March in Paris: Almost Spring, Already Beautiful
Planning to visit Paris in March 2026? This guide offers firsthand insights, practical recommendations, and insider tips to make the most of your visit. Short on time? Jump straight to my curated list of the best things to do in Paris in March here.
March is Paris holding its breath.
In Paris in early March, I’m still in my favourite café on rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, hands wrapped around a bowl of hot chocolate, watching the rain streak the windows and telling myself spring is coming. By late March I’m outside – coat open, face in the sun, leading friends on a chocolate walk through the Marais.
The distance between those two versions of March is about three weeks and roughly ten degrees. Getting there requires patience, good timing, and the kind of stubborn optimism that Parisians apply to spring every single year.
March is not Paris delivered. It’s Paris becoming – and if you catch it at the right moment, it’s one of the most quietly beautiful months the city offers.
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our 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:
- Louvre Museum
- Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
- Seine River Night Cruise
- Château de Versailles and Gardens
- Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas
Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
» Don’t leave without travel insurance! SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
Weather in Paris in March
What is the weather like in Paris in March? The weather in Paris in March is hit-and-miss, and you may get grey, rainy days.
On the bright side, the days start to get longer. You can check out the sunset times in Paris for the dates of your visit.
The Paris weather in March easily oscillates between cold and warm. The average temperature in Paris in March is 13 Cº /56 F (highs) and 5 Cº /41 F (lows), with a 14% chance of rain. As the month progresses, days get sunnier.
As soon as the sun comes out in March, you’ll see the locals flocking to the banks of the Seine River, the canals, and the parks eager to catch the first signs of spring in Paris!
Is Paris Busy in March? Crowds Forecast
Is Paris busy in March? Is March a good time to visit Paris to avoid the crowds?
March is still the low season in Paris. The crowds are not quite here yet, so March is the last opportunity to avoid long lines at popular attractions before the high season kicks off.
While crowds do start creeping up in Paris in early March (especially if you get an early Easter), this is still often a good month for last-minute getaways to Paris and for exploring the city and its main attractions without the crowds.
What to Do in Paris in March 2026 (+ Events in Paris, March 2026)
So, what to do in Paris in March? If you visit Paris for the first time, you may want to tick off some of the main attractions on your bucket list. The itineraries below are thought for first-time visits to Paris, and they are planned around the city’s main attractions and neighborhoods:
- 1 day in Paris
- 2 days in Paris
- 3 days in Paris
- 4 days in Paris
- 5 days in Paris
- 6 days in Paris
- 7 days in Paris
If you wish to visit other parts of France after your days in Paris, but you don’t know where to go, check out this article about France in March for some inspiration.
Without further ado, here’s the list of the best things to do in Paris in March and the main events in Paris, March 2026. Some dates and activities may still need to be confirmed, so keep clicking for the latest updates.
Celebrate Food in Paris
March comes with many interesting food festivals and celebrations. In March, Paris celebrates the Macaron Day (20 March) and the National Cheese Day (27 March). These events are the perfect excuse to try two of the most famous foods in Paris.
One of the best Paris events in March for wine lovers is the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants (19 to 22 March this year). Expect more than 600 independent wine growers from some of the best wine regions in France showcasing their latest reds, whites, and rosés. The event takes place at Espace Champerret, in Paris 17.
March in Disneyland Paris
March is an excellent month to visit Disneyland Paris. The crowds are not there yet, and it is one of the last opportunities to meet Frozen before it gets too warm for her!
A day trip to Disneyland Paris is one of the most popular excursions from the capital, and it is very easy to organize. Check out how to plan a day trip from Paris to Disneyland Paris.
NEW! On 29 March 2026, World of Frozen – along with many new experiences – will open within Disney Adventure World, the reimagined second park at Disneyland Paris!
Since 2024, Disneyland Paris has used dynamic pricing, with ticket prices varying based on demand. As with planes or trains, to pay less, you will have to book in advance! I recommend having a look at this Disneyland Paris Crowd Calendar, which is updated for 2026, to find the best days to visit to avoid the biggest crowds. Once you have decided when to go, book your Disneyland tickets ASAP for the best prices.
