Paris in April 2024 – Quick Guide by a Local

April in Paris 2024

All you need to know and the best things to do in Paris in April 2024.

What is Paris like in April? April is a wonderful month to visit Paris, but it is also a busy one. Spring has well and truly started in Paris in April, and despite frequent showers, the city fills with flowers and perfumes, and the locals start to populate the parks.

In 2024, Easter falls in April, and although France is not known for its religious celebrations, the city becomes especially appealing for those who can get some days off.

In Paris, April is a combination of city perfection and busy crowds. It is a great month for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and day trips out of the capital. If you are visiting Paris in April this year, here’s the guide to Paris April 2024 to get the most out of your time in the French capital.

Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?

If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, we’ve got you covered! Below are our must-guides, top tours, hotels, and more:

» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists

» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio

Book your transfer from the airport to the city with Welcome Pickups.

» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris

Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)

» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:

Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!

» Don’t leave without travel insurance! Compare plans and prices amongst the world’s leading programs with Travel Insurance Master

Table of Contents:

Is April a Good Time to Visit Paris? Crowds Forecast
Weather in Paris in April
What to Wear in Paris in April 2024
Best Tips for Visiting Paris in April
Best Things to Do in Paris in April 2024 (and Events in Paris April 2024)
Where to Stay in Paris in April

Related Content

Is April a Good Time to Visit Paris? Crowds Forecast

April in Paris is the beginning of the high season in France, so it is a busy month. If you visit Paris in April, you will not see the crowds of July and August, but still, it is a good idea to book accommodation and tickets to the main attractions well in advance.

Paris in April is crazy busy during the weeks of Easter and spring school holidays (more in the following chapters).

Below I list the main Paris attractions you will need advance tickets for and have added links to my favorite trusty providers for your convenience.

Weather in Paris in April

How is the weather in Paris in April? April is a spring month in Paris, and you can expect lovely weather with mild temperatures and the occasional showers. April in Paris is one of the best times for sightseeing and exploring the city on foot or by bike.

The average temperature in Paris in April is 16C maximum and 8C minimum, with a 14% chance of rain.

What to Wear in Paris in April 2024

What to wear in Paris in Summer and Spring

What to pack for Paris in April? In Paris in early April, you may see some locals still wearing winter coats, but as the month progresses, the temperatures get warmer. Early mornings and evenings tend to be cold, and you will need to wrap up a little more, but overall, mid-season clothes and layers should do.

Then you will need good walking shoes (ankle boots or winter sneakers are perfect, ideally waterproof), socks and long trousers. Finally, pack long-sleeved tops and sweaters.

A foldable umbrella will be your best friend when you visit Paris in early April, but you can simply find refuge in a Parisian café and resume sightseeing when it stops raining.

Here’s the ultimate guide to what to pack for Paris in April, with a packing list at the end of the post. Before leaving for Paris, check the weather forecast and review your Paris packing list.

If you need some guidance on how to combine things to blend in with the locals, check out our style guides for men and women for the season:

Best Tips for Visiting Paris in April

If you are visiting Paris for the first time and plan to visit many tourist sights, consider purchasing a Paris tourist pass to save time and money. The Paris Museum Pass is the best seller for the main landmarks and museums but it is not for everybody. Check out this Paris Tourist Pass Comparison to find the best pass for you.

If you want to visit only a few attractions, buy skip-the-line tickets or bundle tickets for your favorite sites. Tiqets, one of my favorite ticket providers, always has interesting hand-picked combinations that make you save time and money.

30 March and 1 April 2024 are holiday days in France (Sunday and Monday Easter). This is a popular time to visit Paris, and locals also like to travel around the country and abroad. Therefore, booking flight tickets, train tickets, and accommodation well in advance is paramount.

Paris’s school holidays are from 6 April to 22 April 2024, and parents commonly take one week off for a family cultural trip somewhere else in France or Europe. If you decide to come to Paris in late April, book things in advance, especially train and flight tickets from /to Paris.

If you plan to visit Paris in April, always have some indoor activities in mind for the occasional showers. If you need some inspiration, check out this list of fun things to do when it rains in Paris.

A week before the departure, check out our Transportation Strikes in Paris post, which is always up to date. You never know with the French . . . 😉

Need insurance for France? Be sure to check SafetyWing, our trusted travel insurance policy for long and short trips (starting with a minimum of 5 days). Since August 2020, it has covered COVID-19 for new policies purchased, and since April 2021, unplanned quarantine has been covered, too.

Best Things to Do in Paris April 2024 (and Events in Paris April 2024)

What to do in Paris in April 2024? If you visit Paris for the first time, you may have some of the main attractions, like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum, on your Paris bucket list. The itineraries below are thought for first-timers in Paris, and they are planned around the main attractions and neighborhoods in Paris:

Here’s the list of the best things to do in April in Paris 2024: seasonal activities in Paris in April and temporary exhibitions with something for everyone.

