The Eiffel Tower framed by fall color

Paris in November

November might not be the first month you consider for a trip to Paris. Hear us out though – the eleventh month isn’t all doom and gloom.

The fall weather may mean you have to spend more time indoors, but with a world-class selection of museums to choose between, that shouldn’t be too much of a hardship. And as visitor numbers thin out, it’s all the easier to have a tête-à-tête with the Mona Lisa or a Van Gogh self-portrait.

Paris in November certainly isn’t quiet when it comes to things to do either. Two public holidays and an expansive list of – largely indoor – events are sure to keep you on your toes, whilst the latter half of the month sees Christmas slowly put its festive embrace over the City of Light.

Cultural delights

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When it comes to museums, art lovers visiting Paris in November can rejoice at the number of first-rate galleries, or panic because of the number of first-rate galleries. A common place to start is at the Louvre. But as the second-largest gallery in the world, its 38,000 objects can be overwhelming.

Just across the River Seine, the Musée d’Orsay’s works span less than 70 years. It’s no less impressive for that, containing one of the most important collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art in the world, by the hands of luminaries including Renoir, Sisley and Gauguin.

To delve into the thought processes and inspiration behind Pablo Picasso’s extraordinary output there’s Paris’s National Picasso Museum. Having lived in the city for over 40 years, its mass of sketchbooks, paintings and sculptures come directly from Picasso’s heirs, having initially formed part of his own private collection. It spans a lifetime of work, from his Blue Period to his surrealist masterpieces.

Embrace sunset

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The nights drawing in during November have their advantages. Amongst them is the ability to experience the City of Light at its most enigmatic and atmospheric – when the sun settles over the French capital and its grand monuments are artificially illuminated.

The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Sacré-Coeur Basilica are all elegantly lit. A Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus tour will save your feet, and also provide a little background to the backdrop of world-famous landmarks.

Towards the end of the month, visitors to Paris are also able to experience the switching on of Christmas lights in around 150 streets. The obvious place to start is probably the Champs-Élysées, where no less than a million individual bulbs are draped over the trees.

Elsewhere, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne are also reliable sources of festive cheer – and looming credit card limits.

Check out alternatives to the high street

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The shopping doesn’t have to stop just because you head under cover. Some Parisians aren’t even aware of its maze of covered passageways. These decorative arcades host a fantastic array of independent stores, from jewelers to secondhand booksellers. You’ll also find a number of authentic cafés and bistros, whether you’re desperate for chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) or steak frites (steak and fries) and a glass of red wine.

If the hot chocolate got you in the mood for all things cocoa based, you’re in exactly the right city. The history of how the odd-looking bean became one of the world’s most desirable crops can be discovered at The Gourmet Chocolate Museum Choco-Story.

Meanwhile, the Salon du Chocolat fair at the end of the month sees five full days of chocolate-related fun. If the wines of France are more your cup of tea (to mix our metaphors), turn your attention to the city’s myriad caves (wine cellars).

The third Thursday of November is the annual date set for the release of Beaujolais nouveau, and connoisseurs throughout Paris race to be the first to taste its youthful bouquet.

Experience Paris on a day off

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‘Beaujolais Day’ isn’t a national holiday – yet. However, Paris does have two bona fide jour fériés to prepare for in November. It begins with La Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) on the first of the month.

With offices, stores and restaurants closed for the day many families pay their respects to lost loved ones. Visitors might instead make a short pilgrimage to heroes including Oscar Wilde or Jim Morrison of The Doors at Père Lachaise cemetery in the 20th arrondissement (district).

The second national holiday lies ten days later on November 11. Commemorating the end of the First World War in 1918, Armistice Day focuses on the Arc de Triomphe. The French President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the main arch.

Further details of this time reveal themselves at the Musée Clemenceau, the former home of the French wartime prime minister. A giant of his day, Georges Clemenceau counted Claude Monet among his friends, and supported Alfred Dreyfus during the affair bearing his name which rocked France at the turn of the twentieth century.

Get set for Christmas

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In addition to the arrival of its Christmas lights, Paris in November sees the appearance of many other seasonal activities more usually associated with December.

Stores big and small, budget and luxury, compete against one another to have the most alluring window displays, with the large department stores renowned for going all out on the decorations.

At the same time, Alsatian-style chalets start to appear in various public spaces as Paris’s Christmas markets take form. The Tuileries Garden hosts one of the largest, combining funfair rides, souvenirs and a decent supply of vin chaud (mulled wine). The La Défense district’s version welcomes an amazing 350 different stalls, alongside a large outdoor ice rink.

