Paris Events November 2024 - Best Things to Do This Month (2024)

Top Parisevents in November 2024 include Touissant (All Saints Day), Armistice Day ceremonies, lots of wonderful concerts and museum shows, and the chance to immerse yourself in all things chocolate at the popular Salon du Chocolate show packed with demos, tastings, and even a fashion show.

By the second week in November, the big Paris department stores unveil their spectacular Christmas window displays and dazzling lights and decorations begin to sparkle across the city.

You may notice the days getting shorterand the air crisper, but November weather in Paris usually offers mellow sunny days for enjoying the changing leaf hues.

Stroll through any of the city's many parks such as Tuileries Garden and Luxembourg Garden to soak up the fall foliage colorsand enjoy the last late-blooming flowers. Versailles also offers lovely colors in the gardens, plus smaller crowds touring the palace.

Want to get a taste of the holiday season?Toward the middle of the month, you can start visiting festive Paris Christmas markets and enjoying the hot mulled wine, regional food specialties, and gift shopping. Or head to Disneyland Paris where Christmas celebrations begin during the second week of November.

French holidays in November:All Saints Day (November 1) and Armistice Day (November 11) are public holidays, so banks, many stores and businesses, post offices, and some restaurants (especially outside of central Paris)will be closed.

Please note: The Toussaint school holiday weeks take place across Francebetween October 20and November 3 in 2024 (and Oct 19-Nov 2 next year, in case you're planning ahead), which means that some attractions (especially those appealing to kids) may be more crowded than usual.

Top photo: Bouquiniste on the Left Bank of the Seine River, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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Concerts in Paris - November, 2024

From rock to indie to jazz, from opera to ballet, you'll find every type of music you can imagine at top concerts in Paris during November 2024:

Short days and chilly nights make November an especially good month for classical concerts held in centuries-old churches. Look for candlelight concerts for a special experience!

Check the lineup to find top concerts, opera, ballet, and other music shows happening throughout November, and get your tickets now:

Paris concerts duringNovember include an exciting mix of opera and ballet, top contemporary artists, and classical concerts in historical churches, where you can hear favorites such as Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Vivaldi, and more:

• Verdi's Requiem- Madeleine Church - Nov 9
• Shaka Ponk - Accor Arena - Nov 28

More Paris classical concerts, opera, & dance performances during November

More Paris rock, electronic, pop, jazz, & other performances during November

Find Paris concerts for other months

Les Vitrines de Noël - Christmas Window Displays in Paris - Schedule

Five famous big Paris department stores - Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, Bon Marché, BHV Marais, and La Samaritaine - reveal their spectacular Christmas window decorations in early November, usually during the first half of the month.It's the perfect reason to take a holiday stroll.

The imaginative Christmas windowdisplays enchant adults and children alike, and become more fantastic and creative with animations and music each year - and of course draw shoppers inside where even more dazzling decorations create holiday cheer.

This year, BHV will be the first toreveal their windowat 5pm on Wednesday, November 8.

Galeries Lafayette usually boasts the most elaborate holiday windows featuring with animated shows on repeat throughout most of the day and evening.

Want to jointhe crowds of fans that gather for each Parisian department store's annual holiday windows"reveal"ceremony?

Here's the complete store window unveiling schedule:

• BHV Marais (52 rue de Rivoli, Paris 4) -Starts November 8, 5pm
• La Samaritaine (19 Rue de la Monnaie, Paris 1) - Look for a palace of gourmet treats plus Willy Wonka-themed entertainment to celebrate the release of the new film - November 8 - January 9
• Printemps Haussmann (64 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9) - Christmas windows on display: starts November 9, 5:30pm
• Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche (24 rue de Sèvres, Paris 7) - Giant fluffy bears wearing golden jackets will entertain you in this year's 4 special Christmas windows on Rue de Sèvre; also look for them inside the festively decorated Rive Gauche store -Starts November 10, 5pm
• Galeries Lafayette (40 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9) - In addition to the fabulous Christmas windows, don't miss the gigantic Christmas tree, with a glass walkway for closeup views and selfies - November 15 - December 31

Christmas Lights & Holiday Decorations

Christmas lights ("Illuminations") and decorations start to appear in Paris starting in early November and continue through early January(until just before the January sales begin).

By December, you can see festive lights, decorations, and Christmas trees in all the city's key shopping districts. Some are quite elaborate, especially on the Right Bank.

One of the best ways to see the Christmas lights in Paris (and get a tour of top attractions and neighborhoods) is by taking one of the popular open-top bus holiday lights tours.

