8 Amazing Ways To Spend A Rainy Day In Paris

The weather in Paris is pretty unpredictable. You may have dreamed about blue skies and gorgeous backdrops wherever you turn but that doesn’t mean that is what you will get. In fact, Paris receives rain on about 154 days of the year! Now there is a fun fact about Paris I doubt you knew.

That makes it quite a wet city to explore. If you are unlucky enough to spend a rainy day in Paris don’t despair. There is a lot to do in the city that will keep you warm, dry and happy!

While I have written about all the amazing stuff to do in the city while the weather goes sour, note that these ideas are great for both tourists as well as locals.

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Getting Around On A Rainy Day In Paris

Moving around Paris in the rain is cumbersome but it is doable. There are a number of ways to get around Paris. Each one of these locations comes with its own pros and cons and I’m going to take you through them.

Note that all of them are not a perfect fit for a rainy day in Paris because you want to stay as dry (and warm!) as you can.

• Walk through the city: This is normally the best way because you really get to experience the city and it is cheap. On the flipside it is slow and it isn’t the most comfortable when the sky opens up overhead.
• Take a cab: This is a great way to go except that it is expensive and the rain could bring with it some traffic woes or compound already existing ones.
• Take public transport: Public transport in Paris is well connected and you can get from one place to another remarkably quickly. Buses and metros ply at a frequent interval and are relatively cheap. I highly recommend this alternative especially since most of the metro stations are warm and dry which is perfect for Paris on a rainy day.
• Hop on hop off tours: This is another alternative that could work but personally I haven’t given it a try so I can’t tell you much about it. You can book your hop on hop off tours online though. It saves time and it is better than wandering in the rain for a ticket!

One other thing that you need to consider when traveling through Paris is how will you get from Charles De Gaulle airport to your place of residence. Luckily there are many modes of transport but with the rain I would advise taking the metro or a cab.

Amazing Ideas To Spend A Rainy Day In Paris

There is so much that Paris has to offer but if it is going to pour, you will want to stay off the streets till the sky clears up again. This means you will have to put off visiting some of the popular sites like the Eiffel tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

Visit The Museums

Did you know that Paris is home to 130 museums? That is just within the city limits. Each museum is more spectacular than the next. We are just going to focus on some of the more popular ones here.

Museums are great places to visit on a rainy day in Paris since there is lot to see indoors and the weather outside doesn’t interfere with your experience.

1. Explore The Louvre

The Louvre museum would be my top pick to spend a rainy day in Paris

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That’s what makes the Louvre such a great place to be on a rainy day in Paris. Even if you’ve visited before, there will still be more to see. Not to mention the numerous exhibits that it hosts at periodic intervals which are not permanent fixtures in the museum.

The first time we visited, we were total rookies. We stood in line for hours in the hot sun for tickets. Don’t be us. Don’t be a rookie. Book your tickets online.

Oh and since the museum is so huge, covering it is difficult. It is important to use all the tips about visiting the Louvre as you can to make sure you visit the exhibits you want to.

Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

Hours: Wed to Monday: 9am to 6 pm, Tuesdays closed.

Entrance fee: 17 Euros per person

2. Enjoy The Musee D’Orsay

Visiting the Musee D’Orsay is one of the popular things to do on a rainy day in Paris

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This museum largely houses artists from their time frame. There are however other items that don’t fit within this era but fit more with the theme of the museum.

This is another place where you can book your tickets online.

Note that the Louvre museum and Musee d’Orsay are closed on two different days so plan accordingly.

Address: 1 Rue de Legion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 am -6 pm. Monday closed.

Entrance Fee: 16 Euros for an adult, 13 Euros if accompanied by a child. Museum is free for all visitors without a booking on the first Sunday of every month.

Shopping In Paris

Shopping in Paris is an experience in itself. Mind you, I personally prefer window shopping but I have been known to indulge myself every once in a while.

There are so many places to head to when it comes to shopping in Paris. I love watching the street artists work but that definitely is not something that I would do on a rainy day in Paris. Here are some places that I would head to instead.

