In a nutshell
- Rain in Paris is no reason to despair — the city has plenty of great activities that keep you out of the wet without missing out on anything.
- Beyond museum visits and city tours, you can explore the Catacombs, stroll through historic arcades, ride the Ferris wheel, and warm up in a legendary café.
- With kids, we especially recommend the natural history museum Grande Galerie de l’Évolution and the Aquarium de Paris — easily two hours of entertainment each.
- Want a free rainy day activity? Paris’s beautiful historic churches are open to all — and genuinely worth a visit, not just as a rain shelter.
Visiting Parisian Museums
When the weather turns bad, heading to a museum is honestly one of the smartest moves you can make. And Paris has a seriously impressive range of museums for every taste — art, history, and even great options for kids.
Our favorites include the Musée du Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Conciergerie — the prison of the French Revolution. With kids, the natural history museum Grande Galerie de l’Évolution is absolutely worth it.
The smaller Parisian museums can easily be visited on a whim. For the Louvre and the d’Orsay, book your ticket online in advance — you’ll thank yourself later.
To skip the lines at the ticket counter, we always recommend buying tickets online.
Book Musée d’Orsay tickets online
Book Grande Galerie de l’Évolution tickets online
Book Conciergerie tickets online
Visiting the Paris Catacombs
Rainy weather in Paris creates the perfect atmosphere for a descent into the Paris Catacombs.
The Catacombs are many hundreds of years old — a mix of former tunnel network and ossuary. You’ll see the underground passages of Paris alongside the remains of several million people who were transferred here starting in 1786. Creepy, but also incredibly fascinating!
Note that going into the Catacombs on your own is not allowed. You need a ticket and must use the designated main entrance. Tickets are available online only, so don’t show up without one.
Taking a City Tour
Rain in Paris doesn’t mean your sightseeing has to stop — just move it onto a bus. You stay sheltered from the weather and can take in the Eiffel Tower and more in complete comfort.
We recommend either a sightseeing tour on a glass-roof bus with dining, or the classic hop-on/hop-off bus.
The glass-roof bus ride lasts two hours and takes you past the major Paris landmarks while you’re served a four-course meal. Pretty special.
The hop-on/hop-off bus lets you jump on and off as many times as you like for 24 or 48 hours. So if the sun suddenly makes an appearance, you can hop off at the next stop and explore on foot.
The glass-roof bus ride should be booked online about two days ahead. Tickets for the hop-on/hop-off buses in Paris can also be picked up on the spot at the bus stops.
Book city tour with dining online
Book hop-on/hop-off bus ride online
Taking a Covered Boat Tour
A great alternative — or complement — to the bus tour is a covered boat ride. You cruise leisurely along the Seine and see Paris from a whole new perspective, without getting wet.
You can book ahead online or try your luck on the spot. Just make sure you choose a boat that’s actually covered — not all of them are.
For a wider selection of boat tours, check out our guide to Paris boat tours.
Exploring the Parisian Arcades
Rainy days are a great excuse to go shopping under cover — and in Paris, that doesn’t mean a generic mall. We’re talking stunning, historic shopping arcades.
These passages date back to the Victorian era and are a genuine local favorite! You’ll find arts and crafts shops, bookstores, and some really fascinating traditional boutiques that feel like stepping back in time.
Our favorite arcades are Passage Jouffroy, Galerie Vivienne, and Passage du Grand-Cerf.
Passage Jouffroy on Google Maps
Galerie Vivienne on Google Maps
Passage du Grand-Cerf on Google Maps
Eating at the Marché des Enfants
The Marché des Enfants in the Marais neighborhood is the oldest market in Paris. You’ll find an incredible variety of food stalls here — Moroccan, Indian, Asian, classic French. Basically everything.
On a rainy day, it’s the perfect spot to simply graze your way through the stalls and eat your fill.
Our tip: Don’t miss the Chez Alain stall. They make generously stuffed baguettes and galettes (savory crêpes), each packed with at least five vegetables, salad, cheese, walnuts, honey, and various sauces. Seriously good.
