Paris over Easter weekend?
 

Hello - We are getting ready to confirm plans for 10 nights in Paris. My husband has never been, and I'm a photographer - we mostly plan to wander around. But how much crazier will it be that weekend? Our dates are April 14-24. Museums aren't a huge concern, but hanging out in cafes and getting into restaurants might be??

I would be so grateful for any thoughts or ponderings on this!

Thank you!

We were in Paris over Easter two years ago. Aside from the massive crowds we saw when strolling by the Eiffel Tower, I don't remember things being over-run with people. No problems getting tables in our favorite cafes or restaurants. The weather was absolutely beautiful and tulips were in bloom everywhere. Both Luxembourg Gardens and The Jardin des Plantes were gorgeous and the benches were filled with Parisians soaking up the sun. The confectionaries pull out all the stops. Their windows are packed with marvelous chocolate sculptures and bunnies. Great photo ops.

It is a major tourist weekend, but Paris is used to it. Everything that is open on Sundays will be open on Easter. Easter Monday is a bank holiday, but no big deal -- shops and tourist attractions will be open as usual.

Thank you so much!! I feel much better. Looks like we could go 14th-24th or 18th-28th. Any difference in weather or anything else??

Four days won't necessarily make a difference. You could get rain or sunshine either way. As kerouac says, it's a tourist weekend, so I would avoid places such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. If there is a favorite restaurant, reservations well in advance, should be made.

Not that you mentioned traveling outside Paris by train but I was there for Easter 2023 and had tickets for Monet's Garden in Giverny. To me, as bizarre as it sounds, the train went from Paris to Vernon but there was no return train to Paris. It was available up until the Thursday before when I went to doublecheck the train times. Called, emailed and went in person to the station, no return train. Fortunately I was going to go to Paris again November 2023 and was allowed to use my Garden ticket then.

Yes, public transport will run on a Sunday or public holiday timetable over Easter. That would be why there was no return train.

Lavandula