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Just like that, summer has come and gone! How quickly does time fly especially in such a bustling and dynamic city like Paris. Summer in Paris is like no other with its bright and long days and cool nights. Though the summer season is nearing its close as we approach the month of September, there’s no reason to despair. In fact, there are so many exciting things to look forward to next month! September is when students go back to school, people go back to work, and best of all, when shops and restaurants re-open for business! Our monthly guide will let you in on all the things you need to know for your trip to the French capital in September!
Weather in September
Though summer “officially” ends when August does, you can still expect to experience a warm Paris. Early September will still have lots of sunny days and where layering clothes won’t be necessary. In the second half of September is when the scattered rains come and you’ll be needing a light jacket for the evening. The average daytime temperature is 22C while night time will be 15C. You can still enjoy long days as the sunsets will be around 8:30pm in the beginning of September and around 7:30pm by the end of the month.
Events happening in September
1 – European Heritage Days
When: September 21 & 22
European Heritage Days or Journées du Patrimoine is an annual event held every 3 weekend of September. If you’ll be in Paris during this time, you’re in such luck! Most of the monuments, museums, and cultural sites in the city will be open to the public for FREE! Not only will you get to freely enter and visit monuments like the Élysée Palace and the Grand Palais, you can also attend workshops and meet the passionate representative of these heritage sites! Click here for a full list of the heritage sites in Paris participating in the event.
2 – Festival d’Automne
When: September 10 — December 31
Paris kicks off the autumn season with this multi-disciplinary annual festival that started in 1972. The festival will showcase different theatrical performances, musical acts, dances, films and visual arts at different venues and stages all over Paris. Venues like the Odeon Theater and Pompidou Center are only 2 of the several hosts for the festival. Click here to find the complete list of events for Festival d’Automne.
3 – Paris Fashion Week
When: September 23 — October 1
Paris Fashion Week is the last of the 4 major weeks in fashion to round up the following collections of the biggest design houses in the world. This is when French design houses like Saint-Laurent, Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton present their collections down the runway for spring/summer 2021. Usually, these collections dictate the next trends in fashion. Read our complete guide to the ins and outs of Paris Fashion Week! Getting tickets is almost impossible but you can click here to follow the schedule of shows.
4 – Paris-Versailles Race
When: September 29 (Sunday)
This is one of the most famous annual races in France. It is a 16km race that starts from the Eiffel Tower in Paris with the finish line at Avenue de Paris in front of Château de Versailles. It s also considered one of the most challenging races as 25,000 runners will have to go through 2km-long hills before reaching Versailles. Registrations are now closed but if you’re a fan of sporting events, this is definitely something you shouldn’t miss! Click here to see the entire racecourse.
Attractions to visit in September
The hottest museum exhibitions
Travellers are always often confronted with the making choices when it comes to museums in Paris. While visiting the Louvre seems like a definite choice, we recommend going to Musée d’Orsay and Centre Pompidou instead in September.
– Musée d’Orsay will be showcasing a collection of works by Edgar Degas entitled “Degas at the Opera”. These will be paintings that show how the great artist depicted the portrait of Paris Opera in the 19th century. The exhibition opens on September 24 and will run until January 2021. Book your tickets here.
– Pompidou Center will be continuing its re-examination of the key 20th century works by devoting a major exhibition to British artist Francis Bacon. The exhibition at the Centre Pompidou focuses on works produced by Bacon in the last two decades of his career. it consists of sixty paintings from major private and public collections. The exhibition opens on September 11 and will run until January 20, 2021. Book your tickets here.
Duc des Lombards is back
—-Download your discount & priority access voucher here—-
Our favorite jazz bar in the center of Paris is back after closing its doors for 3 weeks this summer! Duc des Lombards is the best place to listen to jazz in Paris for its world-class roster of jazz musicians and intimate ambiance. It’s on top of our What to do in Paris at Night list! Make sure you check out their full line-up for this month of September. Don’t forget that when you book your tickets through INSIDR, you’ll get a discounted rate, premium access, and reserved seating to the shows! Make sure to select the ‘Tarif INSIDR’ when you book your ticket!
- Address: 42 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
- Duc des Lombards website
Carnival Fair at the Bois de Boulogne
When: August 30 — October 6
Locally known as Fête à Neuneu, this will be the perfect attraction for you to visit if you love theme parks with crazy rides. The best part of it is that you won’t need to travel outside of the city unlike Disneyland or Parc Asterix. Bois de Boulogne is only a 20 minute ride from the center of Paris. This carnival was started by Napoleon I in 1815 and has continued as a tradition to ease the transition from summer to autumn. Apart from the heart-racing carnival rides, there will also be shows and fireworks. This attraction is perfect for travellers of all ages. Click here to learn more.
Last chance for Candlelit Evenings at Vaux-le-Vicomte!
When: every Saturday until October 5
You still have a few more weeks to catch the magical Candlelit Evenings at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. On these special nights, the grounds of the estate are illuminated by more than 2000 candles. It’s definitely what we’d recommend visiting instead of the extremely crowded Versailles Palace. Access to Vaux-le-Vicomte is very easy from Gare de l’Est and if you’re visiting during a Candlelit Evening, there is a direct bus service to get back to Paris.
Tickets to Candlelit Evenings are 19.90€ for adults and 14€ for children ages 7-17. They also include access to the château. On Candlelit Evenings, the estate closes at midnight with last admission at 11:30pm. Click here to book your tickets.
Download your free Vaux-le-Vicomte Pocket Guide here!
September Alerts
Shopping
The sales may be over but September is also when a lot of brands and boutiques release their latest collections. Ahead of all the fashion retailers in Paris is Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. The famous Parisian department store is turning over a new leaf with “Fashioning Change”, a campaign that is committed to offering more local, sustainable, and ethical products. If you’re travelling to Paris, don’t miss stopping by Galeries Lafayette Hausmann to discover local French brands and artisans that will make the perfect souvenirs from your trip!
Don’t forget that when you shop at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, you’ll have the chance to receive a free Longchamp bag! Make sure to download your INSIDR Shopping Passport to receive your discount and gift shopping vouchers!
And if you’re interested in wine tasting or in making macarons, you’ll also find them at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann!
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