We are done with greyness and the cold, day after day. The sun is slowly coming out while days are getting longer and buds are blooming. Finally, Spring is coming! Just like animals are waking up from their hibernation period, the time has come for you to leave your cocoon again, so that you can make the most of warmer temperatures in Paris.
But what for, exactly? There’s a large choice of activities you can enjoy; that’s why we gathered 9 ideas in this article of seasonal activities to do in Paris, which will help you make the most of this new weather in fun and enjoyment.
Summary:
The events that take place for a day or a few days
The activities you can do all spring long
The Events That Take Place for a Day or a Few Days
1) The Color Run Paris
Even though the most famous run in Paris is the Paris marathon, which takes place on a long and symbolic distance of 42.195 km (26.219 miles), it is not the only one organised at that time of the year. Indeed, generally taking place during April, the Color Run Paris is a very original run.
Drawing its inspiration from the Holi, a festival of colours that celebrates the arrival of Spring in India, this run’s goal isn’t to be the first one to finish, but simply to have fun – and let yourself be sprayed with natural colourful powders (not harmful for your skin) each step of the 5 kilometers of this run!
Made for everyone, young and old, sporty or not, this is a run that you can easily do as fast or slowly as you want, which is then followed by the throwing of powders at the Eiffel Tower, and a music festival animated by DJs until the middle of the afternoon.
You will be able to celebrate the good days coming back in a very colourful way!
We like: everyone throwing the powders all together at the finish of the run, which enhances the sky around the Eiffel Tower with a perfect rainbow of colours.
When? Mid-April.
Where? Everywhere in Paris (with the finish on the Trocadéro).
Cost:
-15 years old fare: €30 a person.
Solo runner fare: €45 a person.
Team runner fare (2 to 10 persons): €40 a person.
Free for children under 5.
Prices are lower if you get your tickets during the first 2 months after the ticket office opens.
Included in the price:
A starter kit (including Sephora glasses, a white T-shirt, a headband, temporary tattoos and a numbered bib).
A finish kit (including food and water supplies, an access to the Finisher Festival NRJ Extravadance and a bag of colourful powder).
The Finisher Festival.
Visit the official website of the Color Run Paris (website in French)
2) The Easter Egg Hunt
Notice to the foodies and very especially the children: Easter bunnies are back with the Spring, and they left some surprises for you all around Paris… so go and look for the chocolate eggs they hid for this holiday!
Easter Egg hunts are organised in numerous places around the capital, like some parks and gardens, for example – or even the rooftop of the Grande Arche de la Défense. It allows parents to enjoy the wonderful panoramic view over the city while their children are searching for their chocolate eggs. But the most famous one in Paris must be the Chasse aux Œufs Solidaire, put together every year since 2008 by the Secours Populaire Français.
Combining a good cause and enjoyment, this egg hunt not only allows children to collect chocolate eggs for the occasion, but also raises awareness among them about solidarity values and promotes children rights while also raising some funds for the association.
This is thus an agreeable way of helping those who are in need!
We like: being able to participate in an important cause while allowing our children to participate in a traditional Easter Egg hunt.
When? The first Sunday after the first full moon following the 21st of March (i.e. between the 22nd of March and the 25th of April at the latest).
Where? Champs-de-Mars, 2, Allée Adrienne Lecouvreur, 75007 Paris.
Cost: from €5 for a solidarity fee (prices can be higher depending on the number of activities you want to take part in).
Learn more about the Chasse aux Œufs Solidaire
3) The Long Night of Museums
Every year since 2005 in France, the European Long Night of Museums allows people to visit a lot of different museums for free and by night on the 3rd Saturday of the month of May. Paris is very-well known for its museums, which is why it would be interesting to take part in this event while being there.
Whether you choose to visit one of the classic museums in Paris, like the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, or if on the contrary you would rather discover a quirkier museum, you will most likely find whatever you are looking for – something that will help you spend a nice cultural evening when days are starting to get longer and warmer temperatures are coming with the Spring!
We like: being able to extend our cultural view by discovering some Parisian museums at night and for free.
When? The 3rd Saturday of May.
Where? All of the museums in Paris.
Cost: free.
Learn more about the Long Night of Museums
4) Roland Garros
If you are a fan of sports, and more particularly of tennis, you have probably been waiting for this moment the whole year: Roland Garros is coming back this Spring!
During 3 weeks, come and attend this tournament where the stars of the event will meet in the famous Parisian stadium. Cheer your favourite one, hold your breath during a match point, congratulate the winner… Take part in this exceptional tennis competition!
We like: being able to cheer our favourite tennis players during this international annual tournament.
When? From the end of May to mid-June.
Where? Stade Roland Garros, 51, Boulevard d’Auteuil, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt.
