The Ultimate Fall Travel Guide to Paris

While all seasons draw people to Paris, fall is a particularly exciting time. La rentrée — when kids go back to school and their parents back to work after the long summer vacation — brings a buzzing cultural season with museum exhibitions and events. Plus, a lot of hotly anticipated restaurants and hotels choose to open at this time. From packing tips to the best things to do, we have you covered this season with our ultimate fall guide.

What to Pack

To some, the fall is considered one of the best times to stroll the streets of Paris. Autumnal looks are on full display. The key to handling the changes in weather and temperature is layering. Here’s a basic packing list to ensure you fit in.

1. Trenchcoat: In Paris, you always have to be prepared for rainy days, and being fashionable is a must even in the pluie. Oh, and if you’re looking for a stylish umbrella, check out our guide here.
2. Basics: Keep it simple and go for layering. Items like black tops, white turtlenecks, and basic sweaters will be your best friend. An easy go-to, that you can dress up or down. Typically, up.
3. Boots: Along with your other shoes, a pair of boots you can walk in will go a long way. This prepares you for rain, colder weather, and anything nature is leaving behind in the streets.
4. Dark Jeans: You’ll want to retire the flowy skirts in place of pants now. Dark colors work well with various tops and jackets. Jeans are always in style. Other types of dark pants are good substitutes but keep things simple and classy.
5. Sweaters: Fashion’s best friend! This is the perfect season for sweaters. Pullover, cardigan, you name it. They’ll keep you warm while also providing the effortless simple look and can help keep any outfit classy when needing a little extra layer.
6. Scarves: Enough said.

Now that you’ve got your bag packed, you might be wondering what to do once you get there. We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the events happening in Paris this fall, as well as all the hot new restaurants to visit this season.

What to See and Do

Nuit Blanche

This fantastic annual event (“Sleepless Night”) takes place on October 1st this year. Completely free and open to the public, Nuit Blanche is a showcase of contemporary art with installations set up all over the city. The RATP will be keeping the metro running all night, too. To celebrate the 20th anniversary this year, Nuit Blanche presents three different urban routes: Center, South, North. Check out the full program here.

The wine harvest festival in Montmartre

This annual event takes place at the Butte Montmartre from October 5th to 9th. The last remaining vineyard in Paris throws a party to celebrate the harvest and activities include a famous parade, concerts, tastings, exhibitions, and dance. For more information, see our feature article here.

Edvard Munch at the Musée d’Orsay

The Musée d’Orsay is devoting an exhibition to the famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944), whose work spans 60 years of creation. According to the Orsay, “The exhibition will present about a hundred works, paintings, but also drawings, prints or even engraved blocks, reflecting the diversity of his practice.”

“Facing the sun” at the Marmottan-Monet

From the 25th of January to the 11th of June, 2023, the Marmottan-Monet will be running an exhibition centered on the iconic painting “Impression, soleil levant” (“Impression, Sunrise”). This painting was the one of most famous of Monet’s, having launched the Impressionism art movement.

“Things, a history of still lifes” at the Louvre

From 12 October 2022 – 23 January 2023, the Louvre will be presenting a new perspective on the still life, what’s often considered a minor genre. What is it about our attachment to material things? To quote the official website: “Depictions of things, which date back to prehistoric times, are a wonderful window into history. Artists were the first to take things seriously by recognizing their presence, imbuing them with life, glorifying their forms and meanings, their power and charm. They captured the ability of objects to fire our imagination – to make us believe, doubt, dream or act.”

Hyperrealism at the Maillol

Fiction or reality? Art or photograph? From the 8th of September to the 5th of March 2023, the Musée Maillol will be showcasing a Hyperrealism exhibition. The genre showcases the human body, and in doing so creates art so realistic it’s hard to distinguish between art and photo.

Gérard Garouste at the Centre Pompidou

Running from the 7th of September to the 2nd of January 2023, this retrospective showcases the work of one of the most important French contemporary artists and “proponent of uncompromising figuration.”

Frida Kahlo at the Palais Galliera

This venue in the 16th arrondissement is the go-to museum for fashion and fashion history. The special Frida Kahlo exhibition, showing until March 5, 2023, tells the story of the artist’s life through over 200 pieces, from jewelry to famous traditional dresses. Make sure you book tickets online in advance- there’s already high demand for this exhibit.

Looking for more cultural inspiration? Check out our popular Paris events calendar.

Where to Eat, Drink, and Sleep

Braise

This could be one of the most buzzed-about restaurant openings of the season. The 26-year-old chef Sylvain Courivaud, who worked alongside Matthias Marc (ex-Top Chef) at the Michelin-starred Substance, will take the reins at this new hot spot, in collaboration with Matthias Marc and Stéphane Manigold. The theme here is cuisine cooked by fire. 

Address: 19 Rue d’Anjou, 8th 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sylvain Courivaud (@sylvain.courivaud)

Bonnie at the SO/Paris Hotel

This trendy new rooftop restaurant (by the Paris Society) is perched on the top of a brand-new Seine-side hotel. With stunning panoramas, this restaurant-cum-club opened this September and spans two levels on the 15th and 16th floors of the hotel. 

Address: 10 Rue Agrippa d’Aubigné, 4th 

Restaurant TenZen

This new spot in the 1st arrondissement is dedicated to authentic Japanese tempura and cuisine. To quote their website: “The backbone of the restaurant is the decorations and furnishings, designed to provide a traditional, uniquely Japanese atmosphere for welcoming guests that features not only a dining space but also movement lanes for guests, open areas, flowers, plates, furnishings, and more.” 

Address: 8 Rue de l’Échelle, 1st 

Maison Delano Paris

The Maison Delano hotel is preparing to open its doors inside a historical mansion in the 8th arrondissement, just steps from Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré. The Accor Group and Katara Hospitality are behind the first Maison Delano establishment in Paris. A highlight will be the gourmet restaurant overseen by three-star Michelin Chef Dani García. To quote the official website: “García is positioned as one of the Andalusian chefs with the greatest international projection to this day. He defines himself as an ‘artisan of flavor’ who manages to combine the products of his land together with the techniques and ingredients of the most international cuisine.”

Address: 4 rue d’Anjou, 8th

Bloom

This newly opened venue features all kinds of vegetarian sushi. Its unique take on plant-based sushi makes it a new hot spot for those needing a sushi fix in the city. Exclusively open in the evenings, from 5-10 p.m. 

Address: 99 Rue Jouffroy d’Abbans, 17th 

Cavalieri

Don’t miss the new Mediterranean restaurant from Bruno Verjus, the food critic-cum-restaurateur behind the Michelin-starred Table restaurant. Now, he opens Cavalieri with a menu shining a light on Transalpine and Greek dishes, as well as specialties from Lebanon and Morocco.

Address: 71 Avenue Paul Doumer, 16th

VIVE, Maison Mer

Slated to debut on October 1st, VIVE Maison Mer is the new seafood restaurant from famous Michelin-starred chef Stéphanie Le Quellec alongside her husband David. This new spot will open on the site of a former seafood favorite, the Rech restaurant by Alain Ducasse– now moved to the gardens of La Maison de l’Amérique latine in St Germain. VIVE will highlight the splendid ingredients and seafood of the Normandy region where the couple now live (previously they spent 10 years living in Provence).

Address: 62 avenue des Ternes, 17th