Paris - Winter or Spring and Apartment Location

There is a reason that “April in Paris” is a cliche - because it is GLORIOUS. February can be mild, but it can also be very cold and damp (or freezing!) and there are fewer hours of daylight.

There will be more tourists in April, but I think the sun, balmy weather, flowers, and extra hour or so of daylight will more than offset extra people. April in Paris is amazing and romantic and perfect. :-)

The apartment choice for April looks cute! I agree that a lovely view would be ideal… but it isn’t a deal breaker, I wouldn’t say. That said, if you haven’t checked locations a tad further out, I would encourage you to do so: you might get something within budget that also has a view. Central Paris is very compact and easy to navigate on public transport.

Absolutely April -- it might be cold and rainy and will certainly be showery but that is when the wisteria is in bloom the chestnuts are blossoming and your odds of some delightful days are high. The days are also longer. February is the worst.

miuccia - thanks for the additional apartment listings. Sadly they require a longer stay than 7 days, and the apartments that are for that time period, are more expensive. Something that I have run across on my search for places to stay.

Volva - I'll keep on looking for places. I did have a list of different options in April that were further out, but by the time the calendar for the school year was available, they were no longer available. I think that will be one of the challenges, affordable options book way in advance. If I find anything else, I'll add them to my posting for review in regards to location etc.

I have looked at cheaper hotels, but for a week, I'm thinking an apartment would be better for me. I have stomach issues and eating out too much, besides expensive, just doesn't do me much good. Now if I could find a hotel with a mini fridge, that would work. But I'm finding that mini fridges are not common in the less expensive places.

The April dates would be 6th-13th in case anyone has places that they have stayed that would work.

I strongly disagree with not going in February.

My last two trips to Paris, for two weeks each, have been in February and one in very early March.
Cheaper airfare, less people, less line ups, plenty to do if it snows or rains.
Museums, galleries, musical performances, cafes.
I loved it and would go again in winter.
It was about 5-10C most days, perfect for walking and exploring.
There was some sleet one day, but no snow that stayed around.

I don’t know where you are from, but if you live in a cold-in-winter climate, you already have the clothes!
Sturdy waterproof walking shoes or boots, and waterproof jacket with layers beneath.
I’d go!

(Ah..just noticed you are from W. Washington.)

S J - yup, got a nice waterproof winter coat that covers my behind in case I want to sit on cold benches. Have been to Venice/Florence a couple of times mid December and didn't mind the weather. But Paris is more north...
I'm torn, but perhaps not finding anything in April may end up being the deciding factor.

So, if I do decide to go in February, any thoughts on the apartments I listed?

"Beautiful studio" appears to have its entry up a flight of exterior stairs. If this is true, I would maybe not want to deal with that on/after a rainy day. Also, it looks like you'd be overlooking the dumpsters? Could be noisy, depending on how often the trash is collected. Both places look very nice inside.
As a fellow PNW mole person, I agree that February is just fine. Probably colder and drier than at home? And drier feels colder, IMO.
Have a great time!

Another option might be an apartment hotel.

Generally more flexibility on dates, length of stay etc.

Citadines
Adagio
Fraser Suites

I’ve done early March. It was cold but wonderful

And almost every hotel I’ve stayed in has a mini fridge. Look for mini bar as the description

I’ve used vacation in Paris at least 4 times. No problems.

If I had to choose one of the ones you have listed, Lynn, I’d definitely pick the one with the sofa, even though it looks like you enter straight in from outside.
It will be more comfy than trying to lounge on a bed or hard chair in the evenings, as the others have no sofa or comfy chairs.

You’re going to get wet outside if it rains anyway!

What do you think of the locations?

For Saint Germain, the one with the sofa is 10min walk from Musée d'Orsay.
The other one is by Luxemboug gardens.

The garden one (VIP) is in the 7th, but I understand it's in a pedestrian only area by Champs-Élysées.

Your first PVA apartment is a fine choice. I have family who will be staying there for the second time this November. I’ll be staying in a hotel just down the street at the same time. It’s a great area, not as busy as north of Blvd St Germain, but still close to great food and transportation. The boulangerie on the corner is excellent as is Bread and Roses a block away. Georgette is a lovely restaurant close by. Jardin du Luxembourg is a block away and easy to enjoy for short breaks. I wouldn’t be adverse to going in February; I have been in Paris in December and this time will be visiting in November. There is something to be said about fewer crowds these days:)

I, too, have had several good trips to Paris in February. Less tourists makes a huge difference for me, as does the lower prices. February, believe it or not,is one of the drier months and I’d much rather deal with a bit of cold weather than rain. I can readily dress for the cold, but rain is just a pain.

I've decided to travel in February and am staying at the chic studio. I wanted to thank you all for your insights and help.

I think ideally I would have liked to travel in April for the reasons @miuccia had stated (who I now notice has sadly removed their posts) but I don't do well in large crowds. After reading all the recent news of over-tourism and knowing that many did not travel during the Olympics, I believe crowds will be larger than I can handle in April. So, I bought a cheap ticket, have this inexpensive apartment, will limit eating out, and thus hope that this makes it easier to manage my expectations. I personally find the less I pay for a trip, the more I'm able to shrug off the less than pleasant parts, which for this trip will most likely be the weather.

So now it's time to spend the fun part figuring out what I want to see for a week. Notre-Dame opens in December and was what originally put Paris on my mind. Now to fill in the rest of the days.