The Grand Palais opposite the Eiffel Tower is turned into one giant indoor ice rink from around the middle of November, with music and light displays some evenings. Other outdoor rinks include those at Le Plaza Athénée and the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann.

Get the most out of Paris in November

Brilliant museums, dazzling night-times, wondrous foods and the start of the Christmas festivities. Is there anything that could make November in Paris any better? How about savings on admission to many of its top attractions? Explore with Go City and that’s exactly what you get!

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

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Relaxing Things to do in Paris

What could be more idyllic than a restful break in the City of Love, with its multitude of parks and gardens, tranquil canals and cute pavement cafés, perfect for watching the world go by? Check out our guide to the 10 most relaxing things to do in Paris... Go Boating in the Bois du Boulogne Over twice the size of Central Park, Bois du Boulogne is one of the biggest parks in Paris. Its location a little off the beaten track in the 16th arrondissement also makes it one of the least busy. Rowboats are available to rent on the Lac Inferieur (Lower Lake), meaning you can while away a pleasant hour or two bobbing gently on its tranquil waters. Afterwards, take a stroll through the forest to smell the (many) roses in the beautiful Parc de Bagatelle botanical garden. If you’re lucky you might also encounter the park’s resident peacocks and elusive red squirrels along the way. Have a Hammam Stunning, intricate mosaics and an epic 33-meter-high minaret are not the only reasons to pay a visit to the Grande Mosquée de Paris in the Latin Quarter. There’s also a beautiful byzantine-style hammam with a marble steam room and babbling fountain. Book an exfoliating scrub or vigorous massage for a near-religious experience and complete your transition to a zen-like state by lingering for baklava and mint tea in the leafy courtyard. For religious reasons, there are separate times for men and women to visit the hammam. Walk the Coulée Verte Nothing soothes the soul like a bit of greenery and this central Paris walkway – literally ‘the Green Corridor’ – is no exception. A disused railway line that runs across a viaduct in the heart of Paris, it has been converted into a peaceful elevated walking route that’s alive with lush vegetation and foliage. Enjoy views of the Paris skyline from your verdant vantage point and refill your bottle with sparkling water (yes, really!) at the free fountain in Jardin de Reuilly, one of just a handful of its kind dotted around Paris. Visit a Garden You’re never very far from a park or garden in Paris, so it’s easy to take time out from the hubbub of the city streets and pause to smell the roses – literally. Handily located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, the 17th-century Jardin des Tuileries is a peaceful formal garden with two ponds, statues by the likes of Rodin and Giacometti, and plentiful seating. You can also put your feet up in the sculpture garden at the Rodin Museum, where ornamental ponds, perfectly manicured box hedges and a variety of famous pieces by the celebrated sculptor, make for a relaxing place to while away an hour or two. People-Watch at a Café For Parisians, the act of sitting at a pavement café, slowly sipping espressos and peering at passers-by over dark glasses, is something of an art form. Pull up a chair, order a croissant or three and join the locals in a spot of people-watching. Your server won’t bring the check until you ask for it, so you have all the time in the world to sit back, relax and watch what some would say is the best show in town. Save on relaxing things to do in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info. So grab a Paris pass and save while you sightsee!
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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When should I visit Paris?