3. Wander Around The Galeries Lafayette

For anyone who loves shopping, the Galeries Lafayette is a perfect stop on a rainy day in Paris.

The Galeries Lafayette is legendary. The upmarket French department store is the largest in Europe and visiting it is in itself an experience. It houses almost everything under the sun and offers exclusive services to shoppers. Wondering what these services are? Well you could employ a personal shopper, get your tax refund done, find gourmet cuisines or just contact the concierge. 

It isn’t just the shopping that attracts people from far and near to the Galeries Lafayette. It is also the building itself. The architecture of the building is breathtaking. The store is so popular that it expanded and now you can visit branches of it in two other locations of Paris. 

Perfect pit stop for a rainy day in Paris, right?

Address: 1912, 9th Arrondissement of Paris, Paris, France

Hours: Open everyday between 10 am – 8pm

4. Find Books In Shakespeare and Co

Are you a fan of books? If the answer is yes then Shakespeare and Company is a place that you must add to your list. It is a great place to spend some quiet time on a rainy in Paris. Like the Galeries Lafayette, Shakespeare and Company is an old building. In fact, it dates back to the 17th century. 

One thing that you will notice as soon as you come near is the entrance. It has a rustic sign, looks weather beaten and in general looks like something that came out an old novel. Hopefully the lines to get in are not too long. This bookstore is famous and almost everyone wants to snuggle inside and listen to a book reading on a rainy day in Paris.

Address: 37 Rue de la Bucherie, 75005 Paris, France

Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am -8 pm, Sun: 12-7 pm

6. Indulge In Debauve And Gallis

Debauve and Gallis is the iconic chocolatier that is a must visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. From chocolates and truffles to all kinds of confections, this chocolatier has been in business since 1817! That’s a little over 2 centuries and boy have they perfected the art.

There is nothing that can cure a case of the blahs as fast as good chocolate. We highly recommend the chocolates here especially if a rainy day in Paris is getting you down!

Address: 30 Rue des Saints-Peres, 75007 Paris, France

Hours: Open every day from 10 am – 7 pm

7. Chill At One Of The Cafes On A Rainy Day In Paris

One of my favorite things to do on a rainy day in Paris is to chill at café and watch the rain.

There is no shortage of places to kick back and enjoy a meal in Paris. In fact, if you don’t have an agenda, aren’t in a hurry and would like to wait out the rain in a cozy spot, I would suggest finding a café to sit down in. This is because the food scene in Paris is amazing. A rainy day in Paris is the perfect excuse to indulge!

8. Churches, Chapels And Cathedrals In Paris

So many religious structures with exquisite architecture beckon a tourist on a rainy day in Paris

Since Paris is such an old city, you will find remnants of the past all over it. One such walk back in time is the numerous churches, chapels and cathedrals in the area. Places like the Sacre Coeur and the Notre Dame are iconic.

There are many such places scattered all across the city. I highly recommend visiting them on a rainy day in Paris. Not only is wandering inside them an experience because the architecture, paintings, stained glass and carvings are gorgeous but they are warm, cozy and dry!

You can also book a tour that takes you to the archeological crypts below the Notre Dame.

9. Explore the Catacombs

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It was decided that one section of the tunnels would be used to house the ossuaries and so the process of relocating the bones began. It is believed that the catacombs house the remains of over 8 million people! Yes! You will find bones of all sizes piled from ground to roof.

It does get a bit damp underground so carry something warm should you need it. The catacombs remain largely dry even if there is a downpour above in the city.

Oh and don’t forget to buy your ticket online to skip the queues!

Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy. 75014 Paris, France.

Hours: Tue-Sun: 9:45 am -8:30 pm. Mondays: Closed.

As you can see, Paris has no dearth of places to spend time in. There is so much to explore that you could have lived in the city for years and yet not have seen it all!

If you are headed to the city for a short trip, check out our guide to a day in Paris. It covers the most amount of attractions in minimal time!

Got any suggestions on where to spend a rainy day in Paris? Let us know in the comments below and we will add it to our list.