Paris in October: Weather, Events and Everything Worth Doing

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Click here for the disclosure statement.

To many visitors and locals alike, Paris in October is one of the best times of year. The weather really starts to cool off, with no heatwaves on the horizon, and sweater weather is officially in full swing.

This is the month when Paris feels the most like itself. Locals are back in their routines, the crowds that packed the Louvre all summer have thinned out considerably, and golden brown hues color the entire city.

October also happens to be a packed month on the events calendar, from an all-night art festival to one of the world’s biggest horse races. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Paris in October, including the weather, what to wear, and the best things to see and do.

What is Paris Like in October?

So what is Paris like in October, really? Unlike September, the la rentrée is essentially over, and locals are back at school and work.

Tourism also eases up significantly compared to the summer months. You’ll still find plenty of visitors, especially early in the month and again during Toussaint (France’s fall school break, which runs October 17 through November 2 in 2026). But in general, the lines are shorter and the restaurants easier to book.

Fall mode is fully on. By mid-month, the leaves turn across the capital’s parks and boulevards, and the temperatures keep dropping. Don’t expect to sit in front of the Eiffel Tower for a Parisian picnic, but you’ll get plenty of pleasant weather for strolling the city or camping out at a sidewalk café.

Is October a Good Time to Visit Paris?

If you’re deciding whether to go, October is a genuinely great time to visit Paris. I’ve seen the city in every month, and October is one of my top three months, if not my favorite. The weather is mild for most of the month, hotel prices are usually lower than in August and September and the tourist crowds are far more manageable than in summer.

Some of the year’s top events take place this month too, alongside a fresh crop of museum exhibitions and new films worth building a day around. It’s also just lovely for the autumnal atmosphere. As a fall fanatic, I love being there to see the foliage, spend afternoons in cafés, and meander around districts like the Marais.

One thing to keep an eye on the Toussaint school holidays. Many French families travel and British tourists (who have vacation at the same time) visit Paris, so popular spots can feel a little busier.

Weather in Paris in October

The weather in October is typically mild but evolves over the course of the month. It can feel almost like an extension of September in the first week, then quite chilly by Halloween.

The average temperature in Paris in October runs around 63 F (17 C) for highs and 50 F (10 C) for lows. Temperatures continue to drop as November approaches, but a stretch of unseasonable warmth or even an early cold snap is always a possibility. I recommend checking the exact forecast for your dates closer to your trip and packing around that.

Weather in Paris in early October can still be a little warm from the summer. With highs in the mid to upper sixties, people are still outdoors at parks and cafés in the afternoon when it’s not too cool. This time of the month is arguably the sweet spot for weather that’s just right.

Weather in Paris in mid-October feels more truly autuman. Mornings and evenings are crisp and cool, so you’ll want a real jacket (not just a light layer) by the time you step outside. This is when I’d start thinking about packing boots and sweaters too.

Weather in Paris in late October is when the season fully turns. Highs drop to below 60 F and lows to around 45 F. You can get away with just a jacket most of the month, but a proper coat becomes non-negotiable at the end of October. The days are noticeably shorter too.

As for rain, expect around 14 days over the course of the month. It’s typically short showers rather than heavy downpours though.

The sunset in Paris in October sets around 7:29 pm earlier in the month. But, on October 25, Daylight Saving Time ends and clocks fall back an hour, so sunset suddenly jumps from around 6:30 pm to closer to 5:30 pm overnight. By October 31, the sun sets at roughly 5:31pm.

What to Wear in Paris in October

For all of the details on what to pack for Paris in October, I’ve put together an entire packing guide (complete with a capsule wardrobe, outfits, and a full checklist). Here’s a short recap to get you started.

The October weather is finally cool enough to bring out all of your favorite fall wardrobe essentials. That means lots of layers, but even heavier ones than you’d pack for September.

Start with the right outerwear. Any and all jackets are perfect for October too: wool-blend blazers, leather bombers, cotton utility jackets, suede vestes, etc. As for coats, I’d recommend a trench coat for the first half of the month, and a thicker wool coat for the back half.

Layer with sweaters, long-sleeve tops, and pants or skirts with tights. Boots and loafers are the most practical, yet stylish footwear you can pack this month. I also wouldn’t visit Paris without a trusty pair of sneakers in my suitcase.

Don’t forget a scarf either. It’s the easiest way to bundle up and look instantly Parisian this fall. A compact umbrella and a water-resistant jacket are worth the suitcase space too, given how often it can rain in October.

As for what not to wear in Paris in October, you can leave behind your summer wardrobe. Even on unexpectedly warm days, you probably won’t need your sandals or shorts. Also forget about your heaviest winter gear (full-length down coats, cashmere-lined gloves, etc.). It’s cold, but not that cold yet.

Packing for Paris in October? Here are some additional guides to help you out:

Paris Events in October

Festival d’Automne | September 11 – December 2026

One of Paris’s biggest performing arts festivals continues through October, bringing theatre, dance, music, and visual art to the French capital. Around 50 shows take place at venues like the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Musée d’Art Moderne, the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art, the Bourse de Commerce, and Église Saint-Eustache, among many others. The Paris Autumn Festival typically runs through late November, early December.

