Paris in November: Detailed Travel Guide (+ Is it Worth the Trip?)

In a city where every month brings its charms, November in Paris manages to stand out.

With its rainy, short days and notoriously gray skies, November isn’t an immediately obvious choice for an ideal time to visit Paris–but for the right traveler, it can be a delight.

It’s a bit unconventional, but truthfully, November is one of our favorite months to visit Paris (and we’ve been lucky enough to spend time in Paris during most months of the year).

This is the month where fall leads seamlessly into Christmas, all while featuring far fewer crowds (and therefore lower prices) than in the peak fall month of October or the iconic Christmas month of December.

If you want to blend the best of both worlds and are willing to accept less-than-ideal weather as a trade-off, then you’ll love November in Paris.

From the best things to do to our best travel tips, here’s everything to know about visiting Paris in November, from someone who has visited the City of Light 10+ times!

Cozy Things to Do in Paris in November

Kick off the holiday season with a visit to the Christmas markets.

If you’re visiting Paris in the second half of November, you’ll be able to enjoy fall one day and Christmas the next… because the Christmas markets will start to open!

Paris’ many Christmas markets generally start opening in mid-November and stay open until early January, giving them some of the most expansive dates on the continent.

While you will certainly find more Christmas markets in Paris in mid-December than in mid-to-late November, visiting early in the season will allow you to beat the crowds while still allowing you to enjoy some of the most iconic markets like the one at the Tuileries Garden.

Exact dates tend to be released in the second half of the year, you can check exact opening dates here as they’re confirmed.

Admire the view from some of the best viewpoints in Paris… with fall foliage!

While Paris isn’t necessarily the city we’d visit if we were specifically looking to enjoy fall foliage, the changing leaves still leave plenty of opportunities to add a seasonal twist to already beautiful viewpoints!

All across the city, you’ll see parks transform from green to gold, and there’s no better way to appreciate the overall effect than from above.

We snapped this photo during November at the top of the Arc de Triomphe:

Sip a hot chocolate.

Whether it’s the iconic hot chocolate from Angelina or simply one of the many other delicious hot chocolates available around the city, there’s no doubt that gray, blustery November is the perfect time to indulge in a hot chocolate while visiting Paris.

Take advantage of decreased crowds at popular attractions like the Louvre.

While you will virtually never have a chance to admire the Mona Lisa or gaze out toward the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero Gardens alone, you’ll have a lot more elbow room in November than in most other months in Paris!

If the risk of dreary weather doesn’t get you down but crowds definitely do, you might find that November is the perfect month to enjoy attractions like the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Eiffel Tower, and even Versailles.

Enjoy a Seine river cruise.

Look, here’s the deal: were we cold when taking our Seine river cruise during November in Paris?

Yes.

Was the delight of being on the water, surrounded by iconic architecture and snippets of fall foliage worth it?

Also yes.

We loved taking a Seine river cruise in the late fall and would happily do so again (just make sure to bundle up–you’ll want some extra layers when gliding over the water as opposed to walking through the city).

Book your Seine river cruise in Paris today!

See an opera.

Want to step inside Paris’ famous Palais Garnier, but are looking to elevate your experience beyond just wandering around the opulent building?

Opera season is in full swing by November in Paris, and seeing a show is a great way to experience the famous opera house.

You can browse the schedule here, but note that not all the performances are held at the historic opera house–if you hope to see a show there, look for shows appearing at the Palais Garnier specifically.

Go ice skating.

Paris’ many ice skating rinks start opening in mid-November, just like the Christmas markets!

From the rink at the Tuileries Christmas Market to one on the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette and beyond, the city offers no shortage of opportunities to don some skates as the holiday season heats up.

Museum-hop through some of the city’s best museums.

While icons like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay should absolutely top your list when visiting Paris, November’s less-than-ideal weather means you might have an excuse to visit some of the city’s less famous, but also incredible, other museums.

These range from large museums like Centre Pompidou (for modern art) to more specific options like the Musée Cluny (medieval art–we love this one!), the Museum of Romantic Life, the Rodin Museum, the Montmartre Museum, Musée Carnavalet (which covers the history of Paris), and so many more.

Warm up with a crepe as you wander through the city.

Every time we visit Paris, on our first evening we each get a crepe (a Nutella crepe in our case!) and wander the city–and with that ritual, our trip to Paris has truly begun.

While this is a delightful tradition year-round, it takes on a special element when the weather is cold enough that you can see the steam rising as you start to munch and the crepe warms you from the inside out as you eat.

