Opening times in Paris - Paris Tourist Office - Paris tourist office (2024)

You feel like having lunch at 3pm, visiting a museum or a monument after 8pm, or buying a CD at 11 on Sunday night…? In Paris everything is possible as long as you have the right information.

Shops

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The majority of shops areopen all day from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.Some smaller shops may close over lunchtime between midday and 2pm, or all day on Monday. Sunday and public holidays are the usual closing days, although there are some exceptions ...During the week, department stores all have one late-night opening day,known as a 'nocturne', until 9pm. Supermarkets are open at different times depending on the neighbourhood, every day except Sunday, until 8, 9 or 10pm.

During the sales or in December just before the holidays, most stores, both large and small, may also open on Sunday. During the remainder of the year,take a stroll through the Marais or along the Champs-Elysées,where shops are open 365 days a year,sometimes even until midnight. More and more shops are opening on Sunday and public holidays in other districts too.

It’s worth noting that many smaller shops close for theirannual holidays from mid-July to end-August.

Museums andmonuments

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Museumsopen at 9 or 10amandclose between 5 and 6pm. Usual closing days are Monday or Tuesday, with a few exceptions mentioned in our information pages. Some are even open 7 days a week, such as some of the major monuments which can even be visitedas late as 11pm or midnight.

Many museums have a late-night opening once a week until 9 or 10pm.

On public holidays – in particular,1 January, 1 May and 25 December– many museums and monuments are closed.

You’ll find all the details in our information pages.

Open 365 days a year:

  • Eiffel Tower
  • Tour Montparnasse
  • Musée Jacquemart-André
  • Espace Salvador Dali

Post offices, banks, offices and public services

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Most post offices areopen from 8am to 7pm,Monday to Friday, andfrom 8am to midday on Saturday.They are closed on public holidays.

Banks are generally open from 9am to 5pm, from Monday to Friday or from Tuesday to Saturday. Some branches may close overlunchtime, usually between 12.30pm and 2pm.For cash withdrawals, automatic cashpoints (ATMs) operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Banks are closed on public holidays.

As a rule, offices areopen between 9am and 6pm.

Public servicesgenerallyclose at 4.30pm or 5pm(or earlier on Friday afternoons). They are closed at lunchtime and on public holidays.

Restaurants

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As a general rule, Parisians go forlunch between midday and 1.30pmanddine between 8pm and 10.30pm.At other times, you’ll always be able to find a (cold) snack in most cafes and brasseries. If the restaurant has a sign saying service continu, this indicates that you can have a meal at any time of day.

The majority ofbars and cafesopen early, around 7 or 8 am and close around 10pm,or later if the establishment has a special dispensation (2am for the bars).

Transport

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You are sure to find ametro or RER train every day between 6am and 1am,wherever you might be along the line. The majority of bus routes operate from 7am to 8.30pm, some lines continuing until 0.30am. Then theNoctilien bus operates from 0.30am to 5.30am.As regards taxis, you’ll find them 24 hours a day.

The Parisian transport network has rush hours: at the time when most residents of Paris and Ile-de-France set off for work,between 8am and 10am,and when they return home again, between 5pm and 8pm.Saturday is also a very busy day,as many Parisians go shopping then. Taxis are difficult to find on Saturday evening, particularly after midnight, because lots of Parisians are out for the evening.

Explanation of daylight saving time

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GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Winter

In Paris the time is GMT + 1

E.g.: when it is midday GMT, it is 1pm in Paris.

Summer

In Paris the time is GMT + 2

E.g.: when it is midday GMT, it is 2pm in Paris.

In France, as in the UK and some other countries, we change to summer time on the last Sunday in Marchat 2am in the morning, so the clocks are put forward to 3am. Then in preparation for winter, the clocksare put back an hour on the last Sunday in Octoberat 3am, which then becomes 2am.

Opening times in Paris - Paris Tourist Office - Paris tourist office (2024)

FAQs

What time does work start in Paris? ›

Standard hours

The French working hours are usually 8 or 9 AM to 4 or 5 PM, with 1 hour of unpaid lunch break. This will, however, vary depending on the business and company agreements. The weekly working hours are 35 (7 hours a day, five days a week). Hours worked beyond this quota are compulsory paid as overtime.

Is Paris open on Sunday? ›

Contrary to popular belief, most of the city stays open on Sunday, including restaurants and cafes, museums, monuments, bakeries, etc. Most shops and some supermarkets are a noteworthy exception, as explained further down. In less tourist-heavy areas, too, you'll be more likely to see things closed on Sunday.

What time do things close in Paris? ›

The majority of shops are open all day from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Some smaller shops may close over lunchtime between midday and 2pm, or all day on Monday. Sunday and public holidays are the usual closing days, although there are some exceptions ...

Do you tip in Paris? ›

You won't need to calculate a tip. Not a major one, anyway. As opposed to the U.S., where most waiters make their living from tips, servers in Paris are paid a living wage. And since service is already included in the price, no one is expecting you to tack on an additional 20 to 25 percent at the end of the meal.

Is Paris always 6 hours ahead? ›

The time difference in New York in summer and in winter

Generally, there is a 6 hour time difference between Paris and New York. The sun rises first in France, and then in the United States. In other words, when it's only midnight on Fifth Avenue, it's already 6:00 a.m. on the Champs-Élysées.

How long is lunch hour in Paris? ›

A typical lunch break at work in France lasts at least 1 hour and is never taken at your desk. We value eating slowly and being seated at a table to do so. If you are having a "social lunch" with your team or a client, plan for a 2 hour break—or even more if it's an important meeting.

What is free first Sunday in Paris? ›

On the first Sunday of the month, the Musée d'Orsay is free for all!

What is open on Tuesdays in Paris? ›

Museums open on Tuesdays in Paris
  • Musée d'Orsay.
  • Musée National Picasso.
  • La Cité des Sciences et de L'Industrie.
  • Musée du Quai Branly.
  • Cité nationale de l'Histoire de l'Immigration.
  • Musée Yves Saint Laurent.
  • Musée Rodin.
  • Invalides – Musée de l'Armée.
Oct 30, 2022

What time is lunch in Paris? ›

Lunch is usually between midday and 2 pm, when the kitchen will go off duty. Watch out, as during these times, service can be rather slow if you find yourself in a business area. Parisians don't dine until at least 8.30 pm as prior to that, time is set aside for “l'apéritif”.

What time do Parisians start their day? ›

A typical workday begins at 9:00 a.m. However, lunchbreak in France can last up to two hours. So, a lot of French businesses will be closed between 12:30 and 2:00 pm. However, this means that French people are generally done with work later too. A usual day would finish around 6 pm.

What time does business start in France? ›

Working hours are generally Monday to Friday from 8am or 9am to 12:00/12:30 and then from 14:00/14:30 to 18:00.

How do French hours work? ›

The work week goes from Monday to Friday. Work hours generally range from 8:30-9:30am to 5:30-6:30pm. The legal time for a lunch break is 45 minutes, but often it will last one hour (in France). When the 35h work week was instigated, some businesses established 8 hour work days in order to have Friday afternoon off.

What are school hours in France? ›

Generally speaking, the school day in France is from 8:30 until 4:30, but it varies depending on which area you live in. This is longer than the typical school day in the UK or America, but there is a longer lunch break and two other breaks during the day. There are 24 hours of lessons a week.

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