Paris events in March celebrate early signs of spring and longer days to the City of Lights as activities move outside again.

On sunny March days, sidewalk tables fill up outside the city's many cafes and brasseries (such as La Turenne Brasserie near Place des Vosges in the Marais, show in top photo), and you'll begin to see hints of green in the trees.

Planning a Visit to Paris in March?

If you're coming to Paris this month, book your "bucket list" tours and activities now to make sure you get your top choices.

Top Paris attractions & experiences:

Most popular Paris destinations this month:


Major outdoor March events give you the perfect excuse to be outside.  Check out the half-marathon around the city, several interesting trade shows open to the public, and a huge "fun fair" (carnival) dating back to 857 (yes, almost 13 centuries ago). 

Please note:  Daylight Savings Time begins in France and many other European countries on the night of March 30 as clocks get turned ahead by one hour. 

North American countries including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico start DST three weeks earlier on March 9.

Top photo:  Sidewalk tables at a cafe in the Marais in March, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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March Concerts in Paris - 2025

L'Olympia concert hall in Paris 9th arrondissement
L'Olympia concert hall in the 9th arrondissement

Paris concerts during March include classical music by candlelight at Sainte-Chapelle and other beautiful historical churches, the return of Ensemble Royal for the 2025 season, several wonderful ballets and operas at Palais Garnier and Opera Bastille, and performances by popular artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Lenny Kravitz at top music halls and arenas. 

Get your tickets now:

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

More Paris rock, pop, jazz, rap, indie, & other concerts during March 

Find Paris concerts for other months

Paris Exhibits - Top Shows during March

Musée Jacquemart-André - stairs to first floor galleries
Musée Jacquemart-André - stairs to first floor galleries

These are just a few of the top exhibitions you can see in Paris this month:

  • Centre Pompidou: Suzanne Valadon - About 200 paintings and drawings organized into five themes show the artistic development of this Montmartre model-turned-artist, known especially for her boldly realistic paintings of nudes.
    Dates:  January 15 - May 26    , 2025; Level 6
    Tickets:  15€ adults; book online (includes some shows plus permanent collections) or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry; shows in several galleries require an additional ticket at (usually) an extra cost of 1-2€, so book the "permanent and temporary" ticket if you want to see one of these exhibits.  Or enhance your visit with a private tour by an expert guide.
    Getting there:  Rue Saint-Martin between Rue Rambuteau and Rue Merri, 4th;  Metro:  Rambuteau, Hôtel de Ville, Châtelet; RER: Châtelet les Halles, lines A, B, D
  • Musee d'Orsay: Art Is in the Streets - A major exhibition of almost 300 illustrated posters by Bonnard, Grasset, Mucha, Toulouse-Lautrec, with an immersion in the 19th-century city’s visual world.
    Dates:  March 18 - July 6
    Musée d'Orsay Tickets:     Book a reserved access ticket for skip-the-line access, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
    Location:     1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris 7;  Metro: Pont de l'Alma; Invalides
  • Louvre Museum:  Louvre Couture - Art & Fashion Statement Pieces - A major exhibition tracing decorative styles with 65 designs from Byzantium through the Second Empire on display.
    Dates:  January 24 - July 21
    Tickets:     Book in advance with a reserved time slot and skip-the-line access; can also book in advance for free admission with a Paris Museum Pass
    Location:  Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1;  Metro: Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre

Find more Paris museum exhibitions for March

Interested in a Louvre Museum guided tour?  Find out how to choose the best one to match your interests

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, or 6 days.  More info

Cherry Blossoms Start to Bloom in Paris

Pink cherry blossoms along Jardins des Champs Elysees in early March
Pink cherry blossoms along Jardins des Champs Elysees in early March

Cherry blossoms start blooming all over the city by the beginning of the month, brightening the landscape and marking the unofficial beginning of spring.  You'll also see the earliest magnolias, plus lots of daffodils and other spring bulbs.

This is a spectacular March event in Paris you won't want to miss!

Find the best 27 locations to see gorgeous cherry blossoms in Paris

Mardi Gras (Carnaval) in Paris:  La Promenade du Boeuf Gras - 2025

Paris Mardi Gras Parade
Costumed participants in Carnaval de Paris: La Promenade du Boeuf celebrating Mardi Gras - Photo courtesy of Maciej Zgadzaj

Paris celebrates Mardi Gras with a huge parade based on ancient cultural traditions called La Promenade du Boeuf Gras (literally, March of the Fat Beef Cow) featuring masks and processions.  