More about holiday window displays and Christmas decorations in Paris department stores

Armistice Day Ceremony in Paris - November 11, 2024

Pay your respects to those who died or were injured during war - almost 1.6 million French soldiers died during World War I and II combined - on Armistice Day, November 11. Armistice Day was established on November 11, 1918 as combat ended during World War I - the "war to end all wars."

In a somber ceremony at the base of the Arc de Triomphe,the French president inspects the troops and lays a red, white, and blue wreath near the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which honors all French troops who died in the war. Asolemn vigil takes place at the Tomb in the evening. Both remembrances always occur on November 11.

When: Wreath-laying 11am, vigil at 9pm (to be confirmed)

Want to know more? Visit the Georges Clemenceau Museum (8 rue Benjamin Franklin, 16e); Clemenceau became France's prime minister in 1917 and orchestrated both France's final assaults on the Axis powers as well as the armistice agreement after the Allied victory. Usually open only in the afternoon; check hours

Visit World War I battlefields - These special small-group and private tours take you to visit the most famous World War I French battle sites, museums, and memorials:

• World War I Battlefields - Explore sites of important battles involving American troops at Aisne, Marne, Belleau Wood, Cote 204, the Museum of the Great War in Meaux, and cemeteries. Private tour for a group of up to 7 - More
• Verdun and Meuse-Argonne - Tour these famous battlefields as well as the Fort of Douaumont, Château-Thierry, the Romagne War Museum, the Trench of Bayonets, and cemeteries- More
• Somme - Visit the famousbattleground, Deville Wood cemetery, war memorials, and the Great War Museum in Peronne - More

Find out more about visiting the Arc de Triomphe

Paris Christmas Markets Opening in November

Filled with sparkling lights and decorations, the smell of roasting chestnuts, cups of hot mulled wine, and Swiss-style chaletsoverflowing with specialholiday foods, hand-crafted gifts, and decorations, ChristmasMarkets start popping up all over Paris in mid-to-late November.

These festive holiday markets originated in Germany, but have been a popular tradition in Paris and other French cities since Medieval times. Today, you'll find them all overthe city, with the largest ones attracting large crowds.

The Paris Christmas Markets opening during November typically include three of the biggest and best:Tuileries Garden Christmas Market (opening this year on November 19, Saint Germain Christmas Market, and La Defense Christmas Market(opening on November 16, the earliest opening date we've seen so far for this year). Exact dates are usually announced about 3-4 weeks in advance.

Check the Paris Christmas Market Schedule

Find out more about each of the major Paris Christmas Markets

Things to Do in Paris in November

Visiting Paris in November? Enjoy these fun activities, including a few indoor choices in case the weather turns chilly:

• Paris Wine & Cheese Lunch - Love wine and cheese? In this small group experience in a beautiful tasting wine bar in a 17th century "hotel particulier" (private mansion) near the Louvre, you'll try 5 wines from different French regions and savor them with perfectly paired French cheese and charcuterie as you learn about their unique flavors and origins. Book now
• Paris Catacombs Skip-The-Line Ticket & Audio Guide - This best-selling experience takes you far below the streets of Paris into an immense maze of tunnels and rooms containing the skulls and bones of about 6 million Parisians. By the time you leave, you'll know all about where the dead go when Paris cemeteries fill up. Perfect adventure for a rainy day! Book now
• Moulin Rouge Show with Champagne - Enjoy Champagne and fantastic performance of the Féerie show at the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret for a quintessential Paris night on the town! Book now
• Paris Christmas Lights Bus Tour - See all the fantastic holiday lights around the city! Starts on November 25. Book now

Christmas at Disneyland Paris Starts in November

Enchanted Christmas celebrations start at Disneyland Paris in early November and continue into January with plenty of entertainment and holiday spirit for everyone.

You'll find a spectacular giant tree, entertaining shows, festive Christmas parades, and sparkling holiday decorations everywhere.Each year brings new holiday features, lights, and shows at both Disney Parks, an immersive nighttime extravaganza, and singing carols with Santa, Mickey, and Minnie for a magical experience you won't forget. You can even expect snowflakes to fall a few times each day!

