01Weather
Paris weather in April
Afternoons in April average 15.8 °C (60 °F) and nights cool to 5.8 °C (42 °F). The month brings about 50 mm (2.0 in) of rain spread over roughly 10 days, with around 306 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with March it is 3.4 °C warmer; May is 3.6 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical April | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 22 °C / 72 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 10 °C / 51 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 1 °C / 34 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 1.7 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.1 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 34 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest April day 2016–2025 | 29.0 °C / -2.2 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April | 07:27 | 20:20 | 12.9 h |
| 15 April | 06:59 | 20:41 | 13.7 h |
| 30 April | 06:31 | 21:04 | 14.5 h |
Daylight grows by about 96 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris).
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in April
busy Paris hotels registered 1,483,570 arrivals in April 2019, an index of 1.04 against the monthly average of 1.0 (1,373,040 in April 2022). What drives it:
- French spring holidays, zone C 3–19 April
- Paris Marathon in mid-April
- Versailles fountains and Giverny open from 1 April
School holidays that fill the city in April
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Spring, zone C | 3–19 Apr 2027 |
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Spring, zone A | 10–26 Apr 2027 |
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Spring, zone B | 17 Apr – 3 May 2027 |
| Germany (16 states, staggered) | Easter (earliest to latest state) | 22 Mar – 10 Apr 2027 |
| England (local authorities set dates; Royal Greenwich shown, most councils within a few days) | Easter | 26 Mar – 9 Apr 2027 |
| United States (college spring break, no national calendar) | Spring break window (peak mid-March) | 27 Feb – 3 Apr 2027 |
04Public holidays
Public holidays in April 2027
No public holidays in France fall in April, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in Paris in April
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Versailles Musical Fountain shows (Grandes Eaux Musicales) | 1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 | Gardens of Versailles, weekends and some weekdays · source |
| Giverny, Monet's gardens open season | 1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 | Fondation Claude Monet, Giverny (75 min from Paris) · source |
| Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (expected, not yet confirmed) | 11 Apr 2027 | Champs-Élysées to Avenue Foch · source |
Every year in April
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Marathon | first or second Sunday of April | sport |
| Foire du Trône funfair | April to May, Bois de Vincennes | family |
06Closures
What is closed, and what to book
- Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Non-EEA adults pay €32 since 14 January 2026, EEA residents €22.
- Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required.
- Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays.
- Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
- Catacombs: Reopened 8 April 2026 after renovation; closed Mondays; online timed booking only, no tickets at the door.
- Giverny, Monet's house and garden: Open 1 April to 1 November 2026 only; closed all winter.
- Shops and markets: Winter sales 6 January to 2 February 2027 (national dates, to be confirmed by decree). Most shops close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; many close on Sundays except in tourist zones.
07Packing
What to pack for Paris in April
- a warm jacket or coat
- scarf for windy evenings
- closed, water-resistant shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
- sunglasses
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
April opens the outdoor season on a fixed date: the Versailles fountain shows and Monet's garden at Giverny both open on 1 April, and the Catacombs reopened on 8 April 2026 after a renovation, now with online timed tickets only and closed on Mondays. The Paris Marathon runs through the centre on a Sunday in mid-April, 12 April in 2026 with 57,464 finishers, and an expected 11 April in 2027, closing the Champs-Élysées and the quays for the morning.
Hotel arrivals rise to 1.48 million, four percent above the yearly average, pushed by the French spring holidays, zone C from 3 to 19 April 2027 and the other zones into early May, and by the English Easter break to 9 April. Afternoons average 16 °C with a one-in-ten chance of a day above 22 °C; rain falls on about ten days but the total is the lowest of spring. Chestnuts and cherries blossom in the Jardin des Plantes and along the Seine in the first half of the month. Book the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre two to three weeks ahead for Easter week and the French holidays, and note that the Louvre's €32 non-European ticket applies whatever the season. Quieter and warmer weeks follow in May once the holidays end.
09Compare
Paris month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 13 | 106 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C | 11 | 149 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| March | 12 °C | 4 °C | 13 | 225 | moderate 0.99 | Good |
| April | 16 °C | 6 °C | 10 | 306 | busy 1.04 | Mixed |
| May | 19 °C | 10 °C | 13 | 340 | busy 1.03 | Good |
| June | 24 °C | 14 °C | 12 | 354 | very busy 1.12 | Good |
| July | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 367 | very busy 1.1 | Good |
| August | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 340 | moderate 0.96 | Excellent |
| September | 22 °C | 12 °C | 10 | 270 | busy 1.06 | Good |
| October | 17 °C | 10 °C | 12 | 205 | very busy 1.09 | Good |
| November | 11 °C | 5 °C | 13 | 140 | busy 1.02 | Mixed |
| December | 8 °C | 3 °C | 13 | 106 | moderate 0.91 | Mixed |
Not sure about April? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
April in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in April | 14 °C | 7 |
| Amsterdam in April | 14 °C | 7 |
| Dublin in April | 13 °C | 11 |
| Barcelona in April | 19 °C | 6 |
| Venice in April | 17 °C | 7 |
| Prague in April | 15 °C | 9 |
11FAQ
Paris in April: your questions
Is April a good time to visit Paris?
April is a reasonable month with trade-offs to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 16 °C (60 °F), rain falls on about 10 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are busy.
What is the weather like in Paris in April?
Expect cool days around 16 °C (60 °F) and nights near 6 °C (42 °F), with about 306 hours of sunshine over the month. One April in ten brings afternoons above 22 °C, and one in ten stays below 10 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in April?
April brings about 50 mm (2.0 in) of rain over roughly 10 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 34 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in April?
Pack a warm jacket or coat, scarf for windy evenings, closed, water-resistant shoes.
Is Paris crowded in April?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,483,570 arrivals in April 2019, 4 percent above the monthly average, so expect busy conditions. Main drivers: French spring holidays, zone C 3–19 April; Paris Marathon in mid-April; Versailles fountains and Giverny open from 1 April.
What time does it get dark in Paris in April?
Around the middle of April the sun sets at about 20:41 and rises at 06:59, giving 13.7 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in April?
Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required. Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays. Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
Are there school holidays in April that affect Paris?
Yes: France spring, zone c 3–19 Apr 2027; France spring, zone a 10–26 Apr 2027; France spring, zone b 17 Apr – 3 May 2027; Germany easter (earliest to latest state) 22 Mar – 10 Apr 2027. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.