EXPLORE PARIS BY BIKE

April in Paris is an excellent month for exploring the city by bike. Instead of taking the dark and crowded metro, get some fresh air and enjoy Paris in the spring on two wheels.

Check out this Paris by Bike Quick Guide to learn how to navigate the city on two wheels and for the best bike tours covering Paris. For a fun and relaxing day, check out this 3-hour tour of Paris by bike, which always gets good reviews. You can also consider Versailles by bike or this self-guided bike tour along Canal de l’Ourcq.

LOOK FOR THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN PARIS

If you visit Paris in early April, you will find many beautiful spots in the city with beautiful cherry blossoms. Check out our quick guide to the Cherry Blossoms in Paris for the full list of places and the approximate dates.

VISIT ONE OF THE SMALL TOWNS NEAR PARIS

There’s always something new to see in the capital, but when the weather is good, get on a train and explore one of the beautiful small towns around Paris.

The surroundings of Paris are dotted with some picturesque small towns worth a day trip. After the long winter, these towns come to life in April, especially on the weekends.

Where to go for a day out of Paris in April? Provins is a pretty medieval town very easy to reach by train whilst Auvers-sur-Oise is famous for Van Gogh. For a good combination of sightseeing and nature, head to Fontainebleau to visit the castle and a hike in the forest – Click here for the list of best small towns near Paris

EASTER IN PARIS 2024

Easter in France is all about church services, meals with family, and spectacular chocolate creations.

During Easter in Paris, all the pâtisseries and chocolate shops throughout the city decorate their shop windows with awesome Easter goodies and colorful cakes. Shop displays by Pierre Hermé, Patrick Roger, or Jean-Paul Hévin are well known by everybody and wonderful to see.

To get the most out of the season, take this Chocolate, Pastries & Macaron Walking Tour of Saint-Germain, a picturesque neighborhood well known for its chocolate and cake shops. You can also try this self-guided Paris chocolate tour which visits the best chocolate shops in Le Marais.

TAKE A FOOD TOUR IN PARIS

Food tours are a good option for learning more about the local food and getting some fresh air when it is not too cold outside. Food tours in Paris usually cover a specific area or neighborhood, so they are also a good way to learn more about this area while enjoying great food.

Learn about the best food in Paris and get some good addresses to eat or buy while exploring your favorite neighborhood in Paris.

The best food tours in Paris cover the neighborhoods of Le Marais, Saint Germain-des-Prés, and Montmartre. I especially like this gourmet food tour, which wanders through great markets and tastes great produce while learning all the hints on how to buy the best food in Paris. You will find the list of the best food tours in Paris in this post.

FUN IN THE PARK WITH A SELF-GUIDED TREASURE HUNT

Paris is home to many interesting museums, but when the weather is nice, it is hard to stay indoors in the City of Light!

Treasure Hunts and Scavenger Hunts are a great way to explore the city, especially if you are looking for alternative or unusual things to do in Paris. Treasure Hunts take you past many local attractions, opening your eyes to so many things you would ordinarily just walk straight past.

If you are blessed with a day of sunshine and blue sky in Paris in April, by all means, take full advantage of it and head outdoors to get the most out of the city, that’s what Parisians do!

>> Take this self-guided Treasure Hunt in the Luxembourg Gardens to find Queen Marie de Médicis’ most precious treasure.

>> Take this self-guided Scavenger Hunt in the Tuileries Garden to help its lost soul find its way to its final resting place.

Both hunts are great for learning more about two of the most lovely gardens in central Paris!

VISIT MONET’S GARDEN IN GIVERNY

After some sleepy months, Monet’s house in Giverny opens its doors in spring, and this is one of the best trips from Paris.

In spring, Monet’s garden comes into full bloom! The main blooms in April are the great hybrids, narcissi, daffodils, and tulips. Later, they are joined by other spring bulbs of all colors. Over the month, the wallflowers start to appear too. April is definitely too early for the water lilies, but you can see two of the emblematic trees in Monet’s garden (the apple tree and the cherry tree) start to bloom.

There are many ways to organize a day trip from Paris to Monet’s Gardens. This guided day tour, however, is always the most popular.

TAKE A DAY CRUISE TO SAIL THE SEINE RIVER

In Paris, April is a great month to take a cruise along the Seine River. If the weather is good, hop on a boat and enjoy the city’s main attractions – Notre Dame, Pont Alexandre III, Orsay Museum, or the Eiffel Tower – from the water.

There are different Seine River experiences, with or without meals, and it mostly depends on your budget.

>> 1-hour Seine River cruise – the most touristy

>> The Batobus (hop on, hop off boat tour) – the most local

>> Private River Cruise with a skipper – top experience!

>> City and River Seine Tour with an Amphibious Bus – the quirkiest!

