What to do in Paris when It rains: 10 ideas worth trying
Rain is part of the Paris experience. But a rainy day doesn’t mean staying in your apartment or cancelling your plans.
Paris is full of places to discover while staying dry: covered passages, museums, bookshops, cafés, department stores, cinemas and cultural venues.
Here are 10 ways to enjoy Paris even when the sky is grey.
1. Explore Paris’s covered passages
This is one of the best alternatives to an outdoor walk on a rainy day.
Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas and Passage du Grand-Cerf are historic covered passages where you can discover a different side of Paris while staying sheltered.
You’ll find shops, restaurants, cafés and galleries, with beautiful architecture that is worth the visit in itself.
2. Take your time in a museum
A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to spend a few hours in a museum.
The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Musée de l’Orangerie and Musée Rodin are just a few options. Choose according to your interests rather than trying to see everything.
Our tip: for the most popular museums, check opening times and book your ticket in advance.
3. Get lost in a bookshop
Paris is home to countless bookshops where you can easily spend an hour or two.
For something different, visit a large bookshop or step into an independent neighbourhood shop. It’s an easy way to slow down and discover another side of Paris.
4. Take shelter in a Parisian café
Sometimes, the best plan is simply to find a cosy café and let the rain pass.
Order a coffee, hot chocolate or pastry and take some time to watch Parisian life from your table.
Our advice: you don’t necessarily need to look for the most famous address. Neighbourhood cafés can offer a much more authentic experience.
5. Explore Paris’s department stores
Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Le Bon Marché are much more than shopping destinations.
Their architecture, displays, cafés, restaurants and indoor spaces make them a great option when the weather isn’t on your side.
And some of their views over Paris are worth seeing even under a grey sky.
6. Go to the cinema like a local
Why not use the rain as an excuse to see a film?
Paris has many independent and historic cinemas with programmes that can be very different from those of large multiplexes.
It’s also a good way to discover a neighbourhood while taking a real break from sightseeing.
7. Try a creative workshop
A rainy day can be the perfect opportunity to do something different.
Cooking classes, pastry workshops, craft experiences, painting and other creative activities can easily be booked during your stay.
It’s particularly appealing if you’ve already visited Paris’s main landmarks.
8. Visit a covered market
Rain doesn’t have to stop you from discovering French food.
Covered markets are great places to discover cheese, bread, pastries, fresh produce and French specialities while staying relatively sheltered.
They’re also a convenient option if you’d like to pick up a few things to enjoy back at your apartment.
9. Discover an exhibition or cultural venue
Paris constantly offers new exhibitions, galleries and cultural experiences.
Before your trip, check what’s happening in the neighbourhoods you plan to visit. You might discover a temporary exhibition or cultural venue you hadn’t originally planned to see.
10. Turn the day into a slow day
What if you simply stopped fighting the weather?
Start with breakfast at a local bakery, visit a museum, take a break in a café, browse a bookshop and finish the day with a good dinner.
A rainy day might end up becoming one of the most enjoyable days of your trip.
Visiting Paris on a rainy day?
Our advice: always keep one or two indoor activities in your itinerary.
And don’t try to follow exactly the same plan you would have on a sunny day. Rain can be an opportunity to discover a quieter, warmer and sometimes more local side of Paris.
At B’Your Home, our apartments also give you a real home away from home between your Paris adventures.