Paris in April?
 

Hello,
I am thinking of visiting Paris in April (during 18-21 april period). Will it be the right time to visit Paris? Will it still be cold? what will be the temperatures?

Haha, you know that songs have been written to April in Paris, right?

I don't think it's possible to predict the weather; perhaps someone else living there now can offer the latest predictions. Otherwise, you can simply Google "average monthly temperatures Paris" and it should be easy to find.

April does tend to be rainy, but from my memory, the later in the month, the better. It really does live up to the songs....

>>Will it still be cold? <<

Maybe it will be cold, maybe it will be cool, maybe it will be nice and warm

>>what will be the temperatures?<<

Absolutely no way to know. I've been in Paris in Aprils when it was freezing cold and rain blowing sideways, and when it was beautiful/warm/dry. No way to tell until a few days before your trip.

So far we are having the warmest March ever. Today all temperature records were broken in Paris for March 9th with a high of 22°.

This, if anything, guarantees that April will be horrible. :-)

So, wear a trenchcoat (full length w/ lining), bring a merino wool baselayer or sweater, shoes that work when soaked as well as when dry, long scarf to swaddle your neck and you'll be fine. Add a few short sleeve tees, jean jacket, and you're set for warmer days as well. But if the trend has been warm, betting that it will be beautiful! Enjoy!

You're going over Easter weekend? That could be a bit of a problem, especially Monday.

Why is it a problem on the Monday?

>>Why is it a problem on the Monday?<<

Easter Monday is a major holiday just about everywhere in Europe. In fact it is the official holiday (not Good friday or Easter Sunday)

Many shops and museums are closed . . .

So if many shops and museums are closed what are people doing?

So if many shops and museums are closed what are people doing?

Well the Louvre is open so it will be absolutely PACKED.

But otherwise . . . they will be enjoying the city, walking along the river, taking a river cruise, playing in the parks . . .

I was in Paris on Easter Monday a few years ago and did not notice anything unusual. If anything was closed, there was plenty of stuff still open.

As far as museums, they close for very few holidays. I just looked at the Louvre website and they are only closed for holidays January 1, May 1, and December 25. They are also closed every Tuesday.

>>As far as museums, they close for very few holidays.<<

Most do close for Easter Monday - but as I mentioned, the Louvre is open.

"Will it be he right time to visit Paris?"

There is no wrong time to visit Paris.

The museums that are closed on Monday are the ones that are regularly closed on Monday, such as the Musee d'Orsay.

April weather is capricious. As noted before, layer. While living in Paris, I rarely left home without an umbrella and sunglasses, no matter the time of year.

April in Paris is a jazz standard, recorded by artists as different as Dinah Shore and Thelonious Monk. Here's a Wikipedia list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_in_Paris_(song)
Probably the most famous record is the extended version by the Count Base band. If you listen to it on YouTube I guarantee it will be in your ears for your entire vacation, which would be just fine for me. Here's a nice live version from late in Basie's life, apparently broadcast around Christmas and with only one of the notorious false endings.
http://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/sea...april+in+paris

What do people do anywhere on any holiday, or a Sunday for that matter? There is more to do than shopping.

That is not one of the major holidays where all museums close. That is generally NY day, Christmas and May 1st. Not Easter Monday. No, most Parisian museums don't close on Easter Monday, presuming they are normally open Monday. A lot of museums are closed Monday, anyway (like the Petit Palais, the Orsay, the Carnavalet and Rodin). But the Pompidou and Louvre and Orangerie are open on Easter Monday, like any Monday.