reconsidering mid-November Paris trip

Well, it is November so I'm not sure why cold, rainy, and darkness would be a surprise turn of events. Pack a waterproof coat and shoes, and make plans for things you can do indoors if the rain bothers you.

Storm Ciaran has now cleared through. No-one was forecasting that storm to hang around for 10 days. It was a very exceptional storm.

As the previous poster said, the weather is normal for this time of year, and the days are as short at this time of year as they have been for centuries.

Bring the right kind of clothes for the fall climate and you will be fine. There are no surprises here. There are plenty of other tourists around, so it just seems very odd to cancel at the last minute for what was entirely predictable.

Yeah -- you're both right. I guess I just need something to worry about to keep me occupied. And my wife never likes cold and rainy weather. I have several things to do in Paris that would get us out of the weather.

We have traveled to Europe in the winter - Christmas in Germany for instance - so we have the right weather clothing and umbrellas.

Like I said -- I need something to worry about I guess.

Thanks --

Hi there..I have been to Paris several times in great weather..2x in early December like after Thanksgiving til the 18th. I realize it's a bit later than your trip..but I would like to share that I absolutely loved it just as much as a sunny day! Yes..fewer daylight hours..but Paris in the evening is lively too..lights are on..walking is safe. And as said above..bring a raincoat and warmer clothes. Daytime is just ad any other city..busy..people getting ready for holidays. I found..in 2021 and 2022..fewer challenges with lines and dinner reservations. Never had an issue with last minute on line booking..I admit it was during covid and post covid times. But really..walking in the cold crisp air was a great experience. Bring boots in case it is wet. Imho..I would keep the trip. I also understand weather can be a game changer! Have fun
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You should definitely not cancel your November trip to Paris.

I was in Paris the whole week of Jan. 1-8, 2012; I was over the Atlantic when New Years Day struck. The trip was one of the top-five trips of 17 I have made overseas.

Paris was mostly free of other tourists, though there were a decent number of people there for a Christmas holiday. The sites were empty. The Parisians were relaxed and not rushed. Everything was open just like mid-summer.

Though it was winter, it was winter in Paris. January in Paris averages 10-15 degrees warmer than Chicago, where I live.

I am told that some of the best times to visit Paris are November, February and March because of the lack of visitors. I believe you should go.

This is one of the times when it would help if Ricardoswe2 had information in his profile to tell us where (generally) he lives.

It WILL be a change for someone who is residing in FL. It will not be much of a change for someone who lives in the Northern Tier. I say this as I look out onto a very gray wintry morning. It was completely foggy and rainy all day yesterday and I would have REALLY enjoyed being in Paris over North Idaho, hahaha!

I vote to go as well! Some Christmas lights will be up already and that will be awesome! Enjoy the lower numbers of visitors!

PS You will LOVE your RS trip in June to Paris and France!

Make list of sites that are included in your June Rick Steve’s’ tour and, with a good guide book, decide what other places you want to visit on your November trip to Paris. Make reservations ahead, like today, for sites that require them. Make a few dinner reservations in advance too. Is this your first time in Paris or is this a repeat visit?.

I cannot possibly comprehend canceling your November trip because of November weather. Sure the nights are longer; you’re in Paris! Enjoy the city of LIGHTS.

I would MUCH prefer being there in November than with mass MOBS of tourists in June right before the Olympics. This is precisely why when we go to Paris, we CHOOSE to go in November. The Paris Masters are taking place this week in Bercy! When we’re in Paris, we go to the semi finals!

I thought there were plenty of sunny and cloudy days — not many rainy days. On the days it rains, we each carry an umbrella. Not a big deal. Nobody melts from rain. 😎

Cooler weather is also great! You’re not going to be sweating due to lack of air conditioning. Win/win!!

Thanks for the replies -- mostly I agree. Like I implied, I tend to find something to worry about, given time for that.

Answers:
Where do we live?
We live in Northern California. I've noted the weather (temperature) here is quite similar to Paris in November. (Score one for Paris.) We tend to not get rain in N. California until later in the season, usually it starts in January, but occasionally in December or November.

Have we been to Paris?
This will be our third time in Paris. We've also spent some time in Provence.

For November -
I have reservations already for a concert, the Orsay, and Opera Garnier (never been inside). I also have plans for things to do on rainy days (umbrella + some indoors time) and a day trip for when the weather is fairly good (Chartres most likely). We and our friend who is there now have been talking about which restaurants we might want to go to; I'm not too worried about getting reservations at one or another restaurant since the number of tourists will be low.

Hope that helps with background.

Yes, I am looking forward to the June RS Tour. (It's the Eastern France tour.)

Like I've said -- too much time on my hands and I am very effective at worrying.

Again -- thanks for the comments. I appreciate them all.

I think November would be wonderful--despite the weather. Fewer people and the fall ambiance.

Enjoy the indoor sites in November and the outdoor sites, day trips and the city overall in the warmer weather in June.

Paris twice within a year, Lucky.

"Like I've said -- too much time on my hands and I am very effective at worrying."

Oh gosh...that made me laugh. How about concentrating on how much your bag weighs? Packing cubes vs not. Weighing every item in your suitcase, hahaha!! We can GIVE you alternatives to worry about, lol!!

And thanks for letting us know your geographic area. To me that makes a difference on people's expectations and sometimes on the advice given.

After reading the headline, I thought you were thinking of canceling because of Ukraine or Gaza.