Have been in April and weather is nice. I was there In November 2021 and November 2023 for the whole month as well as a week in April 2023. Weather can be fickle. S, F, 70-, solo, public transpo only. Only stay in apts and only with booking.com. I am going again in April 2023 and the prices seems to have skyrocketed. I usually book 9 months out and the difference in prices is mind blowing. I do have to admit I am extremely particular as I am living there for a month so washer, light, microwave, nicely decorated, not too many stairs, quaint and quirky is fine and more than 400sf and very close to a metro. A lot more seem to be pay in advance or non-refundable and unless they are a 10 out of 10 or I have stayed in them before do not book. These certainly are my opinions only.

You might want to look at Vincennes/southeast Paris on Metro line 1. Great metro and seemed to be the metro for everywhere I wanted to go.

Lynn,
There a number of free museums in Paris, and churches are free. Notre Dame is free but you have to pay to climb up to the roof. The dept. stores (many beautiful ones) are free, and from Galeries Lafayette's rooftop you get a nice view of Paris. It is free to walk around the Eiffel Tower (so impressive from the Champs de Mar!), and to stroll along the Seine. The bouquinistes are fun to look at on a stroll across the river from Notre Dame. Jardins de Luxembourg are free to wander, as are the Tuileries. A ride on the Seine on the Vedettes de Pont Neuf is a good deal for the price. (Sit up top but dress warm.)
Google free things to do in Paris for a list of museums, etc. that are free. And many, such as the Louvre, are free the first Sunday of the month. Some that charge entry fees are quite inexpensive...lots of bang for the buck. Montmarte hill gives an expansive view of Paris, and Sacre Coeur Basilica is lushly covered with golden tiles inside. After dark relax at a cafe or bistro with a nice meal and a glass of wine. It will be dark early, but Paris is like New York in that people are out and about late. Many churches and venues have concerts in the evening, and prices for these are better than New York and Los Angeles, IMO.
You can enjoy Paris without spending a fortune. Just make your plans around what you need to see and do in daylight hours (outside).

Forum contributors here have, in the past, made recommendations for eateries that won't kill your budget. Do a search through the forum for ideas.
Best of luck!
However,

Late February isn't that bad, typically winter is mostly behind us by then, and the days are getting longer. But early April has longer, slightly warmer days: this seems better to me when exploring a city for the first time. Crowd levels are high in Paris anyways, so I am not sure that this should be a deciding factor.

But early April has longer, slightly warmer days: this seems better to me when exploring a city for the first time.

I agree with this advice - for a first time visitor, longer days and warmer weather will matter a lot to the first timer for taking in as much of Paris and its attractions and sights as possible.

We have been to Paris more than a dozen times, it is our favorite destination, and our focus now is less on hitting a bunch of museums with timed entry tickets and more on just "being" there, neighborhood strolls, window shopping, lingering at meals, ducking into a movie theater on a rainy afternoon...and as such, we enjoy Paris just as much in December as April or October (we are returning this October)...

Crowd levels are high in Paris anyways, so I am not sure that this should be a deciding factor.

Agree with Balso again...Paris is crowded year round now, but you will likely save some $ on hotels and airfare by visiting in the winter (although December is very popular, and closer to the XMAS holidays is no bargain, but it is a wonderful time of year to be there). We haven't been back to Paris in the peak summer season (peak heat and crowding) in over a decade. In that regard, any visit to Paris from say October to March/April is a winner to me. May and September have slipped into more summer like crowding since the return of tourists post Covid, and we are less likely to visit during those months.

Congratulations on making your decisions about the two most difficult ones to make: the time to visit and where to stay. The studio apartment you chose is quaint and adorable. It is in one of the most desirable areas of Paris and includes a washer/dryer in case you want to pack light. It looks very reasonably priced in February.

You are near the Place de Voges, a sweet area, which includes Victor Hugo's house. You can visit the museum for free, btw.
You mention that now all you have to do is fill your time--that should be no problem! The people on this forum are very informed and can help you with that if you wish. Have a great time in Paris!

I stayed in that Garden Studio apartment years ago. It's owned by the owner of Vacation In Paris. There's a reason why it's so inexpensive. It's not luxurious. Sleeping was tough because the doors in the building were slammed all night long. Perhaps the residents are more considerate now, who knows.

I think your decision was for the best. Good luck!

“You are near the Place de Vosges. “

No, …it’s on the other side of the river….but not too far to walk to!

Another place to visit indoors is the Petit Palais.
Free entry, amazing art, and a wonderful antique furniture collection.
It also has a small cafe.

Google free things to do in Paris for a list of museums, etc. that are free. And many, such as the Louvre, are free the first Sunday of the month.

Lynn, given your desire to avoid crowds, I don't recommend this. The free Sundays are always packed.

Congratulations on your decision, I know you will have a great time in February.

Some clarification: first Sunday of the month free museums I believe is only from November to March and most museums but not all. Lourve is free on Fridays after 6pm as are some others. To secure the free ticket I believe it opens up like the first Monday of the month before the free month. I happened to get one for the Louve and the ticket taker blocked me as I was not French. I did not and do not see anything that limits it to French nationals. I am just one person so she let me through.

Other free things: the Passages are wonderful, the flea markets and food markets, Metro line 6 above ground that passes the ET (cost of the metro), Shakespeare & Co bookstore, lots of churches, free concerts in churches, etc