You’re planning to visit the City of Lights in May or June, but you are not sure whether it is as lovely as it is in summer? In this article, we give you some good reasons to visit Paris during these months. You will discover the advantages in terms of climate and number of tourists, etc., but also a list of the most important events that take place during these two months.
1) Weather is hot, but not that hot
It’s sunny in May and June, really sunny. Winter has definitely gone, summer is coming and the sun shines very often. It is true that there is a little bit of rain from time to time, but not very often, and when it stops raining, the sky becomes cloudless. In addition, you can dress as if it was summer, but you will not have to bear the high temperatures of July and August. It is also an opportunity to go for a picnic in a park (the Champs de Mars is a must) or on the banks of the Seine (or the Ourcq and Saint-Martin channels, which are less crowded).
2) There are fewer tourists
To begin with, it’s a good time to visit the city because in Europe the holidays do not begin until July; so during these two months there will certainly be fewer tourists than in summer. This means that you can walk slowly, enjoy the small streets and visit the monuments without having the crowds that push you away all the time. In addition, public transport will be less crowded and more comfortable.
3) There are less improvement works
Summer (July-August) is often a good season for doing improvement works on the subway, RER and train lines. Parisians are on holidays, so the authorities take advantage of this situation to do all the works, so as to avoid congestion problems. This means that in May and June, there are less works and you can use all transportation without any inconvenience.
4) Days are longer
In fact, if you do not have enough days off and you want to save time, May and June are the perfect period to visit the city of love. During this months, days are longer, which means that the sun goes down later and gets up earlier. So you can enjoy long days to walk in the city, since the sun will shine until around 10:00pm.
5) Enjoy Roland Garros
Do you like sports? Are you a superfan of tennis? If the answer is yes, do not hesitate too much and buy your tickets to come to Paris in June. You may be wondering why in June, but the answer is more than obvious: it’s the season of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament! So if you want to enjoy one of the biggest French sport events, June is the perfect time to discover the capital.
6) Take part in the “European Night of Museums”
If sport is not what you like the most, there is also the European Night of Museums, an evening during which all the museums of the city are free. Come and enjoy this wonderful event that takes place on the third Saturday in May and discover one of the museums of the capital. There is something for everyone; you can stay with classics like the Louvre or you can “take a risk” and discover something more exotic, like the Musée de l’Homme, for example. That’s one more reason to visit the city of love in May and June.
For more information about this event, click here.
7) It’s the music period
For music fans, May and June is the perfect time to visit the city. During this period, music is in the air, there are events every week and you feel like you are at a musical festival all the time.
To begin with, on June 21st is the Music Festival, which coincides with the beginning of the summer season. However, if this is not enough, there is also the festival ‘We Love Green’, a musical event with a rock-pop program; the Paris Jazz Festival (only in French) for those who love this type of music; the Solidays festival (only in French), a primarily musical festival whose profits goes to AIDS associations, and many other musical events.
8) And the Film Festival
If you prefer cinema, the months of May and June are perfect to discover the city of love. In fact, every year in June, moviegoers can enjoy cinema sessions at €4 per person. It is also an opportunity to discover less-known films and visit the most famous cinemas in the city, such as the Grand Rex. If you are tired of Hollywood movies, do not miss this opportunity and discover other productions.
For more information about this event, click here.
9) Finally, the Gastronomy Festival
Of course we could not leave the greedy out of this! So, if what you love is food, take your bags and come enjoy the delights of the Parisian festival of gastronomy, which is held every year in May. Known as the Taste of Paris, this event offers a tasting of signature dishes and specialties from the best restaurants in the French capital, as well as the discovery of the latest trends in Parisian gastronomy and the chance to meet the greatest chefs of the city. And if this is not enough, during the festival you will also have the opportunity to buy high-quality products from the best producers in the region.
If all these arguments somehow fail to convince you, we advise you to read our article about the best time of the year to visit Paris, which will explain in detail the events that are held in town during each month of the year.
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!