There are crepes stands available all over Paris (and unsurprisingly, they’re most expensive near famous monuments), but a couple of our favorite places to enjoy one while we stroll are in Montmartre and along the Seine near Île de la Cité.

Explore Paris’ covered passages.

Paris’ covered passages are a beautiful diversion year-round, but we find ourselves appreciating them even more when the weather is cold!

The passages in their current versions date primarily to the 19th century, and they are beautiful, delightful to explore, and vary significantly from each other.

Some of the most famous passages include Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas, and Passage Jouffroy, though 21 (of an original nearly 200!) can be found in the city.

Each passage has a different style, so you definitely won’t get bored exploring them all–for example, Passage Verdeau is home to several antique dealers and Passage Brady is home to lots of South Asian shops!

Stroll down the Champs-Elysées at night to admire the Christmas lights.

Starting in mid-to-late November, Paris’ most iconic avenue sparkles with Christmas lights that make the already beautiful street even more enchanting.

Check here for opening dates for this holiday season!

Visit one of Paris’ harder-to-find carousels.

Paris is home to several iconic carousels (at Trocadero, the Eiffel Tower, and in Montmartre at the base of Sacré Coeur, just to name a few), but one of its most famous carousels is no longer as easy to ride as it once was!

The antique carousel at Hôtel de Ville is gorgeous and popular, but while it used to be located in front of Paris’ town hall year-round, it’s now only set up for special occasions.

One of those special occasions, though, is the Christmas market–so if you’re visiting Paris in late November, you just may get a chance to ride and/or photograph it!

(And though it’s not a carousel, it’s worth pointing out that this also applies to the Ferris wheel at Tuileries–while it’s no longer available year-round like it once was, you’ll find it at the Christmas market).

Take a macaron baking class.

Want to spend a warm afternoon inside and have a bit of a sweet tooth?

Consider signing up for a macaron baking class!

Paris is chock-full of all kinds of cooking and baking classes, from classes focused on croissants to some where you cook a full French meal, but for people with a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with learning to bake the famously tricky macarons.

We spent an afternoon learning how to make beautiful, delicate, and delicious macarons with Le Foodist, and we can’t recommend the class (or the resulting leftovers) enough.

Sign up for your macaron baking class in Paris today!

See this season’s Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette.

Every year, Paris’ major department stores decorate their store windows with abandon–and when they decorate their windows, Galeries Lafayette also suspends its iconic Christmas tree from its Art Nouveau dome.

The tree changes each year, and is carefully designed to reflect that year’s theme.

For those who regularly visit Paris during the holiday season, seeing each creation is a bit of a tradition!

The tree normally debuts for the season in mid-November.

Learn about local wines in a cozy wine cellar in Paris.

Sure, maybe winter isn’t the best season to set off on a day trip from Paris in search of vineyards… but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some delicious French wines!

Try an indoor wine tasting at a wine cellar to experience some wonderful wines while staying warm.

Wine, cheese, and lunch: this wine class will quickly make you forget the cold weather outside!

See Paris’ most famous cabaret show.

Paris’ cabaret shows are legendary–just look at the enduring fame of the Moulin Rouge for proof–and while they are often considered a bit touristy these days, isn’t that part of the fun of visiting Paris?

If you’ve always dreamed of seeing a Parisian cabaret show (or just spent a lot of afternoons binging Moulin Rouge as a teenager), consider adding a cabaret show to your list of what to do in Paris!

Book your evening at the Moulin Rouge today!

Prefer a bigger night out?

This popular evening tour not only includes the Moulin Rouge, but also a 3-course dinner, a Seine river cruise and (with some options) views from the Eiffel Tower!

Browse for books at Shakespeare & Company (with elbow room).

It feels truly insane to say this, but we’ve been visiting the iconic Shakespeare & Company bookstore for more than 10 years now (!), and over the years it has gone from “popular and crowded inside” to “often having to line up to get in”.

While the bookstore is truly lovely (don’t miss the view over the Seine and toward Notre Dame from the second-floor window, or the shop cat who lives upstairs), waiting in line to shop in any store, let alone one composed of a series of small rooms with tight turns and a narrow staircase, is not our thing.

Take advantage of the decreased crowds in November to browse… hopefully with a bit of elbow room.

(If you want the fewest crowds possible, consider stopping by right when they open at 10:00 AM, or after dark when most travelers have moved onto dinner plans–they stay open until 8:00 PM most days, which is several hours past sunset in November).

