Paris When it Rains
When people think of a rainy European city, London is usually what comes to mind for most people and therefore Paris sort of gets a free-pass when in reality I’m pretty sure that both of these cities can be equally grey and rainy. Either way, my point is: Paris + rain is a very likely combination so how can you entertain yourself in a city like Paris if that happens to be the case? Well, I’ve gathered a few options below. I guess most of them includes eating in one way or another but hey… That’s a pretty good activity if you ask me.
Museum Days
One of the most obvious things to do while it’s raining outside is to visit one of the many museums in the city. I have to admit that I still have a few museums to visit, that I haven’t gotten around to just yet! Perhaps that’s what I should have done while it was raining so much during the last couple of weeks… One of the prettiest views of this city when it’s grey outside is also found at Centre Pompidou. The Louvre, Musée de l'Orangerie, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Picasso, Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Gallery of Paleontology, Musee Gustave Moreau, Musee de la Vie Romantique, Comparative Anatomy and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle are also worth visiting and you can always look up if there’s something fun happening at Grand Palais.
The Big Screen
What better way to spend a rainy day than in the cinema watching a movie while eating popcorn or ice cream (yeah, I can never decide between the two…)? I love going to the movies in the middle of the day, especially if it’s a rainy one, cosy up and watch something I’ve been meaning to watch. There are a few newer cinemas in Paris which I personally prefer but you can find the one that suits you best via Allocine.fr.
Luxurious Treats
If your wallet allows for an afternoon inside one of the most beautiful hotels in Paris I would suggest a little afternoon tea while it’s grey and pouring outside. Tea, champagne, cake and little sweets sounds like a good idea to me – even if the sun was shining. If you’re looking for an afternoon tea session at one of these Parisian palaces, a few favourite of mine would be: Plaza Athénée, Le Meurice, Hotel de Crillon, Le Bristol, Four Seasons George V, The Ritz and La Reserve.
Coffee Solves Anything. Almost.
This is most definitely not something I reserve for rainy days only – you’ll probably find me at a coffee shop every single day of the week – but it is a perfect way to spend a rainy day as well. Make a date with a friend or bring a good book or a magazine while enjoying a warm cup of coffee. My favourite coffee shops keep changing as I feel like something new is popping up and something else is closing every single week but I usually like to spend a grey day at Cuppa, Coutume Café at the Finish Institute, Café Kitsuné, Café Mericourt or Telescope Café.
Stay Inside
(well, kind of).
Another good way to spend a rainy day is to spend it inside. While shopping. And thankfully there are many places in Paris to do so. Le Bon Marché is my personal favourite and here you can find anything from make-up and beauty, ultimate dream shoes, gorgeous gowns to interior pieces and delicious food at La Grande Épicerie next door. I guarantee you that this can keep you entertained for a couple of hours. If not more. Galeries Lafayette also opened up a new location on Champs-Elysées which I can also highly recommend swinging by.
Fika!
Bringing this Swedish tradition of “fika” to Paris is perfect if the weather is so so outside – something we’re way too familiar with in Sweden. So what is “fika” you ask? Well, it’s basically meeting friends, acquaintances or loved ones over cake and a drink. It usually occurs in the afternoon and tends to have a “cosy vibe” to it. So if you want to eat cake, but don’t want to dig a huge hole in your wallet at one of the fancy hotels I previously mentioned, you can also do it at one of many cafés in Paris. Rose Bakery (conveniently located inside Le Bon Marché) has a delicious cheesecake, juices, carrot cake, marble cakes and tea. Treize Bakery serves up American cakes in a cosy atmosphere and the newly opened Pierre Hermé tea salon inside Beaupassage is an excellent choice for a cake-pause when it rains. I’ve also been wanting to try Bontemps in Le Marais (but haven’t gotten around to it just yet) and The Hoxton is always a safe bet (and you can even stay for drinks and dinner).