TIP: extend your Disney experience by spending one night or two at one of the hotels near Disneyland Paris.
Enjoy the Last Days of Versailles Gardens for Free
March is the start of spring in Paris, so you should enjoy mild days with some blue skies – perfect weather for being outdoors, especially as the flowers begin to bloom.
Take the chance to visit the first blooms in the Versailles Gardens for free before the Fountains & Musical Gardens Shows begin in April.
From April 2026, the Versailles Gardens (Petit Parc) will be open only for the shows, and you will need to buy an entrance ticket to visit them. The land around the Grand Canal and the Grand Parc will remain free to access.
For a memorable day out in Versailles, combine a stroll around the Versailles Gardens with a bike ride in the surrounding forest. There are also many interesting things to do in Versailles other than the Château, so why not spend one night on-site and visit everything?
Seek the Spring Sunshine on a Day Trip from Paris
Now that winter is on the way out, take the opportunity to embark on one of the best day trips from Paris to explore the city’s surroundings.
You don’t need to go too far to get a taste of the Paris countryside: small towns such as Auvers-sur-Oise (Van Gogh’s latest home) or the medieval city of Provins are only one hour by train.
Also, there are many beautiful castles near Paris, or you can decide to go further to visit the WW2 Sites in Normandy or the wonderful Mont St Michel. In the end, the hard part is to choose where to go!
Be One of the First to Discover the Atelier de Lumière’s New Exhibition
L’Atelier des Lumières is the first center of Digital Art in Paris, proposing unique immersive art exhibitions for everybody. Be one of the first visitors to discover its new exhibitions – check out the program and opening times
The venue (a former foundry) isn’t a mere complement, but rather, it’s an integral part of the experience. Its monumental metal architecture and long history have forged the art project’s identity, and the various features of the building, including the chimney, drying tower, pool, and water tank, are the ideal setting for futuristic digital exhibitions.
So step inside the Atelier des Lumières to watch immersive digital exhibitions that will transport you to the pictorial worlds of the world’s most famous artists.
Discover the Best Exhibitions in Paris, March 2026
If you visit Paris in March 2026, take the chance to enjoy your favorite museums without the crowds. If this is not your first time in Paris, you may want to check the list of temporary exhibitions as well; there’s always something interesting in the museums and art galleries in Paris!
Here’s the list of the best exhibitions in Paris, March 2026, with something for everyone. More exhibitions will be announced soon, so keep clicking for the latest updates!
The Collection: Revoir Picasso – Musée Picasso, until March 2026
L’Empire du Sommeil – Musée Marmottan-André, from 9 October 2025 to 1 March 2026
Flops?! – Musée des Arts et Métiers, from 14 October 2025 to 17 May 2026
Magellan, A Journey that Changed the World – Musée de la Marine, from 22 October 2025 to 1 March 2026
Mummies – Musée de l’Homme, from 19 November until 25 May 2026
Dragons – Musée du Quai Branly, from 18 November until 1 March 2026
Joyaux Dinastiques – Musée de la Marine, until 6 April 2026
Dance – Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, until 28 June 2026
Martin Parr:Global Warning – Jeu de Paume, until 24 May 2026
Here’s the full list of exhibitions, shows, and concerts for your dates in Paris (use the calendar on the left side to select a date range).
From Hot Chocolate to Chocolate Tour: March in Two Acts
More than any other month, March in Paris is experienced in two distinct halves – and I like to track the transition through chocolate.
Paris in Early March: The Hot Chocolate Act
Early March in Paris is still winter, whatever the calendar says. The temperature hovers between 6-10°C, the days are short, and the grey sky feels permanent. This is the month’s most underrated pleasure: Paris café culture at its most intimate. When it’s too cold and wet to do much else, there is nowhere better on earth to be than inside a café with a proper bowl of hot chocolate.
