Indoor Activities Paris Visitors Will Love
Fun things to do in Paris when it rains, beyond the typical museums. If you’re in a hurry, jump directly to the full list here.
When planning a trip to Paris, it is good to consider a couple of things to do in Paris on a rainy day. Sure, you didn’t book rain in Paris, but unfortunately, rainy days are not uncommon, especially during Paris in the fall or winter in Paris.
A rainy day in Paris is perfect for musing on masterpieces, but you don’t need to read this piece to learn this, right?
Rain in Paris doesn’t mean you have to spend the whole day in museums. After all, you don’t become one of the world’s great cities without offering plenty of amazing indoor attractions – many of which are just as enjoyable, rain or shine.
So, what to do in Paris when it rains? Save this list of the best indoor activities Paris has to offer, perfect for making the most of a rainy day in the City of Light.
Fun Things to Do in Paris on a Rainy Day
Here’s a summary of what to do in Paris on a rainy day:
- Visit the Covered Passages of Paris
- Cooking Lessons in Paris
- Explore Paris Underground
- Perfect Your Wine Tasting Skills at the King’s Cellar
- Discover the World of Perfumes and Create Your Fragrance
- Enjoy a Memorable Soirée in a Parisian Cabaret
- Learn “How to Become a Parisian”
- Wander Through Some Immersive Experiences
- Visit the Burial Place of the Kings of France
- Dazzle Yourself with a Candlelight Concert
- Swim a Few Laps in an “Art Déco” Atmosphere
- Look for the Most Quirky, Indoor Activities in Paris
- Enjoy Paris in the Rain, Get Wet!
1. Visit the Covered Passages of Paris
Shopping is one of the best things to do in Paris on a rainy da. If you are looking for something different than the big shopping malls, head to the covered passages of Paris for a unique retail therapy of vintage shopping and historic cafés.
By the end of the 18th century, town planners in Paris created a labyrinth of covered walkways across the city with beautiful glass ceilings, mosaic works, and iron latticework, all bathed in natural light. The covered passages of Paris had a dominating merchant role, but they were also the new bourgeois’ favorite stroll, the place to show up and socialize.
Restored to their former glory, the covered walkways of Paris are real architectural gems. If you know where to look, you will find delightful ancient boutiques, cute cafés, and other curiosity shops.
2. Cooking Lessons in Paris
Cooking lessons are a great way to learn about delicious food in Paris while having fun. Cooking lessons help immerse yourself in the local culture and are a great way to connect with other foodies in Paris. Add a cooking lesson in Paris to improve your cooking skills and learn how to prepare the best traditional food in Paris.
Best Food Workshops in Paris:
- Chocolate-making workshop. Duration 45 min
- Macaron class at Galeries Lafayette. Duration 1.5 hrs
- Bread and croissant-making class. Duration 2 hrs
- French pastry cooking class. Duration 2.5 hrs
- Full-day cooking class with 3-course lunch. Duration 5 hours
3. Explore Paris Underground
If you are looking for unique indoor things to do in Paris when it rains, consider going underground.
Paris is a tale of two cities: above ground, the City of Light dazzles with iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. But beneath the streets lies another Paris – a hidden world of over 130 kilometers of abandoned tunnels and secret spaces waiting to be explored.
The Paris Catacombs is the most popular attraction below the ground, but there are other interesting underground sites like the Paris Sewer Museum or the Archaeological Crypt in front of Notre Dame. You can read more about underground sites in Paris in our Paris Underground Guide.
TIP: Get exclusive access to areas of the catacombs usually closed to the public with this top-rated VIP Catacombs Tour.
4. Perfect Your Wine Tasting Skills at the King’s Cellar
A rainy day in Paris can be the perfect excuse to improve your wine-tasting skills. Not far from the world-famous museum, Les Caves du Louvre is an 18th-century wine cellar that was once used by the King of France. Now, it’s a pleasurable multisensory experience dedicated to informing visitors about the wine regions in France, the art (and science) of winemaking and wine-tasting.
An expert sommelier will lead you through a tasting of exceptional wines from different corners of the country, carefully selected to ensure a full and unique tasting experience. Distinguish a Chardonnay from a Chablis, a Beaujolais from a Burgundy, and everything in between! – Click here to buy your tickets to Les Caves du Louvre
If you prefer a more casual afternoon, go to a fancy wine bar and explore its” ‘carte à vins!” Wine bars in Paris are usually run by wine enthusiasts, and they can tell you lots of things about their proposals before ordering your wine. Some wine bars also have their bottles for sale so you can return to the hotel with your favorite findings.
TIP: If you know already that you will end up buying your favorite findings, make sure you pack your wine properly so it arrives safely home!
5. Discover the World of Perfumes and Create Your Fragrance
What to do on a rainy day in Paris for creative minds? Learn the basics of perfume making and craft your new personal fragrance with this fun perfume workshop in Paris. Play with the scents in a small group with the help of a knowledgeable maître parfumeur (perfume master) to ensure a memorable experience.
Later in the day, you can complete your perfume experience with a (free) visit to the Fragonard Perfume Museum, located in Paris 9. During the 30-minute guided tour in English, French, or Spanish, discover the history of perfume since the first civilizations to Fragonard’s maîtres parfumeurs.
6. Enjoy a Memorable Soirée in a Parisian Cabaret
Rain in Paris ce soir? No problem! Cabarets are one of the most iconic things to do in Paris at night – especially when it’s raining. Most shows include singing, dancing, juggling, and of course, the unforgettable French cancan (my favorite part!).
