Paris in October (A Fall Travel Guide)

october in paris

October in Paris - just those words through my mind stir something deep within my spirit.

I was blessed enough to experience three Octobers in Paris while living there as an expat for three years, and it remains my favorite month to explore Paris.

October in Paris is a time when kids are in school, locals are in their daily rhythms and there are substantially less crowds in the city when compared to Spring and Summer.

Paris in October brings wonderful weather (more on this in the next section), local street fashion that turns heads and cozy days that move a bit slower.

Fall in Paris is one of the most enchanting seasons in the city, and the month of October brings all of the Autumn elements you desire.

If you’re currently planning a trip to Paris and are wondering if you should book your flight to Paris in October (versus another month), may the remainder of this post (and the photos) inspire you to choose October for your travels.

paris october weather

The weather in Paris in October is incredibly pleasant and is the ideal combination of lingering warmth and crisp coolness. There are no freezing temperatures in Paris in October, and if you’re lucky, there might not even be too much rain as the rainy season normally begins later in November.

The average temperatures in Paris in October are highs in the low 60s to lows in the mid 40s. At the beginning of the month, you might get a few days in the upper 60s to low 70s. There are on average 8 days of rain in Paris in October.

fall foliage in paris in october

October is a wonderful month to visit Paris if you’re looking to see the city under Autumn colors.

In terms of foliage, the city of Paris has a lot of old horse chestnut trees, which unfortunately do not change colors in the fall (other than a sad dead looking brown). However, many of the gardens within Paris have deciduous trees planted, and there are also some along the Seine river.

Below are my favorite spots to enjoy the Autumn foliage in Paris in October.

Tuileries Gardens - Terrasse du bord de l’eau

The Terrasse du Bord de L’eau in the Tuileries is a section of the gardens that sits a bit elevated from the main part and is lined with chestnut trees. In October, these chestnut trees won’t be bright yellow or orange, but if they are the perfect golden brown, this is a great spot to take an evening stroll with that golden hour light and snap some photos with the Louvre in the background.

Jardin du Luxembourg

One of my favorite spots to enjoy an October day in Paris is Jardin du Luxembourg. The gardens change daily throughout the month, and I love wandering back in as the seasons change to see what’s new.

Many trees within the gardens offer beautiful foliage at different times throughout the month. Even as the chestnut trees turn brown you will get a lovely Autumn glow. Additionally, October is the month when the gardeners put out massive Mums in Jardin du Luxembourg, which are especially romantic lining the Medici Fountain.

Île Saint-Louis

Along the banks of Île Saint-Louis are lovely trees that turn yellow in October and start dropping their many leaves onto the quai below. My favorite spot to photograph them is on Pont Louis-Phillipe, overlooking Quai de Bourbon.

Place des Vosges

Another beautiful Parisian garden to enjoy the Autumn foliage is in Place des Vosges. The symmetrical trees here turn a lovely golden yellow and are a wonderful spot to sit cozily in your sweater and enjoy the Autumn breeze. You can actually sit in the grass in Place des Vosges, so on a sunny day it would be a wonderful spot for a Fall picnic.

things to do in paris in october

If you’re visiting Paris in October, you can do all of the must-see Paris things as they aren’t really seasonal. This Complete Paris Guide is a good starting point for planning out your October itinerary of must-sees in Paris.

Below are some October specific activities you can do during your travels to Paris.

Best Day Trips from Paris in October:

If you’re visiting Paris in October and you have time for a day trip or two, here are some day trips that will offer beautiful fall foliage and Autumn festivities during October:

• Monet’s Gardens in Giverny in October: This was my second time visiting (after visiting in the Spring), and my mom and I actually visited the very last day before it was closed. I was a little worried that we would be underwhelmed with what was left in the gardens, but it was an absolutely beautiful time to visit.

• Chantilly: One of the easiest day trips from Paris, Chantilly and the grounds of the Chateau are absolutely stunning in October

• Disneyland Paris in October: If you’re traveling with kids, or just a Disney lover yourself, Disneyland Paris hosts an annual Disney Halloween Festival, and this year’s will run from 1 October to 2 November 2025.

foire de chatou (ILE DES IMPRESSIONNISTES)

If you’re visiting Paris in early October and love shopping for antiques, you’ll want to set aside an afternoon or evening to head to Foire de Chatou. The Foire de Chatou is a twice a year antique market just outside of Paris on the Île des Impressionnistes, where antiques vendors from all over France come together to create the historic Foire de Chatou.

The dates for the next Foire de Chatou are September 26 to October 5, 2025.

Christmas Displays at End of October

Towards the end of October, the grand magasins or large department stores of Paris start to put out their extravagant Christmas displays, so if you’re visiting later in the month and love Christmas, you might luck out and get a little early Christmas spirit during your October travels to Paris.

What to Pack for Paris in October

Packing for Paris in October is what you would dream of packing for any quintessential Fall trip: cozy sweaters, warm blazers, dressers with tights, a chic coat, and your favorite boots. Here’s what I would recommend putting in your bag for an October trip to Paris:

• Light long sleeve tops (that can be layered)

• A warm blazer

• A few sweaters

• A lighter weight scarf

• A warm dress with tights

• Boots with a good grips (the streets of Paris can be brutal)

• Good tennis shoes (you NEED these in Paris)

• A waterproof coat for the potential rainy days

• A combo of warm and regular socks

• A warm transitional coat (doesn’t need to be your heavy winter coat, unless you are cool temps sensitive)

planning for Paris

Need help planning the rest of your trip to Paris?

After living for Paris in three years, we’ve got any and every Paris resource you need for planning a trip to the city of lights. You can find all of those resources in the Paris section of our site.

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