Led by Pimprenelle, a lovely French Limousin beef cow wearing a gorgeous red dress, and her escort Pat the Clown, about 5,000 flamboyantly costumed paraders fill the streets of Paris with music and dancing, attracting massive crowds of spectators. 

The Paris Mardi Gras parade takes place in the 20th arrondissement, almost always on the Sunday before the Tuesday when Mardi Gras occurs.  The event is free, free-form, and definitely one of the most fun things to do in Paris in March. 

Want to march?  Just join in.  Want to watch?  That's fine too.  What should you wear?  Whatever you want - but the more fanciful and flamboyant, the better!

Carnaval de Paris (Mardi Gras) Parade Route:  Starts at Place Gambetta in the 20th, and goes down Avenue Gambetta past Père Lachaise Cemetery, turns right at Boulevard Ménilmontant and continues along Boulevard de Belleville, turns left on to Rue du Faubourg du Temple and ends at Place de la République. 

Like every parade in Paris, unanticipated route, date, or time changes can occur - so check the Mardi Gras Carnival website for any last-minute updates.

Parade date:  March 2, 2025
Starts:  2pm
Ends:   The parade ends around 6pm, followed by two hours of dancing around Place de la Republique, with the whole event ending at 8pm - so you can enjoy 6 full hours of fun and celebration
Nearest metro station to starting location: Gambetta
Future dates:   February 15, 2026; February 7, 2027, February 27, 2028 (to be confirmed)

 

Just a reminder - The parade takes place two days before Mardi Gras, which is on March 4 in 2025 (and in case you're planning ahead, February 17 in 2026, February 9 in 2027, and February 29 in 2028). Like Easter, the date changes every year because it is based on the Gregorian calendar which calculates dates based on phases of the sun and moon.  Mardi Gras always takes place 47 days before Easter.

St. Patrick's Day Events in Paris

A very green spring-blooming shrub near the Eiffel Tower - perfect for Patrick's Day photos
A very green spring-blooming shrub near the Eiffel Tower - perfect for Patrick's Day photos

Saint Patrick's Day is not, of course, a big event in Paris because it is an Irish, not a French, holiday.

But if you feel like wearing some green and celebrating Irish National Day in style as March 17th draws closer, head over to the Irish Cultural Center (5 Rue des Irlandais, 5th arrondissement) and join their St Patrick Day Festival. 

The multi-day event takes place this year from March 7-18 (to be confirmed) and features lots of traditional Irish music with fiddles and bagpipes, shows, food trucks, Gaelic games, film screenings, and fun events for kids.  Some concerts and other events require reservations, and some charge small admission fees.  Wear green!

Throughout the year, the Irish Cultural Center hosts a variety of exhibitions, art shows, concerts, and other cultural events - one of Paris's many hidden treasures.

Find out all the details for the St Patrick's Day Festival plus other events

Paris Contemporary Drawing Fair: DDESSINPARIS

Drawing by Emmanuel Azizeh at the Contemporary Drawing Fair, courtesy of H Gallery, Paris
Visitors viewing art at DESSINPARIS

DDESSINPARIS (Paris Contemporary Drawing Fair), a Parisian art fair celebrating the best contemporary drawing in all forms, takes place this year in Domus Maubourg, a former private mansion in the 7th arrondissement not far from Les Invalides.  The exhibition displays works created by emerging and established young artists who are nominated by a dozen French and international galleries.

If you are interested in viewing exciting new art, chatting with the artists and gallery owners, and perhaps acquiring a special piece, this is a show you won't want to miss!

Dates:  March 22 - 24; preview (by invitation) on March 21 (to be confirmed)
Tickets:  15€
Location:  Domus Maubourt, 29 Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, Paris 7; Metro: La Tour-Maubourg
More information: DDESSINPARIS website


Paris Visitor's Tip:  Daylight Savings Time in France 2025

Daylight Savings Time in France - Just a reminder:  Paris, France, and most other European countries switch to Daylight Savings Time (DST) on the last Sunday of the month - March 30 this year, so at 2am, move your clocks ahead by one hour.  You lose an hour of sleep - but the extra hour of daylight at the end of the day makes your days in Paris last even longer!


