It’s spring in Paris! Undoubtedly a fantastic destination all year round, but visiting Paris in the spring is highly recommended. Forget the cold of winter and the hustle and bustle of summer. The days are getting longer and the sun is shining more and more hours. Time to enjoy the first mild spring days on the bustling café terraces in Paris. The weather during spring in Paris can vary from sunny days to rainy days, so it’s always a good idea to have an umbrella on hand.
There is a lot to do during spring in Paris. Just think of admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms, walking through the green parks and gardens, Easter celebrations with chocolate or the many cultural events. Also for lovers of art and culture a great time to visit new exhibitions in the museums. We tip 9 of our favorite activities during spring in Paris.
#1 Admiring cherry blossoms during spring in Paris
Spring in Paris, so the ideal time to admire the beautiful blooming cherry blossoms. During the months of March and April, the city of lights turns pink, pink and more pink… The cherry blossom period, also known as “Sakura” in Japan, is an important time in Japanese culture. The most beautiful places to admire the cherry blossom and magnolia in Paris are Jardin des Plantes, Parc de Sceaux, Le square Jean-XXIII (behind Notre-Dame), Le jardin des Tuileries, Père-Lachaise, Jardins du Trocadéro, Jardin du Palais Royal and Parc Bagatelle.#2 Picnics in the most beautiful parks or on the banks of the Seine
There are plenty of nice places in the city where you can enjoy a romantic picnic during the spring in Paris. Go to a local market and buy some delicious French cheese, fresh French bread and a good bottle of wine. Some popular parks for a picnic are Champ de Mars, Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin du Luxembourg. But it is also wonderful to stay on the banks of the Seine.
#3 Celebrating Easter in Paris: there is a lot to experience
Easter is also a public holiday in Paris and various church services are organized in the city. Celebrate Easter in some of Paris’ most famous churches and chapels such as the Sacré-Coeur, Sainte-Chapelle or La Madeleine. In the beautiful Gothic Saint-Chapelle you can, for example, listen to a concert with classical music by Vivaldi or Mozart.
#4 Enjoy delicious chocolate in the city of lights
Easter is of course the perfect time to enjoy that delicious chocolate. The windows of the top Parisian chocolatiers are beautifully decorated and are worth a visit for this alone. Fun activities are also organized for children at Easter, such as the annual Easter egg hunt in Jardin des Plantes or Musée Rodin.
Some of the best chocolatiers in Paris include Patrick Roger, La Maison du Chocolat, Pierre Marcolini, Jean-Paul Hévin and Pierre Hermé. Many of these chocolatiers can be found in the nice neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Fun to do: 3-hour chocolate and patisserie walk →
#5 Stay up all night during Nuit des Musées
Ready for some culture in the middle of the night? For 19 years now, on the third Saturday in May (this year on May 13, 2023), Parisian museums have been open all night as part of a special event taking place across Europe. During ‘Nuit des Musées’ you can visit many museums and exhibitions throughout Paris for free. The major museums such as the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay also participate in this event. There are also many other activities on this evening such as film screenings, concerts, performances, guided tours and fun activities for children.
#6 Listen to live Jazz in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Enjoy live music on a beautiful spring day in Paris during the annual ‘Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés’ (from 10 to 17 May 2023). The festival offers a mix of free and paid performances, featuring both big international names and emerging talent from the region. Listen to jazz in unique locations such as the Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Théâtre de l’Odéon or Sorbonne Université.
#7 Cruise on the Seine: discover the tourist highlights
A cruise on the Seine remains a unique experience and of course also fun to do during the first days of spring. You see Paris in a different way and the view of the beautiful historic buildings and bridges are truly beautiful.
You usually depart from the Eiffel Tower and you sail past famous sights of Paris such as the Grand Palais, Notre Dame, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Alexandre-III and of course the Eiffel Tower.
#8 Discover Paris in spring by bike
Walking is always a good idea, but it does limit the distance you can travel. That’s why spring in Paris is one of the best times to rent a bike. When the trees are in bloom, the temperatures rise and the days are sunnier, cycling in Paris is wonderful. In recent years, a huge number of new cycle paths have been built and it is becoming easier and safer to cycle in Paris.
Fun to do: Paris highlights 3-hour bike tour →
#9 Take a trip to Versailles with musical fountain show
The 17th-century Palace of Versailles is just 20 kilometers outside of Paris, making it ideal for a day trip. The palace, in addition to its beautiful interior, is known for its beautifully landscaped gardens that stretch over nearly 2,000 acres and 55 elaborate fountains. From April to October, the fountains come to life to the sounds of baroque music for the musical fountain show ‘Grandes Eaux Musicales’. The show takes place on Saturday and Sunday. It can be very busy, especially during the Easter holidays, but with a skip-the-line ticket you avoid the worst queues.