FUN AT THE COLOR OBSTACLE RUSH

If you visit Paris in April, don’t miss the Color Obstacle Rush Paris 2024, the funniest and most colorful race! The Color Obstacle Rush Paris takes place on the leisurely island of Jablines-Annet in Seine-et-Marne on 27 April 2024.

The Color Obstacle Rush Paris 2024 is a 5km race to lie with your family or friends. There’s no time limit, no winners or losers: the main goal is to have fun! The track comes with 20 fun obstacles, 6 color zones, 20 music zones, and surprise performances all along the course for a maximum of fun.

To participate, go to the official website to register (https://colorobstaclerush.fr/).

LOOK FOR THE BEST VIEWS IN PARIS

Paris is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, especially in spring, with the trees in full bloom. Photography in Paris in the spring is a wonder!

Look for the best views of the Eiffel Tower for the most iconic clichés, but there are many other places perfect for some selfies or photoshoots.

Check out our list of the best views in Paris that you shouldn’t miss when visiting Paris in April.

CHECK OUT THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS IN APRIL IN PARIS 2024

If you are visiting Paris in April 2024, you may want to check the list of temporary exhibitions, especially if this is not your first time in Paris.

Here’s the list of the best exhibitions in Paris April 2024, with something for every traveler.

Notre Dame de Paris, from Builders to Restorers – Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, from 15 February 2023 to 29 April 2024

Mexica: Offerings and Gods at the Templo Mayor – Musée du Quai Branly, from 3 April to 8 September 2024

Shamanic Visions – Musée du Quai Branly, from 14 November 2023 to 26 May 2024

Brancusi – Centre Georges Pompidou, from 27 March to 1 July 2024

Bertille Bak – Jeu de Paume, from 13 February to 12 May 2024

The World as It Is – Bourse du Commerce, from 20 March to 2 September 2024

Loading. Urban Art in the Digital Age – Grand Palais Immersif, from 6 December 2023 to 21 July 2024

Paris1874: Inventing the Impressionism – Musée de l’Orsay, from 24 March to 14 July 2024

Prehistomania – Musée de l’Homme, until 24 May 2024

Mark Rothko – Fondation Louis Vuitton, until 2 April 2024

Rudolf Nureyev at the Paris Opera – Opéra Garnier, from 21 December to 5 April 2024

The Egypt of the Pharaohs, from Cheops to Ramses II – Atelier des Lumières, from 9 February 2024 to 5 January 2025

The Orientalists: Ingres, Délacroix, Gérôme… – Atelier des Lumières, from 9 February 2024 to 5 January 2025

Félins – Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, from 22 March 2023 to 21 April 2024

Immersive Experience “Aura Invalides” – Musée de l’Armée, from 22 Septembre 2023 to 31 December 2024

Johnny Hallyday, l’Exposition à Paris – Porte de Versailles, from 22 December 2023 to 19 June 2024.

NEED MORE IDEAS FOR PARIS IN APRIL?

Need more inspiration for when your trip to Paris in April 2024? You can have a look at our articles about March in Paris or May in Paris. Some of the activities suggested in these pieces are also great for April in Paris.

Where to Stay in Paris in April

We recommend Booking.com for booking your hotel in Paris. They have a wide variety of accommodation of all kinds and good rates. In addition, they propose the option to cancel for free, most of the time up to 24 hours.

WAKE UP WITH AN EIFFEL TOWER VIEW

If you have the budget, why not treat yourself to the pleasure of waking up at an amazing hotel with an Eiffel Tower view? Some of the best hotels in Paris also come with awesome views of the Eiffel Tower, especially beautiful during its night show! – Check out the best hotels with Eiffel Tower Views

HOTELS AT LE MARAIS IN PARIS 3

Le Marais is a central neighborhood in the Seine’s Right Bank, perfect to set your base in Paris, especially if you are visiting Paris for the first time. It is beautiful, well connected by the metro, and with many beautiful cafes and restaurant options – Click here for the best hotels in Le Marais

Hotel de Josephine de Bonaparte (charming 4-star hotel inspired by Napoléon’s wife)
Hotel France Louvre (mid-range hotel in a typical Haussmanian style)

HOTELS AT THE LATIN QUARTER

If you prefer to stay in the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter is also a good option, usually with less expensive options. Stay close to the Luxembourg Gardens or the Jardin des Plantes but also to lively areas like rue du Mouffetard or the Sorbonne, with many bars and restaurants nearby – Click here for the best hotels in the Latin Quarter

Hotel La Lanterne (4-star hotel located between Notre Dame and Luxembourg Gardens)
Observatoire Luxembourg (4-star hotel near the Luxembourg Gardens)

And there you have it, our quick guide to Paris April 2024 with the best tips and things to do in Paris this year. Bon voyage!

Click here to read more Paris travel tips

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