A public holiday doesn’t mean Paris shuts down. On most of these dates, the Metro still runs, cafés continue serving customers, and several major attractions remain open.
Three dates require more planning: January 1, May 1, and December 25. Store closures are more common, museum choices become limited, and restaurants that do open may require an advance reservation.
France has 11 national public holidays in 2026. Paris follows the same calendar as the rest of metropolitan France.
Paris Public Holidays in 2026
| Date | Public holiday | Day | Typical impact on tourists |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | Thursday | Many stores and museums closed |
| April 6 | Easter Monday | Monday | Many attractions open; Monday closures still apply |
| May 1 | Labour Day | Friday | The most widespread closures |
| May 8 | Victory in Europe Day | Friday | Many tourist attractions open |
| May 14 | Ascension Day | Thursday | Busy long weekend; mixed store hours |
| May 25 | Whit Monday | Monday | Many attractions open; some Monday closures |
| July 14 | Bastille Day | Tuesday | Celebrations, crowds and transport restrictions |
| August 15 | Assumption Day | Saturday | Limited impact in central Paris |
| November 1 | All Saints’ Day | Sunday | Similar to a normal Sunday |
| November 11 | Armistice Day | Wednesday | Ceremonies and some local restrictions |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Friday | Many stores, museums and restaurants closed |
The impact levels in the table are practical estimates rather than legal categories. Except for May 1, a French public holiday isn’t automatically a compulsory day off for every employee. Businesses may open or close depending on their sector, staffing arrangements and company policy.
Does Paris Close on Public Holidays?
Usually, no.
Paris remains active on most public holidays, particularly in central neighborhoods and tourist districts. You’ll still find hotels, cafés, bakeries, convenience stores, pharmacies, cruises and visitor attractions operating.
The problem is inconsistency. A museum may open while the one next door closes. One branch of a supermarket chain may trade for a few morning hours, while another remains shut all day.
Always check the official website of the specific attraction, store or restaurant you plan to visit.
Are Stores Open on Public Holidays in Paris?
Many regular stores close on public holidays, but central Paris offers more options than residential districts.
Most Parisian stores normally trade from Monday to Saturday. Sundays and public holidays are traditional closing days, although businesses in tourist areas frequently receive exemptions or choose to open when permitted.
You have the best chance of finding open stores around:
- Champs-Élysées
- Boulevard Haussmann
- Le Marais
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Rue de Rivoli
- major railway stations
- shopping centers in tourist districts
Don’t assume that normal Sunday opening hours also apply on every public holiday. May 1, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are treated more strictly than holidays such as Ascension Day or November 11.
Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
Large supermarkets may close, open only in the morning or reduce their hours. Smaller convenience stores in central neighborhoods are more likely to trade, especially near railway stations and busy tourist areas.
Buy breakfast supplies, drinks and basic groceries the evening before May 1, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. It can save an unnecessary morning search.
Department Stores
Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Le Bon Marché and other department stores set their own holiday schedules. Some open on public holidays during busy shopping periods, while others close completely.
Check the date on the store’s official opening-hours page. Google listings aren’t always updated for one-off holiday changes.
Are Restaurants Open on Public Holidays?
Paris doesn’t impose one citywide restaurant schedule for public holidays. Each restaurant decides whether opening is commercially and operationally practical.
Tourist-oriented brasseries, hotel restaurants, cafés, fast-food restaurants and venues near major attractions are the most dependable options. Small family-run restaurants are more likely to close or take an extended break.
On Easter Monday, Ascension Day, May 8, Whit Monday and November 11, finding somewhere to eat in central Paris usually isn’t difficult. The choice becomes narrower on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Some restaurants open on Christmas Day, but many offer only a fixed festive menu. Prices may be higher, and walk-in tables can be scarce.
Hotel restaurants and Seine dinner cruises are among the more reliable Christmas options. Paris tourism listings regularly feature restaurants and cruises operating during the festive period.
Reserve your table before arriving in Paris. Don’t wait until December 24 to start searching.
Are Museums Open on Public Holidays in Paris?
Many museums and monuments remain open, but there’s no single rule covering all cultural attractions.
National museums, private museums, monuments and museums operated by the City of Paris follow different calendars. City-run museums such as the Petit Palais, Musée Carnavalet and Palais Galliera are usually closed on public holidays.
Regular weekly closures still apply. A museum that normally closes every Monday won’t necessarily open because Monday happens to be a public holiday.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre is closed every Tuesday as well as January 1, May 1 and December 25. It normally remains open on other public holidays unless the holiday falls on a Tuesday.
That creates an extra issue in 2026: Bastille Day falls on Tuesday, July 14, so the Louvre is closed.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is closed every Monday, May 1 and December 25. As Easter Monday and Whit Monday both fall on Mondays in 2026, the museum is closed on those dates under its regular schedule.
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower generally operates every day, including most public holidays, although event-related restrictions can change its schedule. Public holidays and school breaks are among its busiest periods, so advance booking is strongly recommended.
