Paris events in March welcome early signs of spring and longer days to the City of Lights as events 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.
Major outdoor events include a half-marathon around the city, several trade shows, and a huge "fun fair" (carnival) dating back to 857 (yes, almost 13 centuries ago) provide the perfect excuse for being outside.
Exciting exhibits open at Musée Picasso and Musée Jacquemart-André, and plenty of concerts give you the chance to hear your favorite type of music.
A huge book show brings together publishers, writers, and fans for four event-packed days.
Top photo: Sidewalk tables at a cafe in the Marais in March, (c) Paris Discovery Guide
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St. Patrick's Day Events in Paris - 2023
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 5-day event takes place this year from March 15 - 19 and features lots of traditional Irish music, shows, screenings, and fun events for kids. Some concerts and other events require reservations, and some charge small admission fees.
March Concerts in Paris - 2023
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
Sayed Haider Raza @ Centre Pompidou
First solo exhibition of paintings by this Mumbai artist who lived in France between 1950-2010, with emphasis on the transcultural dynamics in his work.
Dates: February 16 - May 15, 2023; Gallery 4, Level 1
Tickets: 15€ adults plus 3€ online booking fee; usually includes special exhibits and permanent collections but sometimes there's an upcharge for special exhibitions - typically just another 1€-3€; 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
Musée de l'Homme (Anthropology Museum)
Arts and Prehistory
Discover masterpieces of prehistoric art from around the world and trace the power of human creativity since the dawn of time.
Dates: Through May 22, 2023
Tickets: 13€ adults; includes permanent collections & temporary exhibitions. Book online, or get free entry with a Paris Museum Pass
Location: 17 Place de Trocadero, 16th arrondissement; Metro/RER: Pont d'Alma
Atelier des Lumieres
Immersive digital show accompanied by original music explores the works major artists (to be announced soon for March). Shows are sure to be fantastic - don't miss them!
Dates: Through 2023; open daily
Tickets: 16€ adults online on the L'Atelier website
Getting there: 38 Rue Saint Maur, 11th arrondissement; Metro: Saint-Maur
Find out about more special exhibitions at Paris Museums in March
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
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 an annual March event in Paris you won't want to miss!
Find the best 27 locations to see gorgeous cherry blossoms in Paris
Le Châtelet Jazz Festival
The Théâtre du Châtelet, a beautifully renovated Second Empire theater dating back to 1862 in Paris's 1st arrondissement, hosts its first Jazz at Le Châtelet Festival from March 5 - 12.
Look for an eclectic program featuring all styles of jazz, from swing to gypsy jazz and even klezmer music, with some performances design to appeal to young audiences.
Location: 2 Rue Edouard Colonne, Paris 1
Tickets: Prices range from an affordable 6€ to 75€ - reserve
online
Paris Contemporary Drawing Fair: DDESSINPARIS
DDESSINPARIS (Paris Contemporary Drawing Fair), a Parisian art fair celebrating the best contemporary drawing in all forms, takes place in Le Molière, a historic mansion in the 1st arrondissement not far from the Louvre Museum. 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 24 - 26
Tickets: 14€
Location: Atelier Richelieu, 60 Rue de Richelieu, Paris 1; Metro: Bourse, Palais Royal
More information: DDESSINPARIS website
Paris Visitor's Tip: Daylight Savings Time in France 2023
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 26 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
Can you imagine Paris without cars or any of their accompanying pollution and noise?
You can experience this on Sunday, March 5 - as well as the first Sunday of every month throughout many central Paris neighborhoods. Some extend this 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!
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) 2023
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 5, 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 at Pont de Sully, crosses to the Left Bank and proceeds along the Seine to Pont de Tolbiac near the François Mitterand Library before crossing the bridge and proceeding 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. (to be confirmed soon)
Start time for the Elite racers is 9am, with staggered start times for everyone else until 10:40am. Winners cross the Finish Line around 10am, and most runners will finish by early afternoon.
Want to find a good viewing location? You'll find the course map here.
Paris Martial Arts Festival
The Paris Martial Arts Festival features the greatest athletes from the world of martial arts at the Accorhotels Arena in the 12th arrondissement. Join other fans at this highly-rated international festival as over 300 experts, masters, and champions from all disciplines put on a spectacular show.
Dates: March 10 (to be confirmed)
Location: Accorhotels Arena, 8 Boulevard de Bercy, 12th arr; Metro: Bercy
Get Your Martial Arts Festival Tickets
Hotels near Accorhotels Arena:
- Mercure Paris Bercy Bibliothèque - 4-star hotel with air conditioning and affordable rates across from a metro station - 5 minute walk to the arena. Request a room with a terrace overlooking the Seine River
- Kyriad Hotel Paris Bercy Village - 3-star modern hotel with cheerful contemporary decor - 5 minute walk to the arena and Line 14 metro station.
Open Studios: Pere Lachaise, Menilmontant, & Belleville Neighborhoods
Numerous artists live and work in the leafy 20th arrondissement neighborhoods around Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Menilmontant, and Belleville. In 2024, the emerging and established painters, sculptors, photographers, and print-makers in these areas are banding together to hold Open Studios on four weekends throughout the year (March 24, June 2 in conjunction with Nuit Blanche), September 29, and December 9). (dates to be confirmed)
Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to browse original art, chat with the artists, and perhaps purchase a favorite piece! Visiting the Open Studios also gives you also a great opportunity to explore these lesser-known authentic Parisian neighborhoods as well as nearby Pere Lachaise cemetery.
Admission: Free
More information: Artists of the APLA website (APLA = painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, and mixed media)
European Craft Days in Paris 2023
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 27 - April 2
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)
One Thousand and One Orchids Show at Jardin des Plantes - 2023
Chase away the dregs of winter at the Botanical Garden's annual display of 700 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 8 - March 6, 2022
Tickets: 7€ adults; buy online or at the greenhouse entrance (admission to the Botanical Garden is free)
Location: Greenhouses, Jardin des Plantes, Paris 5; Metro: Jussieu, Place Monge, Austerlitz, or Quai de la Rapée (walk across the Pont d'Austerlitz bridge to the garden)
Paris Foire du Trone - Throne Fair - 2024
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 30 - May 28, 12 noon to 11pm (1pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and nights before public holidays) (to be confirmed)
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
French Open Tickets for Roland Garros On Sale 2023
Public ticket sales begin on sale on March 15 for the French Open Tennis Tournament, second Grand Slam of the season held this year from May 28 - June 11.
If you want to attend a match, you need to move fast once sales open as the most popular tickets always sell out quickly.
Find French Open schedule, ticket information, and everything else you need to know about this famous sports event on the Roland-Garros website.
More Fun Things to Do & See in Paris in March
Need to Book a Paris Hotel or Apartment for Your March Visit?
Planning a trip to Paris during early spring? Use this hotel map to find hotels and apartments near your favorite March events and Paris attractions:
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