Cost: from €20 for a simple ticket, sometimes up to €1,000, sometimes more, for an exceptional premium offer.
Discover the different offers available to go to Roland Garros
The Activities You Can Do All Spring Long
5) The Foire du Trône
Every year for more than 1,000 years, the Foire du Trône has been taking place in Paris during the Spring. Regarded as the oldest and biggest fair in Paris, the Foire du Trône gathers more than 5 million visitors across several weeks.
With more than 350 rides and a lot of food stands, the Foire du Trône stands as the perfect place to spend some time with your family or your friends in the fun and enjoyment of Spring, where you will be able to enjoy your stay together in a very festive atmosphere.
We like: having a large choice of rides to enjoy a day spent with your friends or family under the Spring sunshine.
When? From the end of March until the end of May.
Where? Pelouse de Reuilly, 75012 Paris.
Cost: free entry (charge for rides and food services).
Go to the official website of the Foire du Trône
6) The Dimanches au Galop (Cantering Sundays)
You don’t know what to do on Sundays? From March to May, come and discover the equestrian world, and more specifically the one of horse racing, at the ParisLongchamp or Auteuil racecourses. The whole family is welcomed to these events, with a lot of activities for children, which will help them learn more about horses in a fun and enjoyable way.
Adults won’t be left out either, since horse races are organised as well, which you can of course attend – something that will make your Sunday better!
We like: being able to discover the world of horse racing during a day filled with a fun and festive atmosphere.
When? Every Sunday from mid-March to the end of May.
Where? Hippodrome d’Auteuil, Route d’Auteuil aux Lacs, 75016 Paris – Hippodrome ParisLongchamps, 2, Route des Tribunes, 75016 Paris.
Cost:
Adult fare: €6 online – €8 at the venue.
Free for children under 18.
Visit the website of the Dimanches au Galop
7) Rollers et Coquillages (Rollerblades and Shells)
With the sun and nice weather coming back little by little, the time has come for you to go out instead of staying locked inside and under the bed covers. What better way to do so than putting on a pair of rollerblades and going and discovering Paris in a quirky way?
That’s what the “Rollers and Coquillages” company offers with their strolls around the capital every Sunday – they will help you (re)discover the City of Light while rollerblading across its numerous streets. All of this is supervised by a group of volunteers and follows a route previously created by a team of people who know Paris well. There’s no need to worry about traffic jams – the routes are safe and even followed by police cars.
Accessible to all people who know the basics of rollerblading, beginners as well as real experts, these strolls are perfect to spend a springtime Sunday with the whole family.
We like: being able to go rollerblading safely on secured routes and to (re)discover Paris this way.
When? Every Sunday afternoon.
Where? All of Paris (leaves from the Place de la Bastille, 75011 Paris).
Cost: free (you can join the association by paying a €30 initial fee).
You can rent some equipment if you don’t have your own.
Visit the official website of the Rollers & Coquillages association (website in French)
8) Visiting the Parc zoologique de Paris (Paris Zoo)
Springtime is probably one of the best times to go to the zoo, with days getting warmer but not too warm, which will probably make the animals want to go out of their hiding places to leisurely bask in the sun. This will allow you to watch them while enjoying a nice walk, which is a good feature for a fun day with your family!
On top of that, it is during this period the Paris Zoo starts organising activities again, such as a “biodiversity route” that opens in May and allows you to learn more about the life of the different species you can find in the zoo.
We like: the “biodiversity route,” which allows you to always learn more about these animals from the world and understand them better, especially about how they live.
When? During the whole of Spring (the “biodiversity route” only begins in the middle of May).
Where? Parc zoologique de Paris, Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris.
Cost:
Adult entry: €20.
Reduced fee adult (from 13 years): €17.
Children’s entry (3 to 12 years): €15.
Those are the prices for a ticket without a date, valid until a year after you buy it.
Book your visit to the zoo of Paris
9) A visit to the Parc Astérix
If you’re not interested in seeing some animals and would rather have some thrills, you might want to go to the Parc Astérix. It closes for winter as soon as the All Saints holidays end and opens again to the public during springtime. Come inside this world inspired by the universe of Uderzo and Goscinny’s comic books, and take a trip to the past, when France was still part of Gaul, thanks to a lot of rides and shows.
Located 40 minutes away from Paris by car, this theme park is perfect for a trip with your whole family, or with your friends!
We like: diving into the world of these comic books during a day spent in the world of Astérix and Obélix.
When? From the beginning of April.
Where? Parc Astérix, 60128 Paris.
Cost: from €41 for an adult ticket for a day – €38 for a children’s ticket (prices can vary depending on the offer you choose).
Book a ticket to the Parc Astérix
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
