If you dream of visiting Paris but prefer to skip the crowds of tourists and never-ending lines for all the top sights, consider a fall trip to the City of Lights! Le Rentrée means locals return to work and school and the tourists decrease along with airfares. This means you’ll get to experience a more authentic version of Paris, and combined with a stay in one of our furnished rentals, you’ll get to truly immerse yourself in local life. Read on for some of our favorite things happening this fall in Paris, then head to our website and reserve your ideal rental. You’ll be sitting at a Parisian cafe and sipping a chocolat chaud in the crisp autumn air in no time!
1. Fall foliage: avenues, parks and gardens
Fall is all about vibrantly-colored foliage and scenic vistas, and Paris has plenty of great spots to view both. Take a stroll along one of Paris’s grand tree-lined avenues, or spend the day in one of the beautiful parks and gardens. The Palais-Royal Gardens Versailles and the Jardin du Luxembourg are two of the most famous gardens (with good reason), but the Places des Vosges in the Marais district (the oldest planned square in Paris) is definitely worth a visit as well. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is one of the largest parks in Paris, complete with waterfalls, bridges and grottos for a perfect photo-op. Parc Monceau is so impressive that it even inspired Claude Monet to create a series of paintings of the park.
Located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde is the Jardin des Tuileries, a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Along with the beauty of nature, you can also get a dose of art (the Musée de l’Orangerie contains Monet’s famous Water Lilies) and sculpture (including works by Auguste Rodin).
2. September: the month of festivals
September is the month for festivals in Paris, so be sure to check out some of our favorites: first, Musical Waters at the Chateau de Versailles (until end of October) where you can discover the gardens of Versailles as the fountains spout in synch with music. There’s also the Autumn Festival, a contemporary visual arts, music, cinema, and theatre festival and the Bee Hive Festival at the Jardins du Luxembourg (Sept 23-24, 2017), celebrating the park’s historic bee hives (don’t forget to purchase honey to take home!).
This two-bedroom apartment in the Sevres Babylone area of Paris has a prime location near the iconic Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars. It’s also conveniently situated just 900 meters from Gare Montparnasse, where you can catch a direct ride to the beautiful Chateau Versailles in only 20 minutes. Surround yourself in Parisian charm in this light and airy apartment, with large windows looking over the street life of Paris below and with classic features inside, such as exposed-wood beam ceilings. A fully-equipped open kitchen allows you to prepare your favorite French recipes in the comfort of home, with plenty of room at the dining table for a family meal. Lounge in the relaxing, light-filled living room with a flat-screen TV and cable. Built-in bookshelves line the walls, adding a personal and homey touch. A dishwasher and washing machine in the apartment add convenience, as does having your own personal parking space on-site! Two bedrooms, one with a queen and the other with a double bed, plus a single-size futon bed in the living room, provide ample space for a family or group of friends. This property is available short-term as a vacation rental and by the month or longer for extended stays. If you love day-tripping and fancy an apartment close to transportation, check out our blog for inspiring day trips and convenient apartments for quick getaways.
3. October: art and fashion
October is all about art, fashion, and of course, wine. Paris Fashion Week kicks off September 26th and runs through October 2, 2017, which means the fashion-obsessed will be out strutting their stuff around town.
If you’re looking for an equally fashionable apartment to rent while you’re in Paris, check out this two-bedroom furnished rental in the hip Marais district. Like every fashionista, it has a unique style all its own! Beautiful wood floors flow throughout the apartment, while exposed wood beams on the ceiling give it classic Parisian character and whitewashed exposed stone walls add a touch of history and charm. The white walls, beige stone, and light-colored furnishings contrast nicely with the dark wood floors, a color combination any designer or design enthusiast will appreciate. In addition to the original details, the layout of the apartment is quite unique. Large French windows allow natural light to envelop the living room. The first bedroom has a double bed, while the second bedroom has a single bed on the main floor plus an elevated mezzanine area with another single-size mattress for flexible sleeping arrangements. Off the living room you will find another mezzanine area, accessible by steps, with a double sofa bed and a single-size mattress. The varied sleeping arrangements make it perfect for a family or larger group. Two bathrooms with large glass-enclosed showers also mean no line for the bathroom. A fully-equipped kitchen facilitates meal prep at home, and the in-unit washer/dryer are an added convenience. In this prime location in the heart of the Marais, you’ll be surrounded by medieval streets and a bohemian vibe quite unlike any other part of Paris.
If you love this artsy neighborhood, you’ll also enjoy Nuit Blanche (White Night) on October 1st, an annual celebration of all things art and culture. Hundreds of museums, galleries, and other spots around Paris keep their doors open through most of the night with free exhibits, multimedia installations, and performances.
Art galleries always pair well with wine, so after you browse the exhibits, head over to the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, an annual grape harvest festival in Montmartre. Montmartre is home to the only still-functioning vineyard in Paris.
Wine lovers can stay close to the vineyards of Clos-Montmartre in the breathtaking Montmartre section of Paris in this charming 1-bedroom furnished rental with balcony. Hardwood floors, a contemporary design and tasteful decor create a warm and cozy space perfect for a fall rental. Warm autumn light fills the living room from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and a balcony allows you to enjoy the fresh air with a view of the street below. The open kitchen has bar stools at the counter for a casual meal and a dining table for a sit-down meal. The bedroom has a double bed and flat-screen TV, along with a desk and chair. The modern, white, full bathroom features red floor tiles for a pop of color and a deep tub for soaking after sightseeing around the city, while the additional half bath adds convenience for guests. Outside you’ll find some of the city’s best dining and shopping as well as landmarks like the Sacre-Coeur Basilica. Just down the street you can dine at the world-famous Café des Deux Moulins featured in the film Amelie.
4. November: comfort food and wine
Fall is the season of comfort food. We cuddle up inside preparing for the cold of winter by soothing our souls with warm food and bold wines. From October 28th to November 1st, you can immerse yourself in the comfort of chocolate at the Salon du Chocolat (Chocolate Trade Fair) at the Porte de Versailles, a trade event dedicated to all things cocoa! Of course, the perfect accompaniment to chocolate is wine, and you’ll be in the right country to experience some of the best vintages around. Remember, November 17th is Beaujolais Nouveau day! Finally, November 30th to December 4th, 2017 is the 39th Independent Winegrowers Wine Show at Paris Porte de Versailles, a perfect excuse to stock up for the winter on all of your favorite bottles.
There’s nothing better than a warm, cozy place to call home when you’re traveling in the fall and winter months. Find your favorite furnished rental for your fall trip to Paris on our website, or have one of our agents find you the perfect spot using their familiarity with Paris neighborhoods. Once you’re snug inside one of our furnished apartments with a fully-equipped kitchen, all you’ll need to do is pick up some delicious local ingredients to try, and you can spend those chilly nights cooking up some French comfort food right from your apartment in Paris!
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