Foire de Chatou | September 25 – October 4, 2026

More than 300 antique dealers and collectors set up along the Île des Impressionnistes, a small island just outside Paris, for one of France’s largest antiques fairs. During the Foire de Chatou, you’ll find everything from fine art, vintage furniture, and decor to chandeliers, fashion accessories, books and maps, and antique gilded mirrors to decorate your apartment like a Parisian. For fans of antiquing, it’s not to be missed. But if you can’t make the fall edition, the fair also takes place each spring.

Paris Fashion Week | September 28 – October 6, 2026

During Paris Fashion Week, the industry’s biggest names show their Spring/Summer 2027 collections across multiple venues around the city. The shows themselves are invite-only, but there are plenty of events open to the public. You can even catch a glimpse of models, designers, and fashion industry icons posted up outside the venues all week.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe | October 3-4, 2026

One of the world’s most prestigious horse races, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe takes over the Longchamp Racecourse with the marquee race running on Sunday, October 4. Even if you’re not a racing person, the day itself is an event, complete with fashion, food, and fun.

Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival | October 7-11, 2026

A local favorite, Montmartre’s grape harvest festival celebrates the neighborhood’s tiny vineyard, Clos Montmartre. This year’s theme is all about music with five days of parades, live music, workshops, dance performances, and wine tastings. Before you go, be sure to browse my guide to French wine for beginners.

Jazz sur Seine | October 9-24, 2026

Jazz sur Seine celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, alongside the 20th anniversary of the Paris Jazz Club association, with a very special program. More than 450 artists take the stage across 200 concerts in no fewer than 30 venues throughout Paris and the Île-de-France region. Enjoy everything from jazz and blues to soul and fusion with a mix of renowned names and rising talent. I can’t think of anything more autumnal than listening to jazz in Paris.

Art Basel Paris | October 23-25, 2026

The modern and contemporary art world descends on the Grand Palais for one of the year’s biggest art fairs: Art Basel Paris. Over 200 galleries (including more than 60 galleries from France) present an exceptional program spanning paintings, videos, sculptures, installations, photography, digital art, and live performance pieces. Tickets to the main fair are open to the public.

Le Salon d’Automne | October 28 – November 1, 2026

This 123rd edition of Paris’s historic autumn art salon takes over temporary pavilions on Place de la Concorde with more than 1,000 artworks across 18 artistic movements. Founded in 1903 as an alternative to the “stuffy” official Salon, Le Salon d’Automne is the same exhibition that launched Fauvism in 1905 and gave Cubism its public debut in 1910.

What to Do in Paris in October

Check Out New Exhibits

October might just be the best month all year for exhibitions. On top of everything still going strong from September, there are new openings to add to your calendar.

Mary Cassatt: The Choice of Independence lands at the Musée d’Orsay on October 6, 2026. It’s France’s first major exhibition ever devoted to the Impressionist painter and marks 100 years since her death.

Remember Me opens at the Bourse de Commerce on October 7, 2026 with roughly 700 photography works from the Pinault Collection. All in celebration of the medium’s 200th anniversary.

And at the Louvre, a rare Zurbarán retrospective and its companion show on Spanish Baroque sculpture, Sculpter la couleur, both run October 7 through January 25, 2027.

The week continues with another opening on October 9, 2026. The Fondation Louis Vuitton debuts Gustave Fayet. Collector – Designer. Icons of Modern Art, which reunites more than 250 works from Fayet’s collection, including pieces by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Redon, for the first time in a century.

See the Fall Foliage

October is peak leaf-peeping season in Paris. By the beginning of the month, the city’s leaves start to turn and give the gardens and boulevards a golden hue.

The Parisian parks are maybe the best place to see it with hints of autumn everywhere you turn. There’s nothing I love more than heading to the Luxembourg Gardens, grabbing a seat in one of the iconic park chairs, and just admiring the leaves and the passersby. If I’m traveling solo, I might even bring my book and a coffee too.

Other spots to spot the fall leaves are in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Bois de Boulogne, and the Tuileries. But really all around the city, you can find the foliage. There’s plenty of fall color against landmarks like Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur too.

Cruise Down the Seine River

A Seine cruise is lovely any time of year, but October means fewer crowds, fresher air, and a foliage-filled view of the city.

Many companies offer both daytime and evening cruises. As a result, it’s easy to choose an option that fits your schedule. Along the way, you’ll also take in iconic views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and other famous landmarks right from the water.

I’d recommend going right before sunset for the best light on the bridges and monuments. Just keep in mind that with shorter days and Daylight Saving Time, the sun starts setting earlier as the month goes on, so plan your cruise accordingly.

