Holidays & Closing Days

As you plan your Paris itinerary, it’s helpful to note any holidays or special days on the Parisian calendar that you may run into during your trip. In addition to several major public holidays, a lot of businesses in Paris observe different operating hours on Sundays. Rest assured though, even on the largest major holidays, there is always something to do in Paris! The city’s beautiful gardens and parks, the stunning Eiffel Tower and magical Disneyland Paris are just a few examples of attractions open 365 days a year.

Closing Days

Many museums, monuments and other tourist attractions regularly close one day a week. While planning your sightseeing in Paris, keep in mind that many museums are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays. Versailles, the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Carnavalet and the Musée Rodin, to mention just a few are closed on Mondays. While the Louvre, Musée de l’Orangerie, Pompidou Centre and others are closed on Tuesdays. Click here to check the closing days for the main museums and sites in Paris.

Sundays in Paris

Throughout France, Sundays are traditionally a day of rest. Banks, shops, supermarkets and many restaurants are closed across the country. This mostly holds true in Paris as well, though shops in popular tourist areas (e.g. Champs Elysées) remain open seven days a week. You’ll find that many restaurants in high profile areas also open on Sundays.

Public Holidays in Paris

France observes around a dozen national and religious holidays each year. Shops, supermarkets and many restaurants around the city close on these days. Museums, monuments and other major tourists attractions, however, remain open on most holidays with the exception of 1 January, 14 July (Bastille Day) and 25 December. Exact opening dates and times for places of interest in Paris vary, so be sure to check on them beforehand.

School Holidays in Paris

Schools in Paris and Ile-de-France have set schedules fixed by the Government School Calendar. Private schools, however, may have different schedules for the school holidays. School vacation times often mean that museums and sights geared toward children and families are busier than other times of the year. Paris falls in the Government School Zone C, and the main dates are listed below. For more information about school holidays in other areas of France, please visit the French Government Department of Education website (in French)