Marché des Enfants on Google Maps
When the weather is bad, having a cozy hotel matters even more. If you’re still looking for a place to stay, check out our hotel recommendations for Paris.
Discovering Parisian Churches
Beyond the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sacré-Cœur in the Montmartre neighborhood, Paris has so many more beautiful churches worth exploring. And ducking into one when the rain picks up is a genuinely lovely way to spend an hour.
We especially recommend the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in the Quartier Latin, the church of Saint-Séverin, and La Madeleine.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont on Google Maps
Riding the Paris Ferris Wheel
At the Place de la Concorde on the Champs-Élysées, there’s a really special attraction: the Roue de Paris. It’s a 60-meter-tall Ferris wheel with fully enclosed gondolas — think London Eye, just a little smaller.
The wheel runs every year in summer and from November through January — right during the rainiest season in Paris.
Each ride lasts two rotations, so about 15 minutes. From the top, you get a stunning panorama over Paris that can rival the view from the Arc de Triomphe — and the enclosed gondola keeps you completely sheltered from the cold and rain.
Tickets for the Paris Ferris wheel can be purchased on-site.
Trying Macarons and More
Things to do in Paris when it rains? Start with a long, indulgent café stop. Rain practically demands it — and Paris has the best French baked goods in the world. Macarons, madeleines, éclairs, beignets — we guarantee they’ll lift your spirits.
The absolute classics are Ladurée and Café de Flore. But we’ve also got three extra-special picks for you: La Caféothèque Paris and the Shakespeare & Company Café, right next to the legendary bookshop of the same name.
Shakespeare & Company Café on Google Maps
Watching a Movie at Le Grand Rex
Do you love a movie night when the weather is miserable? Then do exactly that in Paris. The legendary Le Grand Rex cinema near the Opéra Garnier is the perfect spot.
This movie palace dates back to the 1930s and screens, among other things, Art Deco films in a truly spectacular setting. Alternatively, you can take a so-called multimedia tour through the cinema and go behind the scenes — a fun option even if you don’t catch a film.
Book multimedia tour ticket online
Seeing Fish at the Aquarium de Paris
If you’re in Paris with kids and the forecast is looking grim, the Aquarium de Paris right across from the Eiffel Tower is a perfect rainy day outing.
There’s a lot to discover about the world’s oceans here — 500 species and 10,000 types of marine animals live across 43 beautifully designed tanks. You can easily spend two hours here, surrounded by water but completely dry.
Book Aquarium de Paris tickets online
Frequently Asked Questions About Activities in Paris in the Rain
Which month sees the most rain in Paris?
May is the rainiest month in Paris, followed by October and December.
Can you visit the Eiffel Tower in the rain?
Yes! The Eiffel Tower is open even in rainy weather. The platforms are mostly covered, so you’re protected from rain coming straight down. That said, if there’s also strong wind, you’ll still get wet — so come prepared.
Can you go up the Eiffel Tower during a thunderstorm?
Whether the Eiffel Tower closes during a thunderstorm or restricts access to the upper levels depends on the severity of the storm.
Staff make these calls on the spot. For the latest updates, check the official Eiffel Tower website.
Is Paris still beautiful in the rain?
Absolutely! Paris is a gorgeous city in any weather. Don’t let a bit of rain derail your trip — just plan smart and use our tips for things to do in Paris when it rains.
What should you wear in Paris when it rains?
Paris is a fashion capital, but when it rains the rules are the same as anywhere: sturdy shoes, a water-resistant jacket, and an umbrella.
For more advice on what to pack, check out our packing list for city trips.
Which Paris rainy day activities are best for kids?
If you’re in Paris with kids and the weather isn’t cooperating, we really recommend a visit to the Natural History Museum Grande Galerie de l’Évolution and the Aquarium de Paris. Both are super engaging for children and easy to spend a couple of hours in.
