<strong>Paris in spring: </strong>First proper sign of spring in Paris: when picnic crowds begin popping up around the city.
Paris in spring: First proper sign of spring in Paris: when picnic crowds begin popping up around the city.
ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Blooming Palais Royal: </strong>The manicured lime trees and compact rose garden tucked within the arcades of the Palais Royal, near the Louvre Museum, is a favorite of Adrian Leeds, Paris property consultant and star of HGTV's "House Hunters International."
Blooming Palais Royal: The manicured lime trees and compact rose garden tucked within the arcades of the Palais Royal, near the Louvre Museum, is a favorite of Adrian Leeds, Paris property consultant and star of HGTV's "House Hunters International."
Sarah Sergent-Paris Tourist Office
<strong>Canal Saint-Martin: </strong>As spring arrives, the canal through the city's northeastern districts attracts Parisians armed with bottles of beers and bags of snacks.
Canal Saint-Martin: As spring arrives, the canal through the city's northeastern districts attracts Parisians armed with bottles of beers and bags of snacks.
LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Le Perchoir: </strong>With<strong> </strong>an eye-catching view of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, it's little surprise that Le Perchoir's rooftop bar is a favorite hangout spot in the city during spring. The restaurant downstairs serves dishes with seasonal products.
Le Perchoir: With an eye-catching view of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, it's little surprise that Le Perchoir's rooftop bar is a favorite hangout spot in the city during spring. The restaurant downstairs serves dishes with seasonal products.
Sebastien Rande/Studio Cui Cui
<strong>Long, lazy days:</strong> As daytime gets longer, spring is an ideal time for an extended stroll along the banks of the Seine river or a late boat ride aboard a Bateau Mouche (an open excursion boat.)
Long, lazy days: As daytime gets longer, spring is an ideal time for an extended stroll along the banks of the Seine river or a late boat ride aboard a Bateau Mouche (an open excursion boat.)
ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Art fest: </strong><a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnuitdesmusees.culturecommunication.gouv.fr%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">La Nuit Européene des Musées</a> (or European Night of the Museums) is one of many springtime-themed art fests in Paris. It sees museum open up at night and art installations light up the city after sunset.
Art fest: La Nuit Européene des Musées (or European Night of the Museums) is one of many springtime-themed art fests in Paris. It sees museum open up at night and art installations light up the city after sunset.
THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Coffee with a view: </strong>Cafe Carette, just steps away from Trocadero plaza with views of the Eiffel Tower, is a good place for a early morning café crème and a pain au chocolat.
Coffee with a view: Cafe Carette, just steps away from Trocadero plaza with views of the Eiffel Tower, is a good place for a early morning café crème and a pain au chocolat.
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Avli: </strong>A Mediterranean-fusion newcomer in Paris, Avli is a good place to have a taste of spring. Like many restaurants in the city, Avli embraces small sharing mezze plates serving a market-inspired menu influenced by cuisines from Greece, Spain, Italy and the Middle East.
Avli: A Mediterranean-fusion newcomer in Paris, Avli is a good place to have a taste of spring. Like many restaurants in the city, Avli embraces small sharing mezze plates serving a market-inspired menu influenced by cuisines from Greece, Spain, Italy and the Middle East.
courtesy Avli
<strong>Le Triangle: </strong>A small family business, Le Triangle serves up house-brewed craft beer -- that's not available elsewhere -- and (maybe) the city's best fish and chips.
Le Triangle: A small family business, Le Triangle serves up house-brewed craft beer -- that's not available elsewhere -- and (maybe) the city's best fish and chips.
Anto Hinh-Thai
<strong>Get out of town:</strong> Spring is arguably the best time to visit French impressionist painter Claude Monet's home in Giverny, northwestern France. It opens at the end of March and features the Japanese garden that inspired the Impressionist painter's "Water Lilies" series.
Get out of town: Spring is arguably the best time to visit French impressionist painter Claude Monet's home in Giverny, northwestern France. It opens at the end of March and features the Japanese garden that inspired the Impressionist painter's "Water Lilies" series.
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Run, walk, listen: </strong>A roster of international events -- including the Paris Marathon, which takes place in April -- help the city to shake off its winter torpor.
Run, walk, listen: A roster of international events -- including the Paris Marathon, which takes place in April -- help the city to shake off its winter torpor.
MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Markets: </strong>Spring brings a bounty of fresh offerings -- with piles of apricots, cherries, rhubarb and berries galore -- to Paris' neighborhood markets.
Markets: Spring brings a bounty of fresh offerings -- with piles of apricots, cherries, rhubarb and berries galore -- to Paris' neighborhood markets.
CNN
<strong>Fête de la Musique:</strong> It's no longer spring, technically, on June 21, but the Fête de la Musique is worth a mention for its ability to transform this usually sober, smile-phobic city into an a giddy, open-air concert space.
Fête de la Musique: It's no longer spring, technically, on June 21, but the Fête de la Musique is worth a mention for its ability to transform this usually sober, smile-phobic city into an a giddy, open-air concert space.
CNN