmas has not yet begun in Paris at the beginning of the month, in December you can already enjoy the Christmas markets and the lights in shops and streets. However, it is a slightly more expensive time to visit Paris, and I don't recommend it if you don't like large crowds or being cold.

Because yes, winter in Paris is particularly harsh, and although it has its charm to see the city covered in snow, it's not so spectacular when you have to queue somewhere, believe me. Also, if you want to go to Disneyland, some attractions are closed for safety reasons.

Paris is the city of lights, of love... and also of museums. If you want to see some of the most famous works of art in history, I recommend going to Paris in January or February, as these are the months with the least tourism, so you'll be able to get in quickly and easily. What's more, the warmth of the museums will make winter in Paris more bearable.

I recommend making a list of the museums that most appeal to you and planning your visits so you can book tickets or even get them for free, as some Sundays of the month are free. However, if you want to save money in this regard, you can get the Paris Pass, which includes priority access to almost all Parisian museums.

The museums you cannot miss are:

• Louvre Museum: Some of the most important works in the Louvre are da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. In addition, the architecture of the building and the pyramid plaza that provides access to visitors are worth a visit in themselves. My advice is to get your ticket for the Louvre in advance, as it is one of the most visited museums in the world and you don't want to miss out on seeing it.
• Musée d'Orsay: Although perhaps not as world-renowned as the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay is equally full of culture and art, albeit more contemporary. There may not be any Roman sculptures, but there are great paintings by artists such as Renoir, Gauguin, Cézanne and Monet.

When spring arrives in Paris, the city is filled with colour and a special joy, so there is no better time to enjoy nature in Paris' parks and gardens. What's more, it doesn't matter which month you go, because the flowers in Paris bloom throughout the spring and even into the summer.

The natural gardens of Paris that you absolutely must visit are:

• Champ de Mars: Here you can sit on the soft green grass and have a picnic while admiring the Eiffel Tower.
• Luxembourg Gardens: Here you can take a course in arboriculture or simply sit in one of the many metal chairs and relax in the sun.
• Jardin des Plantes: This is Paris's botanical garden, where you can explore its maze and admire the thousands of plant species it has, such as its rose garden and historic trees.

Admire nature in the Gardens of Versailles

If there is one garden you must visit, it is Versailles. It covers many hectares (it is practically impossible to see it all!), but if there is something even more magical than strolling among its vegetation, fountains and sculptures, it is doing so to the rhythm of the music of the Grandes Eaux spectacle.

Don't know what it is? During the spring, summer and part of the autumn in Paris, the fountains of Versailles are illuminated to music, and I cannot recommend enough that you buy a
ticket to the Palace of Versailles that includes the show. It's incredible!

Is your next family holiday going to be in Paris? I can imagine how excited the little ones will be, especially because Paris is a city with lots of options and activities for children My recommendation is to plan your trip for less crowded times, both in Paris and at Disneyland, which is definitely a must-see. When is that? Between January and March and May and June.

Bear in mind that Disneyland is usually most crowded during school holidays, so it's best to avoid those dates, when tickets to Disneyland Paris are also usually more expensive. I don't recommend going in winter either, because many of the attractions at Disneyland Paris will be closed and you won't enjoy them as much in the cold, don't you think?

Who says you can't travel to Paris on a budget? Although Paris has always been seen as an expensive city, there is a time of year when, because it is low season, prices are lower. When is this? Between January and March, as at the beginning of the year, with Christmas over and spring still a long way off, the French capital is much quieter and so are its prices, allowing you to save money during your trip.

As well as finding cheaper accommodation and flights, you can also enjoy special events, such as the winter sales or ice skating, and even visit one of Paris's Christmas markets, as they usually stay open until early January.

Of course, winter in Paris is freezing, so wrap up warm, especially if you're going to the ice rink that opens around the Eiffel Tower at this time of year. A fantastic plan could be to spend the afternoon skating and then book a night-time visit to the Eiffel Tower (only in the summer season).

