November in Paris! Christmas markets, cozy cafes, holiday decorations and maybe even snow! While November isn’t the most popular time of year to visit the City of Love, it can still be a wonderful time to plan a trip. Ready to start planning? Keep reading for 10 essential tips for visiting Paris in November.
10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris in November: Fall in the City of Love
1: Dress for the Ever Changing Weather
The most important thing to keep in mind when visiting Paris in November is the weather. While in the summer months you’ll have very hot temperatures, in Paris in November expect cloudy, cold and rainy days.
I know it sounds like it will be gloomy, and realistically most days probably will be, but there still may be some sunshine!
Although the weather isn’t ideal for many people, it’s honestly not terrible. There’s usually no snow, it’s not freezing cold and while it does rain, it doesn’t usually rain all day.
My best advice to fully enjoy Paris in November is to dress for the weather. Bring lots of layers, a scarf, hat, gloves, a warm jacket, waterproof shoes and don’t forget an umbrella! If you dress for the weather and know what to expect, then you can still be quite comfortable outside in Paris in November exploring the city.
Note: Many posts I’ve read say that Paris has “mild” November weather, and while that’s sometimes true, every time I’ve been in Paris in November it has been quite cold, windy and rainy. Once, we even had snow! While there are often some mild parts to the November days, I was certainly surprised by how cold and rainy it tends to be.
It’s always better to expect it to be cold and rainy and have a delightfully sunny day than to expect mild temperatures and end up cold and wet.
2: You Can Still Walk Around the City, but the Metro is a Great Fall Option
You can absolutely still walk all around Paris in November, even if it’s a little colder and rainer than normal. Just make sure to dress warm and bring an umbrella!
However, there may be some heavy showers or days that are rainer overall. When this happens, you may need to rely more on the Metro than walking. The good news is that the Paris metro system is excellent! You’ll be able to easily get just about anywhere you need to go in the city while staying warm and dry.
3: Plan Indoor Activities
While you can certainly still enjoy outdoor walks and seeing outdoor sites in November, you’ll definitely want to spend parts of the day inside.
This is especially true on cold, rainy or windy days. November is a fantastic time to visit museums! Many will be less crowded than other times of year. It’s also a great time to visit bookstores, tour churches and try new restaurants.
There’s no shortage of indoor activities in Paris, so you’ll be all set for a November trip!
A few of my favorite museums include:
- Musée d’Orsay (French Art)
- The Louvre
- Musée de l’Orangerie (Impressionist + Post Impressionist Art)
Another fun idea is to book guided activities or see shows! Shows, like the Moulin Rouge, are popular year round, so be sure to add them to your Paris in November itinerary.
Activities and shows:
- Croissant Small-Group Baking Class with a Chef
- Create your Own Perfume Workshop with a Perfumer
- French Wine Tasting Class with Sommelier
- Dinner Show at the Moulin Rouge
4: November is a Cozy Cafe Type of Month
Paris is filled with charming cafes and there’s no better way to spend a chilly fall day than enjoying a delicious coffee, hot chocolate or pastry in a cozy cafe.
Cozy cafes in Paris:
- Shakespeare and Company Cafe (Latin Quarter)
- Very popular and will likely be crowded
- Strada Cafe (Latin Quarter)
- Ten Belles (multiple locations)
Paris has some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had and a November trip is the perfect time of year to enjoy a warm drink.
The best hot chocolate in Paris:
- Angelina Paris (Tuileries)
- Probably the most famous in Paris
- There will likely be a long line, try to go at non-peak hours
- Carette (Trocadero)
- Cafe Les Deux Magots (Saint-Germain des Prés)
- Great hot chocolate and an iconic spot
- This famous restaurant was a regular hangout for famous writers and avant-garde artists like Hemingway, Picasso and Sartre
5: Many Christmas Markets Start at the End of November
If you’re hoping to visit the Christmas markets while in Paris, book your trip at the end of November. I’ve missed the Christmas markets twice by booking my trip too early in the month.
There are several Christmas Markets around Paris (15+) and they’re so fun and festive to visit.
One of the most famous and popular markets, The Tuileries Garden Christmas Market, usually begins sometime around the 3rd weekend of November.
This market is almost a half mile long and includes food stalls, an artisan village where you can shop for gifts, a ferris wheel and more!
It will likely be very crowded, but it’s still a must visit.