Bastille Day arrangements are unusual in 2026. The fireworks and drone show took place on July 13 rather than July 14. The Eiffel Tower was closed on July 13 and operated with reduced hours on July 14, closing at 4:00 p.m.
Does Public Transport Run on Public Holidays?
The Metro, RER, buses and trams continue operating on public holidays. Frequencies may be lower, and some bus services use Sunday schedules.
Paris Metro services usually run from around 5:30 a.m. until approximately 1:15 a.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, as well as nights before a public holiday, trains generally continue until around 2:15 a.m.
Regional and suburban bus schedules vary more. Some networks explicitly operate according to their Sunday timetable on public holidays.
Check your route through the RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités app on the day of travel. Engineering work, demonstrations, ceremonies and large public events may affect individual lines.
Transport on Bastille Day
Bastille Day brings the greatest disruption. Stations around the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro and Champ de Mars may close temporarily for security reasons.
Bus routes are diverted, roads close and access to some areas becomes pedestrian-only. In 2026, several Metro stations and bus stops around the Eiffel Tower were closed or restricted for the July 13 concert and fireworks display.
Walk when possible and don’t plan a tight airport or railway connection immediately after the celebrations.
New Year’s Day: January 1, 2026
New Year’s Day is one of the quietest mornings of the year in Paris. Many people are recovering from the previous night, and stores tend to open late or remain closed.
The Louvre is closed. Other museums and private attractions may open, but often with reduced hours. Public transport continues operating, although frequencies may be lower.
Cafés and restaurants in tourist areas gradually open during the day. Hotel restaurants, major brasseries and venues near Montmartre, the Latin Quarter and Champs-Élysées are the safest choices.
Plan an outdoor morning. Walk along the Seine, explore Montmartre or visit one of the city’s parks before heading to a pre-checked afternoon attraction.
Easter Monday: April 6, 2026
Easter Monday is a national public holiday, but Paris doesn’t become unusually quiet. Many museums, monuments and visitor attractions remain open throughout the Easter weekend.
Regular Monday closures still matter. The Musée d’Orsay is closed, while the Louvre normally opens on Mondays.
Stores operate mixed schedules. Restaurants and cafés in central districts are generally easier to find than open clothing stores or department stores.
Easter weekend attracts families and short-break visitors. Reserve tickets for major attractions rather than relying on same-day availability.
Labour Day: May 1, 2026
May 1 is the public holiday most likely to disrupt a tourist itinerary.
It is the only French public holiday that employees must generally receive as a day off, apart from services that cannot suspend their operations. Public transport, hospitals and selected hospitality businesses continue functioning.
The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are closed. Many other museums, stores, department stores and public facilities also shut their doors.
Paris isn’t completely closed. In 2026, attractions such as the Paris Zoological Park, Aquarium de Paris, Jardin d’Acclimatation, Atelier des Lumières and Dalí Paris were among the options promoted for May 1.
Expect demonstrations and large union marches in parts of the city. Routes and gathering points vary, but Place de la République, Place de la Nation and Place de la Bastille are common locations for major marches.
Treat May 1 as a day for parks, walks, cruises or a specifically confirmed attraction. Don’t build the day around shopping.
Victory in Europe Day: May 8, 2026
May 8 marks the Allied victory in Europe in 1945. The French president traditionally leads a commemorative ceremony around the Arc de Triomphe.
Many museums and tourist attractions remain open, although public offices and numerous regular businesses close. Restaurants in central Paris generally operate, and some stores in tourist zones may trade.
Access around the Arc de Triomphe and upper Champs-Élysées can be restricted during ceremonies. Allow extra time when traveling through the 8th arrondissement.
In 2026, May 8 falls on a Friday, creating a three-day weekend. Expect more domestic visitors and higher demand for hotels and attraction tickets.
Ascension Day: May 14, 2026
Ascension Day falls on a Thursday in 2026. Many French residents take Friday off as well, creating a four-day weekend known as faire le pont, or “making the bridge.”
Most major tourist attractions remain open, apart from their normal weekly closing days. Restaurants, cruises and entertainment venues usually operate, while store schedules vary.
The main issue is demand rather than closures. Trains, hotels and popular attractions can be busier from Wednesday evening through Sunday.
Book timed museum tickets and long-distance train journeys before the holiday weekend.
Whit Monday: May 25, 2026
Whit Monday, also called Pentecost Monday, is a public holiday, although some French employees work as part of the country’s solidarity-day arrangements. That helps explain why the day can feel more like a regular Monday than May 1.
Many attractions remain open, but museums with a regular Monday closure stay closed. That includes the Musée d’Orsay.
Restaurants in tourist districts should be easy to find. Regular retail stores and supermarkets may use Sunday or reduced hours.
Bastille Day: July 14, 2026
Bastille Day is the biggest national celebration in Paris. It combines military ceremonies, public events, street gatherings and major security restrictions.
The military parade traditionally takes place around the Champs-Élysées. Roads and Metro stations in the area may close from early morning.
The 2026 celebration had an important change: the Eiffel Tower fireworks and drone show took place on Monday, July 13, rather than Tuesday, July 14. The Eiffel Tower was closed on July 13 and reopened with limited hours on July 14.
