Paris in March: Weather, Fewer Crowds and What's Open

Paris in March is a good month for travellers who care more about museums, food and walking than about sunbathing in a park. The city's school children are back in class between their winter and spring breaks, so the big sights are calmer than at Easter, and hotel prices are usually lower than in late spring. Weather is the trade-off: expect cool, changeable days with showers and the first signs of spring only towards the end of the month. This guide covers what March is like, which dates to plan around in 2027, what is open and a realistic 3-day plan.

Photo: GFreihalter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What the weather means for your plans

March is a transition month in Paris. Early March often feels like winter, grey and damp, while late March can bring mild, bright afternoons and blossom on the first trees. Most days you will want a warm jacket, and a few days you will carry it over your arm.

What matters for planning:

• Rain comes and goes. Showers are common but rarely last all day. Keep an indoor option close to each outdoor plan.
• Daylight grows quickly. Evenings get noticeably longer through the month, and the clocks move forward one hour on Sunday 28 March 2027, which pushes sunset past 8pm.
• Gardens wake up late in the month. The Tuileries, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Jardin des Plantes start to look green from mid to late March, depending on the year.

Pack layers, a waterproof jacket and shoes that can handle wet cobbles. Our winter packing list for city breaks still works for early March.

Paris in March 2027: dates to plan around

School holidays. Paris is in school zone C. In 2027 the winter holidays end on 22 February and the spring holidays start on 3 April, so the whole of March falls in term time. That is one of the main reasons March is quieter than February half-term or Easter.

Paris Fashion Week (1 to 9 March 2027). The women's autumn/winter shows bring buyers, press and models to the city. Most visitors will not notice the shows, but hotels in central areas can be busier and pricier that week.

Paris half marathon (Sunday 7 March 2027). Roads along the route close for the morning. If you are arriving that day, allow extra time for taxis.

First Sunday of the month (7 March 2027). Some museums, including the Musee d'Orsay, are free on the first Sunday of the month. At Orsay you still have to book a free time slot online in advance. Free Sundays are busy, so it is not always the best day to go even if it saves money.

Easter weekend (27 to 29 March 2027). Easter falls early in 2027, on 28 March. Easter Monday, 29 March, is a public holiday in France. Some shops close, museums mostly open, and the city fills with visitors from elsewhere in Europe. If you want a quiet March trip, go earlier in the month. If you are planning for Easter itself, our guide to Paris in April covers the busier spring weeks.

What's open in March

Almost everything. March is a full-season month for Paris museums and monuments. A few things to know:

• The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and open late on Wednesday and Friday evenings, until 9pm. Since January 2026, visitors from outside the European Economic Area pay a higher ticket price of 32 euros. Book a timed ticket online.
• The Musee d'Orsay is closed on Mondays. Its clock windows on the top floor are worth a visit on a clear day.
• The Centre Pompidou closed in September 2025 for a long renovation and is scheduled to reopen in 2030. Some of its collection is on show at partner venues.
• Notre-Dame cathedral reopened in December 2024. Entry to the cathedral is free, and lines are usually shorter on weekday mornings.
• Sainte-Chapelle is at its best on a bright morning, when the sun lights up the stained glass. On a grey day, swap it with a museum.

If you plan to visit three or more paid sights in two days, check whether a museum pass saves money for your list. Our guide on whether the Paris Museum Pass is worth it runs the numbers.

Photo: MrsEllacott / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Crowds and prices

March is not low season in the way January is, but it is calmer than April to October.

• Weekdays in early and mid March are the quietest. Major museums still have queues, but they are shorter.
• Weekends fill up, especially with visitors from London and Brussels on short breaks.
• Hotel prices tend to rise towards the end of the month, and Easter weekend is busier still.
• Restaurant bookings are easier than in spring and summer, though the most popular places still need a reservation for dinner.

Paris in March: a realistic 3-day plan

This plan keeps one indoor anchor in every day, so a wet afternoon does not break it. It follows the same shape as our 3 days in Paris itinerary.

Day 1: Islands and the Left Bank

• Morning: Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle on the Ile de la Cite.
• Lunch in the Latin Quarter.
• Afternoon: the Luxembourg Gardens if it is dry, or the Musee de Cluny if it is not.
• Evening: a walk along the Seine as the lights come on.

Day 2: The Louvre and the Tuileries

• Morning: the Louvre, booked for the first slot of the day. Pick three or four galleries rather than trying to see everything.
• Afternoon: walk through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde, then the Champs-Elysees or the Orangerie for Monet's Water Lilies.
• Evening: the Eiffel Tower area at sunset. Book the summit in advance if you want to go up.

Day 3: Orsay and Montmartre

• Morning: the Musee d'Orsay (not on a Monday).
• Afternoon: Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur and the streets behind it. Good on a clear day for views over the city.
• Evening: dinner in the 9th or 10th arrondissement.

If you want to add a day trip, Versailles is calmer in March than in summer, though the gardens look bare until spring. Copy the plan into RoamerPlanner and swap days based on the forecast once you are within a week of travel.

Photo: L-BBE / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Combining Paris with another city

March is a good month to add a second city, because train fares outside the holidays are often reasonable.

• Brussels is under an hour and a half by high-speed train. See our 2 days in Brussels plan.
• Lyon is about two hours south and known for its food. Our 2 days in Lyon plan pairs well with Paris.
• London is easy by Eurostar. If you are coming from outside Europe, check the new European entry rules before you travel; see our guide to ETIAS and EES.

Quick FAQ

Is March a good time to visit Paris? Yes, if you are happy with cool, sometimes wet weather. Crowds are lower than at Easter and in summer, and everything is open.

Is it cold in Paris in March? It is cool rather than freezing. Early March can feel wintry; late March is often mild in the afternoon. Bring layers and a waterproof jacket.

Are there school holidays in Paris in March 2027? No. Paris winter holidays end on 22 February 2027 and spring holidays start on 3 April 2027.

When is Easter in 2027? Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, and Easter Monday, 29 March, is a public holiday in France.

Sources, checked 31 October 2026: French Ministry of Education and Service Public school calendar 2026 to 2027 (zone C); Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode calendar; HOKA Semi de Paris official site; Musee du Louvre and Musee d'Orsay visitor information. Hotel price patterns are general observations, not quoted rates.