Paris in April: 8 Things to Do in Paris during Springtime

If you’re looking for the perfect time to visit Paris, I recommend checking out Paris during springtime. I’m sharing things to do in Paris in April.

Paris in April - springtime in paris - things to do in Paris for your first time - tips for visiting Paris - www.emmasedition.com

Last April, I traveled to Paris for the first time with my friend Karya. Paris has been on my bucket list for a long time so I was so excited to cross it off my list. We decided to visit Paris in April during shoulder season. While the weather may be best during summer, it’s also the primary tourist season. You’ll still need layers – like a light jacket or cardigan, but there are fewer crowds in Paris during spring and fall.

Here are 8 things to do in Paris in April for your spring vacation:

1. Check out the Eiffel Tower at Av. De Camoens

Address: 75116 Paris, France

If you’re looking for an easy Eiffel tower photo shoot spot, I recommend stopping by Av. De Camoens. While people were coming and going for photos, it was much less crowded than the Trocadero.

I also recommend checking out 10 Eiffel Tower Photo Spots for more Instagram spots in Paris.

2. Wander through the Centre Pompidou

Address: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France

Centre Pompidou - View of the Eiffel Tower from the museum - www.emmasedition.com

Another great museum to check out during your trip to Paris in April is Centre Pompidou. There are over 120,000 works in the Centre Pompidou collection. Some of the most famous pieces featured in the museum include works from artists like Frida Kahlo, Piet Mondrian, and Robert Delaunay.

3. Head to the top of the Arc de Triomphe

Address: Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Arc de Triomphe - springtime on Paris - things to do in Paris in April

One of the most famous monuments in Paris is the Arc de Triomphe. Napoleon first requested the Arc de Triomphe be built to honor the memory of the victories of the French Army. Construction for the Arc de Triomphe started in 1806 and was completed in 1836.

You can book your ticket ahead of time and see a different view of Paris and the Eiffel tower from the top of the Arc.

Top of Arc de Triomphe - springtime activities in Paris

4. Plan a day trip to see the Palace of Versailles.

Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France

Hall of Mirrors - Palace of Versailles - springtime in Paris - Paris in April - things to do in Paris

If you’re looking to be immersed in French history and architecture, I recommend planning a day trip to see the Palace of Versailles. Walking through the Palace of Versailles gave me incredible insight into how the French Court lived during King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette’s time.

I recommend checking out 5 Tips for Your First Trip to Versailles to learn how to get from Paris to Versailles. It’s totally worth a day trip from Paris.

Palace of Versailles - things to do in Paris during spring

5. Wander through the Gardens of Versailles and see the Petit Trianon.

Petit Trianon at the Gardens of Versailles

One of the highlights of my trip to Paris last spring was wandering through the Gardens of Versailles. I had no idea how expansive the Gardens are – we could have spent an entire day just walking through the Gardens.

The Gardens of Versailles include magnificent sites like the Great Lawn, the Orangery and Leto’s Fountain, and the Mirror Pool. But my favorite place in the garden was the Petit Trianon.

Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the first architect to King Louis the XV, produced the Petit Trianon. The Petit Trianon was completed by 1768 in the neoclassical (Greek) style. King Louis XV gifted the Petit Trianon to his wife, Marie-Antoinette.

One of the most surprising features of the Petit Trianon was Queen’s Hamlet. Marie Antoinette extended the Petit Trianon to create a little village around the lake.

Petit Trianon - Queen's Hamlet in Gardens of Versailles

6. East at Café Flore in St. Germain

Address: 172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France

Cafe de Flore in St Germain - Cafes in Paris

I’ve seen Café Flore a lot on Instagram, so I wanted to check out this café in Paris during our trip. We arrived at 8:30 am on a weekday and were seated right away. We were surprised how quickly this café filled up by 9:30 am – so I recommend coming early for breakfast if you want to try this spot.

7. Wander through the Musee Rodin and the Sculpture Garden

Address: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France

One of my favorite museums we got to see in Paris was Musee Rodin. In 1919, Musee Rodin opened to showcase many works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The Musee Rodin is open from Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.

Additionally, Musee Rodin was a lot less crowded compared to other famous Paris museums, like the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay.

8. Stop by Domaine National du Palais-Royal (Palais-Royal Estate)

Address: Palais-Royal, 75001 Paris, France

Palais-Royal has an iconic main courtyard with columns. The Palais-Royal is also very close to the Louvre. So if you’re in the area, I recommend walking over to check out this landmark. The National Domain of the Palais-Royal was built for Cardinal de Richelieu in 1634.