10 Best Things to Do in Paris in October

If you are thinking about organising your trip to Paris and still haven't decided on the best dates to visit, today I am going to tell you about the virtues of Paris in October and the best activities you can do during that month.

If you are one of those people who can't stand large crowds at tourist attractions, you can rest easy in October. It's true that when it comes to Paris, you can't avoid the queues, but you can minimise them. And although the weather is a bit cold, autumn looks spectacular on the streets of Paris. Want to know what the best parties, events and activities in Paris are in October? Find out below:

Halloween is now celebrated practically all over the world, and Paris is no exception. In fact, it is celebrated with particular enthusiasm. Throughout the city, in its museums and parks, there are endless activities related to this day. If you want to experience a terrifying day, in the best possible way, here are a couple of activities you can do in Paris on 31 October.

Enjoy Disneyland Paris

The first is to celebrate Halloween at Disneyland Paris. Every Halloween, the park is decorated for the occasion and activities are organised where the most evil and terrifying characters take centre stage. A highly recommended Halloween for young and old alike. If you want to experience this day at Disney, you'll need to plan ahead and buy your Disneyland tickets as soon as possible, as demand is very high.

Visit the catacombs of Paris

If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this holiday, the best thing to do is visit the catacombs of Paris and its cemeteries. In the former, you can see bones and skulls piled up in the depths of the French capital. The cemeteries of Paris are very beautiful in their own way, but they can also be terrifying, especially on Halloween. The most famous of these is Pè­re La­chai­se, where figures such as Jim Morrison, among other celebrities, are laid to rest.

Autumn offers us one of the most photogenic scenes of the year for visiting the gardens and parks of Paris. The gardens of the Palace of Versailles are among the most beautiful. In the palace gardens there are more than 50 mythological-themed fountains that attract visitors, as from May to October there is a night-time light and music show.

Every Saturday and Sunday evening, this show takes place, in which the water moves to the beat of the music accompanied by a play of lights. It can only be seen from 22 May to 31 October, so the tenth month of the year is one of the last opportunities to enjoy the famous fountains of Versailles. And, as an added bonus, the gardens of Versailles are especially beautiful in autumn.

In October, it is almost inevitable that we will have some cloudy, rainy or colder days in the city. These days are ideal for taking advantage of some of the indoor treasures that Paris has to offer. My main recommendation is to visit the Louvre. You can spend the whole day contemplating some of the most important works of art in the Louvre museum while it rains. And you won't even have to go out for lunch, as the museum itself has restaurants as well as shops.

Another alternative is to visit the Opéra Garnier. If the outside is beautiful, the inside is incredible. On cold days, you can take a guided tour of the home of the Phantom of the Opera, which is sure not to disappoint.

In October, one of the most special and unique festivals in Paris takes place, known as the Montmartre Harvest Festival. This festival focuses on food and includes activities such as parades, dances and fireworks.

The neighbourhood, famous for its bohemian atmosphere and for being home to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, is made up of several hills that were once covered with vineyards. Today, part of these vineyards still remain, and after the harvest season in October, a festival is held that has been celebrated for over 100 years.

After the harvest, on the first or second weekend of October, this festival is organised, attracting thousands of visitors. All the activities take place around the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. You can take advantage of this festival to see the Montmartre neighbourhood in all its splendour and, above all, to enjoy the food and wine. All events are free and everyone is welcome.Check the official dates and times before travelling to Paris and make sure you don't miss out on this unique experience.

The Conciergerie or courthouse is a must-see in Paris. This historic building is best known for housing the Sainte Chapelle, one of the most beautiful churches in Paris and, in my opinion, in the world. But it is not because of the chapel that visiting this complex in October is most recommended. The reason is Marie Antoinette. This famous queen of France was imprisoned in the same building, which became a prison during the French Revolution, in her final days.

