What to do in Paris in November? Despite the cold and gray skies that are slowly setting in, staying in bed is out of the question. That’s good news: the Paris Secret editorial team has put together a wide variety of activities and cultural outings for the most energetic among you. Exhibitions, immersive experiences, light festivals… Follow our schedule—you won’t be bored anytime soon!
A deeply moving exhibition of over 700 photographs and an immersive installation by Barbara Kruger—not to be missed. On the list of exhibitions to discover in Paris this November, head to the Bourse de Commerce, which is hosting the “Remember Me” exhibition. On display: over 700 photographs by more than 80 artists, as well as a monumental installation by Barbara Kruger titled “The History of Tears.” The exhibition runs through January 18, 2027.
2 km of handcrafted lanterns and light installations, including a sculpture reaching up to 20 meters high. Among the most magical outings to plan for November, the Parc Floral’s “Odyssée Lumineuse” marks the return of Paris’s largest light trail, featuring nearly 2 km of handcrafted lanterns, giant light displays, and water shows. The event will take place from November 14, 2026, to January 24, 2027, in Paris (12th arrondissement).
Let yourself be dazzled by November’s Candlelight concerts!
You’re probably already familiar with the innovative Candlelight concept—those candlelit concerts that breathe new life into the classical repertoire and bring it up to date, such as Vivaldi’s timeless *Four Seasons*. The greatest classical composers are showcased, but that’s not all! The most beautiful soundtracks by Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer, and even Joe Hisaishi… And—new this season—from the hit series *Bridgerton*! But also true stars like Coldplay, Adele, and Beyoncé are reinterpreted, always illuminated by thousands of candles and set in Paris’s most iconic venues. In short, there’s bound to be a Candlelight concert for you!
📍Location: various venues
📅 Date: multiple dates
Try out a super-fun multidisciplinary science adventure!
Science Expériences (Bercy Village, 12th arrondissement) is an 850-square-meter immersive museum where virtual reality, video mapping, and sensory workshops take you on a journey from the far reaches of the universe to the depths of the abyss, passing through the center of the Earth in a whirlwind of experiments. You’ll test gravity, calculate your weight on the Moon, and feel the power of static electricity… In short, you’ll learn while having fun!
Embark on a 3-kilometer journey through 3,000 light sculptures to meet Pachamama. To add a healthy dose of magic to your November, head to Thoiry Lumière: a 3-kilometer nighttime trail filled with over 3,000 light sculptures inspired by Peru. The event takes place at Wow Safari Thoiry from October 17, 2026, to March 7, 2027, and is perfect for families and fans of immersive experiences.
The Christmas market is making a grand return to the Champs-Élysées for Christmas 2026. Among the events that could well set the tone for late November in Paris, this one is highly anticipated: after nearly a decade of absence, the City of Paris has issued a call for proposals for a new Christmas market on the lower section of the Champs-Élysées, with a planned run from November 22, 2026, to January 4, 2027. The project emphasizes quality, the origin of the products, and the aesthetic integration of the chalets, but its final confirmation remains subject to conditions.
Visit this unique Japanese garden
Do you dream of getting away from it all? Of discovering little-known, exotic places? What if we told you that a magnificent estate just an hour from Paris hides one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in France? Head to the Château de Courances in Essonne. Open to visitors only on weekends through November 3, the estate and its Japanese-inspired garden will transport you to the Land of the Rising Sun… without ever leaving France.
A Gatsby-style brunch: live jazz, seafood, beef Wellington, and flambéed crêpes Suzette. For a change of pace from exhibitions and light displays in November, treat yourself to a gourmet escape: Le Prince de Galles offers a 1920s-inspired Sunday brunch in an Art Deco setting with a live jazz band, an all-you-can-eat land-and-sea buffet, and palace-style desserts.
30 minutes of free ice skating above Paris—reservations required. For a must-see winter experience in November, head to Printemps Haussmann, which is setting up a pop-up ice rink on the 7th floor, offering views of the Paris rooftops and the Eiffel Tower, from November 7, 2026, to January 3, 2027. Admission is free but requires a reservation, with 30-minute sessions between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and a capacity of about fifteen people per session.
