9 ways to celebrate the spring in Paris this year
We’re already officially a few weeks in, but only now does it truly feel like spring in Paris. The Parisians are back from their Easter vacations and settling into their new routines, delighted by longer days and warmer temperatures.
And it’s not just the locals who feeling the season. Visitors to Paris during these warmer spring months have a tendency to get downright giddy (weather-permitting).
To help you get your giddy on, here are 9 ways to celebrate the spring this year in Paris, nearly all of them outdoors.
1. Drink on a terrace
Find me a Parisian who doesn’t love a chilled beer or glass of rosé while sitting on a sun-soaked terrace – I dare you. This is the most typical way to usher in warmer temperatures with friends, drinks, food, and sun. Here are some of my favorite drinks to order at an outdoor cafe.
2. Picnic in a park
If the terraces are too crowded, take your bottle and baguette to the closest waterfront or park and set yourself up with a picnic. I can’t stress enough the importance of picnicking in the springtime. Sure, go ahead and visit the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower, but then, before all else, have a picnic.
Here are some favorite items to pick up at the butcher in Paris, and here are some recommended picnic spots.
(Photo: seafolke)
3. Spend the Night at the Museums
The European-wide Nuit aux Musées on May 16 offers a unique way to experience some of Paris’s most iconic galleries. Museums are open at night and cost nothing to entrer. Games, illuminations, and guided tours await those who can stay up late enough. Read more about it here.
(Photo: anhgemus-photography)
4. Bike about
Check out the “I Vélib I Can Fly” exhibit at the Hôtel de Ville, April 2 to May 16, 2015. The exhibit features work by international artists who just love biking through their cities (who can blame them?). And of course, it’s free. Maybe afterward you’ll feel inspired to take a spin on a Vélib on your way to your next destination (here’s how to use the cheapo bike share program).
(Photo: gregcullen)
5. Head to the Bois de Vincennes for a carnival
For those looking to get a breath of fresh air, spend the day in the Bois de Vincennes to the east of Paris. The annual fair, the Foire du Trône, runs from March 27 to May 25 and features family-friendly activities and food, including rides, games, and of course churros. There will be fireworks on May 1st to sweeten the deal.
(Photo: kerolic)
6. Spend rainy days with Edith, Napoléon, and Gaultier
When April showers cometh, head inside for one of the many springtime exhibits featuring some very famous Frenchies. This season’s must-see shows include an Edith Piaf show that will go up at the BNF, a Napoléon exhibit hitting the Carnavalet, and a Jean-Paul Gaultier show that has already landed at the Grand Palais.
(Photo: calips96)
7. Take a stroll
Why not celebrate springtime with a good old-fashioned stroll? Explore the old railways of the Petite Ceinture and the Coulée Verte, or simply make your way along the Seine until you can walk no more. It’s so much nicer to stroll the city without being bundled up under layers of scarves and sweaters.
(Photo: Paris.fr)
8. Ahoy! Float along the Canal St-Martin
You might want to forget walking and biking and give into your nautical side instead. You can rent a small boat along the Canal de l’Ourcq (€40 for 1 hour in a five-person boat) and enjoy the Canal St-Martin from a new perspective. It’s not the cheapest activity, but split five ways, you can spend an hour or two without breaking the bank. No license required!
(Photo: fatemeh)
Strawberry season at the Marche d’Aligre. Photo: ligelena
9. Taste the springtime
Springtime means we can ignore the cabbage and potatoes at the market and lighten up our dining habits a bit. Seasonal eating is important to the French, so in April and May we’ll feast on cherries, strawberries, apricots, asparagus, and creamy goat cheeses. The Marché d’Aligre (daily except Monday) is a local favorite to visit, but the Bastille market is an enormous bustling alternative (open Thurs and Sun).
How do you celebrate the springtime in Paris?
Have a springy activity to add to our list? Tell us how you celebrate the springtime in Paris in our comments section below.
About the author
