Spring can be one of the loveliest times to visit Paris. I love how the city finally perks up after the grey days of winter and parks and streets burst out in greenery and flowers. The days are longer and sunnier, but I do have to warn you that it can also be pretty rainy, and you might have the weather of all four seasons in one day. So don’t forget to bring a raincoat or umbrella. When it comes to accommodation, you can get some great deals in spring, as long as you steer clear of Easter, when the city is busy with a lot of European visitors. From admiring gorgeous blossoms to taking in art for free, here are my top things to do in Paris in spring.
*Some of the links in this article will earn a small commission if you click them and then purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Track down beautiful cherry and magnolia blossoms
Paris has a LOT of cherry and magnolia trees, which are insanely beautiful in spring. If you’re visiting from mid-March through mid-April, you should be able to catch some, but you need to know when AND where to find them. The first to bloom, around mid-March, are the tiny pale pink and white cherry blossoms which can be spotted in smaller parks around the city. This is also when the magnolias pop out in the Palais Royal Gardens, which are totally SPECTACULAR. I never miss popping into the park to see them, but try to go during the week, because on weekends it can be mobbed with Parisians.
The fluffier bright pink cherry blossoms usually come out usually in April and you’ll be able to see some in the Parc Monceau, the Jardin des Plantes (which you can see us visit in this video), and the Square Jean XXIII next to Notre Dame. However, the absolutely best place to see these larger cherry blossoms is the Parc de Sceaux, a pretty park and small castle that’s a 30-minute train ride from central Paris. The park hosts a Japanese “Hanami” cherry blossom festival at this time, when they also put on special exhibits and events. If you go, be sure to bring a picnic to enjoy under the blossoms. It’s a super fun and cool experience, so I recommend going if you’re visiting at that time and have a half-day to spare.
Enjoy beautiful wisteria and other spring flowers in Montmartre
Montmartre is another excellent place to see spring blossoms. Instead of cherry trees, if you’re visiting in the second half of April, you’ll be able to see the gorgeous wisteria on Avenue Junot and Rue Saint Victor. If you’re in Paris in early May, you can find pretty lilacs on the charming Allée des Brouillards (near Place Dalida), and a few other places around the district. Most of the other tourists don’t know about these spots, so they are sort of secret spots away from the crowds. If you’d like to learn about the area’s history as well, you might like to take this great small-group Montmartre tour, or the area’s history AND cuisine are combined on this local food tour of Montmartre.
Book the small-group Montmartre Tour or Local Montmartre Food Tour | 18th Arrondissement
Visit Monet’s gorgeous gardens in Giverny
An excursion to Giverny is one of the most popular things to do in Paris in spring. Found about an hour’s drive northwest of Paris, the charming village is where the Impressionist artist Claude Monet lived and painted for over 40 years. Only open from April 1st to October 31st, Monet designed his gardens so that different flowers would blossom over the course of the season. However, personally, I think it’s best to visit no earlier than mid-April or even early May so enough flowers are in bloom. You can reach Giverny by first taking a train and then a bus, but you might prefer to join one of these small-group Giverny excursions. It travels by minibus from western Paris to and from Giverny, so you won’t have to worry about figuring out how to take the train, arriving on time and purchasing your own tickets.
Book a small-group Giverny excursion | Giverny
Image Courtesy of Fat Tire Tours
Zoom around the city by electric bike
If you want to make the most of the balmy spring days and breathe in the fresh spring air, consider taking this e-bike tour by Fat Tire Tours. Your knowledgeable guide will provide fascinating insight and entertaining anecdotes about the city’s history as you whiz by the Eiffel Tower, Tuileries Gardens, Louvre Museum, Les Invalides and other key sites. By e-bike, it’s an effortless and fun experience while also being quite safe thanks to the increasing number of bike lanes in the city.
Book the Best of Paris Electric Bike Tour | 5th Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Viator
Discover fresh spring food items on a Paris market and tasting tour
If you’re a foodie, then one of the best things to do in Paris in spring is to visit a French food market. Seasonality is VERY important to the French and so you’ll see very different fruits, vegetables and even cheeses depending on the season. Seeing all the fresh new spring produce on the market stalls is really enticing. You’ll be able to see this and learn more about French food habits on this Left Bank Food and Market tour (WA option*). It visits an amazing local market in the Latin Quarter, which I really LOVE. You’ll also stop it at some nearby food shops where you’ll taste pastries, bread, and artisanal chocolates – a tasty and immersive way to experience the season.
Book the Left Bank Food and Market Tour | 5th Arrondissement | WA option*
*Unfortunately, this tour route is not fully wheelchair accessible. However, an alternate route can be arranged to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs. Please contact Devour Tours’ Guest Experience Team at least one week before the tour to discuss arranging a private tour that meets your accessibility needs.
Visit certain museums and art studios for free
While certain Paris museums are always free and others on the first Sunday of the month, springtime offers some different and unique opportunities to experience art for free. Saturday, May 17th is the European Night of the Museums, an annual event when dozens of museums in Paris have free admission and hold special activities. Then from Thursday, May 23rd to Sunday, the 26th, hundreds of artists in the Belleville area received visitors for their annual open studio event. This is an amazing way to see what today’s artists are up to and it’s a great, non-touristy part of Paris, so it’s a fantastic local experience. Lastly, if you happen to be in Paris on the first Friday of April, May, or June, the Louvre is free in the evening, but you still need to reserve a ticket for free on its website.
Image Courtesy of Viator
Take a champagne cruise down the Seine
With the days getting longer, you’ll have more time for sightseeing, so you could maximize your day by taking an early evening river cruise. I don’t recommend taking the larger tour boats on the Seine, but I do like the smaller boats, like the Vedettes de Paris (WA). Departing from the Eiffel Tower, the company has eco-friendly electric boats and offers champagne cruises in the evenings, so check when sundown is and take the cruise just beforehand for some extra magic.
Book Vedettes de Paris | 7th Arrondissement | WA
Image Courtesy of Rodin Museum via Facebook
Smell the roses in the Rodin Museum garden
Mid to late spring is the perfect time to visit the Rodin Museum. Located in an elegant historic mansion which Rodin also used as his art studio, the museum displays a fantastic collection of the French sculptor’s work. There’s also a section on his romantic interest and protogé, Camille Claudel. After visiting the interior of the museum, take some time to wander through its STUNNING gardens, where you can enjoy a great array of his sculptures and some amazing roses, which usually start blooming in April and flower through summer.
Book Rodin Museum | 7th Arrondissement | WA
If you liked our article on things to do in Paris in spring, you’ll love our other articles on cool things to do in Paris. Read these next:
Pin this…