And what does this have to do with the month of October, you may ask? Well, it was in this same month, but in 1793, that Marie Antoinette was executed in the square now known as the Place de la Concorde. The Conciergerie preserves the dungeon where she spent her last days, now converted into a chapel, and displays guillotines such as the one used in the queen's execution, which was one of the key moments of the French Revolution.

We can safely say that October is the month of culture in Paris. In addition to the White Night, the Autumn Festival or Festival d'Automne à Paris is held throughout October. Although it begins in September and ends in November, the bulk of this festival takes place in October.

During this period, the more than 45 venues affiliated with the festival host a myriad of cultural activities. Plays, concerts of all genres, dance performances, film screenings... thelist is endless. The Pompidou Centre, the Odeon Theatre and the Orsay Museum are just some of the venues hosting special activities during this period.

Speaking of sport, did you know that Paris hosts what is considered the best horse race in the world in October? Well, it's true. The Grand Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is held on the first weekend of October at the Longchamp Racecourse and is quite a spectacle.

The event brings together the world's best thoroughbred horses and jockeys in a race surrounded by activities and, above all, glamour. If you've already seen everything in Paris, this is a different way to enjoy your stay in the French capital.

If you visit Paris on the first weekend of October, you can experience one of the city's most special nights. Every first Saturday in October since 2002, the city has celebrated what is known as the white night or Nuit Blanche.

Culture takes centre stage and throughout the night the streets are filled with artists of all kinds, many museums and galleries open at dawn and host unique exhibitions for that day. Music concerts and festivals are also common during the white night. In addition, most public transport in Paris runs until the early hours of the morning. If your trip is more cultural than anything else, you will greatly appreciate being in Paris on this night.

As I mentioned, autumn is an ideal time to stroll through Paris' parks and gardens. It's true that the gardens of Versailles are located on the outskirts of the city, but you don't have to go that far to find a picture-perfect spot. In the centre of Paris, next to the Louvre Museum, are the Tuileries Gardens.

These were once the gardens of the palace that now houses the Louvre, and today they have become a beautiful park that serves as a meeting place for Parisians. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the park's kiosk restaurants or simply stroll around as the French nobility once did. It's a great place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while.

Athletes also have a great event to participate in or watch in Paris. In October, one of the capital's most important popular races takes place: the 20 kilometres of Paris. This race has been held since 1979 and currently attracts around 30,000 runners from all over the world. The race starts at the Léna bridge and ends at the foot of the legendary Eiffel Tower.

Taking part in this race allows you to see many of Paris's iconic monuments while doing sport and also contributing to social causes, as the proceeds from the race go to charity. And if running isn't your thing, you can always watch the participants cross the finish line in a unique setting under the Eiffel Tower.

October in Paris is a month of purely autumnal weather. Temperatures tend to be on the cold side, ranging from a low of 9 degrees to a high of 16 degrees.

As for rain, it usually makes an appearance on approximately 8 to 15 days per month, so don't forget your umbrella. Despite this, we can still enjoy many hours of sunshine in October. Sunset usually occurs between 7 p.m. at the beginning of the month and 6 p.m. at the end of the month. It should not be forgotten that the Seine River running through the French capital contributes to a humid climate.

To sum up, in October the cold begins to set in, but temperatures are still pleasant enough to visit Paris. Even so, here is an article on the best times to visit Paris so that you can be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each date.

October is considered part of the high season in Paris, which generally runs from 1 April to 31 October. However, tourist numbers begin to decline considerably in October. You won't have much trouble finding hotel rooms or restaurant tables, and there won't be long queues at tourist attractions.

The lack of major holidays and the autumn chill mean that fewer tourists visit the French capital. As a result, prices also fall. In this sense, it is a highly recommended month to organise your trip to Paris.

Given the cold, humidity, rain and, ultimately, the arrival of autumn, these are the things you should definitely pack in your suitcase when visiting Paris in October:

• Cotton garments that are not too thick.
• Jackets and waterproof clothing.
• An umbrella is essential.
• Warm and, above all, comfortable footwear.
• Bring something a little more elegant in case you go to the opera or a show that requires formal dress.