11 things to see and do in Paris in April

Fresh air, blooming trees and fewer crowds, traveling to Paris in April certainly has many benefits.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

9 min read

11 things to see and do in Paris in April

Stroll along the Seine | ©Joe deSousa

April is possibly one of the best months to travel to the French capital: spring in Paris is a magical time when the city is full of beautiful and colorful streets, many concerts fill the calendar of this month and important art and craft exhibitions are held. Read on to discover the 10 best things to do if you travel to the French capital in April.

1. Take part in the Paris Marathon

Paris Marathon| ©Caravanum
Paris Marathon| ©Caravanum

The Paris Marathon begins on Sunday in early April at the Arc de Triomphe when 65,000 runners from around the world start the course on the Champs Elysees and around a quarter of a million spectators line the 26.2-mile (42.2 km) route to watch the race.

Pre-race events include the 3-day Paris Marathon Expo at Porte de Versailles, where you can also pick up your race bib, and a 5K breakfast run.

Whether you're running or watching the Marathon route, the course will provide spectacular views focused on iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower: Notre Dame, the Louvre or the two huge wooded parks of Paris. This beautiful tour can be done on foot if you hire a guided tour of Paris that also includes tickets to the Arc de Triomphe.

Book a guided tour of Paris with tickets to the Arc de Triomphe

2. Discover the Paris Art Fair

Paris Art Fair| ©FRANCOIS GUILLOT
Paris Art Fair| ©FRANCOIS GUILLOT

If modern or contemporary art is your passion, the annual Art Paris fair should be at the top of your must-see list for April:

  • It's held at the Grand Palais in early April.
  • You'll see works by more than 1,000 artists from over 70 countries.
  • Renowned and emerging artists perform special shows.
  • Solo exhibitions and digital projections are on display.
  • Tickets cost around 25 euros.

Paris is a city full of museums and works of art, and if you really want to make the most of your visit to the French capital my recommendation is to buy the Paris Pass, which includes tickets to many museums in the city, among other advantages such as access to the Big Bus Paris or a sightseeing cruise. Sounds good, doesn't it? Access to Big Bus Paris

Book the Paris Pass

3. Stroll in search of cherry blossoms

Notre Dam among the Cherry Trees| ©lagord5
Notre Dam among the Cherry Trees| ©lagord5

Although the magnolia in the city is starting to fade, there's no denying that some of the fluffiest cherry blossoms are in full bloom during the first two weeks of April. And nothing beats taking a tour of the Île de la Cité, Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle and La Conciergerie prison to behold them.

In fact, some of the best places to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Paris is in the trees surrounding Notre Dame Cathedral. You will see how just on the south side of the cathedral there are thousands of flowers in a totally pink color, as they reach their peak in April.

You can also cross the Seine and visit the Quai de Montebello. There, the density of cherry trees is even higher, so it is not uncommon to see a blanket of flowers that you can pick and put in a vase following the Parisian tradition. The smells are enchanting!

Take a tour of the Île de la Cité and Notre Dame

4. Tour the International Fair of Rare Books and Autographs

Person Reading| ©cottonbro
Person Reading| ©cottonbro

This annual event is a bibliophile's dream as there will be over one hundred and fifty exhibitors. The fair is held at the temporary Grand Palais on the Champ de Mars in the open air.

To be able to enjoy a literary atmosphere in the full bloom of spring without the walls acting as a screen is quite an experience. While it is true that the dates may vary depending on the weather, you will find all the information you need on the official site of the Champ de Mars.

A great option to get there and, incidentally, visit the most important places in Paris is to hire a seat on the Paris tourist bus.

Book a seat on the Paris tourist bus

5. Discover the Art and Design Fair PAD Paris

Artwork of the PAD Paris Art and Design Fair| ©MAR SANTAMARÍA
Artwork of the PAD Paris Art and Design Fair| ©MAR SANTAMARÍA

The Paris Art and Design event has been running for over 18 years in the Tuileries Gardens. It takes place at the beginning of April and only usually lasts 4 to 5 days, so make sure you don't miss this one, especially if art runs through your veins. And if this is the case, don't hesitate to book a private art tour in Paris, fully customized according to your interests and preferences.

Attendees range from professional designers and collectors to those who simply enjoy finding interesting pieces or inspiration for your home.

Book a private art tour in Paris

6. Enjoy spring in the Gardens of Versailles

Visiting the Gardens of Versailles| ©Dennis Jarvis
Visiting the Gardens of Versailles| ©Dennis Jarvis

While Versailles*is rarely empty, arriving at opening hours to discover the beautiful gardens surrounding the Royal Palace of Versailles is definitely worth it. What's more, if you're going to Paris for a day in April or if you're only traveling for two days in Paris, you should stop by this iconic place to get some fresh air and enjoy the grandeur of the place.

The fresh air that fills your lungs when you walk through the Grand Trianon is very special. If the weather is nice, it's a great option to buy tickets to the Palace of Versailles, the gardens and Marie Antoinette's estate and see the spring flowers, as they should be at the peak of their bloom.

