November 2025 in Paris : what to do, exhibitions, temperatures

890

November in Paris is a quietly magical month: the light softens, the trees along the Seine and in the gardens turn gold, museum rooms feel a little emptier after summer crowds, and the city begins to hum with festive markets and seasonal events. Whether you’re chasing major retrospectives, wandering cosy neighbourhood cafés, or hunting for the best place to sip a hot chocolat chaud, November is one of the smartest months to explore Paris—culturally dense, comfortably cool, and merrily convivial.

Top exhibitions to see in November 2025

Below are some of the biggest museum shows and fairs running through November.

• Jacques Louis David at Musée du Louvre
  Dates: October 15, 2025 – January 26, 2026. Venue: Musée du Louvre . Coming from the Louvre, Versailles, and major international museums, most of David’s masterpieces are featured in this retrospective, beautifully organized into major chronological episodes. It must be said that with this painter, Great History is never far away.

>>More info and reservations

• John Singer Sargent — “Sargent and the Paris Years” (Musée d’Orsay)
  Dates: September 23, 2025 – January 26, 2026. Venue: Musée d’Orsay (7th arrondissement). This focused retrospective highlights Sargent’s formative Paris decade and has become one of the season’s must-see painting shows. 
• 
  

  Gerhard Richter — Retrospective (Fondation Louis Vuitton)
  Dates: October 17, 2025 – March 2, 2026. Venue: Fondation Louis Vuitton (Bois de Boulogne). A major panorama of Richter’s six decades of work occupies the Fondation’s dramatic galleries—expect paintings, photographs and sculptural projects. (fondationlouisvuitton.fr)

  
  
• 
  

  Rick Owens — “Temple of Love” (Palais Galliera — Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris)
  Dates: June 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026. Venue: Palais Galliera (16th arrondissement). This large-scale fashion retrospective turns the museum into an immersive “temple” of the designer’s dark, sculptural aesthetic. (palaisgalliera.paris.fr)

  
  
• 
  

  Minimal — Major Minimalism survey (Bourse de Commerce — Pinault Collection)
  Dates: October 8, 2025 – January 19, 2026. Venue: Bourse de Commerce (1st arrondissement). Jessica Morgan curates an extensive look at Minimalism with 100+ works by artists active since the 1960s. (pinaultcollection.com)

  
  
• 
  

  Georges de La Tour — “Entre ombre et lumière” (Musée Jacquemart-André)
  Dates: September 11, 2025 – January 25, 2026. Venue: Musée Jacquemart-André (8th arrondissement). A rich retrospective of the master of candlelit scenes—perfect for autumn evenings. (musee-jacquemart-andre.com)

  
  
• 
  

  Raymond Pettibon — “Underground” (Musée Picasso Paris)
  Dates: October 14, 2025 – March 1, 2026. Venue: Musée national Picasso-Paris (3rd arrondissement). Pettibon’s drawings and fanzines, rooted in punk and American subculture, are presented alongside other programming. (museepicassoparis.fr)

  
  
• 
  

  “Manga: A Whole Art!” (Musée national des arts asiatiques — Guimet)
  Dates: November 19, 2025 – March 9, 2026. Venue: Musée Guimet (16th arrondissement). This family-friendly exhibition traces manga’s history and ties to traditional Japanese arts—ideal if you want something lively and interactive.

  
  
• 
  

  Paris Photo (international photography fair)
  Dates: November 13–16, 2025 (VIP preview often the day before). Venue: Grand Palais Éphémère / Grand Palais area (Champs-Élysées). Paris Photo is the global photography fair of the year—galleries, book awards, talks and curated projects.

  
  
• 
  

  Kandinsky — “La Musique des Couleurs” (Philharmonie de Paris / Musée de la Musique)
  Dates: mid-October 2025 – early Feb 2026. Venue: Philharmonie de Paris (19th arrondissement). If you like the link between sound and sight, this Kandinsky show pairs painting, scores and sonic installations.

  
  

Seasonal activities, markets and festivals

– Christmas markets: November is when Paris starts to sparkle. La Magie de Noël in the Jardin des Tuileries (the big Tuileries Christmas market) traditionally opens in mid‑November and runs into early January—think wooden chalets, mulled wine, ice skating and lights. Smaller neighbourhood markets (Notre-Dame / Montmartre / La Défense) also roll out through late November and December. Check official dates as they are confirmed each year. read our tips about year’s end in Paris

• Envoy a Dinner Cruise on the Seine River: With Christmas lights, November is one of the best month for a cruise on the Seine.