What style of music suits you best? Don't worry, because Paris is a city where you can find jazz, techno, blues, pop... In short, all genres come together. Although shows like the Moulin Rouge take place every night throughout the year, if you want to enjoy Parisian music in a different way, travel in summer, when festivals and open-air concerts are at their peak:

• Saint-Denis Festival: Classical music lovers will enjoy this festival, which takes place in June. You can listen to pieces steeped in history in the Gothic basilica of Saint-Denis, which embraces the musical notes with its beautiful stained-glass windows and great luminosity.
• World Music Day: Parisians celebrate the longest day of the year (21 June) with Music Day. Get your best dance moves ready, because the neighbourhoods of Paris are filled with bands and live music. My advice is that, even though the whole city is filled with music, you should head to the Montmartre neighbourhood, which has always been a very artistic and bohemian neighbourhood and is sure to be even more so on that day.
• Chopin Festival: Every year (around June-July), this Polish composer is honoured with a beautiful tribute in the Parc de la Bagatelle, where several classical concerts are held. Is there a better way to enjoy nature, music and summer in Paris than with Chopin?
• Paris Jazz Festival: You'll feel like you're in a film with a soundtrack that blends the tones of saxophones, trumpets and other instruments guided by improvisation. What's more, the concerts are free as long as you buy a ticket to the Parc Floral de Vincennes, where the Paris Jazz Festival is held.
• Rock en Seine: The Rock en Seine Festival takes place in August. Three days, five stages and dozens of artists set the rhythm in Paris.

Are you planning a romantic trip to Paris? It's not called the city of love for nothing, as there are lots of things to do as a couple. Bear in mind that most of these activities are outdoors (such as a boat trip on the Seine or a picnic), so I recommend choosing a month like June, when the weather is good and all these activities are available.

One of the most romantic things to do in Paris is obviously to go up the Eiffel Tower. Any time is a good time to do this, but if I can let you in on a secret, spring is one of my favourite times of year because the sky is clear and you can enjoy a crystal-clear bird's-eye view of Paris.

May I offer another tip? Combine the Eiffel Tower with a cruise on the Seine, which are not available in winter due to the cold but, with the arrival of good weather, once again become one of the best things to do. I recommend starting the cruise at sunset, after enjoying a long day of light in Paris, so be sure to book in advance.

I don't like standing in long, seemingly endless queues to get into museums or tourist attractions either. Although you always have the option of getting the Paris Pass and having direct access to most of these places, you can avoid the queues by going at a less touristy time of year, such as February and March.

These months between the beginning of the year and the Easter and summer holidays are not as busy for tourism in Paris. Ultimately, there are no common holiday periods, as there are in months such as April or July, so it is easier to get around Paris and not encounter queues and queues of people every time you want to visit somewhere.

Bear in mind that even though there are fewer people, you will still have to wait in some queues, although they will move more quickly. To reduce the time spent waiting, make sure you buy tickets for popular attractions, such as the Louvre or Versailles, in advance.

If you are a photographer, professional or amateur, you surely know that any time is a good time to take out your camera and fill up your film. But beyond that, the best time is when the places you want to photograph are almost empty, with no people crossing in front of the lens. Although this can be difficult in Paris, my advice is that, whenever you go, you get up early to take photos.

If you want to be sure of getting a clear shot of iconic landmarks such as the Trocadero or the steps of Montmartre, it's best to get up early. Tourist attractions usually start to fill up from 9 a.m. onwards.

Another aspect you should perhaps bear in mind is that during these months, especially at the beginning of the year, when tourism is low, Parisian institutions take the opportunity to carry out maintenance work or clean some monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe or the Eiffel Tower, so check in advance if this is going to be the case.

September and March are the months when Paris is filled with fashion thanks to Fashion Weeks. The shows of the great designers take place during the months of March (spring-summer season) and September (autumn-winter season). Both months are highly recommended if you want to see the most fashionable side of the French capital, because even if you can't get into the shows, you can go to the entrance to see the guests arriving.

Obviously, only those with an invitation can get into the shows, but many small shops in Paris take advantage of this time when fashion takes over the city to present their collections in a more relaxed atmosphere.

To give you all the information you need, here is a table with details of the different times to visit Paris: