Paris's climate is fairly stable, with longish stretches of sun (or rain) year round. Summers are generally hot and quite humid, winters cold and windy and spring and autumn mild. It can rain at any time of year, however: summer sees fewer, heavier showers, while at other times of year there's a tendency to drizzle. Spring is deservedly the classic time to visit, with bright days balanced by rain showers. Autumn and winter can be very rewarding, but on overcast days – all-too-common – the city can feel very melancholy. Winter sun, on the other hand, is the city's most flattering light, and hotels and restaurants are relatively uncrowded in this season. By contrast, Paris in high summer can be choking, both with fellow visitors and with the fumes of congested traffic. Between July 15 and the end of August, the balance of Parisian and tourist life can become distorted as large numbers of Parisians desert the city for the coast or mountains. There is, too, the commercial calendar to consider – fashion shows, trade fairs and the like. Paris hoteliers warn against September and October, and finding a room even at the best of times can be problematic. Early spring, autumn if you book ahead, or the midwinter months will be most rewarding.
Pages in section ‘When to go’: Temperatures and rainfall.
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