A Colorful Trip to Mexico: Mariachis, Catrinas, and Enchanted Carousels Await You! To add a touch of festivity (and thrills) to your November, head to the Jardin d’Acclimatation, which transforms into a real Mexican hacienda to celebrate el Día de los Muertos: themed rides, a Mayan maze, ghost boats, Catrina makeup, and mariachi performances. The event runs from October 3 to November 1, 2026.
Experience a total surprise: a brand-new film screened without any clues every first Monday! Among the must-see movie events in Paris this November, the L’Épée de Bois cinema (5th arrondissement) offers a surprise preview screening every first Monday of the month; the next screening is on 2026-11-02.
Take a tour of the oldest toy store in Paris
With Christmas just around the corner, we’ve found a charming little shop for you: Pain d’Épices. A place that’s been making the eyes of young and old alike light up for 170 years! In this shop, you’ll find wooden toys, cuddly teddy bears, and memories to make with your little ones.
Book a weekend at this magnificent estate just outside Paris
If you really want to unwind, we highly recommend the Maison du Val. It’s a former hunting lodge of Louis XIV, located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, about 40 minutes from Paris. In this charming estate, come recharge in the heart of nature: bike along the grounds, participate in creative workshops, enjoy some sports, and take in the peaceful setting with your family or partner for a weekend getaway. The magnificent building features a small, comfortable movie theater offering family-friendly screenings, as well as outdoor Nordic baths perfect for rejuvenation. At both lunch and dinner, a generous and exceptional buffet awaits you: extra-tender beef cheeks in sauce, melt-in-your-mouth hake with vegetables, gravlax salmon, not to mention a medley of desserts, each more delicious than the last. A place full of character that you definitely won’t want to miss.
Admire the oldest cabinet of curiosities in Paris
This nearly 200-year-old institution is a unique and eclectic shop that serves as Paris’s oldest cabinet of curiosities. With its antique educational charts, stuffed animals, and works of art, this wonderful place is sure to enchant you!
Let yourself be fooled by the illusions at the Paradox Museum
In this unusual museum, you’ll have to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming. Here, nothing makes sense, and all your senses are put to the test. As you step through the doors of this paradise of illusion, even your most deeply held convictions will be shaken. During this tour for all ages, young and old alike can take part in numerous challenges, such as the upside-down room, the camouflage set that makes visitors disappear, the “paradox sofa” that dislocates those who sit on it, the “paradox tunnel” that makes your head spin, and the kaleidoscope that gives your reality another dimension… This museum of paradoxes promises to make you lose your mind!
📍Address: Paradox Museum, 38 Boulevard des Italiens, Paris, 75009
📆 Date: multiple dates
Put your logic to the test with The Jury Experience
Warning: this legal investigation promises to really get your brain working! The Théâtre de l’Alliance Française in Paris invites you to experience a unique, immersive adventure right in the heart of a courtroom: The Jury Experience. For one hour, you’ll follow a fictional trial live, where every testimony, every clue, and every opinion counts—including yours, since you’ll be called upon to participate. The case? A love triangle, a multimillion-dollar divorce, and a mysterious homicide. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s lying? It’s up to YOU to decide. In the end, your vote will determine the defendant’s fate. An interactive theatrical experience that blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
📍Location: Théâtre de l’Alliance Française, 101 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris
📆 Date: multiple dates
Stroll through Paris’s most beautiful Christmas markets
In November, the Christmas markets are already starting to open! It’s the perfect opportunity to buy unique gifts—and why not treat yourself by sampling local delicacies from nearby producers!
Check out a free exhibition!
Photos, paintings, sculptures, fashion… Who said free exhibitions were boring? Every month, a variety of free exhibitions are held in Paris. And there’s truly something for everyone.
📍Location: various venues
Visit the most beautiful castles around Paris
As France’s historic capital for centuries, Paris—and more broadly, the Île-de-France region—boasts a unique cultural richness. Museums, cultural centers, political buildings from the past and present… An entire region to explore, to uncover its secrets. Paris Secret invites you to discover the region’s most beautiful castles! Former royal residences, various architectural eras, treasures of elegance and refinement… Places that contribute to the region’s international reputation, all within reach with a Navigo pass.
📍Location: various venues