Most cabarets also come with the dinner option or a glass of champagne, so you are covered for the whole night! From Moulin Rouge to the Paradis Latin, find your favorite Cabaret in Paris in this Parisian Cabarets Quick Guide.
Book now:
7. Learn “How to Become a Parisian” with These Hilarious Comedy Shows
If you’re looking for indoor activities in Paris, a night at the theater is always a great choice. Catch the hilarious one-hour show How to Become a Parisian (in English) at the Théâtre des Nouveautés in the 9th arrondissement. Join audiences from around the world as you laugh your way through cultural quirks, the Parisian lifestyle, and the art of thinking (and acting) like a true Parisian – Click here to buy your ticket to this fun comedy show
If you are looking for fun and entertaining things to do in Paris when it rains, a comedy show won’t disappoint. See Paris’s only one-woman comedy show, 100% in English, by Julie Collas. In Oh My God, She is Parisian!, you will learn everything you need to know about how Parisians live from an authentic Parisian woman – Click here to buy your tickets for this one-woman show
8. Wander Through Some Immersive Experiences
Rainy days in Paris can be the perfect excuse for trying something new or unusual, like immersive experiences in Paris.
Indulge all of your senses – especially your sense of wonder! While traditional galleries are great, these avant-garde blends of art, architecture, and technology will draw you straight into the canvas or history – and beyond!
Enjoy a unique and mind-blowing experience at Atélier des Lumières, the first center of Digital Art in Paris, proposing unique immersive art exhibitions for all – Click here to buy your tickets to L’Atelier des Lumières
Don’t miss the spectacular exhibitions at the Grand Palais Immersif or the spellbinding Aura Invalides light show. For something more interactive, try the immersive mystery game Arsène Lupin at the Opéra Garnier.
There are many more immersive experiences in Paris – click here for the full list. In these spaces, the art truly comes alive… and you get absorbed into it!
9. Visit the Burial Place of the Kings of France
One of the most iconic religious landmarks in the Paris region, the Basilica of Saint-Denis, is a must-visit. So why not take advantage of a rainy day to explore this historic gem?
In this magnificent building, we can see some Gothic elements and techniques for the first time. Also, it is the burial place of the Kings of France, from King Dagobert (7th century) to King Louis XVIII (19th century) – Click here to buy your tickets to Basilica de Saint-Denis
10. Dazzle Yourself with a Twilight Concert
Romanticise your stay in Paris with a magical soirée with music and soft lightning in the heart of the city. Venues are some of the most beautiful churches in Paris, like the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church, and the Sainte Chapelle, and music comes courtesy of string ensembles and pianists. You’ll forget all about the gloom outside as the power of the magical performances entrances you.
Book now:
- Classical music concert in a Parisian church ( Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Sulpice, or La Madeleine, depending on the day)
- Classical music concert in Saint-Julien le Pauvre (Paris 5)
- Candlelight concert at the Sainte-Chapelle (Paris 4)
11. Swim Some Laps in an Art Déco Atmosphere
What to do in Paris when it rains to burn all those croissants? The good thing about indoor pools is that they are always fun, also when it’s raining.
In some districts of Paris, you can find extraordinary indoor pools with Art Déco architecture, perfect for a few laps in a unique atmosphere. My favorite Art Déco pools in Paris are Piscine Molitor’s Winter Basin (1929), which is part of Hotel Molitor in Paris 16, Piscine Pontoise (1933) in Paris 5, and Piscine Pailleron (1933) in Paris 19.
Not Art Déco but also unique, the Piscine Joséphine Baker (Paris 13) is the only floating pool in Paris, located on the Seine River’s left bank.
12. Look for the Most Quirky, Indoor Things to Do in Paris
If you’re wondering what to do in Paris on a rainy day – beyond the usual museums –here’s a list of quirky, fun indoor activities Paris has to offer, perfect for when the forecast calls for rain.
- Get ready for summer rock climbing at Blockbuster CNIT, La Défense
- A platter of oysters + wine is always a good idea (well, only from September to March!)
- A quirky day among the beasts at Galerie de l’Evolution
- Attend an uplifting evening of poetry or prose at Shakespeare & Company
- Wrestling in Paris, anyone? Tequilas and Open Ring (with a funny Sumo foam suit) at La Lucha Libre Ring Bar.
13. Enjoy Paris in the Rain, Get Wet!
Paris is always a good idea, and you can still have a good time in Paris, regardless of the rain. Take your raincoat and boots, enjoy Paris in the rain, and get wet!
A walk along the banks of the Seine River on a fresh day can bring color to your cheeks, and you can always reward yourself later with a coffee or hot chocolate in one of the beautiful cafés in Paris.
Also, rain comes with many interesting and creative photo opportunities, like puddle reflections or tiny reflections within the droplets. If you are a photography lover, this is one of the fun things to do in Paris when it rains.
Still Interested in a Museum or Two? I’ve Got You Covered
If you’re planning how to spend a rainy day in Paris and you enjoy museums, I recommend a couple of lesser-known favorites beyond the classics: the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution and the Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie Comparée – both located in the beautiful Jardin des Plantes in the 5th Arrondissement.
If you are traveling with kids, the Musée de L’illusion offers a range of exhibits based on optical illusions. Here, you can try the anti-gravity room, become a clone, and puzzle over images that seem to change right in front of your eyes – Click here to buy your tickets now
And the best museums and galleries in Paris always offer interesting temporary exhibitions in Paris, worth exploring with or without rain! Check below the most popular exhibitions in Paris right now.
And there you have it, the best things to do in Paris on a rainy day. Which one are you excited to try?
Pin it now & read it later
X