Car-Free Sundays in Paris 

Car-free day in Paris
Champs Elysées on a car-free Sunday

Can you imagine Paris without cars or any of their accompanying pollution and noise? 

You can enjoy this unique experience on Sunday, March 2 - as well as the first Sunday of every month throughout many central Paris neighborhoods.  Some extend the car-free periods to include every Sunday plus public holidays - and a few areas go car-free on Saturdays as well.

So get ready to walk or ride your bike down the middle of the busiest Paris streets and avenues, and see the city in a new way!  We highly recommend Champs-Elysees as a starting point because the oppportunity to stroll down the middle of this famous avenue is a truly amazing experience.

Initially, these closures took place primarily in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements closest to the city's center, but now almost every district has at least one area with street closures.  You can find a growing list of these areas on the City of Paris's website.

Although most vehicles (including electric) are banned, you'll see a few exceptions: emergency and police vehicles operate as usual, and taxis, city buses, and regular tourist buses (Open Tour and Big Bus lines) also run, but at a slower-than-normal speed.  

Paris has measured a significant drop in pollution and noise on car-free days.   So grab your skate board, bike, or favorite walking shoes, and spend the day outdoors enjoying fresh air and tranquility.

Paris Half Marathon - (Semi Marathon de Paris) - 2025

As a warm up of sorts for the Paris Marathon in April, Paris also hosts an annual half-marathon known as Semi de Paris each year in March. 

This year, the Paris Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, March 9, with about 40,000 runners expected to participate in the 21.1km race.

The Half Marathon course begins on the Left Bank of the Seine River on Boulevard Saint-Germain near the Cluny metro station and proceeds along the left bank of the Seine to Pont de Tolbiac where it crosses the bridge and continues through Parc de Bercy. 

At Rue de Charenton, runners turn right and make a large loop through Bois de Vincennes, the giant forest and parkland on the east side of the city, and then emerge onto Avenue Daumesnil. 

At Place Felix Eboué, the runners will turn left onto Boulevard de Bercy, continue to the Seine, and again turn left onto Quai de Bercy, continuing along the Seine to Hôtel de Ville before right up to Rue de Rivoli, then making another right to continue onto Place de la Bastille, and then onto the finish line at Rue de Lyon. 

Start time for the wheelchair division racers is 7:58am, with staggered start times for everyone else until 11:01am.  Winners cross the Finish Line around 12 noon, and most runners will finish by mid-afternoon.

Want to find a good viewing location?  You'll find the course map here.

You should expect road closures along the route, although they will start being removed along the first part of the course soon after the last group of racers depart.

Biggest Paris Sports Events during March 2025

Parc des Princes, site of Coupe de France matches - Photo credit: Unsplash/Tim L Productions
Parc des Princes, site of Coupe de France matches - Photo credit: Unsplash/Tim L Productions

Top Paris sports events taking place include two games played with Paris Saint-Germain, the city's champion pro football (similar to American soccer) club, and Saut Hermès, the elite international equestrian show and jumping competition:

If none of these dates work for you (or even if they do), consider a behind-the-scenes tour of Stade de France, Paris's largest stadium and home to many of France's top championship games such as Fifa World Cup.

One Thousand and One Orchids Show at Jardin des Plantes

One of the greenhouses in Jardin des Plantes
One of the greenhouses in Jardin des Plantes

Welcome spring at the Botanical Garden's annual display of 1,001 rare and fabulous orchids (just a tiny fraction of the Garden's collection of 92,000 specimums) arranged in natural settings throughout the garden's enormous greenhouses. 

Dates:  February 6 - March 10, 2025, open daily except Tuesdays (to be confirmed)   
More information: website
Tickets:  Buy online or at the greenhouse entrance (admission to the Botanical Garden is free).  Please note:  It's best to buy online in advance because dates fill up quickly as this show is extremely popular.

Paris Foire du Trone - Throne Fair

Fun things to do and see at the Paris Throne Fair
Fun things to do and see at the Paris Throne Fair

Visit Paris's huge Foire du Trone, and you'll become part of a tradition and cultural event stretching back to 957 when 15-year old King Lothair established the first Fun Fair, once a festive market featuring gingerbread as a top seller and acrobats and gambling to entertain the crowds. 