Shakespeare & Company will stamp any book you buy on the title page, which makes for a delightful Parisian souvenir for bookworms like us.

Enjoy a less-crowded version of Disneyland Paris.

As someone whose family was lucky enough to hold season passes to Disney World in the ’90s (perks of living in the Orlando metro for a while!), I am extremely nostalgic for the Disney of my youth… and funnily enough, Disneyland Paris arguably scratches that itch even better than Disney World would in 2024.

Disneyland Paris is extremely similar in layout–to the point of deja vu–to the Magic Kingdom and MGM as I remember them (in Paris, they are Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park respectively), offering some of Disney’s most classic attractions with a fraction of the overwhelm that comes with planning a Disney World trip today.

And yes, it is a bizarre experience to walk out of a Paris RER train station and right over to Main Street USA!

In November, you can enjoy the park with cooler weather, fewer crowds, lower prices, and–starting in the second week of November–holiday decorations and festivities.

Shop Disneyland Paris tickets for your November trip to Paris today!

Where to Stay in Paris, France

In a city as large and dense as Paris, deciding where to stay can be quite daunting!

Paris is famously divided into 20 arrondissements, or neighborhoods, that are named via a number system that starts with 1 in the center of the city (where you’ll find the Louvre) and circles outward like the shell of a snail.

After 10+ trips to Paris, we’ve stayed in many neighborhoods spread across the city, from Montmartre (we loved this aparthotel) to the Bastille area (an underappreciated place to stay, and this hotel was wonderful).

And, while everyone has their own opinions about where to stay in Paris (there’s no one right answer) we highly recommend Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement) or the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) to travelers visiting Paris for the first time and frequently choose to stay there ourselves.

In these areas, you’ll be within walking distance of attractions like Île de la Cité (home of Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle), the Seine, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Louvre, and many more.

And, by choosing a hotel near a metro stop, you’ll also have the rest of Paris at your fingertips!

Here are a few hotels we’ve personally stayed in and loved in the 5th and 6th, arranged more or less from most budget-friendly to most luxurious (though if it’s Parisian charm you’re after, this one is the clear winner).

Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain (Centrally Located & Cozy)

We love this cute boutique hotel in Paris, mostly because of its truly unbeatable location less than a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame and therefore an easy walk away from much of the attractions of Île de la Cité (and a metro stop, of course).

Despite the super central location, the streets outside were still quiet at night, a huge benefit, and the views during the day were lovely.

The customer service was excellent, the bed cozy, and the room, while still very small by global standards, was a bit roomy compared to what we’ve gotten used to in Paris.

We’d be happy to stay again!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain!

Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris (Classic Parisian Charm)

Located on a quiet street less than a block from the Seine and Île de la Cité, Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris offers all the advantages of a central location while maintaining its peace and quiet.

… and it does all that while still managing to have one of the most charming interiors we’ve experienced in a Paris hotel!

The ceilings, wallpaper, and overall decor never let you forget that you’re in the City of Light, and we loved every second.

The breakfast is also delicious, served at the table, and includes a generous selection of pastries as well as fruit, cheese, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Check rates & book your stay at Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris!

Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris (Modern Amenities + Kitchens on the Seine)

Located right on the Seine in one of the most convenient locations in Paris, the crisp and modern Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris offers ease at every turn.

And, that includes the fact that studios and apartments here include kitchens or kitchenettes!

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from sightseeing in Paris, a chance to enjoy an occasional dinner of cheese and baguette you picked up at the market, and a bit more elbow room than is traditional in the City of Light, this is the place for you.

We loved our stay here–and, thanks to the hotel being pet-friendly, so did Ranger.

Check rates & book your stay at Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris!

Tips for Visiting Paris this November

If you want to visit the Christmas markets, check opening dates before booking your tickets.

While Paris is generally home to more than 15 Christmas markets each year, not all of them are open in November!

The first few markets, typically including the famous Tuileries market, tend to open in mid-November. The market at La Defense also tends to open early, and while Paris’ modern business district is typically off the beaten path for visitors, the market is enormous and lovely–we really enjoyed our visit!

By the last few days in November, more than half of Paris’ markets are usually open, excluding specialty markets that sometimes pop up for only a day or two.

We recommend checking the opening dates for various Christmas markets as you plan your trip!

Take advantage of the shorter days to soak in some epic sunsets.

Watching the sunset over Paris is a special experience year-round, but the shorter days in the late fall and winter make them especially easy to see: you can catch the sunset on your way to dinner!

