01Weather
Paris weather in October
Afternoons in October average 17.1 °C (63 °F) and nights cool to 9.5 °C (49 °F). The month brings about 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain spread over roughly 12 days, with around 205 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with September it is 4.7 °C cooler; November is 6.1 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical October | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 22 °C / 71 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 13 °C / 56 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 5 °C / 42 °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) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.0 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 40 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest October day 2016–2025 | 27.0 °C / 1.9 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October | 07:50 | 19:30 | 11.7 h |
| 15 October | 08:11 | 19:01 | 10.8 h |
| 31 October | 07:36 | 17:32 | 9.9 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 108 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris), including the clock change on the last Sunday of October.
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in October
very busy Paris hotels registered 1,546,195 arrivals in October 2019, an index of 1.09 against the monthly average of 1.0 (1,531,159 in October 2022). What drives it:
- Fête des Vendanges 7–11 October
- Art Basel Paris 23–25 October
- Toussaint school holidays from 17 October
School holidays that fill the city in October
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Toussaint (all zones) | 17 Oct – 2 Nov 2026 |
| Germany (16 states, staggered) | Autumn (earliest to latest state) | 5 Oct – 6 Nov 2026 |
| England (local authorities set dates; Royal Greenwich shown, most councils within a few days) | October half-term | 26–30 Oct 2026 |
04Public holidays
Public holidays in October 2027
No public holidays in France fall in October, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in Paris in October
| 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 |
| Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre | 7–11 Oct 2026 | Montmartre, around the Clos Montmartre vineyard · source |
| Art Basel Paris | 23–25 Oct 2026 | Grand Palais (previews 21-22 October) · source |
| Salon du Chocolat | 28 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hall 5 · source |
| Paris Fashion Week, womenswear (spring/summer 2028) | 27 Sep – 5 Oct 2027 | various · source |
Every year in October
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre | second weekend of October | festival |
| FIAC / Art Basel Paris | mid-October, Grand Palais | art |
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 October
- 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
October is the third-busiest month for Paris hotels, 1.55 million arrivals in 2019 and nine percent above the yearly average, which surprises visitors who expect autumn to be quiet. Three fixed events explain it: the Fête des Vendanges in Montmartre, 7 to 11 October in 2026, with the grape-harvest parade on the Sunday; Art Basel Paris at the Grand Palais, 23 to 25 October 2026 with previews from the 21st; and the Salon du Chocolat at Porte de Versailles from 28 October to 1 November 2026. The womenswear fashion week spills into the first week, and the Toussaint school holidays, 17 October to 2 November 2026 for all French zones, add families in the second half, joined by the English half-term from 26 October and German autumn breaks from 5 October.
The weather splits in two. The first twenty days of October average 18 °C in the afternoon and often feel like late summer; the last ten days average 16 °C, and the clocks go back on the last Sunday, 25 October 2026, so dusk arrives before six. Rain falls on about twelve days, the total is the highest of autumn, and there is no frost yet. October is the last month for the Versailles fountain shows and for Monet's garden at Giverny, both closing on 1 November, and the autumn colour in the Luxembourg and the Jardin des Plantes peaks in the middle of the month. If you want the mild first half without the holiday crowds, come before the 17th; otherwise November is emptier and only slightly colder.
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 October? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
October in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in October | 15 °C | 10 |
| Amsterdam in October | 15 °C | 11 |
| Dublin in October | 15 °C | 13 |
| Barcelona in October | 23 °C | 6 |
| Venice in October | 19 °C | 6 |
| Prague in October | 15 °C | 8 |
11FAQ
Paris in October: your questions
Is October a good time to visit Paris?
October is a good month to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 17 °C (63 °F), rain falls on about 12 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are very busy.
What is the weather like in Paris in October?
Expect mild days around 17 °C (63 °F) and nights near 10 °C (49 °F), with about 205 hours of sunshine over the month. One October in ten brings afternoons above 22 °C, and one in ten stays below 13 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in October?
October brings about 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain over roughly 12 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 40 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in October?
Pack a warm jacket or coat, scarf for windy evenings, closed, water-resistant shoes.
Is Paris crowded in October?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,546,195 arrivals in October 2019, 9 percent above the monthly average, so expect very busy conditions. Main drivers: Fête des Vendanges 7–11 October; Art Basel Paris 23–25 October; Toussaint school holidays from 17 October.
What time does it get dark in Paris in October?
Around the middle of October the sun sets at about 19:01 and rises at 08:11, giving 10.8 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in October?
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 October that affect Paris?
Yes: France toussaint (all zones) 17 Oct – 2 Nov 2026; Germany autumn (earliest to latest state) 5 Oct – 6 Nov 2026; England october half-term 26–30 Oct 2026. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.