The Top Events & Activities In Paris For November 2020

Though the days are shorter and there's a tinge of winter in the air, Paris events in November can warm your heart. The cultural season is back, but this year there is a limited offering. November is also when Paris celebrates photography at the Salon de la Photo. Let's take a look at the best events and most exciting activities this month.

Post-lockdown Paris has been opening up bit by bit with most museums welcoming visitors. Many of the museums 2020 exhibitions have been rescheduled from spring. We also find a surprising number of activities available to sign up for; most of these have instituted safety & sanitary measures. We'll keep the information on this page updated with best things to do and the greatest ways to explore and enjoy the city we love.

Most Popular Activities

Things to Do in Paris November 2020

Skip the Lines at the Louvre Museum

60,000 square feet, 35,000 pieces of artwork. Do you really want to wait in line and then wander around until you're lost? Instead, join a tour that gets you inside with skip-the-line priority access. Then experience a guided visit to the highlights of the world's most popular museum — Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and other influential pieces.

Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Gliding along the Seine at night, with the lights of Paris drifting past, is a memorable activity. And to do this while dining on a traditional 3-course French meal makes it absolutely magical. What with wine & champagne included, it's no wonder so many travelers love this activity. Departure time is 8:30 PM, seven days a week.

Champagne Cruise Along the Seine

This is our favorite way to cruise the Seine — which should be no surprise if you know anything about us by now. We think you'll agree that this is the best way to see the sights of Paris — gliding past the monuments while sipping bubbly. Highly recommended.

Montmartre Impressionist Art Walking Tour + Musée d'Orsay

Learn about the history of the historic hilltop quartier of Montmartre through the lives of the famous artists who once lived here. Explore the shops and streets that still seem to have an artistic flair. This fun tour focuses on the the artists — Van Gogh's house, the windmill cabaret painted by Renoir, the site of Picasso's early studio, and more. Also included is a skip-the-line ticket for Musée d'Orsay. This activity has hundreds of 5-star reviews.

Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Priority Access

By now you know that we hate to waste time standing in lines. There is no attraction more popular than the Eiffel Tower, which means there are always lines. That's why we love tours that allow you to bypass the lineup, go directly to the priority entrance, and then up the tower. Since availability at the Tower varies during these pandemic times, the best way to approach a no-wait ET visit is to check the Big List of Eiffel Tower Tours… to find out what's available on your dates.

Night Bike Ride + River Cruise

We like this one, first of all, because it's two great activities in one fun evening. Also, it gets you on the city streets as well as along the river. Following your expert guide, cycle around the ancient and modern streets of the city, visiting the the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Champs Elysées. Cycling completed, hop on a river boat for a nighttime cruise on the Seine. A glass of wine is included, of course!

Arrange Your Airport Transfers

Of all the advice we give about Paris travel, this is often the most appreciated. Arrange for your transportation from the airport into central Paris before you leave home. Then, when you get to Paris tired from jet travel, you'll avoid "arrival stress". An easy and affordable option is book a shuttle van service right to your hotel. Book in advance to know what's going to happen when you arrive at Charle de Gaulle.

Paris Seine Dinner Cruise with Champagne

One of the best ways to spend an evening in Paris is by gliding down the most famous river in the world, watching the city all aglow, while dining at a private table. On this dinner cruise a 3-course classic French meal is served with wine, as well as a half bottle of champagne. Sanitary measures are in place. Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays in November.

Ghosts & Mysteries Night Walking Tour

Bundle up a little from the slight nip in the air — and from the chills you'll get during this tour of the ghostly, the eerie, and the downright creepy! Your guide leads you down cobblestone streets and winding alleys as you learn about the darker side of the City of Light. The Black Plague, the Nazis, and the unexplained. Ooooo.

The 9 Top Left Bank Hotels –

Who doesn't love the Left Bank of Paris? It makes you think of Hemingway and the Jazz Age and seems to emanate the very essence of Paris. We think it's the best district in the city to call home. The Saint-Germain neighborhood is charming, and so are the best of the hotels in the quartier. Let's take a look at our top Left Bank hotel picks, updated for 2020, with new ratings and current prices.