Cozy Up with a French Film

When the weather turns, ducking into a cinema is one of the most Parisian things you can do. Catch a classic at Le Champo in the Latin Quarter, a cult indie pick at MK2 Bibliothèque, or something from the archives at the Cinémathèque Française in Bercy.

Most arthouse cinemas show films in their original language with French subtitles (look for “VO” on the listing), so it’s an easy watch even if your French is rusty.

Lost in Frenchlation also has an excellent program showing classics and recently released French films with English subtitles in Paris. I went to one of their screenings in Strasbourg, and it was such a fun way to discover French cinema and meet new people.

Participate in Café Culture

Even though Parisians begin bundling up in October, you’ll still find café terraces pretty lively. Grab a table, order a café or a glass of wine, post up with a book, and let the people-watching do the rest.

There are cafés on nearly every street in the city, but if you’re looking for the crème de la crème, check out my guide to the most iconic cafés in Paris.

what is the weather like in paris in october

Celebrate Halloween

Halloween in France isn’t a huge tradition the way it is in the US. But in Paris, you can find more and more costume parties at bars and clubs as well as decorations in shops and cafés. A fun alternative to celebrating Halloween in Paris is a walk through one of the city’s historic cemeteries (more on that below).

Visit a Cemetery

For spooky season, there might be no better activity than a visit to one of Paris’s historic cemeteries.

Père Lachaise is the largest and most famous one. Located in the 20th arrondissement, it holds around 70,000 graves, including those of Édith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Frédéric Chopin, and Jim Morrison of The Doors. Spend an afternoon strolling its 110 acres of rolling hills, tree-lined cobblestone paths, and ornate monuments.

In the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre Cemetery is a smaller but equally atmospheric option, filled with the elaborate tombs of early 20th-century artists, intellectuals, and writers. Look for the graves of painter Edgar Degas, filmmaker François Truffaut, and singer Dalida, whose life-size gilded statue is the cemetery’s most photographed spot.

Passy Cemetery, tucked into the 16th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower, is the smallest and quietest of the three. It’s the final resting place of painter Édouard Manet and composer Claude Debussy, among other names from the worlds of art and music.

Shop Fall Fashion

Even though the summer sales are long over, there’s a big advantage of shopping in Paris during October: fall fashion! Boutiques and department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché roll out their fall collections right as Fashion Week hits the city. October might just be the prime time to shop the new season.

Here are some more helpful resources for shopping in Paris:

October Day Trips from Paris

If you’ve got an extra day (or two) built into your trip, October is an excellent month to get out of the city. Below are some of the most popular day trips from Paris.

Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy that’s as pretty as a postcard. After the Eiffel Tower, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in France. To avoid the crowds, I’d highly recommend going in the fall when there are fewer visitors.

Keep in mind it’s a longer haul than the other trips on this list, roughly four hours from Paris by car or train, so it’s better suited to an overnight or a very long day. But you’re up for the trek, you can explore the famous abbey and fortified island town sans the hoards of tourists. Make a stop to enjoy some famous Normandy cider, pommeau, and Calvados along the way.

Versailles

The Château de Versailles and its gorgeous gardens are always worth the trip, but they’re especially enticing in October. Wander around the famous chateau, the Hall of Mirrors and other ornately decorated rooms in the palace (without the peak-summer crowds). Through November 1, you can also catch Les Grandes Eaux Musicales, a musical fountain show that runs every weekend.

Giverny

Claude Monet’s house and gardens stay open through November 1, and October is a delightful month to see them. The summer flowers begin to give way to dahlias and asters, and the crowds begin to wane. Pair it with the Monet exhibition back at the Musée de l’Orangerie for a full-circle moment.

Loire Valley

France’s château country is full of fairy-tale castles like Chambord and Chenonceau. They’re especially worth it in October when the harvest is wrapping up in the surrounding vineyards. Tour the castles, wander through manicured gardens, and even enjoy a wine tasting.

Champagne

By October, the region’s harvest, or vendanges, is well behind it (most 2026 picking happened between late August and early September). This means vineyards are much calmer through October, and frankly, one of the best times to visit Champagne.

You can tour a maison or two and watch the vineyards in full golden splendor at the same time. I’d start your day trip in Reims, the capital of the region. I’ve got an entire guide on what to do in Reims (beyond just drinking bubbly) based on my own trip back in April.

Disneyland Paris

About 40 minutes from central Paris via RER A, Disneyland Paris is a bucket list item for a lot of visitors. If you plan to visit the park in October, you can catch the Disney Halloween Festival, which runs from September 26 through November 1, 2026.

Meet mischievous Disney characters and villains, watch the Halloween parade, and savor seasonal treats throughout the park. And it’s all set against autumnal decor, I might add. The festival kicks up a notch on October 31 with a special costumes-allowed Halloween night and extended hours.

Fontainebleau

The Château de Fontainebleau rivals Versailles without the crowds. I visited on my first fall trip to Paris back in 2019, and it was so peaceful. The surrounding forest, one of France’s best for hiking and bouldering, becomes flush with fall colors by October. Absolutely breathtaking.