Paris event weekends: what to do between sessions
Museums, cafés and the Seine, with Versailles, Giverny and the Champagne region all reachable as day trips.
Events we cover in Paris
21 Jan 2027*Maison&Objet
Paris, FranceTrade show6 Feb 2027*Six Nations weekend in Paris
Paris, FranceRugby22 Feb 2027*Paris Fashion Week
Paris, FranceCulture5 Mar 2027*Paris Half Marathon
Paris, FranceMarathon9 Apr 2027*Paris Marathon
Paris, FranceMarathon23 May 2027*Roland-Garros (French Open)
Paris, FranceTennis9 Jun 2027*VivaTech
Paris, FranceTrade show21 Jun 2027*Paris Air Show
Paris, FranceTrade show30 Jun 2027*Paris World Games
Paris, FranceYouth tournament16 Jul 2027*Lollapalooza Paris
Paris, FranceFestival25 Jul 2027*Tour de France final stage (Paris)
Paris, FranceCycling25 Aug 2027*Rock en Seine
Paris, FranceFestival20 Oct 2027*Art Basel Paris
Paris, FranceCulture19 Jun 2028*Eurosatory
Paris, FranceTrade show9 Oct 2028*Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l'Auto)
Paris, FranceTrade show
Paris, FranceTrade show6 Feb 2027*Six Nations weekend in Paris
Paris, FranceRugby22 Feb 2027*Paris Fashion Week
Paris, FranceCulture5 Mar 2027*Paris Half Marathon
Paris, FranceMarathon9 Apr 2027*Paris Marathon
Paris, FranceMarathon23 May 2027*Roland-Garros (French Open)
Paris, FranceTennis9 Jun 2027*VivaTech
Paris, FranceTrade show21 Jun 2027*Paris Air Show
Paris, FranceTrade show30 Jun 2027*Paris World Games
Paris, FranceYouth tournament16 Jul 2027*Lollapalooza Paris
Paris, FranceFestival25 Jul 2027*Tour de France final stage (Paris)
Paris, FranceCycling25 Aug 2027*Rock en Seine
Paris, FranceFestival20 Oct 2027*Art Basel Paris
Paris, FranceCulture19 Jun 2028*Eurosatory
Paris, FranceTrade show9 Oct 2028*Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l'Auto)
Paris, FranceTrade show
Arriving
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is linked to central Paris by RER B (35 minutes to Gare du Nord) and taxis at a flat 56 to 65 euros. Orly (ORY) has metro line 14 to Châtelet in 25 minutes and flat taxi fares of 36 to 44 euros.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | République, Canal Saint-Martin and Belleville | Cheaper rooms, good bars and many metro lines. |
| Mid-range | Le Marais and Saint-Germain | Walk to the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the islands. |
| Splurge | 8th arrondissement and the Golden Triangle | Palace hotels near the Champs-Élysées. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Generator Paris
- Mid-range: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
- Splurge: Le Bristol Paris
Tours
Half day · Indoor · Low walking
Louvre guided tour with skip-the-line entry
The highlights in two to three hours.
Half day · Low walking · Family
Seine river cruise
One hour past the monuments; evening cruises with dinner too.
Full day · Family
Versailles palace and gardens
Palace, Hall of Mirrors and the gardens by RER C or coach.
Full day · Low walking
Giverny and Monet's garden
Water lilies and the painter's house (April to October).
Where to eat
- Bouillon Chartier
- Le Comptoir du Relais
- L'As du Fallafel
- Breizh Café
- Marché des Enfants Rouges
- Du Pain et des Idées
- Le Relais de l'Entrecôte
- Septime
With kids
- Jardin d'Acclimatation playground and rides.
- Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.
- Parc Astérix north of the city.
Rainy-day backups
- Louvre, Orsay and the Orangerie.
- Covered passages near the Grands Boulevards.
- Galeries Lafayette rooftop and food hall.
Free things to do
- Walk the Seine banks from the Louvre to Notre-Dame.
- Sacré-Cœur steps at sunset.
- Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries.
- First Sunday free entry at many museums in winter.
Getting around
- Metro and RER run until about 1:15 am (2:15 am on Saturdays). Use a Navigo Easy card or contactless.
- Stade de France is reached by RER B (La Plaine) or RER D (Stade de France Saint-Denis); Roland-Garros by metro line 9 or 10.
- Uber, Bolt and G7 taxis work in French cities.
- SNCF TGV and Ouigo trains link the big cities; book on SNCF Connect.