Book an excursion to Versailles

7. Visit Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris| ©mariamartin23
Disneyland Paris| ©mariamartin23

April is one of the best months of the year to visit Disneyland Paris for two main reasons:

  • Excellent temperature: in April you avoid the excessive summer heat and winter cold. Taking into account that the park is outdoors and that you are going to spend a long time waiting in line, the weather conditions are more than relevant.
  • Less tourist influx: as long as you avoid the days of Easter (the years in which this holiday falls in April), this month is perfect to avoid the large crowds that occur in summer. It is true that there are less touristic months, but they are precisely those in which the weather is not very good.

If you have already decided, do not forget to book your tickets for Disneyland Paris in advance. When you make your reservation you can choose between buying the entrance to only one park (Disneyland or Walt Disney Studios) or save money by buying both. However, keep in mind that these tickets are for one day, so if you want to spend more time enjoying like a child, I recommend you to buy tickets for several days, which also include by default access to both parks.

Book tickets for Disneyland Paris

8. Take a day trip to the Château de Sceaux

Visiting Château de Sceaux| ©Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
Visiting Château de Sceaux| ©Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

The best time to take a day trip to the fairytale-like Château de Sceaux is in April.

After all, it is here, on the grounds of the French chateau, that you'll discover an orchard planted with cherry trees in full bloom in mid-April. While it's not a hidden gem as it was just a few years ago, be sure to head there as early as you can so you can enjoy the sights without the crowds!

9. Visit the annual Paris Book Fair

Book Exhibition| ©Benh LIEU SONG
Book Exhibition| ©Benh LIEU SONG

Speaking of books, another annual book fair is held in the French capital and is said to be one of the most popular literature-related festivals in the world- at the end of April, all kinds of books and bibliophiles descend on the city to celebrate the written word!

For more details about the fair you can visit the :::link|text=website of Livre Paris|url=https://www.festivaldulivredeparis.fr. Also, on the same website you can find out about the writings that will be attending and all the mini-events that will accompany these 3 days of international fair.

10. Fall in love with the Foire du Trone

At Foire du Trone| ©Thomas Collins
At Foire du Trone| ©Thomas Collins

The Foire du Trone attracts almost 5 million visitors and is held every year during the months of April and May in the Bois de Vicennes, 12th arrondissement. It is a fair famous for carnival rides, stuffed animals, fries and beer.

Admission is completely free and prices are quite reasonable. By metro you can get off at the Porte Dorée stop (it pays to know how to use the metro in Paris).

Visit Paris ' huge Foire du Trone to be part of a tradition that dates back to 857 when the 15-year-old King Lothair established the first Fun Fair. As a fun fact, the first fair was as a sort of festive marketplace replete with acrobats and games of chance to entertain the crowds.

11. Visit La Promenade Plantée

Entrance to the Promenade Plantée| ©jean-louis Zimmermann
Entrance to the Promenade Plantée| ©jean-louis Zimmermann

Spring is the perfect time to visit the Promenade plantée (also known as Coulée verte René-Dumont). A railroad track that was in disrepair until it was converted into a walkway in 1993 with flowers galore.

You can also get fantastic views of the city as you stroll along this 4.5 km elevated walkway with tons of green space Highly recommended in April!

Why you should visit Paris in April

View from the Sacré Coeur Basilica| ©Carlos Pinto
View from the Sacré Coeur Basilica| ©Carlos Pinto

We could name many reasons why you should visit Paris in April:

  • The first reason, without a doubt, is the onset of warm temperatures.
  • Another reason to visit the city of love at this time is to see the plants blooming, while the trees are naturally adorned with flowers and fruits.
  • April, along with October in Paris, are the best months to visit Paris because these months have a good balance between warm weather and fewer crowds.

Plus, you won't get bored here. I can assure you that there are plenty of things to do in Paris in April both outdoors and indoors.

The weather in Paris in April

Rainy day| ©Eduardo Espinoza Raggi
Rainy day| ©Eduardo Espinoza Raggi

The averages in April are slightly higher than in March in Paris. Not only does it rain slightly less, but it is also warmer than the previous month. The sun also shines more often. Paris in April experiences, on average, 25 mm, only slightly more than in March.

On the other hand, April comes with many hours of sunshine per day, around 5 to be more specific. To be in that region of Europe is quite a pleasure.

As for the temperature in Paris in April, it can rise considerably during the day, allowing pleasant walks along the Seine River or the city parks.

  • Minimum temperature: 7°C
  • Maximum temperature: 16°C
  • Average daytime temperature: 11°C

What to wear in Paris in April

Preparing your luggage| ©Vlada Karpovich
Preparing your luggage| ©Vlada Karpovich

If you are going to Paris in April you should know that the city will experience a little bit of everything during the whole month: rain, sun and wind. Comfortable sneakers during the day should definitely be on your list of what to take to Paris. And for the evening, pack a pair of synthetic leather boots, they will certainly come in handy as temperatures drop at that time of the day.

Unless it is unusually cold for the time of year, you won't need a hat or gloves; however, a light scarf always comes in handy in Paris. And as a final tip, be sure to pack a good anti-theft bag no matter where you go, especially if you are going for 7 days or more or need to move around a lot. Paris is full of pickpockets.

Tourist inflow in April in Paris

Walking around Paris| ©Earth
Walking around Paris| ©Earth

Paris is the most visited city in all of Europe. The peak tourist seasons of July through September in Paris see thousands of tourists wandering around Paris.

In April, the crowds are much smaller. Any attraction you visit will not have mile-long lines or crowds of people blocking the view.