Paris_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Lonely Planet [1]
WHEN TO GO
As the old song says, Paris is lovely in springtime – though winterlike relapses and heavy rains are not uncommon in the otherwise beautiful month of April. The best months are probably May and June – but early, before the hordes of tourists descend. Autumn is also pleasant – some people say the best months of the year to visit are September and October – but of course the days are getting shorter and in October hotels are booked solid by businesspeople attending conferences and trade shows. In winter Paris has all sorts of cultural events going on, while in summer the weather is warm – sometimes sizzling. In any case, in August Parisians flee for the beaches to the west and south, and many restaurateurs and café owners lock up and leave town too. It’s true that you will find more places open in August than even a decade ago, but it still can feel like a ghost town in certain districts. For more information on Paris’ climate, Click here.
To ensure that your trip does (or perhaps does not) coincide with a public holiday, Click here. For a list of festivals and other events to plan around, see below.
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DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…
an adaptor plug for electrical appliances
binoculars for viewing detail on churches and other buildings
an immersion water heater or small kettle for an impromptu cup of tea or coffee
tea bags if you need that cuppa since the French drink buckets of the herbal variety but not much of the black stuff
premoistened towelettes or a large cotton handkerchief to soak in fountains and use to cool off in the hot weather
sunglasses and sun block, even in the cooler months
swimsuit and thongs (flip-flops) for Paris Plages or swimming pool
a Swiss Army knife, with such essentials as a bottle opener and strong corkscrew
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FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Innumerable festivals, cultural and sporting events and trade shows take place in Paris throughout the year; weekly details appear in Pariscope and L’Officiel des Spectacles Click here. You can also find them listed under ‘What’s On’ on the website of the Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.parisinfo.com). The following abbreviated list gives you a taste of what to expect throughout the year.
January & February
FESTIVAL DES MUSIQUES DU NOVEL AN
www.parisparade.com
The New Year Music Festival, relatively subdued after the previous night’s shenanigans Click here with marching and carnival bands, dance acts and so on, takes place on the afternoon of New Year’s Day at the Palais de Chaillot at Trocadéro.
LOUIS XVI COMMEMORATIVE MASS
www.monuments-nationaux.fr
On the Sunday closest to 21 January, royalists and right-wingers attend a mass at the Chapelle Expiatoire (Click here marking the execution by guillotine of King Louis XVI in 1793.
FASHION WEEK
www.pretparis.com
Prêt-à-Porter, the ready-to-wear fashion salon that is held twice a year in late January and again in September, is a must for fashion buffs and is held at the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles in the 15e arrondissement (metro Porte de Versailles), southwest of the city centre.
CHINESE NEW YEAR
www.paris.fr
Dragon parades and other festivities are held in late January or early February in two Chinatowns: the smaller, more authentic one in the 3e, taking in rue du Temple, rue au Maire and rue de Turbigo (metro Temple or Arts et Métiers); and the larger, flashier one in the 13e in between porte de Choisy, porte d’Ivry and blvd Masséna (metro Porte de Choisy, Port d’Ivry or Tolbiac).
SALON INTERNATIONAL DE L’AGRICULTURE
www.salon-agriculture.com
A 10-day international agricultural fair with produce