What to pack for Paris in the Fall

Last Updated on February 15, 2020 by Jane

We just got back from Paris. The city is lovely but the weather was a bit all over the place. But that is what dressing in the fall can be like isn’t it? One day it is cool and raining, the next you hit a high of 25 degrees Celsius. I thought I would share what I packed for Paris for our October trip. I went carry on only so this is a bit of a more minimal packing list. This is what to pack for Paris in the fall.

What to pack for Paris in the Fall

1. Perfect Rain Jacket – Hands down my most worn coat was this rain jacket. Partially because of the rain and drizzle that we had on our week long trip but also because it was my more light weight jacket option. The pockets also came in handy for easy access to my cell phone and our metro cards.
2. Belted Wool Coat – I also took a belted wool coat to Paris. It was great on the plane as a blanket as well as for the few cool days we had to endure. Also good for going out for dinner in the evening. Most Parisian women were wearing wool coats daily however I found it wasn’t cold by Canadian standards most days so I opted for my rain jacket more. If you come from somewhere where you are used to warmer temperatures a wool coat will be your friend.
3. Hooded Trench coat – my trench coat didn’t make the cut because I didn’t have room in my luggage but also because it doesn’t have a hood. If you have a hooded trench coat it would be a chicer alternative to a rain jacket to wear on rainy days.
4. Cashmere turtleneck – I packed two cashmere sweaters for our trip to Paris. One turtleneck and one crew neck. The turtleneck was perfect for on the plane and the days where it was cool and windy. It was a must for our visit to Versailles and our Seine boat cruise. Try and go with thin knits since they are easier to stash in your backpack just in case.
5. Cotton Crew neck Tee – I over packed when it came to tshirts. I packed 5 but only used a couple. I used more long sleeve tees. Still it always depends on the weather as to which gets more use. Last year in London I used more short sleeve tees. I packed 5 short sleeve tees for the week. I really love these supima cotton tees as the weight is a bit heavier and they have a bit more structure.
6. Cotton crew neck long sleeve tee – I packed a mixture of long and short sleeve tees. I wore more of these long sleeve tees than anything else. I packed 5 of these as well. I probably could have packed fewer long sleeve tees and layered up the t-shirts. Personally I prefer longer sleeves when carrying a backpack.
7. Classic denim – I packed three pairs of jeans in addition to the pair I wore on the plane. I thought at first it was a bit of overkill but after slopping on a pair one night at dinner I was thankful for those extra pair. I found classic clean denim fit in best with what Parisians were wearing.
8. Black denim – My black straight leg jeans were my most worn pair of jeans while I was touring around. I like how the straight leg works with sneakers. Parisians were wearing a range of styles from skinny and straight and flare.
9. Mid size tote – this is the tote I used for my personal item. It was a good size for all the stuff I was carrying like our passports and electronics. I also had room for my cashmere sweater.
10. The Sempre sneaker – I packed two sneakers (the two from this post) for this Paris trip. I could have gotten away with one pair but I like to rotate the sneakers so I don’t end up with blisters.
11. Sidewalk sneaker – These are the other pair of sneakers I packed. White sneakers of this style were very popular in Paris.
12. Julian Backpack – This was the day pack I used for sightseeing every day in Paris. It had enough room for my camera, snacks and a sweater. I love the zip pocket on the back of the backpack. IT is great for keeping things safer. I also found I used it to stash my phone safe from pickpockets.

Other than socks and under ware, passports and adapters everything on this list is actually what I packed for Paris. The only thing that I felt might have made me stand out like a tourist was my rain jacket. The hooded trench coat is a chicer alternative. But all of my trenches don’t have a hood which is key for rainy days. I don’t pack an umbrella as it doesn’t leave me hands free to take pictures of the Eiffel tower from every angle.

Read More: Everywhere we ate in Paris

Keep in mind we spend our entire day sightseeing. We are more likely to head to the grocery store for breakfast and lunch. And Bistros were our restaurants of choice so we didn’t have to dress up for dinner. You might want to swap out a pair of jeans for a dress if you are planning on going out to a more upscale dinner.

What are you packing for Paris?