You can make a sensible case for summer being the answer to the question ‘when should I visit Paris’. After all, it has the best chance of good weather and the longest days. But you can also say that spring is a brilliant time to visit since the city is flooded with flower blossom. And fall, when the foliage turns a multitude of oranges. And winter too, because of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Check out our seasonal breakdown to uncover when you should visit Paris, whether you’re looking for great weather, seeking out the calendar’s top events or are keen to discover the most budget-friendly time of year. Summer The summer season in Paris roughly corresponds with June through to the beginning of September. Typically described as the ideal time to visit Paris, the temperatures aren’t the only thing to soar. As the official start of the high season, so do hotel and flight costs, which are some of the highest of the year. On the plus side, July beckons in T-shirt weather, albeit with an umbrella in hand – there’s a chance of a light shower even now. This doesn’t stop hundreds of thousands of people pouring onto the Champs-Élysées for the Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, marked by a grand military parade, fly past and fireworks behind the Eiffel Tower. From then on, Parisians tend to leave the city for their summer vacations on the French coast. But you don’t have to leave the city to enjoy the coastal feel, with beaches appearing on the quais (banks) of the River Seine, concerts filling the air with music and open-air movie screenings taking over parks late into the night – usually in their original language. It means that by August a languid air takes over Paris, with no one wanting to do anything very fast – which is just fine for anyone looking to get in the holiday mood. It makes it a wonderful time to cruise along the Seine, people watch from a café terrace or picnic in any of the 150 main parks too. Fall The start of fall sees temperatures drop away a little, and rain showers become heavier than they have been. But beyond that, fall really is a great time to consider visiting the French capital. Why? Well, it’s still warm enough in September to continue exploring the city’s parks and gardens. They begin taking on fall colors as well as being the sites of two major September events – the city-wide Fête des Jardins (Garden Festival) and the historic Fête à Neuneu funfair in the Bois de Boulogne. The fall color is usually at its best with the arrival of October. With hotel prices falling away again and visitor numbers dropping alongside the mercury – temperatures peak at 16°C – October is another month great for avoiding the crowds. The change in seasons is even celebrated at the Fete d'Automne, whilst the Contemporary Art Fair arrives at the Grand Palais to add to the buffet of permanent art collections, from the Musée d’Orsay to the Orangerie Museum. The start of the low season, November sees some of the lowest visitor numbers of the year, but it’s still not a bad time to visit Paris. Come prepared for the wintery weather, and the city’s charm and authentic feel is sure to keep you as warm as the hot chocolates and the winter restaurant menus. To brighten the days there are several public holidays and festivals to look forward to – not least the start of the Christmas period. Winter By the beginning of December Christmas is in full-swing. Main avenues shine with festive lights, Christmas markets hum with the sound of Parisians enjoying each other’s company and the arrival of several ice rinks makes for one of the more unusual things to do. Believe it or not, few travelers get to see any of this exuberant feasting. It makes a Christmas in Paris all the more special. Kicking off with a very literal New Year bang, January is one of the cheapest months to go to Paris, with some excellent deals on hotel stays. Set firmly within the low season, the city’s major attractions are less crowded than other times of year. However, with 30 million annual visitors, there’s no month that can be described as totally crowd-free. Wrap up well – temperatures are stable at 2 – 7°C – and you can catch the Festival of Lights at the Jardin des Plantes and an armful of bargains in the winter sales. Although February has similar temperatures and low season prices to January, it actually has the least rainfall of any month, making it one of the best times to visit Paris on a budget. That said, Valentine’s Day sees low season prices go out of the window for anywhere with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Spring Waving goodbye to winter, March sees a massive increase in the number of visitors, although accommodation prices remain good compared to the summer months. Temperatures remain on the chilly side, with lows of 5°C and highs of around 12°C. Levels of rainfall are still very much on the low side too. Heralding the warmer months to come, it’s in March that the early spring bulbs begin to flower. Whilst still in the shoulder period between low and high seasons, spring sees Parisians planning outdoor events with much more certainty than had been possible so far in the year. Step anywhere near the Bois de Vincennes on the eastern outskirts of the city and you’ll be enticed by the bright lights of the Foire de Trône funfair, which traces its history back to AD 957. April usually also sees the Easter public holidays and the associated arrival of chocolate eggs in storefront windows. Meanwhile, May is another great month to visit Paris – and if the growing crowds in the Louvre are anything to go by, it’s not exactly a secret either. One of the busiest months of the year when it comes to tourism levels, part of the reason is the ever-improving weather together with hotel prices still substantially below the high season peaks. A further quirk of visiting Paris in May is the fact it’s technically the wettest month of the year, although there’s not a great deal of difference – just 22 mm or less than an inch – between May and February. No wonder then that May is chosen for the first rounds of the French Open, and not one, but two jazz festivals. How to save whatever the season Whenever you decide you should visit Paris you can save on attraction admission to many of the city’s top sights with Go City. Then check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook to share your vacation snaps with us!
Ian Packham
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The perfect weekend in Paris

