Paris in spring is as beautiful as you’d imagine. The trees along the Seine regain their color, the city’s gardens burst into bloom, and the café terraces fill up again. In other words, Paris comes back to life.
I’ve been to Paris many times in the spring, first as a visitor and now as a local, and it’s without a doubt my favorite time of year in the city.
This guide isn’t a typical “Top 10 Things to Do in Paris” list. Instead, it’s a collection of unique springtime experiences, like antique fairs and cherry blossom festivals, that you can add to your Paris itinerary.
Where to Stay in Paris
- Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles: A charming hotel in the Latin Quarter.
- Le Grand Mazarin: A beautiful design hotel in Paris’s Marais neighborhood.
- Hôtel Plaza Athénée: The iconic right bank luxury hotel.
- Hotel Balzac: A gorgeous modern boutique hotel.
What to do in Paris in Spring
See Paris in Bloom at the Gardens
See the colorful display of tulips at the Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Plantes. The pink and white roses at the Palais Royal, and the magnolias, tulips, and peonies at the Jardin des Tuileries.
Just outside the city center, the Rose Garden at Parc Bagatelle is one of my favorite places to see roses in bloom. June is the best time to visit, and they usually host a festival called “Weekend of the Roses” at the beginning of the month to celebrate. You can get there by metro and bus from central Paris.
Visit Parc de Sceaux for Cherry Blossoms
Between the end of March and the middle of April, the Domaine and Parc de Sceaux celebrate Hanami, the traditional Japanese celebration of the cherry blossoms.
This sprawling estate and garden has 150 cherry trees that burst into bloom during early spring. The park is free to visit, but there is a small fee to see the inside of the château.
Check the official website for up-to-date event information.
Night of the Museums
Every year in the middle of May, Paris’s museums open their doors at night for Nuit des Musées. This annual event welcomes visitors to explore many of the city’s museums for free (some reservations are required) and to enjoy other events like live music and tours.
Past museums that have participated include the Louvre, the Louis Vuitton Fondation, Bourse de Commerce, and many more.
The 2026 dates have not yet been posted, but keep an eye on the official website for updates.
Enjoy the Café at Musée de la Vie Romantique
Located in a townhouse that was once the home of Romantic artist Ary Scheffer, the Museum of Romantic Life is a small museum with both temporary and permanent collections. The museum itself is fine, you can walk through it fairly quickly, but the real reason to visit is for its gorgeous gardens in the spring and summer.
Rose Bakery has a café set up in a glass greenhouse, where you can dine under shade-giving trees and next to aromatic rose bushes. The food is fresh and healthy. I ordered a salad with a quiche and a dessert and loved it all.
The museum has been undergoing renovations for the past year and is expected to reopen in February 2026, just in time for the spring season.
Explore Giverny as Monet’s Gardens Reopen (April–October)
One of the most popular day trips from Paris is to Giverny to visit Claude Monet’s home and gardens. They reopen for the season on April 1st, so if you want to visit them, make sure to plan your trip for April or later.
In April, you’ll see the tulips in bloom. In May, the wisteria. And in June, the roses. Read my Paris to Giverny Day Trip guide for all the info you need to get there and plan your visit.
Discover the Foire de Chatou Antique Market
Twice a year, in March and September, the Foire de Chatou antique market (one of the best in Paris) takes place on the Île des Impressionnistes, just 30 minutes outside the city.
The prices are quite reasonable, and the selection is great. You’ll find everything from antique furniture to butter molds, cutlery, ceramics, paintings, and prints. I spent half a day here, though I think most people end up spending the entire day!
Plan this into your itinerary if you love shopping the French antique markets. Check Foire de Chatou’s website for dates.
Explore the Covered Passages
One of my favorite cloudy-day activities is to explore the covered passages, mostly found on the Rive Droite (Right Bank). These galleries date back to the 1800s and are filled with shops, ateliers, cafés, restaurants, and other fun boutiques.
The Passage du Grand Cerf is a must. You can get custom journals made here by Louise Carmen, shop for wool yarn at Lil Weasel, and see a carpenter at work inside his atelier.
Here are a few other passages to check out:
Picnic in the Place des Vosges or Along the Seine
Do as the locals do and go for a long spring picnic. Yes, it’s true – the French love to picnic.
Find a spot along the Seine, bring your own bottle of wine and baguette sandwich, and watch the sun go down while the boats pass by.
The Place des Vosges is great popular picnic spot. There are four grassy areas that you can actually sit on (the French are notorious for not allowing people to sit on the grass), and I think it’s one of the most idyllic picnic spots in the city.
Grab a traditional baguette sandwich from Caractère de Cochon (though a bit pricey), or an amazing Italian sandwich from Mmmozza.
Browse the City’s Outdoor Food and Flea Markets
Paris always has weekly flea markets and fresh food markets happening all over the city.
The Puces de Saint-Ouen, north of Montmartre, is a well-known weekend market where you can find furniture and antiques. It’s on the pricier side, though. The Porte de Vanves, on the opposite side of the city, is another weekend flea market where you’ll find decent prices and a great variety of goods.
For other local flea markets, search on Sortir à Paris. They usually have a great roundup of weekly markets held around the city.
If you’d like to check out some of the city’s fresh food markets, the Bastille Market on Thursday and Sunday is my weekly go-to. Marché d’Aligre is a great local market that usually has a flea market as well. Marché Président Wilson, Rue Mouffetard, and Place Monge are a few others that I like as well.
Watch a Film at a Parisian Cinema
On a rainy spring afternoon or evening, head to one of Paris’s historic, independent cinemas screening both classic French films and modern ones.
Le Champo in the Latin Quarter shows old-school French and foreign films. Studio 28 in Montmartre screens current films in a romantic setting with red velvet seats and curtains. Paris Cinema Club shows a mix of classics.
Check the theater’s websites for current screenings and prices.
Day Trip to a Château Outside of Paris
There are well over 40,000 châteaux in France, and a day trip to one or two outside of Paris is a must in the spring. Versailles is on everyone’s itinerary, but I also recommend the Château de Chantilly. The gardens are absolutely lovely this time of year.
Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau are a couple of other châteaux you can see on a day trip.
If you have to choose one château other than Versailles, I’d visit the Château de Chantilly.
Helpful day trip guides:
Weather in Paris in Spring
Overall, spring is pretty mild. Expect some rainy and cloudy days and moderate temperatures.
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:
- March: Average highs around 54°F / 12°C and lows near 39°F / 4°C.
- April: Average highs around 61°F / 16°C and lows near 42°F / 6°C.
- May: Average highs around 66°F / 19°C and lows near 46°F / 8°C.
- June: Average highs around 74°F / 23°C and lows near 53°F / 12°C.
Historical weather averages via timeanddate.com.
What to Wear
Spring in Paris tends to be unpredictable. You’ll still need a warm jacket through May along with layers like sweaters or long-sleeve tops. Rain is common, so bring a small umbrella and comfortable shoes for walking.
By mid-June, the weather warms up and you can pack dresses, skirts, and shorts. Keep a light jacket or cardigan handy for cooler evenings.