Other holiday markets in Paris:
- Montmartre Christmas Market
- Location: Place des Abbesses
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market
- Eiffel Tower Christmas Market
- Tends to open in early December
- Marché de Noël Notre Dame
- Location: Square Viviani
- This market tends to open in mid-December
- Location: Square Viviani
These are just a few of the many Christmas markets that pop-up during the holiday season. If you’re out and about in popular areas, you’re likely to run into more markets.
6: You Will Likely Still See Some Fall Foliage
In Paris in November, there is often still fall foliage! Although the days can be gray and moody, there will also likely be pops of color on the trees.
A few of my favorite places to see fall foliage in Paris include:
- Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens)
- 6th arrondissement
- Easily walkable from the Latin Quarter
- Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens)
- 1st arrondissement
- All around Montmartre
7: November is a Great Time to Avoid Tourist Season
If you’ve ever visited Paris in the summer, you know it’s packed! In contrast, the fall and winter months are a much less busy time to visit the city.
Paris will still be “busy” in November, because it’s a major city, however, there are far fewer tourists than in the summer months. This means it’s often easier to get reservations, tickets to museums, shows and more.
Fewer tourists is a huge perk of visiting Paris in November!
8: Even Though it’s Low Season, Book Museums, Activities and Restaurants in Advance
Although there are fewer tourists in November, and getting tickets/reservations is easier than in the high season, you’ll still want to book in advance – especially for popular spots.
I recommend booking tours, activities and restaurants as soon as you can, just to ensure you get a reservation.
9: Some Activities are Perfect for Fall (and Some are Better for Other Times of Year)
As I’ve mentioned in this post, November is a great time for holiday markets, museums, bookstores and cafes.
Some iconic Paris activities, while very fun, are best saved for other times of year. For example, we tried going up the Eiffel Tower in November and it was certainly an experience. It was pouring rain, windy and there was no visibility. Spring or Fall are much better times to take the trip to the top!
Seine river cruises are a lot of fun, but make sure you have a heated boat and won’t be outside the whole time. The open air boats are much better for warm weather.
Some wonderful activities, like walking tours and food tours, are great any time of year – just be sure to dress warmly and bring an umbrella on rainy days.
10: Often, Airfare is Cheaper in November
This might seem obvious, but airfare is often cheaper in the fall and winter than during peak season. I always recommend monitoring airline prices as far out as you can, and book when the prices are good.
An example of this, when I traveled to Paris in the summer, nonstop flights were 1.5x more than the price they were when I visited in the fall. If you have flexible dates, you’ll be able to get the best prices.
Where should I stay in Paris?
When visiting Paris, I recommend staying as centrally as possible. The good news is, during the low season, hotels in popular areas like the 1st arrondissement and the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) are less expensive than during the summer months.
The 1st arrondissement is where you’ll find many of the most popular sites in Paris; for example, the Louvre, the Tuileries Gardens and the Musée de l’Orangerie – just to name a few. You’ll also be close to the Seine and walking distance to many other great sites, like Notre Dame (30 minutes) and Musee d’Orsay (15ish minutes).
My favorite area to stay in Paris is definitely the Latin Quarter. I love the quaint streets, cafes, little hotels and great restaurants. In the Latin Quarter, you’ll be close to important sites like Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle, as well as walkable to the Louvre and all that the 1st arrondissement has to offer.
Hotels in the 1st Arrondissement
- Relais Du Louvre
- Hôtel Crayon Rouge (cute & quirky)
- Hotel Opéra Richepanse
- Hôtel du Continent
Hotels in the Latin Quarter
Q&A: Visiting Paris in November
- Is it worth going to France in November?
- Yes! Even though the weather may not be perfect, it’s a great time of year to explore the city with fewer tourists. November is a very cozy month in Paris and the holiday decorations and markets are so fun to see.
- How to pack for Paris in November?
- Layers! A warm jacket, an umbrella, lots of sweaters, a scarf, a hat, and good shoes for walking/rainy days.
- You might not need a full winter parka, however, a warm jacket of some sort is necessary.
- Layers! A warm jacket, an umbrella, lots of sweaters, a scarf, a hat, and good shoes for walking/rainy days.
- Will Paris snow in November?
- Very rarely, but it’s not impossible. I’ve been in Paris in November when it has snowed, but just once out of my many trips. However, I’ve never seen it snow more than a dusting.
Thank you for reading my 10 essential tips for visiting Paris in November! I hope you found them to be helpful. If you have any questions, or any other tips to add to this post, let me know in the comments below.
For fun things to do during your trip, check out my guide for how to spend the perfect 24 hours in Paris!
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♡Kate
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