Magical gardens packed with spring flowers, flashes of fashion week, and a little bit of jazz bring fresh energy to Paris. Rain is a reality, though, so you’ll need some wet-weather gear to freely explore. But the smaller crowds and cheaper nightly rates compared to summer more than make up for it.

Versailles is a stunner any time of year, but spring may show the palace at its best, when its perfectly manicured gardens explode into a riot of spring blooms. If it’s rainy, the gilded halls of Louis XIV’s former home bring their own golden sunshine.

The world’s fashion icons hit town during Paris Spring Fashion Week. You’ll need an insider connection to access most shows, but restaurants, bars, and clubs around town are perfect spots to do a little people-watching of haute couture royalty (and celebrities).

Grab your tickets for the Saint-Germain-des-Pres Jazz Festival, a global celebration of jazz that has called this historic Paris neighborhood home for over 20 years.

Hot days. Warm nights. And a kir at a sidewalk cafe. This is the season of the flaneur in Paris, whether you want to pass long lazy days watching the streetlife, or join the countless activities in town. Prepare yourself, though: Crowds this time of year can be intense, especially at top attractions.

Dry, clear skies and long days make summer the time to soak up Paris’ unmatched scenery. Walk the Seine, stroll the St. Martin Canal, or pack a baguette-and-cheese-filled picnic basket and head to one of the city’s gorgeous parks (Trocadéro Gardens, next to the Eiffel Tower, is an obvious choice).

The Tour de France storms through the country in July and reaches its Champs-Élysées finish line to the tune of thousands of screaming fans. Line up with them for the thrill of cyclists whooshing past.

Summer means festival season is here. From the massive Rock en Seine music fest to the Paris l’Éte Festival—where music, art, and theater performances (usually free!) take over squares and parks—the city is buzzing all summer long.

Despite a chill in the air and steel-gray skies, the City of Lights hardly dims in the fall. In fact, the city’s cultural calendar heats up as locals return from their summer vacations. Another good reason to consider booking now? Hotel rates start to drop a bit this time of year.

Nuit Blanche is one of the most popular art events in the city. Exhibitions and performances take place from dusk until dawn in venues and public spaces all around Paris. Even better, they’re all free.

Warm up the Parisian way, with a rich chocolate chaud. Countless quaint cafes sling this sweet treat, but iconic Angelina Paris, historic Café de Flore, and more experimental Jean-Paul Hévin top the must-drink list.

The Paris Catacombs draw curious visitors year-round, but the run-up to Halloween is the perfect time of year to tour one of Paris’ spookiest corners, bones and all.