When:November 11 - January 7

Disneyland Paris and Transportation

Take RER A to the Marne-la-Valée station across a small plaza from Disneyland Paris, and buy your tickets at the gate - or check out these options to make your trip faster and easier:

Paris Exhibits - Must-See Shows for November

November weather in Paris can be tricky, and you should always have a few bad-weather day activities in mind. Visit these museum shows when you want to stay warm indoors and immerse yourself in Paris's top cultural treasures:Here are just a few of the top exhibitions you can see in Paris this month:

• Atelier des Lumieres: Egyptian Pharaohs - Discover ancient Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs in this virtual journey along the Nile River in Upper and Lower Egypt as you see legendary rulers, great battles, famous templesand tombs, and majestic landscapes; purchase online; you can also purchase at the door for 2€ more per ticket but there's no guarantee you'll get in as timeslots are often fully booked
  Dates: Through January 5, 2025
• Orsay Museum -Caillebotte: Painting People
  Dates: Oct 8, 2024 - January 19, 2025
  Tickets: Book a reserved-access ticket for skip-the-line access, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
• Fondation Louis Vuitton:To be announced
  Tickets: Book in advance
  Location:8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16; Metro:Les Sablons, plus about a 10-minute walk (or take the shuttle bus included with the ticket)

Paris Museum and Attractions Passes

Get free admission and skip-the-line access to 60+ museums in and near Paris when you have a Paris Museum Pass for 2, 4, or6 days. (Access to special shows may require an additional ticket.) More info

Christmas Lights Turn On in Paris

Christmas lights ("Illuminations") and decorations start to appear in Paris starting in mid-November and continue through early January(usually until right before the January sales begin).

Where can you see the city's most gorgeous lights? Head to Champs-Elysees, where thousands of strands of energy-efficient lights covering 400 trees light up the famous avenue. A lighting ceremony takes place at 5pm on November 19 (to be confirmed) , with the avenue pedestrian-only for the occasion. Lights will be on 5pm - 11:45pm every day through January 2, 2024, except for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve when they stay on all night.

Find the best places to see Christmas lights in Paris

Go on a Paris Christmas Lights Tour

Find out more about Christmas in Paris

Day Trip to Mont Saint Michel in November

November is the perfect month to visit Mont Saint Michel, the magnificent medieval abbey rising from a tiny island just off the Atlantic Coast between Normandy and Brittany.

Comfortable private coach transportationfrom Paris makes it possible to visit Mont Saint Michel in just one day, while seeing the picturesque French countryside along the way.

Here are two of the most popular day trip choices:

• Full-Day Mont Saint Michel Tour - Small group tour. Explore on your own, after a quick orientation about the most important sights from your guide
• Full-Day Mont Saint-Michel Guided Tour - Choose this tour if youprefer a fully-guided experience, including lunch

Paris Hotel Map

Planning to visit Paris in November? Use this Paris hotel map to find accommodations and make your reservation:

Check out the newest Paris hotels

Festival of Lights at Paris's Jardin des Plantes

The annual winter Festival of Lights returns to the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden) in Paris's 5th arrondissem*nt, with giant illuminated statues of animals creating a magical experience during the evening.

The topic year is the ecosystem of the jungle and the balance of nature in tropical forests of Asia, Oceania, South America, and Africa.

Although the exhibition attracts almost 400,000 visitors each year, the garden never seems crowded.

You can see the creatures unilluminated during daytime hours without a ticket (in other words, for free), but the ticketed event which begins after dark is more spectacular.

Dates: November 22 - January 21, except for Dec. 24 & 31, 6pm l- 9:30pm, with last entry at 8:30pm, and until 11pm (last entry at 10) on Friday, Saturday, & school holidays

Location: Jardin des Plantes, 57 Rue Cuvier, 5th arr
Tickets for evening strolls: 15€-17€, with reduced prices for children and families; tickets must be bought online(and get yours early, as they will sell out on many nights, especially during the holidays)

PhotoSaintGermain

Almost three dozen Saint Germain galleries, specialty museums, bookstores, cultural venues, and even Hotel La Louisiane (storied haunt of jazz age and later musicians, including Jim Morrison) stage PhotoSaintGermain each November to celebrate contemporary photography and emerging photographers with exhibitions, presentations, studio visits, and meet-ups.

If you love to see what's newand trending in the art of photography, don't miss this wonderful opportunityto visit the participating galleries and other venues.Check the event's website for addresses, event dates, and an interactive map of locations. As you'll see, many of the galleries are clustered in Saint-Germain's "Design District," so you can easily do your own self-directed art stroll.

Dates: November 3- 19; hours and open/closed days vary based on venue and activity
Admission: Free (although most of the art is available for purchase)

More Top Paris Things to Do & See in November

Coming Soon:Christmas in Paris

How to celebrate Christmas in the City of Light: