Paris in November 2025

Gray skies and glistening streets give Paris a literary edge in November. It’s the calm before the December bustle, perfect for art lovers, flâneurs, and café lingerers. Major exhibits debut, Beaujolais wine flows, and by late month, Christmas markets start glowing. Bring layers—and your appetite for quiet magic.

Paris in November 2025 at a glance

🌦️ Weather

Average 11 °C / 52 °F highs; drizzle common, occasional wind.

☀️ Daylight

9.2 hours; sunset by 5 pm.

🎉 Key events

Armistice Day (Nov 11), Paris Photo, Beaujolais Nouveau Day.

👥 Crowds

Low to moderate; best for museum-goers and indoor culture buffs.

🧳 What to pack

Wool coat, scarf, umbrella, waterproof shoes.

🍴 Seasonal treats

Onion soup, truffle dishes, Beaujolais wine.

Top things to do in Paris in November

Tour the Louvre without elbowing crowds

  • When: All month
  • Tags: Tour, Cultural experience

November’s chill keeps crowds away, making this a prime time to enjoy the Louvre’s treasures in relative calm. Go midweek, early or after 4 pm for best flow. Book a timed ticket to skip the brief queue.

Recommended experiences:

  • Louvre Museum Timed Access Tickets with Optional Audioguide
  • Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour
Explore all Louvre Museum tickets & tours

Sip Beaujolais Nouveau in a wine cave

  • When: Third Thursday (Nov 20)
  • Tags: Seasonal, Cultural experience

Celebrate the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau with glasses at Parisian wine bars like Le Baron Rouge. Expect music, charcuterie, and clinking glasses. Go early—bottles can sell out.

Catch modern photography at Paris Photo

  • When: Mid-November
  • Tags: Festival, Cultural experience

Paris Photo at the Grand Palais Éphémère spotlights cutting-edge works from global photographers. Book ahead for weekend entries; weekday afternoons are quieter.

Cruise the Seine at twilight

  • When: Evenings in November
  • Tags: Tour, Outdoors

Board a heated boat for a cozy glide past illuminated bridges and monuments. Many cruises serve dinner or champagne. Dress warmly and sit near windows for photo ops.

Recommended experiences:

  • 1-Hour Paris Illuminated Evening Sightseeing Cruise
  • Seine River 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise from the Eiffel Tower
Browse all Seine River cruise tickets

Browse the opening Christmas markets

  • When: Late November onward
  • Tags: Family-friendly, Seasonal

By the last week of November, markets open at Tuileries and Hôtel de Ville. Expect mulled wine, gifts, ice rinks, and early festive lights.

Warm up with French onion soup

  • When: All month
  • Tags: Culinary, Cultural experience

November is prime soup weather. Try gratinéed onion soup topped with cheese and crusty bread at classic bistros like Au Pied de Cochon near Les Halles.

Explore Montmartre without the crowds

  • When: Weekdays in November
  • Tags: Explorer, Outdoors

Wander the cobbled lanes of Montmartre when it's nearly tourist-free. Visit Sacré-Cœur, then linger in Place du Tertre with a hot chocolate from a local café.

Recommended experiences:

  • Montmartre Little Train Tour with optional Cruise
  • Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur Basilica Guided Tour with optional Dôme Access
Explore Montmartre tours

Dive into art at Musée d’Orsay

  • When: Any rainy day
  • Tags: Tour, Cultural experience

Escape the drizzle in this Impressionist haven inside a grand former station. Timed entry recommended; late afternoons are mellow.

Recommended experiences:

  • Orsay Museum Guided Impressionist Tour
  • Orsay Museum Fast-Track Tickets
Browse Orsay Museum tickets

Offbeat experiences in November

Descend into the Paris Catacombs

Macabre and mesmerizing A quiet month makes for a spookier visit. Book a timed ticket, bring a warm layer, and descend into miles of underground ossuaries.

📍Where: 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 14th arr.

See art in a converted train station

Gallery hopping, Paris-style Check out contemporary shows at LE BAL, a photo-focused art space in a repurposed railway buffet.

📍Where: 6 Impasse de la Défense, 18th arr.

Join a pastry-making class

Sweeten up gray days Hands-on classes teach you to whip up macarons or croissants with local chefs. Most schools offer English sessions in warm kitchens.

📍Where: Cook'n With Class, 6 Rue Baudelique, 18th arr.

Chase foggy views from Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

November mood on high This hilly park offers dramatic city views, even in mist. Climb to the Temple de la Sibylle and photograph eerie treetops.

📍Where: 1 Rue Botzaris, 19th arr.

Browse vintage books on Rue Saint-André-des-Arts

Perfectly Parisian on a gray afternoon This Left Bank street is packed with antiquarian shops and cozy spots to leaf through rare finds.

📍Where: 6th arr., near Odéon

Festivals and events in Paris this November 2025

Paris Photo

  • Dates: 6–9 Nov 2025
  • Event type: Exhibition
  • Location: Grand Palais Éphémère, Champ-de-Mars
  • What to expect: This major fair for contemporary and historical photography draws global galleries and collectors. Weekends get busy; try weekdays for less foot traffic.

Armistice Day Ceremonies

  • Dates: 11 Nov 2025
  • Event type: Commemoration
  • Location: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées
  • What to expect: France marks the WWI ceasefire with wreaths, military music, and moments of silence. Expect street closures mid-morning; best viewed from sidewalks.

Beaujolais Nouveau Day

  • Dates: 20 Nov 2025
  • Event type: Food & wine celebration
  • Location: Citywide wine bars
  • What to expect: The third Thursday of November brings fresh Beaujolais wines and festive tasting events. Arrive early to snag a glass at busy spots like Le Baron Rouge.

Salon du Cheval de Paris

  • Dates: 16–24 Nov 2025
  • Event type: Sporting event / Expo
  • Location: Paris Nord Villepinte Expo Center
  • What to expect: Equestrian events, stables, and tack shops converge for this international horse fair. Buy day tickets online to skip entry lines.

Christmas Market at Jardin des Tuileries

  • Dates: Opens ~22 Nov 2025 [TBC]
  • Event type: Holiday market
  • Location: Tuileries Garden, 1st arr.
  • What to expect: Food stalls, gift huts, a skating rink, and rides fill the garden as Paris eases into holiday mode. Arrive early evening for full lights.

Highlights for different traveller types

Culture vultures

  • Explore exhibitions at Paris Photo and Musée d’Orsay without peak-season crowds.
  • Dive into Paris's layered history at the Catacombs .
  • Attend a classical concert in a church for atmosphere and acoustics.

Solo wanderers

  • Wander Montmartre's quieter corners, browse vintage bookstores in the 6th, or take a foggy stroll through Buttes-Chaumont.
  • A wine bar solo night out is perfectly Parisian.

Foodies

  • Enjoy seasonal bistro menus with onion soup, duck confit, and truffles.
  • Join a pastry-making class.
  • Beaujolais Nouveau night is a November rite of passage.

Your perfect 3-day Paris in November itinerary

  • Breakfast: Fresh croissants and coffee at Du Pain et des Idées.
  • Morning: Explore the Louvre with timed entry; focus on one wing.
  • Midday: Cross the Seine and warm up at Shakespeare & Company bookstore.
  • Lunch: Cozy up at Le Petit Châtelet with a view of Notre-Dame .
  • Afternoon: Tour Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass, then stroll to the Latin Quarter.
  • Evening: Twilight dinner cruise on the Seine—book ahead for heated seats.
  • Breakfast: Brioche and espresso at Hardware Société, near Sacré-Cœur.
  • Morning: Roam Montmartre’s lanes; visit artists at Place du Tertre.
  • Midday: Browse Rue des Martyrs for gourmet shops.
  • Lunch: Onion soup and wine at Bouillon Pigalle.
  • Afternoon: Visit LE BAL gallery or take a pastry class nearby.
  • Evening: Wine bar hopping for Beaujolais Nouveau (mid-month).
  • Breakfast: Pastries at Blé Sucré near Promenade Plantée.
  • Morning: Walk the elevated Promenade for fall foliage.
  • Midday: Visit Paris Photo at Grand Palais Éphémère.
  • Lunch: Market bites at Marché des Enfants Rouges in the Marais.
  • Afternoon: Foggy park views at Buttes-Chaumont.
  • Evening: Concert at Saint-Eustache or Sainte-Trinité.

