The best
time to
visit
Paris is
largely
a
question
of
personal
taste.
The city
has a
more
reliable
climate
than
Britain,
with
uninterrupted
stretches
of sun (or
rain)
year-round.
However,
while it
maintains
a
vaguely
southern
feel for
anyone
crossing
the
English
Channel,
Mediterranean
it is
not.
Winter
temperatures
drop
well
below
freezing,
with
sometimes
biting
winds.
If
you're
lucky,
spring
and
autumn
will be
mild and
sunny;
in
summer
it can
reach
the
30s°C
(80s°F).
In
terms of
pure
aesthetics,
winter
sun is
the
city's
most
flattering
light,
when the
pale
shades
of the
older
buildings
become
luminescent
and long
shadows
criss-cross
the
parks.
By
contrast,
Paris in
high
summer
can be
unpleasant,
with the
fumes of
congested
traffic
becoming
trapped
within
the high
narrow
streets,
and the
reflected
light in
the
city's
open
spaces
too
blinding
to enjoy.
One
of the
quietest
times of
year to
visit is
during
the
French
summer
holidays
from
July 15
to the
end of
August,
when
large
numbers
of
Parisians
flee the
city for
the
coast or
mountains.
However,
a lot of
Paris's
shops
and
restaurants
will be
closed
during
this
period.
There is,
too, the
commercial
calendar
to
consider
-
fashion
shows,
trade
fairs
and the
like.
Paris
hoteliers
warn
against
visiting
during
the
months
of
September
and
October,
and
finding
a room
even at
the best
of times
can be
problematic.
Early
spring,
autumn
if you
book
ahead,
or the
midwinter
months
will be
most
rewarding.
