Labour Day (May 1) in Paris

I think that any information about protests is very premature. However, May 1 is indeed a major holiday, just the same a Christmas and New Years day. Expect almost everything to be closed.

I would never spend an entire day at the airport where there is very little to nothing to do.

I'd not head for the airport hotel until after dinner. Leave your luggage at the hotel in Paris (or if you are in an apartment, at Gare du Nord left luggage) and then have a nice day in Paris. Because most (not all, but most) tourist attractions are closed, it is a good day for a neighborhood walk. There are all sorts of 'Paris Walks' books with routes so you know what you are seeing. There will be a few cafes open along the way. The big parks are open -- a good day for a picnic. and the big demonstration is interesting to watch; we did that a couple of years ago. But it is also easy to avoid if you want to do that.

If weather is nice, a nice day for a Seine Cruise or walk along the river and picnic.

After dinner head for the airport hotel and bed. Absolutely don't get stuck out there all day or try to eat there.

We booked our arrival on May 1st, 2019 without paying attention to the fact it was a holiday. In retrospect, I’m glad we did. While there was a protest in another part of the city, and heavy police presence near govt. buildings with some street blockades, Paris was (to our eyes) a completely different city that day. Families were out biking and strolling and generally enjoying a day off. Some restaurants were closed but many were open. There were muget de bois for sale on some of the street corners near our hotel, if we’d wanted to celebrate that custom. So, if you are able to get transportation into the city, I’d do that rather than spend the day at the airport hotel.

The Jacquemart-Andre Museum is open every day including May 1.

https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/prepare-your-visit/opening-times-and-access

I loved walking around and seeing all the sellers of the Muguet bouquets. I saw a number of charitable organizations set up selling them (including the local ambulance crews) and it was kind of a festive atmosphere.

There is indeed always the planned protest march celebrating workers’ rights, but the location is known well in advance (and the Front National — now called the Rassemblement National) always gathers at the Jeanne d’Arc statue in the 1st (on Rue de Rivoli basically at the very western end of the Louvre).

Wow! Thank you for all the responses. I appreciate all of you and feel better about spending that day in Paris.