Best day trips from Paris in November

Fontainebleau

🚆 Travel time: ~40 min by train from Gare de Lyon

Its elegant château offers fewer crowds and cozy palace rooms. Trees still hold late fall color. Book skip-the-line entry and wear boots—the grounds may be muddy.

Chateau de Fontainebleau Tickets

Reims

🚆 Travel time: ~45 min by TGV from Gare de l’Est

Champagne tastings and cathedral visits are perfect in cooler weather. Warm up in candlelit cellars; reserve tours at top houses like Pommery.

Provins

🚆 Travel time: ~90 min by train from Gare de l’Est

This medieval town has misty charm and preserved ramparts. November is quiet, so shops close early—plan for a day walk and lunch, then return before dusk.

Go shopping in Paris in November

  • When: From ~22 Nov 2025 [TBC]
  • Where: Jardin des Tuileries, 1st arr.
  • Kickstart holiday shopping with artisanal crafts, winter treats, and gifts. Warm up with hot chocolate between stalls.
  • When: Year-round
  • Where: 11 Boulevard Montmartre, 2nd arr.
  • This covered arcade offers stamp shops, vintage dealers, and quirky boutiques in a Belle-Époque setting. Less crowded in cooler months

Pro tips for visiting Paris in November

1. Book museum tickets for early or late slots—crowds are thin, but timed entry helps dodge school groups.

2. Always carry an umbrella and waterproof shoes; Paris averages 15 rainy days this month.

3. Layer up—metro cars and restaurants run warm, but streets are damp and chilly.

4. Some Christmas markets open before December; check local listings for early start dates.

5. Armistice Day (Nov 11) brings closures and military parades—avoid Champs-Élysées midday.

6. Watch for transit strikes: check RATP and SNCF alerts the night before.

7. Take advantage of off-season hotel deals, especially in less touristy arrondissements.

8. Café culture thrives indoors this month—grab a window seat and linger with a vin chaud.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Paris in November

Is November a good time to visit Paris?

Yes. Fewer crowds, lower prices, and cozy cultural experiences make it ideal for museum lovers and slow travelers.

Will the Eiffel Tower be open in November?

Yes, it's open year-round. Some outdoor platforms may close temporarily in bad weather.

What should I wear in Paris in November?

Layered clothing: wool coat, scarf, waterproof shoes, and umbrella. Indoor spaces are heated, so dress in removable layers.

Do I need to pre-book attractions?

For top spots like the Louvre or Eiffel Tower, yes. Otherwise, November is quieter and allows more spontaneity.

Are Christmas lights up in November?

Yes, from mid-to-late November, lights go up along Champs-Élysées and major squares. Some markets and ice rinks also open.

Do shops and restaurants close on Armistice Day?

Many businesses stay open, but government offices and some smaller shops may close on November 11.

Can I do a Seine cruise in November?

Absolutely. Most boats are heated and run year-round. Twilight cruises are especially atmospheric this month.

Is it safe to walk around at night in November?

Yes, central Paris is safe, but stick to well-lit streets and be alert around empty metro stations after dark.

Are Paris Christmas markets open in November?

Most open late in the month. Check dates for Tuileries, La Défense, and Hôtel de Ville.

How cold is it in Paris in November?

Average highs are around 11 °C / 52 °F. Expect damp conditions and chilly mornings and evenings.