Recently I visited Paris, a city on almost every traveler’s bucket list. I will get to how much I loved the short stay I had in the city in a future post. I wanted to discuss Paris in November, the pros and cons as well as some tips to help make your stay better. Take all this with a grain of salt, I was only there for a short time. Still between my stay there and the research that I did I feel I have a pretty good handle on Paris in November.
I saw enough to confirm what I had heard previously. November is an odd month for travel. Not cold enough for snow (usually) yet cold and not comfortable by any means. It didn’t really have a holiday feel either. Europeans do not really start celebrating Christmas in early November like we do here in the United States. Hell, we start in August, so maybe they are on to something. Really Paris in November is a mixed bag as far as the good and the bad are concerned, you will have to decide what is important to you when traveling.
The Weather (average Temperature 54F/39F)
This might be the biggest reason to avoid Paris in November. According to this site here it rains about 10 days out of the month with the remainder usually being cloudy. I can confirm this. The temperatures usually hover around the 50s during the day, colder at night. To me this isn’t all that bad since I like cooler weather, it certainly beats a scorching hot Summer. Yet, it was the type of cold that I do not like since it is wet, bone chilling at times.
The rain is what took away from my experience the most. They weren’t kidding when they said November is one of the wettest months. Now, mind you I was only there three days, but it was three days of on and off rain. Our first night, we almost needed to canoe to our restaurant. Other times weren’t so bad. Luckily, we were able to get to the Eifel tower when it was dry, but for the most part we were drenched walking the streets. I like strolling in a city, that is how you get a feel for it, rain certainly will take away from the experience.
One other thing to consider is Paris in November has less daylight. Since you were born on planet earth this might not be a shock to you. Still, it is something to consider, less sunlight means it cools faster. Paris is beautiful at night, that is if the rain isn’t blocking the views.
Things to Do
Like every month in Paris, you should walk around when you can. As mentioned, the weather in Paris is unpredictable. If your trip is anything like mine, you will spend most of your time either dodging raindrops or inside. Lucky for you Paris has some amazing museums (assuming you like Museums).
The Louvre is a must. You don’t go to Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa, might as well skip the Eifel tower as well. Just a warning, she is an unimpressive wench, but you need to see her anyway. The other exhibits are fantastic, the Louve is one of those bucket list museums for art and history lovers. It is a perfect way to spend a rainy day in Paris. Other museums like Musée d’Orsay, are also available, but I just had three days in Paris, and I had to eat.
Speaking of which the food in Paris is outstanding, I will get deeper into that in other posts. Eating and drinking always seem to be a great way to spend a wet day. I sat at a bar outside for over an hour and killed part of a rainy night. That was one of the more relaxing evenings I have had when traveling. You should try a lot of different foods in most cities, but when visiting Paris bring your sweatpants. Kidding, we Americans are already getting looked at like there is something wrong with us, do not give Parisians any ammunition!
A little planning goes a long way. We all have super computers in our pockets, you can easily time when the weather is good. Take that time to go for a walk or jump on a hop on hop off bus. Yes, I know they are for tourists, but I still like them. Plus… I was a tourist on this trip.
The Crowds
I do not have much to compare it to, but they say Paris is a lot less crowded in November than the more popular months. I can confirm that I was not overwhelmed with people. Not sure if that was the rain or the lack of visitors, but it was not a hassle. That is not to say the city was empty. There were still major lines at the Louve and Eifel tower. Still, I could breathe as opposed to Tokyo, (or even Madrid) in which I felt overwhelmed at times.
I would say Paris did not feel touristy, even in the tourist spots. No one selling selfie sticks, a few trinket salesmen, but not many. It felt authentic. This may be due to the fact that November in Paris is the low season, possibly all the grifters have gone home. I think it is fair to say that November in Paris is emptier than in other months.
Expense
Lower Crowds and the off season naturally translate to a lower cost to visit Paris. Although the cheapest months are December through February, you should be able to find some decent deals in November. Having said this the city was still not cheap on my stay.
Airfare was better and is always cheaper in the offseason. My Flight was less than $1000 to Madrid, then just $200 more to Paris. You always have to time it right, these days it is difficult to find a good deal.
As for the hotel, I searched high and low and found a good, not great hotel in Paris for around $230/night. Whether or not you consider that cheap depends on how you travel, but it was more expensive than anything I dealt with precovid. Paris is an expensive city, traveling in the offseason will allow you to do it for less.
It is Still Paris
Regardless, what the weather and temperature are like you are still in Paris, and Paris is an amazing city. I am not going to feel bad for you if you “have to” be in Paris in November. The art, the food, the culture, I believe it would be hard not to have a good time there.
Yes, rain can be annoying, but do not let it detract from your trip. You are in one of the premiere cities in the world, I assume you can make the very best of it.
Conclusion: How is Paris in November
Whether you would want to travel to Paris in November depends a lot on your personal preferences. I would rather have a little rain than 90-degree heat with a ton of tourists all around me. Yes, there may be better months to visit, but I still would be shocked if you had a bad time visiting Paris in November.