A popular way to visit Paris is over a weekend short break. This is not because Paris is limited in its sights. On the contrary, its long list of landmarks and attractions makes the French capital one of the most recognizable cities in the world. So why opt for a weekend in Paris? For all its heritage and architectural prowess, Paris is a city that is constantly evolving. Never the same twice, a short city break gives you the option to return again and again, revisiting favorite haunts and discovering what has changed in the intervening months or years. At the same time, a two or three day trip to Paris will give you the perfect dose of the city’s magic and romance, from its museum collections to its nightlife. How to plan for your weekend in Paris To get the most out of your weekend of wonder, don’t forget the following helpful tips: Most museums in Paris are closed on Mondays, making it a good day for heading home. It’s best to plan long weekends in Paris to last from Friday to Sunday. The weather can be fickle – the five-day forecast is going to be your best friend. Use Go City and save big on attraction admission costs. Day 1 Morning Having checked into your hotel – and it’s well worth booking somewhere central with just a couple of days to play with – shake off the jet lag with a cruise along the River Seine with Bateaux Parisiens. A fantastic way to acquaint yourself with the French capital, the landmark attractions come thick and fast. You’ll glide beneath a myriad of ancient bridges, taking in the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral along the way. Swap the river’s gentle flow for the city streets to continue your tour with a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus, using your flexible ticket to stop for crepe or French pastries along the way. Disembark again at the Arc de Triomphe, mounting its 330 steps to reveal 360° views across the city’s central districts, including the grand tree-lined avenue of the Champs-Élysées. Running in a perfectly-straight line for almost two kilometers, it’s one of Europe’s best spots for a touch of window shopping. Afternoon Having ticked off many of the main attractions on your first morning, you can spend the afternoon experiencing the city like a local. We’d suggest heading to the much-loved tow paths of Canal Saint-Martin. Zigzagging its way north from the Seine, its Quai de Valmy stretch has a wonderful authenticité. It’s brought to life by its rough-around-the-edges elegance and tranquil ambience. They are married with oh-so Parisian wrought-iron pedestrian bridges, which lead towards a plethora of places to rest your feet with a cup of the finest coffee. Evening A few metro stops to the west, South Pigalle is the latest name in cool, although its pedigree goes back quite some way. Seen as an under-the-radar alternative to Montmartre by some, ‘SoPi’ is the home of the Moulin Rouge cabaret club, whose shows have been wowing visitors on and off since it first opened in 1889. Stylish restaurants and bars ripple out from rue des Martyrs, with Buvette and Victor just two places where you’ll count yourself lucky if you manage to bag a table. Follow up your meal by checking out a concert at Bus Palladium or propping up the cocktail bar in the atmospheric interior of Dirty Dick, hidden behind an unprepossessing exterior. Day 2 Morning If you’re up for an early morning start on day 2 of your weekend in Paris and have a keen eye for a bargain, look no further than the outdoors stalls of the Beauvau Market. They’re ready to do their first deals of the day from 7:30AM. Also known as the Marché d’Aligre, inside three magisterial halls you’ll find an expansive array of foodstuffs, whilst out on the street the grocers and coffee grinders give way to tables piled high with vintage objects and antiques. For those of us keen to linger a little in our hotel rooms, there’s the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen north of Montmartre and the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur. A flea market (swap meet) with an impressive 1700 individual stallholders, there’s everything from rare vinyl records to original Louis XV furniture. It also has a respectable start time of 10AM, although it can be visited right through to the early evening. Afternoon It’s mid-afternoon which is the best time to explore the unrivalled collection of treasures at the Louvre, since the crowds around the Mona Lisa and Liberty Leading the People start to diminish from around 3PM. However, there’s still plenty of time before the museum closes its doors to absorb its wealth of historic objects and artworks. Then cross the Seine at the Pont Neuf, or ‘New Bridge’, ironically now the oldest bridge connecting Paris’s left and right banks. It first opened to traffic in 1607. Continue on the road south for just a few hundred meters to the gates of the Jardin du Luxembourg, which were planned only five years after the construction of the Pont Neuf, and play a significant part in the plot of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Edged by mature trees, the center point for the gardens is a series of formally-planted flower beds and a pond called the Grand Bassin, populated by a small fleet of remote-controlled sailing boats. Amongst the beds there’s over 100 statues copied from antiquity, though the star of the show is the magnificent Medici fountain. Evening A circuit of the Jardin du Luxembourg leaves you perfectly positioned to spend the evening in the jumble of side streets which make up the Latin Quarter. Rue de la Huchette contains one of the largest number of restaurants in the city, making it the go-to street for reasonably-priced eats. Mere steps away are bars with an eclectic clientele of students, travelers, and intellectuals sure to leave you with positive memories of all things Parisian whatever time you stumble back to your hotel. Save on your weekend in Paris Travel, hotel and attraction costs can soon add up, even on a weekend in Paris. You can help limit – and even reduce – the strain on your wallet by exploring with Go City. Providing visitors with savings on admission to many of the top attractions in the city, our passes are the perfect addition to any short break to Paris!
Ian Packham

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