The Best Ways to Visit Versailles from Paris

Things to Do in Paris November 2020

Best of Versailles Small-Group Day Trip, Including Lunch

Instead of worrying about trains, maps, ticket lines, and guide books, why not go the royal route with a small-group tour and a guide to add illuminating details and make the past come alive with stories of palace life? This activity includes everything — transportation, tickets, a guided tour, a multi-course lunch with wine, pick-up at your hotel and return at the end of the day.

Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles

Here another great way to visit Versailles and skip the lines if you want to send only half a day here. These tours are led by expert guides and includes transportation from Paris to Versailles and back.

The Top Food & Wine Activities

Things to Do in Paris November 2020

Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour in Saint-Germain

Parisian chocolates are amazing, but if you want to expand your chocolate universe to include fabulous French pastries, then spend an afternoon sampling your way through Paris chocolate shops, patisseries, and boulangeries. As always, a food expert leads the way on this small-group tour.

The Food & Wine of the Marais

Visit the most popular quartier in Paris on this food & wine tour that's getting rave reviews. Things start out at the oldest food market in Paris where your food-expert guide leads the way. Then go on foot through the ancient neighborhood to visit the top food & wine shops, tasting the best of French food like cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and wine. Oh, and there's lots of sampling!

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cheese Cellar

An affineur is a French cheese ager, usually working in a fromagerie that sells a selection of the best cheese of the country. This food activity gets you into the cellar with a Master Affineur at a cheese shop in the Marais. You also sample seven classic French cheeses, along with wines, as you discover how cheese became one of the most revered foods of France. The small group is limited to 10 to ensure there's more cheese for you!

La Marina 3-Course Lunch Cruise

Take a break from seeing the sights and come aboard for this fun, casual, and affordable lunch cruise. You see a different side of Paris while dining on a classic 3-course meal — the Louvre, the islands, the Eiffel Tower all look magnificently different from the river. This lunch cruise is very popular, so book early, especially since this in only available on Sundays in November.

Wine Tasting in the Heart of Paris

Under the guidance of a professional French sommelier (who speaks English) spend a fun afternoon in an informal wine tasting. This tasting covers a lot of wine territory an hour or two, covering the important wines and regions of France. There's an extensive flight of wines — from Alsace, Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhone. We recommend the 2-hour Grand Cru wine tasting.

Gourmet French Food Walking Tour

There's really no place other than Paris where so much good food is crammed into such a small space. On this gourmet walking tour an experienced guide takes you to a lot of different food markets in the space of just a few hours. In the morning you explore the Latin Quarter markets and food shops, or, if you opt for the afternoon tour, you'll learn all about the foods of Montmartre.

The Top Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris November 2020

Loire Valley Chateaux + Loire Valley Wines

On this day tour from Paris you'll discover the Renaissance castles of the Loire plus the wines produced in this fertile valley. The day begins at the largest castle, Chateau de Chambord. Later, lunch is served at Chateau de Nitray with a selection of fresh, local ingredients and a guided tasting of the best of the region's wines. The final stop is Chateau de Chenonceau, considered the loveliest of the Loire royal castles. Limited dates in November, check the link for availability.

Three Magnificent Loire Valley Chateaux

If you want to concentrate on the castles and pass up the wine tasting, choose this day trip. Spend more time visiting Chenonceau, Cheverny & Chambord, the three most spectacular chateaux in the valley. Limited dates in November, check the link for availability.

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region

Pop! — that's one of our favorite sounds and it can only be made by opening a bottle of real champagne. Just over an hour from Paris, it's easy to visit the Grand Maisons de Champagne. Your driver picks you up at your Paris address and whisks you off to Epernay and Reims, through rolling hills and world-class vineyards. You taste the Grands Crus as well as bubbly from small family producers.

Mont Saint-Michel

Just off the Normandy coast is the fairytale island of Mont St-Michel. On this tour you explore the Benedictine abbey that becomes separated from the mainland during high tide. Wander along the narrow streets, visit the shops and the abbey's ramparts. This small-group tour (no more than 8 people).

D-Day Beaches Tour Plus Cider Tasting

The D-Day beaches of Normandy are the most famous battle sites of World War II. This is where the Allied troops came ashore to liberate France and to carry on across Europe to end the war. This guided tour lets you visit the beaches on a long day trip from Paris. Take a day to step back in time on a trip that returns you to hotel the same day. Limited availability in November.

The Best Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris November 2020

Armistice Day, November 11

Armistice Day in Paris is remembered with a military parade followed by the President of France laying wreaths during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe. There may be pandemic changes to this year's activities, so check back again.
• Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle
• Wednesday, November 11, 2020
• 11:00 AM: Wreath-Laying Ceremony
• 9:00 PM: Vigil Ceremony

Salon de la Photo

Also in November is the giant photography trade show at the Paris Expo, out at Porte de Versailles, where you'll have a chance to see all the latest in international photography, equipment and other displays. There may be some changes this pandemic year, so check the website before you go.
• Paris Expo, Pavilion 4, 1 place de la Porte de Versailles 75015
• November 5 to 9, 2020
• Information…

Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Fireworks, festivals, and music start on the 3rd Thursday in November to mark the arrival of the new vintage of Beaujolais. Head to any wine bar in Paris and you'll find tastings — a few euros will get you a fresh glass of Beaujolais Nouveau or Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau.
• November 19, 2020
• Information…

Le Grand Tasting Paris

Attention wine lovers! Hundreds of French and global winemakers will gather at the Le Festival des Grands Vins in Paris to offer tastings, workshops, and culinary events.
• Carrousel du Louvre
• November 27 & 28, 2020
• Information…

What's On at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris November 2020

The Advent of the Artist

Rescheduled from spring, the Louvre's Petite Galerie features Renaissance artists Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Michelangelo and Albrecht Durer. Visitors are required to follow the museum's Covid-19 regulations — book a time slot, wear a face mask, and adhere to social distancing,
• Petite Galerie, Louvre
• Ends July 5, 2021
• Information…

Aubrey Beardsley

Although the British illustrator and engraver Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) died well before he was thirty years old, he left a legacy of work that has endured the test of time. A must for fans of Oscar Wilde, James Whistler, and 1890s London. Wearing a face mask is compulsory for all visitors to Museée d'Orsay.
• Museée d'Orsay
• Ends January 10, 2021
• Information…

Matisse

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henri Matisse (1869-1954), the Pompidou pays tribute to his artistic genius.
• Centre Pompidou
• Ends February 22, 2021
• Information…

The Olmecs and the Cultures of the Gulf of Mexico

Learn about the fascinating Olmec civilization and the little-known world of other pre-Columbian cultures of the Gulf of Mexico. The exhibition sheds light on this Mesoamerican civilization with rare items, shown for the first time outside Mexico.
• Quai Branly
• Ends July 25, 2021
• Information…

Body and Soul — Sculpture in Italy from Donatello to Michelangelo

This exhibition highlights the events that led to Renaissance sculpture, displaying works by the best artists from the period and featuring the greatest sculptor of all time, Michelangelo.
• Hall Napoleon, under the Pyramid
• October 22 to January 18, 2021
• Information…

Léon Spilliaert) – Light and Solitude

Witness the most intense period, 1900 to 1919, in the troubled Symbolist painter Léon Spilliaert's artistic career. Wearing a face mask is compulsory for all visitors to Museée d'Orsay.

• Museée d'Orsay
• Ends January 10, 2021
• Information…

Giorgio de Chirico – Metaphysical Painting

The exhibition explores the connection between avant garde artist Giorgio de Chirico and the famous art dealer Paul Guillaume.

• Musée de l'Orangerie
• Ends December 14, 2020
• Information…