What to Do in Paris in May: Weather, Events and Outings

The weather in Paris in May

According to Météo-France's 1991-2020 climate normals for the Paris-Montsouris station, May has an average temperature of 15.6°C, with highs around 20°C in the afternoon and lows close to 11°C in the early morning. The month averages 201 hours of sunshine, but also 69 mm of rain spread over about 9 days of precipitation: showers and bright spells often alternate within the same day.

Variations from one year to the next are significant. On average there are just over 5 days at 25°C or above, and the monthly record stands at 34.8°C, yet a cool, grey week remains quite possible in early May. Plan a flexible schedule with a few indoor visits in reserve: our guide Paris on a rainy day offers a selection.

To compare May with the other months of the year (prices, crowds, climate), see our guide to the best time to visit Paris.

Public holidays and long weekends in May 2027

May 2027 has four public holidays. Two fall on a Saturday (1 May and 8 May), which limits their effect on the week, and two create long weekends:

• Saturday 1 May: Labour Day.
• Thursday 6 May: Ascension Day. Schools take Friday 7 May off as a bridge day, making a long weekend from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 May.
• Saturday 8 May: Victory in Europe Day (1945). Official ceremonies take place in the morning, notably at the Arc de Triomphe, which opens later that day.
• Monday 17 May: Whit Monday, which extends the weekend from 15 to 17 May.

The full calendar and the general opening rules are in our guide to public holidays in France.

What closes on 1 May

1 May is the only public holiday in France that is compulsorily a day off, and it is the one with the most closures. The Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée de l'Orangerie, the Musée de l'Armée, the Musée du quai Branly, the Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe are usually closed that day, as are most department stores. Some temporary exhibitions also close, such as those at the Philharmonie and the Musée de l'Homme mentioned below.

Generally still open are the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Cœur basilica, the Musée Jacquemart-André, the Musée Grévin, the Parc zoologique de Paris, as well as cinemas and parks. The metro runs, but the afternoon trade union marches can lead to temporary station closures along their route. In the morning, lily of the valley sellers set up on street corners: it is the tradition of the day. Always check the opening hours of the site you want to visit before setting off.

Crowds: what to expect

May is part of the high season. Foreign visitors are joined by French people making the most of the long weekends: the Ascension weekend (6 to 9 May) and the Whitsun weekend (15 to 17 May) are the busiest, in museums, on trains and in hotels. The spring school holidays, on the other hand, are over: classes resume on Monday 19 April 2027 in Paris (zone C) and on Monday 3 May in the last zone concerned (zone B).

For sites with timed entry (Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Catacombs, Eiffel Tower), book as soon as your dates are set, all the more so if your stay includes a long weekend. Our guide to booking ahead in Paris details the lead times site by site. Weekdays outside the long weekends, especially Monday 10 to Friday 14 May and Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 May, are the easiest for sightseeing.

European Night of Museums: Saturday 22 May 2027

Every year, on a Saturday in May, many museums open free of charge in the evening, with special lighting, tours and activities. The 2027 edition has been announced for Saturday 22 May 2027 by several participating institutions; at the end of September 2026, the national programme had not yet been published by the Ministry of Culture. The list of participating Paris museums and their opening hours is usually put online in the weeks beforehand.

The big names draw queues from opening time: it is best to choose one or two venues and arrive early. Tips and how it works are detailed in our guide to the European Night of Museums.

Roland-Garros: 17 May to 6 June 2027

The French Open tennis championships are played at the Roland-Garros stadium, 2 avenue Gordon-Bennett (16th), metro Porte d'Auteuil (line 10). The official 2027 schedule is as follows:

• 17 to 21 May: opening week, with the qualifying rounds.
• 23 to 25 May: first round of the main draw (starting on Sunday 23 May).
• 26 to 31 May: second and third rounds and round of 16.
• 1 to 6 June: quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.

Qualifying week is the most accessible way to discover the venue without aiming for a show court. Buy only from the official ticket office and avoid unauthorised resellers (see our scams to avoid in Paris). To fill your day around the stadium, read what to do in Paris during Roland-Garros.

Foire de Paris, Taste of Paris and Fête des voisins

Foire de Paris: from Friday 30 April to Monday 10 May 2027 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (15th), 10am to 7pm, with late opening until 10pm on Saturday 8 May. Home, food, crafts from around the world: a useful outing on a rainy day. Metro Porte de Versailles (line 12) or tramways T2 and T3a. The 2027 prices had not yet been published in September 2026.

Taste of Paris: the Grand Palais food festival is traditionally held in May (21 to 24 May in 2026). At the end of September 2026, the 2027 dates had not yet been announced by the organiser. The concept and practical tips are explained in our Taste of Paris guide.

Fête des voisins: this neighbours' day takes place at the end of May or early June (Friday 29 May in 2026). It mainly involves residents, who organise drinks in building courtyards and on the streets; as a visitor, you will mostly notice livelier evenings in residential neighbourhoods. The 2027 date had not yet been announced in September 2026.

Exhibitions to see in May 2027

Several exhibitions already scheduled cover the whole of May 2027:

• "Histoires de familles" (Family Stories), Musée d'Orsay, 16 March to 18 July 2027: paintings, photographs, films and archives on the family in France between 1848 and 1914. Museum closed on Mondays and on 1 May.
• "Billie Holiday. Légende noire", Philharmonie de Paris, 221 avenue Jean-Jaurès (19th), 22 January to 11 July 2027: €15 full price, booking required, closed on 1 May. Metro Porte de Pantin (line 5).
• "Lady Liberté. De la sueur, de l'audace, du génie" (Lady Liberty: sweat, daring and genius), Musée des Arts et Métiers, 60 rue Réaumur (3rd), until 1 August 2027: an immersive journey through the construction of the Statue of Liberty, €21 including museum admission. Closed on Mondays.
• "Drogues" (Drugs), Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro (16th), until 6 June 2027: €13 full price, closed on Tuesdays and on 1 May.

Prices as of September 2026. For exhibitions running during your stay, see our page on exhibitions in Paris right now.

Terraces, parks and rose gardens

May is the month when Parisians reclaim the outdoors. Café terraces fill up with the first rays of sunshine, and rooftop terraces reopen for the season: our selection of the best rooftops in Paris indicates which ones take bookings.

As for gardens, the Jardin du Luxembourg and its green chairs, the lawns of the Buttes-Chaumont and the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin are the classic spots for a late-afternoon picnic. For roses, head to the Parc de Bagatelle, route de Sèvres à Neuilly, in the Bois de Boulogne (16th): its rose garden brings together around 1,200 varieties, with the first blooms at the end of May and a peak in June. Admission is charged from April to September (€2.80 full price, prices as of September 2026). The park is served by buses 43 (weekends and public holidays) and 244.

What to pack

• Layers: a T-shirt is enough in the afternoon, but it is often around 11°C early in the morning and in the evening.
• A light raincoat or a small umbrella: showers are frequent and often brief.
• Comfortable closed shoes: you will walk a lot, sometimes on wet cobblestones.
• Sunglasses and a water bottle: the Wallace fountains let you refill it for free.
• A slightly dressier outfit if you are planning a rooftop or a restaurant in the evening.

May 2027 at a glance

Dates checked with the organisers, prices as of September 2026.

Further reading

If you are still unsure when to travel, our guide to the best time to visit Paris compares the seasons. To plan your outings throughout the year, see the calendar of festivals in Paris, and to enjoy spring evenings up high, our selection of the best rooftops in Paris.