As Ella Fitzgerald once sang, "I never missed a warm embrace/Till April in Paris." There's no guarantee Paris will be warm in the spring nor that an April visit will be a romantic interlude, but April, like most times of year, offers visitors all the diversions that one expects from a major metropolitan area in addition to the well-known museums and monuments that have made Paris one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Climate

Paris has a continental climate moderated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Temperature swings are, therefore, not as extreme as further east in Europe. Though winters can be cold and even snowy, they are more typically rainy and raw with temperatures hovering around freezing but rarely dipping below for very long. Fall and spring tend to be a mixture of sun and rain. Weather patterns can move quickly through the region bringing clear, fine weather rapidly after sustained overcast skies. The reverse is also true. Bring an umbrella and layers of clothing. Summers have been getting hotter in recent years, though historically they are mild. Because Parisians do not rely as readily on air-conditioning as Americans do, a hot, sticky spell can be quite unpleasant, especially at night when big city traffic and noises can make sleeping in an un-airconditioned room difficult.

August Shut-downs

A visit to Paris in August is unlike any other time of year. Many Parisians depart the city during the month of August leaving behind closed businesses, sometimes even well-regarded restaurants, local bakeries and cafes, neighborhood pharmacies, and the like. It is always a good idea to check ahead of time before setting out for a destination (smaller, locally owned) that may have shut its doors for the month. In the case of businesses like the local boulangerie , the baker, as a courtesy, will usually post the address of the nearest shop that remains open while he is gone. August is the month when most on-street parking is free; therefore, it is the only month of the year when driving in the city is (provisionally) recommended. Paris is always a difficult city to drive in with numerous one-way streets and impatient local drivers. Public transport is really too good to bother with driving no matter what time of year.