>>Find a selection of the best cruises in Paris

• Beaujolais Nouveau Day: Plan a convivial evening on Thursday, November 20, 2025—the third Thursday of November—when bars and wine shops celebrate the new Beaujolais vintage with tastings and pop‑up parties. It’s a festive, local-flavour moment you can join almost anywhere in the city
• 
  

  Music and nightlife: Pitchfork Music Festival Paris runs across small venues and theatres in early November (Nov 3–9, 2025) with a curatorial mix of indie and electronic acts—great if you prefer club-to-concert hopping. (pitchfork.com)

  
  
• 
  

  Autumn parks and walks: Take advantage of crisp days for long walks—Jardin du Luxembourg, the Tuileries, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and the Île Saint-Louis all glow in November. The Seine’s banks and the Left Bank bookstalls feel particularly atmospheric with lower crowds.

  
  
• 
  

  Marché aux Puces (Saint-Ouen): Weekends are flea-market time—hunt vintage design, books, and costume jewellery. It’s less crowded than summer but lively and full of discoveries.

  
  

Insider tips for visiting museums and getting around
– Book timed-entry tickets in advance for blockbusters. Major retrospectives (Richter, Sargent, the Pinault show) sell out specific time slots—reserve online to avoid long queues or disappointment. (fondationlouisvuitton.fr)

• Go late: Many museums run Friday or Saturday night openings; visiting late (after 4–5 pm) often means shorter lines and warmer gallery light—perfect for late autumn photos. Check each venue’s hours before you go. (pinaultcollection.com)
• 
  

  Layer up and bring a compact umbrella: November weather can be changeable—sunny spells alternate with drizzle—so layers, a scarf, and comfortable waterproof shoes are ideal. (See the average temperature notes below.)

  
  
• 
  

  Use local transport apps and keep an eye on strike news: Paris public transport is excellent, but occasional service changes or strikes can affect travel—allow extra time between museum appointments and check RATP updates.

  
  
• 
  

  Try neighbourhood cafés: To warm up between exhibitions, head to Saint‑Germain, Le Marais, or Canal Saint‑Martin for small cafés where you can people-watch, read and refill before your next museum. Avoid sitting down for lunch at every museum café—Paris has so many small bistros near cultural sites that make prize-worthy meals.

  
  
• 
  

  Consider a museum pass if you plan many visits: The Paris Museum Pass covers entry to many monuments and permanent collections (less often temporary exhibitions), and it can save time and money if you plan multiple visits in a short period—compare what’s included with the exhibitions you most want to see.

  
  

Average temperature and what to pack
In November Paris is distinctly autumnal. Average daily temperatures tend to sit around a mean of roughly 7–8°C (46°F), with typical daytime highs near 10–11°C and lows around 4–6°C. Expect about nine rainy days in the month on average, so bring an umbrella and waterproof shoes and dress in layers—a warm coat, a scarf, and comfortable shoes for museum‑walking are the best compromise. (These are climatological averages—always check a short-term forecast before travel.) (en.climate-data.org)

Practical planning pointers
– Timed tickets: Reserve tickets for major shows (Richter, Sargent, Minimal, Jacquemart‑André) as soon as you decide on dates. (fondationlouisvuitton.fr)
– Card or cash: Most museums and shops prefer card; small neighbourhood vendors may take cash.
– Language: Museum signage is often bilingual (French/English) at major institutions; museum staff frequently speak English but learning a few French phrases (bonjour, s’il vous plaît, merci) is appreciated.
– Avoid peak museum hours: Midday and early afternoons are busiest; early mornings and late afternoons are quieter.

November in Paris rewards the curious visitor: great exhibitions are on view across the city, festivals and fairs add lively moments, and the autumn light makes even ordinary walks feel cinematic. Layer up, buy a few timed‑entry tickets, follow your favourite gallery or concert programme, and leave space in your schedule for wandering—some of the best discoveries come from getting slightly lost in a neighbourhood you didn’t plan to visit.

Paris in November is quietly celebratory, comfortably cool, and culturally abundant—come for the shows, stay for the cafés, and leave with plans to return. Bon voyage and enjoy every golden-streetlight minute.