Paris offers some unforgettable spots to do just that. At Angelina (226 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1), try the famous L’Africain – thick, velvety, and utterly indulgent. For a slightly lighter, but still luxurious take, head to Carette (25 Place des Vosges, Paris 3). My favorite is at Jacques Genin (133 rue de Turenne, Paris 3), where the hot chocolate is made with Valrhona chocolate and served alongside exquisite pastries. And for an elegant, creamy version, visit Café Pouchkine (16 Place de la Madeleine, Paris 8), known for its rich chocolat chaud and refined atmosphere.
This is also the perfect moment to visit Paris’s great indoor spaces without the crowds that arrive from April onwards. The Musée d’Orsay on a grey March Tuesday morning is a completely different experience from the same museum in July – you can stand in front of a Monet for as long as you want, then sit in the top-floor café with your hot chocolate and watch the rain on the Seine River through the clock window. That, for me, is March at its best.
Paris in Late March: The Chocolate Walk Act
Then, somewhere around the third week of March, something shifts. The temperature climbs past 12°C, a few days of actual sunshine appear, and Paris begins its collective exhale. This is when I put the hot chocolate down and take to the streets.
Late March is when I do my chocolate walking tour of the Marais – a route I put together myself that visits my favourite chocolate shops in one of Paris’s most beautiful neighbourhoods. The timing matters: the Easter chocolate displays are just beginning to appear in shop windows, the streets are still quiet before the spring tourist surge, and the weather is just good enough to make walking between stops genuinely pleasant.
If you’d rather be guided, this Saint-Germain Chocolate and Pastries Walking Tour covers the chocolate scene in another picturesque neighborhood with an expert leading the way.
If you are a wine lover, you don’t have to choose between wine and chocolate – you can enjoy both in this guided wine and chocolate tasting experience in Paris. Discover how expertly paired flavors enhance each other in a relaxed, fun setting.
What to Wear in Paris in March
In March, Paris sees changeable weather but usually mild temperatures. Early mornings and evenings tend to be cold, and you will need to wrap up a little more. Overall, mid-season clothes and layers should suffice.
What to wear in Paris in March 2026? If you are visiting Paris in March, it is important to pack good walking shoes (ankle boots or winter sneakers are perfect), socks and tights, long trousers, long-sleeve tops, and sweaters. I also recommend packing a light scarf and a travel umbrella for those rainy days in Paris.
You will see winter coats in Paris in early March, but if you come from northern countries where winters are freezing, perhaps you won’t find it necessary. If you are used to cold weather, mid-season waterproof jackets should be fine.
Here’s the ultimate guide to packing for Paris in March for a more local look. If you need ideas on how to combine things to blend in with locals, check out my Paris style guides, with suggestions for Paris in early March and Paris in late March.
Where to Stay in Paris in March
Booking.com is my recommended site for booking your hotel in Paris. They have a wide variety of hotels of all kinds and good rates. In addition, they offer 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 SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS
The neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on the Left Bank, is a great place to put your luggage down in Paris, especially if you are visiting Paris for the first time. It is picturesque and central, with many entertainment, beautiful cafes, and restaurant options – Click here for the best hotels in Saint-Germain
- Relais Christine (4-star hotel in a 16th-century private mansion)
- Hotel Chaplain Paris Rive Gauche (mid-range hotel a few meters from Luxembourg Gardens)
HOTELS IN THE LOUVRE DISTRICT
If you prefer to stay in the Right Bank, the Louvre District is a good option. Stay close to the Louvre Museum, the Seine River, and the Tuileries Gardens in a lively area with many bars and restaurants nearby – Click here for the best hotels near the Louvre
- Hotel Paris Louvre Opera (mid-range hotel in a lively area with many choices for dining out)
- Hotel Regina (5-star hotel, only a few steps from the Louvre and Tuileries Garden)
Still Deciding When To Visit?
- Paris in February (winter chill, Valentine’s warmth)
- Paris in April (cherry blossoms, Easter crowds)
- Compare all months or plan your visit around one of the major events in Paris.
And there you have it – what to do in Paris in March 2026 and seasonal events to help you plan your Paris trip. Bon voyage!