A few wonderful places to watch the sunset in Paris include from Trocadero, from the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette, and from any of the major viewpoints like Tour Montparnasse or the Arc de Triomphe.

We experienced the most spectacular Parisian sunset of our lives from the top of Sacré Coeur in November–the timing was flawless!

The steps in front of Sacré Coeur are one of the most popular free sunset spots in the city, but while the view is lovely from there, it’s even better from the top of the basilica.

Don’t shy away from a day trip to Versailles.

We’ve visited Versailles in both the high season and the low season, and definitely think that visiting Versailles in November is worth it!

Sure, the gardens won’t be at their best, but the palace itself is spectacular, and the crowds are much smaller.

Whether walking to the other palaces and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet is worth will be determined by a bit of a luck of the draw with the weather, it can be quite peaceful.

We have a full guide to taking a day trip to Versailles here–it’s a very doable day trip either independently or as part of an organized tour!

(If you do choose to visit independently, it’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance year-round).

Use the metro as much as you can.

Paris’ metro is dense, efficient, and always one of the best ways to get around the city–and November is no exception.

In addition to being affordable and often one of the fastest ways to get from place to place, traveling underground is a big plus when the weather is less than ideal!

Carry a travel umbrella with you daily.

Rainy weather during November in Paris is of course expected, but it often comes and goes in waves throughout the day.

When packing your day bag to set off sightseeing, throw your travel umbrella in each day.

Otherwise, you just may find yourself overpaying for a very cheap one that breaks almost immediately on the street (we’ve definitely done this a few times, and it’s not fun).

Prepare to be chilly if you’re dining outside in Paris in November.

If your first reaction to this sentence is “well, obviously“, you’re not wrong–but as of a couple of years ago, the game on outdoor dining has changed in Paris.

The once-omnipresent heat lamps that kept terraces cozy through the cold season have been outlawed in an effort to combat the city’s carbon emissions. As a result, dining outside is a bit chillier than it once was in the City of Light.

On the other hand, you’ll likely find that at least some cafes provide a cozy blanket to throw over your chair–not a bad compromise!

What to Pack for Paris in November

Depending on whether you’re visiting Paris in early or late November, either our fall packing list for Europe or our winter packing list for Europe might be the most helpful to you!

Either way, though, you won’t want to forget these essentials:

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen on the road, and traveling abroad is definitely a case of it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Travel Adapters for France — If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you’ll need adapters for your electronics when you arrive in Paris!

Travel Umbrella — Option A: Plan on buying an umbrella when it starts pouring down rain. Option B: Plan ahead and buy a (much sturdier) umbrella before leaving. Option C: Hope you get lucky with the weather. In our opinion, Option B is definitely the best!

Comfortable Day Bag — You’ll need somewhere to store all those Christmas market purchases!

We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable. Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used my old Northface backpack for years and loved it as well.

Reusable Water Bottle — Save both money and plastic during your November trip to Paris by adding a reusable water bottle to your packing list! I love this metal one.

Apple Air Tags — Air Tags are a relatively new addition to our usual packing list, but we’ve absolutely loved having the extra security when checking our luggage! They’ll be coming with us from now on.

November Weather in Paris

Visiting Paris in November means lots of gray, damp days with limited sunshine and cold-but-not-freezing temperatures.

In November, you can expect an average high temperature of 51°F (or 10.5°C), with nighttime lows dipping to an average of 41°F (5°C).

Temperatures tend to get progressively colder throughout the month, and the light disappears along with it.

Sunset on November 1 in Paris is at 5:30 PM, and by November 30, you can expect the sun to set just before 5:00 PM.

You can expect rain on at least half the days of November, too–in other words, damp, gray weather is to be expected.

Don’t come to Paris in November expecting snow, but don’t expect to walk around only in a light jacket, either!

As with any destination, be sure to check and double-check the weather in Paris before your particular travel dates, as you never know when a heatwave or cold snap could jolt things in a different direction.

Read More About Visiting Paris (+ Beyond)

Have your fall trip to Paris booked and ready to do more in-depth planning?

You can browse all of our France blog posts here (we have a couple of dozen and counting about Paris alone), or check out these guides:

• How (And Why) to Visit Montparnasse Tower in Paris
• 44 Magical Quotes About Paris to Inspire Your Trip
• 2 Days in Paris: The Perfect Weekend in Paris Itinerary
• Honeymoon in Paris: How to Plan Your Dream Trip
• Paris in Winter: 31 Reasons to Visit (+ Winter Travel Tips!)