I've been in Germany now for eight days. It has rained every day. There have been patches of dryness here and there but it is what it is. I schedule the indoor things on rainy days and try to use forecasts to plan the outdoor things.

Go, have a good time, and don't sweat the small stuff.

I did consider the situation in Gaza and demonstrations. but have not expended energy worrying about its impact on our travels. If there was a security/safety problem we'd attempt to avoid the area. I am used to seeing armed police/military in France airports and in Paris. Actually, this is reassuring.

I do worry about the state of the world and our country, but generally I try not to let these things overwhelm me. Foreign travel helps with my world view and gives me an appreciation for other cultures' perspectives.

Something always comes along to give an excuse not to travel. I'd say a bird in the hand . . . .

I was in Paris the week after Thanksgiving. I expected it to be cold and rainy, and guess what? I was right! But that's not exactly rocket science, and I didn't mind. I wanted to be in Paris. My one tip besides the obvious ones - make sure your shoes are not only comfortable and well broken in since you'll walk your ass off, but waterproof! And bring two pair and alternate.

If you will have issues with the weather, then schedule your trip around the weather you want. Seems pretty simple.

Another tip would be to buy full size umbrellas upon arrival, and leave behind when departing.

Well, I do not like Paris in November. Least favorite time of the year: adjusting to darker days, wet, cold but not quite winter coat-cold .
But... It is still Paris, and Paris has plenty of indoor places to enjoy. Plus, window shopping is a delight in the dark early evenings.
Since you have your trip planned, you should go for it.

I, too, arrive on 11/11. While I am a bit bummed by the forecast, it’s about what I expected (well, I didn’t quite expect rain every day.). But I’m not not going. I’ve been to Paris several times now in February and loved it. I will say that I am not expecting smaller crowds as we experienced in February of 2020. Given all that I’ve read about revenge travel, I expect it might still feel rather busy.

We've been going to Paris in November the past few years!

--Fewer tourists
--Holiday decorations
--I'll take falafel and crepes for Thanksgiving dinner over turkey and pumpkin pie any day
--It gets dark earlier, but I love Paris lit up at night. More chances to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle!
--"Black Week End" sales
--Rain makes the baguettes taste even better!

It just seems like a particularly rainy and windy November this year. We had Ciaran a couple of days ago, Domingos today. Of course coastal areas are way more affected than Paris, but still it does seem a bit more blustery these days.

Of course I may be suffering from recency bias.

But anyway as others have mentioned, I guess it’s no “new news” that it’s rainy and dark in November.

Normally October is lovely and November rancid -- we have been here 3 weeks and will be here through the 19th of November and it has been awful the whole time -- with overcast rainy days the norm. I would not choose this time of year to visit if I had other options and we won't be booking November again ourselves. We have done a couple of day trips recently that would be delightful in pleasant weather but were not so much with drizzle and 40 degree (F) temperatures.

We are in Paris now. Have been here more than a week. Yep, rainy. Yep, cool. Also quite windy - they closed the Eiffel Tower top the day I was scheduled to go, but still went to the 2nd level. It has not kept us from getting around. There are fewer people on the streets, in the museums, in the restaurants. Not a bad tradeoff. Wish I had brought my heavier jacket, but bought a nice scare instead.

Thanks Susan --

We leave soon for Paris. I'm packing now and need to choose what coat to bring. It will be either a bulky coat for temperatures below say 45F or a lighter weight coat for 50F plus.

For wet weather we'll depend on our good umbrellas and a good hat. My coats are only so-so for rain.

When we were in Paris in November I used layers and a heavy neck scarf.and was never cold. To me a bulky coat is hindering.

"For wet weather we'll depend on our good umbrellas and a good hat. My coats are only so-so for rain."

I wouldn't do anything about it now but that seems to be a gap in your "travel clothing". I'd look to get a waterproof rain jacket that you can layer things under. For myself I use the same waterproof jacket to travel with that I use for winter here in North Idaho. The difference is just what I layer under it. For winter I can put a puffy vest under it for chilly weather and it will even fit a puffy jacket under it for cold weather. For European travel I take the jacket with a puffy vest if it looks like it will be below 40 or so and yes, that is the combo I took to Orkney/Shetland in August and wore it almost daily.

The weather looks 50-60's for the next 10 days do I'd go with your lighter jacket. There are plenty of stores in Paris in case it turns cold on you!

Pam,

Thank you. I agree. I actually have a new lightweight waterproof rain jacket. This will be my first time using it. Thanks for your advice. It should help. I'm warm blooded, so I'll be OK with the cool weather; my wife gets cold easily, so she will be more challenged. We'll talk it over. She is good at layering.

Not sure when you are leaving BUT Costco has some base layers by 32 Degrees that are good. I've also bought them on the 32 Degree website. They are light and inexpensive but I wear the bottoms all winter here. They are thin enough that they don't make a difference in the fit of y jeans if this is something that will work for her. I don't wear the base tops but that is because they make me too hot, lol.

https://www.32degrees.com/collections/womens-baselayers

If I can add one more wardrobe tip (as someone who visits Paris every November) - waterproof gloves are an absolute gamechanger.

I would just reiterate, it's been quite windy with these rain storms in Paris. Many a time we could not put up our umbrella and were quite glad for having reasonably good rain coats. Mine is old so I sprayed it with Scotchgard before coming. Working nicely.