Autumn might just be the best season to enjoy Paris. With parks that gradually change colour, and major events like the Grape Harvest Festival, the Chocolate Fair, the Autumn Festival and Halloween celebrations, there's plenty to do and enjoy! Read on for the perfect autumn!
An Indian summer often extends into October in Paris. Temperatures are still mild (even hot!) and the city slips back into its usual rhythm. So, the start of autumn is still an ideal moment to enjoy green spaces in anticipation of their autumn colours. The Tuileries Gardens, the Parc de la Villette, the Musée de sculptures en plein air, the Jardin des Plantes. Enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons.
Also, every year, around September 23, the Paris Garden and Urban Agriculture Festival welcomes thousands of visitors to green spaces and parks to celebrate the arrival of autumn. Workshops, concerts andguided tours are organized to reveal all of nature's secrets in Paris.
The Festival d’Automne, a multi-disciplinary contemporary arts festival held in Paris since 1972, takes place at various Parisian venues, including the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d’Orsay, the CENTQUATRE and the Grande Halle de la Villette. With exhibitions, dance, theatre and music shows, performances and screenings, the line-up of events each year promises a feast of new discoveries.
The ’Nuit des Châteaux’ (chateaux at night), an event that takes place across France each year at the end of October, invites you to discover heritage gems – including the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte - at nightfall, and The ‘Journées nationales de l'Architecture’ (national architecture days’ in mid-October offers you the opportunity to visit unusual and historical places and meet architects.
Between late October and early November, two leading trade shows take place at Porte de Versailles. Paris Game Week attracts gaming enthusiasts from all over the world, who come to enjoy previews of the year's new releases. Similarly, manga fans have their own autumn rendezvous: the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show at Paris Nord Villepinte. Cosplay costumes aren't compulsory, but they're certainly welcome. An eye-catching show.
Then the Salon du Chocolat opens its doors at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Tastings, the chance to meet producers, artisans and chocolatiers, and of course the famous fashion show... Chocolate lovers are sure to find everything they're looking for here! For fans of Made In France, the trade show MIF Expo Paris is held in November at Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles.
Paris+ par Art Basel (ex-FIAC) is also held each year in autumn at the Grand Palais. Some one hundred galleries come to present their artists.
Maybe you didn’t know, but wine is produced in Paris! At Bercy and in Montmartre. Every year at the beginning of October, the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival brings the most famous hilltop in Paris to life. Tastings, guinguettes, concerts, events, workshops It's a joyful, fun-filled festival, to be enjoyed in moderation!
If you like wine, don't miss the Fête du Beaujolais Nouveau, on the third Thursday in November. Its annual launch is a real event. All the wine bars and many restaurants and brasseries offer tastings accompanied by platters to nibble on, and the evening often stretches out quite late on Paris's much-loved terraces.
If you prefer fun fairs, the Fête à Neuneu - officially the Fête du Bois de Boulogne - takes place every year from early September to mid-October in the Bois de Boulogne.
And if you more of a science enthusiast, the Fête de la Science celebrates science over a two-week period in October. Experiments, shows, workshops, open doors... Numerous events are organized in scientific institutes and museums such as the Muséum national d'Histoire Naturelle, the Musée des Arts et Métiers the Quai Branly, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Musée Curie, the École Polytechnique or the Sorbonne Campus Pierre et Marie Curie and the CNRS.
For several years now, Paris has been dressing up for Halloween. Shops are decorated, bars and clubs organize themed evenings and activities. So, get in the spirit of Halloween and head over to Virtual Room for a good dose of virtual reality horror or to Dark Dreams Paris for a terrifying escape game.
But to really get into the mood, nothing beats the major theme parks in the Paris region. Every year, Disneyland® Paris and Parc Astérix have special events to keep you entertained: spooky decorations, special parades ... Anyone looking for a thrilling experience is in for a real treat!
At the Jardin d'Acclimatation, Mexico is in the spotlight with the festival Dia de los Muertos !
Looking for a unique experience? The Opéra de Paris launches its new season every September. Repertory classics, new creations ... Each performance is an event that almost always sells out. And don't forget that autumn is a great time to discover the major exhibitions of the new cultural season.
As for sport, top events to look out for are tennis with the Rolex Paris Master de Bercy, in late October – to early November, and horse racing with the Grand Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the first weekend in October at the Longchamp racecourse. And if you prefer to play sport rather than be a spectator then put on your best running shoes for the 20 km de Paris in October.
Montmartre is one of the most emblematic districts in Paris, and it's full of surprises! Hop on board a small tourist train to explore the district, take part in a themed guided tour of the pretty cobbled streets, enjoy Paris by night by spending the evening in a cabaret or sample Parisian gastronomy by booking a gourmet experience!
Autumn in Paris – like elsewhere in France - begins on Sunday 22 September 2024 and finishes on 20 December 2024 heralding winter.
Paris, true to its image as a gastronomic capital, offers many restaurants to suit all tastes!
And when the evenings are cooler, stop off for a drink in one of the capital's bars, also renowned for their lively nightlife.
Exhibitions, trade fairs, concerts, shows, family outings, sporting events, the Grape Harvest Festival, the Autumn Festival ... find out what to do in Paris in October 2024
To find out what to wear in autumn in the French capital, check the weather forecast in Paris and if you don't have the right clothes, don't panic! See our Paris shopping section and our size conversion chart.
Autumn is a pleasant season to stroll around Paris. An opportunity to discover or rediscover Parisian districts on our walks. See our themed walks in districts of Paris
If you prefer a boat trip, take a cruise on the Seine with one of the many boat companies several of which are moored up on the quayside below the Eiffel Tower
You can also explore the Seine on foot but there are other outings along the waterside in Paris and the Paris region: a walk along the canals (Saint-Denis, Saint-Martin, Ourcq...) or on the banks of the Marne is always pleasant!
