When to go — Île-de-France

Île-de-France enjoys a temperate oceanic climate with four well-defined seasons. Average annual temperatures range from 7 °C in January to 25 °C in July, with rainfall spread across the year (650 mm/year).

Spring (April-June) is the headline season: gentle temperatures (12-22 °C), parks in bloom (Tuileries, Luxembourg, Buttes-Chaumont), days lengthening to 16 hours of daylight in June. Café terraces reopen, the Seine banks come alive, the light is ideal for photography. April remains rainy (8-10 rainy days on average) but offers the first flowering and still-moderate crowds. May is probably the ideal month: perfect temperatures (15-22 °C), generous sunshine, gardens in full effervescence. Watch out for the May 1 and May 8 long weekends which draw European travellers — book early if you target those dates.

Summer (July-August) is a particular case: Parisians leave on holiday, which relaxes traffic and the atmosphere of residential neighbourhoods, but tourist sites are saturated by international visitors. Heat can be punishing during heatwaves (up to 38 °C in July), with an urban heat island effect. A few compensations: the summer cultural programme is rich (Paris Plages on the Seine banks, open-air cinema at La Villette, festivals in the parks), long evenings allow you to enjoy terraces until 10 pm, and some museums offer late openings (Louvre on Friday evenings).

Autumn (September-October) rivals spring: gentle temperatures (15-22 °C), golden light on monuments, crowds dropping sharply from mid-September. It's the Paris cultural season opener: major exhibitions at the Louvre, Orsay, Quai Branly and Grand Palais; opera and ballet at Garnier and Bastille; Nuit Blanche in October. October stays pleasant through mid-month, then rains settle in. November brings greyness and cold, but also hotel prices halved and almost empty museums.

Winter (December-March) has its own charm. December is magical: Champs-Élysées illuminations, giant tree at Galeries Lafayette, animated department-store windows, Christmas markets at the Tuileries, La Défense and on the Champs-Élysées. January-February are the calmest and cheapest months: crowd-free Paris, museums accessible without waiting, hotels at -30 to -50%. The only drawback: very short days (nightfall by 5 pm in December) and often grey, damp weather. March marks the return of spring, still cool but with the first flowering at the Luxembourg and Tuileries gardens.