01Weather
Paris weather in March
Afternoons in March average 12.4 °C (54 °F) and nights cool to 4.0 °C (39 °F). The month brings about 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain spread over roughly 13 days, with around 225 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with February it is 2.8 °C warmer; April is 3.4 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical March | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 17 °C / 63 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 8 °C / 47 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 0 °C / 32 °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) | 3.2 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.1 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 42 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest March day 2016–2025 | 23.5 °C / -3.5 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March | 07:32 | 18:33 | 11.0 h |
| 15 March | 07:03 | 18:55 | 11.9 h |
| 31 March | 07:30 | 20:19 | 12.8 h |
Daylight grows by about 108 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris), including the clock change on the last Sunday of March.
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in March
moderate Paris hotels registered 1,406,751 arrivals in March 2019, an index of 0.99 against the monthly average of 1.0 (1,259,451 in March 2022). What drives it:
- womenswear fashion week 1–9 March
- Easter on 28 March 2027
- English and German Easter holidays from 22 March
School holidays that fill the city in March
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Winter, zone A | 13 Feb – 1 Mar 2027 |
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Winter, zone B | 20 Feb – 8 Mar 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 March 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Paris in March
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Salon International de l'Agriculture | 27 Feb – 7 Mar 2027 | Paris Expo Porte de Versailles · source |
| Paris Fashion Week, womenswear (autumn/winter 2027-28) | 1–9 Mar 2027 | various · source |
Every year in March
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Fashion Week (womenswear, autumn/winter) | late February to early March | fashion |
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 March
- 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
March is the hinge of the year. Hotel arrivals jump from 1.2 million in February to 1.4 million, close to the yearly average, as the fashion week from 1 to 9 March 2027 and the agricultural show in the first week bring the business crowd back. Afternoons average 12 °C, but the spread is wide: one March day in ten passes 17 °C, one in ten stays below 8 °C, and frost still occurs on three mornings. The clocks go forward on the last Sunday, 28 March 2027, which adds an hour of evening light overnight.
Easter falls on 28 March in 2027, with Easter Monday a public holiday on the 29th, so the final weekend is the first busy one of the year at Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur. The English Easter school holidays begin around 26 March and the German ones from 22 March, which is why the Louvre's timed slots for the last week of March sell out earlier than the weather would suggest. Before that, March is a value month: winter rates, lengthening days, and the first terrace lunches on sunny afternoons in the Marais. The Giverny gardens and Versailles fountains do not open until 1 April, so plan those for April.
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 March? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
March in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in March | 11 °C | 9 |
| Amsterdam in March | 11 °C | 10 |
| Dublin in March | 11 °C | 12 |
| Barcelona in March | 17 °C | 4 |
| Venice in March | 13 °C | 6 |
| Prague in March | 11 °C | 7 |
11FAQ
Paris in March: your questions
Is March a good time to visit Paris?
March is a good month to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 12 °C (54 °F), rain falls on about 13 days, and hotel arrivals run below the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in Paris in March?
Expect cool days around 12 °C (54 °F) and nights near 4 °C (39 °F), with about 225 hours of sunshine over the month. One March in ten brings afternoons above 17 °C, and one in ten stays below 8 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in March?
March brings about 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain over roughly 13 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 42 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in March?
Pack a warm jacket or coat, scarf for windy evenings, closed, water-resistant shoes.
Is Paris crowded in March?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,406,751 arrivals in March 2019, 1 percent below the monthly average, so expect moderate conditions. Main drivers: womenswear fashion week 1–9 March; Easter on 28 March 2027; English and German Easter holidays from 22 March.
What time does it get dark in Paris in March?
Around the middle of March the sun sets at about 18:55 and rises at 07:03, giving 11.9 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in March?
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 March that affect Paris?
Yes: France winter, zone a 13 Feb – 1 Mar 2027; France winter, zone b 20 Feb – 8 Mar 2027; Germany easter (earliest to latest state) 22 Mar – 10 Apr 2027; England easter 26 Mar – 9 Apr 2027. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.