Paris is always a good idea – according to Audrey Hepburn and I can’t disagree. Sure Spring and the Summer months may have a lot of appeal but October in Paris is lovely.
Fall brings the beautiful golden yellow and brown leaves to the city, cooler temperatures and a lot less people. It’s one of my favorite times to get out and explore my own city and in this guide, i’ll tell you exactly why it’s a great time to come over and visit.
🇫🇷 Paris Trip Essentials
Beat the queues at the Louvre: Buy advance tickets here.
Go on a River Cruise on the Seine: Check out the best river cruises to take in October.
Get the Best Rates for Hotels: Check prices here.
What’s Paris Like in October? (A Local’s Opinion)
Unlike in September, summer has all but gone and Autumn is in full swing. Leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter and it suddenly feels a lot more brisk.
So what’s it like visiting Paris in October? Honestly, it’s a pretty great time of the year to visit. The crowds have left, prices have gone down and you’ll feel the city is a lot more relaxed.
Expect mild temperatures in the day (in my experience it can even be warm) and chillier evenings. In my opinion it’s the perfect weather to explore the city in the day and spend the evenings inside cosy bistros and bars!
Unlike the summer months there are a lot less tourists around the city. That said, there’s always queues at the most popular monuments so I’d recommend booking tickets in advance.
Things to Do in Paris in October
Despite it not being the most popular season to visit there’s still plenty of things to do in Paris in October.
Montmartre Wine Festival
The annual Montmartre Wine Festival (or the Vendage de Montmartre in French) is a fantastic event held up right next to the Sacre-Cœur.
Originally started in 1934 to celebrate the annual grape harvest of the tiny vineyard in Montmartre, it’s become a hugely popular festival in the city.
Personally one of my favorite wine festivals in Paris, it’s incredibly good fun and well worth checking out if you’re around.
The weeks starts with a parade followed by numerous events including the only time you can visit the actual vineyard.
For most people (including myself) the highlight is the space around the Sacre-Cœur. Here you’ll find hundreds of wine makers selling their own wine at reduced rates.
Tip: The Saturday is always the busiest and if you arrive mid-afternoon, you’ll be guaranteed to face a long wait in the queue. I’d advise going Friday or Sunday.
The 2024 edition takes place from the 9th to 13th October. It’s free entry although you may need to reserve ahead of time for certain events. Click here to find out more.
Visit the Louvre
If you find that the weather isn’t great then I’d advise taking advantage of the lack of tourists and visiting the incredible Louvre museum.
You can easily spend days in the Louvre as it’s vast but a good half day will allow you to see the must-see pieces.
Despite the lack of crowds I’d definitely recommend booking a ticket in advance as there are always queues for security and tickets inside. You can buy them here.
The Louvre is open every day (apart from Tuesdays) from 9am-6pm.
Want to know more about visiting the museum? Check out my guide to visiting the Louvre.
Check out the Paris Motor Show
The biannual Paris Motor Show takes place for a week mid October in the south of the city.
One of the most famous automobile expos in Europe, the Paris Motor Show is a must do if you’re a petrol head.
Featuring prototype, new models and technology demonstrators debuts from the top car manufacturers, it’s genuinely an impressive show to attend.
Tickets cost €18 per person and can be bought online.
Tip: The weekends can get incredibly busy so I’d recommend visiting mid week if you can.
Cosy Up in a Traditional French Bistro
In October, unlike in the summer, you won’t be dining outside in any of the city’s café terraces. However it does mean that you’ll be eating inside some of the beautiful bistros in the capital and that is a must-do.
There’s plenty of charming, authentic bistros in the city and in my opinion, an evening meal in one of them is a real Parisian experience.
Check out my guide to the best bistros in Paris to discover the best spots to eat traditional French food in the city.
Explore the City’s Parks
Paris has some stunning parks and peak fall is the perfect time to explore them. With golden brown leaves adorning the trees, it makes for some picture-perfect views.
You can find my favorite Parisian gardens and parks in my guide to the best parks in Paris.
What’s the Weather Like?
The weather in Paris in October can be changeable. It’s generally mild with temperatures hitting between 14-18c (57-64f) in the day.
In my experience you can expect warmer days but equally it can get quite rainy and windy. My number one recommendation would be to bring a travel umbrella when visiting in October.
What You Should Wear
As October is generally rather mild, I’d advise bringing lots of thin layers – especially if you’re hopping between sights and museums.
Check the forecast before you visit but i’d advise to bring sunglasses, different layers and a thin coat.