The Louvre is closed on July 14, 2026, because the date falls on its regular Tuesday closing day.
Many cafés and restaurants remain open, particularly near celebration areas. Reservations help, but location matters: venues inside security zones may be difficult to access even when they are trading.
Assumption Day: August 15, 2026
Assumption Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so its effect is smaller than in years when it creates a weekday break.
Many monuments and museums remain open. Stores in tourist districts may follow normal Saturday hours, although independent businesses sometimes close for part of August.
Paris is generally quieter in residential neighborhoods during this period because many local residents leave the city for summer vacations. Central attractions, however, remain busy with international visitors.
Check restaurant hours carefully. August vacation closures can matter more than the public holiday itself.
All Saints’ Day: November 1, 2026
All Saints’ Day falls on a Sunday in 2026. For tourists, the city operates much like it would on a normal Sunday, with an added chance of closures at municipal facilities.
Many people visit cemeteries and family graves. Père Lachaise, Montparnasse and Montmartre cemeteries may receive more visitors than usual.
Stores in international tourist zones can open on Sundays, while conventional neighborhood businesses are more likely to remain closed.
Museums should be checked individually. City of Paris museums are generally closed on public holidays, even when the holiday falls on a weekend.
Armistice Day: November 11, 2026
Armistice Day commemorates the end of the First World War. The main Paris ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe.
Museums and monuments often remain open, while government offices, banks and many regular businesses close.
Expect security controls and temporary road closures around the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. The Arc itself may open later than usual after the official ceremony.
Restaurants and shops in central tourist districts often operate, but reduced hours are possible.
Christmas Day: December 25, 2026
Christmas Day is one of the hardest dates for spontaneous sightseeing.
The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are closed. Many stores, supermarkets, museums and local restaurants also remain shut.
A limited selection of private museums, monuments, churches and tourist attractions usually opens. In previous Christmas programs, options included the Eiffel Tower, Musée de Montmartre, Musée Jacquemart-André, Grévin Paris and several privately operated attractions, but the final 2026 schedule should be checked closer to the date.
Major churches such as Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur remain active places of worship. Christmas services can affect sightseeing access, and visitors should respect designated prayer areas.
Restaurants that open may offer a mandatory Christmas menu rather than their regular à la carte selection. Book well ahead and check whether payment or a deposit is required.
The Best Public Holidays for Visiting Paris
Easter Monday, May 8, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, August 15 and November 11 are generally manageable. Major sights often stay open, public transport runs, and finding a restaurant in central Paris shouldn’t be difficult.
May 1 is the most restrictive date. January 1 and December 25 also require a planned itinerary.
Bastille Day is different. It’s one of the most memorable times to experience Paris, but a poor day for following a rigid sightseeing schedule. Crowds, security zones and station closures can change even simple journeys.
Practical Tips for Tourists
Check official opening hours two or three days before your visit. Holiday schedules sometimes appear only shortly before the date.
Reserve major attractions online. Public holidays often create long weekends, bringing additional visitors from other parts of France.
Keep one outdoor alternative ready. The Seine, Montmartre, Canal Saint-Martin, covered passages and public parks can rescue a day when an attraction closes.
Buy groceries the day before January 1, May 1 and December 25. Don’t rely on the nearest supermarket being open.
Use the RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités app for live transport information. This matters most around Bastille Day ceremonies and demonstrations.
Book Christmas and New Year restaurant tables in advance. An open restaurant isn’t necessarily a restaurant with available seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are public holidays in Paris the same as in the rest of France?
Yes. Paris observes the 11 national public holidays used throughout metropolitan France. Additional regional holidays in Alsace-Moselle don’t apply in Paris.
Are shops closed on every public holiday?
No. Store opening depends on the date, location and individual business. Tourist districts provide more options, while May 1, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bring the most closures.
Do trains and the Paris Metro run on public holidays?
Yes. The Metro, RER, buses and trams continue operating, but reduced or Sunday schedules may apply. Event-related closures are common around Bastille Day.
Is the Eiffel Tower open on public holidays?
The Eiffel Tower opens on most public holidays, but special events and security preparations can cause closures or reduced hours. Always check the official calendar for your date.
Is the Louvre open on public holidays?
The Louvre opens on many public holidays but closes on January 1, May 1, December 25 and every Tuesday. In 2026, it is therefore closed on Bastille Day because July 14 falls on a Tuesday.
Are restaurants open on Christmas Day in Paris?
Some are, particularly hotel restaurants, major brasseries and dinner cruises. The selection is limited, festive menus are common, and advance reservations are strongly recommended.
What is the worst public holiday for sightseeing in Paris?
May 1 causes the widest closures. Plan outdoor activities or choose an attraction that has explicitly confirmed it will open.
Alison is a travel writer passionate about solo adventures, photography, and memorable getaway escapes. She loves uncovering Cancun’s scenic coastline, boutique stays, local experiences, and hidden gems, creating stories that help curious travelers see more than the usual tourist highlights. Her work has been featured in Forbes, CNN, Travel + Leisure, Yahoo, and other major outlets.