Today, roughly 350 attractions including carnival rides, stuffed animals, fries, and beer rule as the fair attracts an estimated 5 million visitors for the shared goal of having fun during its 2-month spring season. 

Especially if you're staying in the Marais, getting to the fair takes less than 10 minutes on the Metro's Line 8.

When:  March 22 - April 21, 12 noon to 11pm (1pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and nights before public holidays, except for April 1 when it opens at 2pm)
Where: Bois de Vincennes on the Reuilly Lawn (Pelouse de Reuilly), 12th arrondissement (Look for the fair on your right soon after you pass through the entrance near the Porte Dorée metro station, or just follow the crowds)

Metro:  Porte Dorée
Admission:   Free - plus reasonable prices for food, drinks, rides, etc
More information:  Faire du Trone website

Foire de Chatou (Antiques & Collectibles Fair at Chatou) 2025

Antique treasures?
Antique treasures?

If you love searching for treasures at flea markets and antique shops, you won't want to miss France's biggest and oldest antiques fair held this month (and in September) a few miles outside of Paris (but easy to get to on the RER). 

What will you find?  Basically, everything that might fall under the label of "antiques" and "collectibles" - fine art, furniture, decor, jewelry, tableware, chandeliers and other light fixtures, mirrors, books and maps, and so much more, from the 17th century through the 20th.

All of the 300 dealers at the fair are vetted professionals, and experts are on hand to certify authenticity, if needed.  Shippers are also available, in case you can't resist, for example, an 18th century marble mantle for your fireplace back home.

Dates:  March 7-16, 10am - 7pm
Admission:  10€ - save time by getting your ticket in advance on their website
Location:  Ile des Impressionnistes (Isle of the Impressionists), Chatou, France
Directions:  Take the RER A toward Saint-Germain-en-Laye from Paris (only 4 stations from the Charles de Gaulle/Etoile station at the Arc de Triomphe). Get off at the Rueil-Malmaison station and take the free shuttle to the fair (you can also walk - it's about half a mile), or go one stop farther and get off at the Chatou Croissy station (try to exit at the end of the train) and walk across the footbridge over the Seine River to the fair.  

Find out more about Foire de Chatou and other Paris flea markets (including the huge Les Puces), antiques auctions, and "brocantes"

European Craft Days in Paris 2025

Visit to the costume creation studio at the Opéra National de Paris
Visit to see tapestry weavers at Manufacture des Gobelins in Paris's 13th arrondissement - Photo credit: Sébastien Bertrand

The European Days of Crafts (Journées Européennes des Métiers d'Art) takes place all over Europe and showcases contemporary expressions of traditional crafts by opening the doors of professional artisans to the public for a week each spring. 

This is your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at bookbinders, costume makers, jewelry designers, leather toolers, bicycle makers, stone carvers, tapestry weavers, furniture restorers, and much more, many of them at the city's top cultural institutions such as the Louvre and the Paris Opera.  Go to the JAMA website to see what's on offer.  Use the map to search; you'll have to click about 10 times to drill down to Paris events, but it's worth the effort.  With over 200 open studios in Paris, you'll have a wealth of choices.

When: March 31 - April 6
Admission:  Free, but many venues are small and limit participants, so advance registration is usually required and some fill up very quickly
Where:  All over Paris (and France as well as the rest of Europe)

French Open Tickets Sale Dates for 2025

The Grand Open takes place this year from May 19 - June 8 in the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris's 16th arrondissement.  General public ticket sales for the French Open Tennis Tournament typically go on sale in March. 

You'll find the French Open schedule, ticket information, and everything else you need to know about this famous sports event on the Roland-Garros website.

If you want to attend one of the most popular matches, you need to move fast once sales open as those tickets always sell out quickly.  For other matches, tickets are usually available at reasonable prices until almost the last minute.

Roland Garros is a short walk from the Porte d'Auteuil metro station, but for the greatest convenience, consider staying across the street at the 5-star Molitor Hotel & Spa, best known for its magnificent swimming pool

More about Paris in March


More Fun Things to Do & See in Paris in March


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