I'm really excited about seeing Paris for the first time and am doing lots of research. There are two months which are personally open to me and which I figure are shoulder season enough for my tastes: late September and late April. Which would you choose for your first time in Paris? Thanks - I can tell after a couple weeks here that there are lots of people here who love Paris and know a thing or two about a thing or two!

Both are very good. Early May or mid September might be marginally better.

I have been to Paris in April and in September. September is usually warm; in fact, we were happy to have an air cooled room last year. It can also rain in Paris during September. <BR>The time I was there in April, the weather was not the best. I jokingly said I never saw the Eiffel Tower, but I did feel of it. The idea being that the fog was so thick, I could only feel of the metal. <BR> <BR>One problem about September and Paris. <BR>The city has come back to full life after the August doldrums and hotel prices are at a peak.

Hi.... <BR> <BR>Well, I'm sure the weather in April will be nice in Paris, but they'll also be more tourists. The flowers will be bright and it will be warm, not hot. On the other hand, late Sept will have more tourists, be hotter, but just as beautiful. Also April would probably be more expensive than Sept. I would go in Sept. though.

We were there late Sept.-early Oct. The weather was very good. A little rain but not a steady downpour. Sept. would be my choice.

better odds for good weather in September <BR>"springtime" in Paris is more <BR>poetry than reality in my experience <BR>weather-wise, but on the other hand, <BR>bad weather has never affected my love of the place

I was in Paris last April (mine and the kids (13 and 16) first time, though not my husband's) and it was cool, and drizzled or rained at least 5 out of the 6 days. It was crowded since I was there over Easter weekend (for example, after an hour we gave up ever advancing on the line for the Musee D'Orsay but by giving up, we ended up in a very french cafe for lunch, caught a street mime --in the rain, and happily got lost in a lovely section behind the museum). In addition, Easter Monday EVERYTHING is closed including many restaurants, all the museums and many stores. That being said, we had an absolutely wonderful time. But I would go next time in Sept.

Thank-you for the responses. With the help of your comments I'm leaning toward September. It will give me more time to prepare and more time to look forward to it too. There is so much info here to keep me busy on Paris I probably will never need to ask another question!

Jennifer, <BR> <BR>In a few words, Paris is cold in April and warm in September. I was there last September (15-21)and it was in the 60s-70s with sunshine almost every day.