10 Best Things to Do in Paris in September

September is an ideal month to visit Paris and enjoy the city's autumn weather. What's more, there are lots of interesting events taking place. Here are all the things you can do to have the time of your life in Paris in September.

They say that Paris is the city of love and light, and there are few plans more romantic than booking a cruise on the Seine. What's more, autumn transforms Paris into a veritable canvas of colours with a truly special atmosphere. Discovering the city and its monuments from this perspective becomes an exciting experience.

The River Seine is one of the best romantic things to do in Paris, especially at this time of year. On board a cruise ship, the city looks different and you can enjoy new views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and the Musée d'Orsay.

If you like wine, you can't visit the French capital without booking a wine and cheese tasting at a Parisian wine cellar. France produces some of the best wines in the world, specifically in the regions of Burgundy, Champagne, Bordeaux, the Loire Valley and Alsace.

Therefore, I recommend that you set aside an afternoon of your trip to enjoy a wine tasting in Paris. What's more, you're sure to learn how to distinguish between different varieties and discover interesting facts and things you didn't know before.

Paris is one of the international capitals of jazz music and in September it hosts a unique and magical festival, Jazz à la Villette. So, if you are in Paris during the first days of September, don't miss any of the concerts at this festival. The programme features world-renowned artists, as well as local artists and authentic jazz innovators capable of performing all styles.

Every year, more than 30,000 fans gather in the different venues of La Villette to see their favourite artists and also to discover new talent (at the Cabaret Sauvage, the Philharmonie de Paris, etc.).

The music festival is often accompanied by other interesting activities: exhibitions, masterclasses, film screenings, etc. Also, if you are interested in cultural events, don't forget to take a guided tour of the Opéra Garnier. In short, you are in the perfect setting to enjoy the powerful cultural offering of a city like Paris.

European Heritage Days are held every year on the third weekend of September in Paris. During these days, the most important buildings, museums and monuments open their doors to the public to showcase themselves and reveal their most intimate secrets.

For two days, you can visit numerous places and monuments, some of which are not usually open to the public. This is the case, for example, with the Élysée Palace, the French presidential residence. However, the list of monuments is quite extensive, so this Parisian weekend is the perfect time to visit the best museums in Paris. You can visit the Cirque Bouglione, the Institut de France or the famous Galeries Lafayette, among others.

You can also buy tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower and take a photo from the top of the famous Place du Trocadéro. Other monuments you can see include the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Ministry of Justice and, yes, you can also book a skip-the-line guided tour of the Louvre Museum.

November marks the start of one of the city's most important cultural festivals: the Autumn Festival. Since 1972, this festival has been responsible for bringing a huge programme of cultural events covering music, cinema, theatre and dance, among other disciplines. So, if you are passionate about culture, you are in the right place at the right time.

The Autumn Festival hosts a total of 50 shows and begins in September, but lasts until December and possibly a little longer. These shows are held at various iconic venues in Paris, including the Musée d'Orsay, the Théâtre de la Bastille, the Centre Pompidou, and more.

If you are in Paris in September, take a look at the festival programme and choose one of the shows to have a great time. Another excellent idea for your trip would be to book tickets and dinner at the Moulin Rouge. It is the most famous cabaret in the world. You will love it!

If you like electronic music, you should definitely come and enjoy the Techno Parade, which takes place in September. This celebration brings together more than 400,000 lovers of this genre of music. The streets and avenues of Paris become a visual and auditory spectacle with colourful floats, eye-catching costumes, music and a spectacular festive atmosphere.

The Paris Techno Parade begins with a parade of floats carrying large speakers with electronic music and a multitude of variations. The people on the floats dance and enjoy the moment, as do the people walking through the streets accompanying the parade. In addition, the festival organisers bring in a number of international DJs to keep people dancing. So, when the parade ends, the party continues in the city's nightclubs.

If you want to discover Paris as if you were on one of the Techno Parade floats, you can choose from some of the best tourist buses in the city and discover its most interesting places without getting tired.

Autumn begins in September with the 'Festival des Jardins de Paris'. During the two days of the festival, the area surrounding the imposing Notre Dame cathedral is transformed into a huge garden with lots of interesting activities.

In fact, all the city's gardens and parks join in the celebration and organise parties and events for young and old alike. For example, you can take part in gardening workshops, meet landscape gardeners, talk to the city's park managers, attend exhibitions and cultural events related to the theme, enjoy outdoor concerts, and more.

It is therefore a worthwhile activity for the whole family. If you are in Paris with children in September, this could be an excellent event to include in your plans. You can also book a private tour of Notre Dame, the Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter of Paris.

In September, Paris celebrates Car-Free Day. This means that all the streets in the city are closed to traffic for pedestrians to use and enjoy. For a whole day, both Parisians and tourists take to the streets to explore the city freely and at their own pace.

So, this is your chance to walk, book a bike tour of Paris, enjoy a guided tour of the Montmartre neighbourhood, or simply fall in love with the beautiful views of the city without cars.

The famous Paris Design Week also takes place in September, so if you happen to be in the city at that time and want to learn about design and decoration, all you have to do is check out the festival programme and take note of the activities that interest you most.

Paris Design Week presents the new fashion collections of the biggest designers around: Christian Dior, Iris Van Herpen, Stella McCartney and even Channel. However, this is not just the typical fashion shows we see on television; this week also features other types of activities for the general public. For example, there are design and decoration workshops, free exhibitions, competitions, and many furniture companies present their latest products.

What's more, if you know your way around Paris, the city itself is organised into themed tours: digital design, architecture and design, art and design, gastronomic design, design in France. Everyone can choose the one that interests them most, take a look at the event programme and go on that tour. It's wonderful!

La Parisienne is a race exclusively for women. It has been held every year since 1997 in September and brings together thousands of women from all over Europe.

The event invites all women who want to participate to explore and discover the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. What's more, you don't need to be a professional runner. If you want to participate, you can simply go for a jog, join the crowd and enjoy the atmosphere.

The route may change from year to year, but it is usually about 7 kilometres long and runs through the centre of Paris. It usually starts at the Jena Bridge and ends at the Champ de Mars. You can also participate in teams of two: friends, mothers and daughters, family members, company teams, etc. La Parisienne is also a charity race that raises money for breast cancer research. So, if you participate, you will be doing a great job to help fight this terrible disease.

The weather in the French capital in September is still very comfortable for planning all the things you can do and see in Paris. Although there may be variations during the day, it remains stable and mostly sunny, making it one of the best months to visit the city.

In the first half of the month, temperatures can range from a high of 23ºC to a low of 13ºC. However, during the second half of the month, temperatures begin to drop, ranging from a high of 18ºC to a low of 9ºC.

At the beginning of September, tourist numbers remain high because many people are still on holiday. In fact, you can expect long queues at most major monuments, especially the Eiffel Tower.

However, from the second week of September onwards, when the school holidays are over, tourist numbers drop and the city becomes quieter and more peaceful. This is the perfect time to visit and discover the best tours and excursions you can do in the French capital.

It's not easy to pack your suitcase when you're travelling to Paris in September. Daytime temperatures can be warm, but at night they drop and you may feel cold. Therefore, it's best to take a bit of everything:

• Short-sleeved T-shirts in case it's sunny, as well as a cap or sunglasses.
• Sweatshirts and a jumper for when it cools down in the evenings.
• A thin jacket or light coat.
• A folding umbrella in case it rains.
• Comfortable shoes for walking around the city.
• If you feel the cold, a scarf and more warm clothing.