Paris Fashion Week traffic and Metro tips, Sept 29-Oct 7

Published on Sep 23, 2025, 9:50 am CDT

6 min read

Paris Fashion Week women's ready to wear runs from September 29 to October 7, 2025, with shows and presentations across central Paris. Temporary no parking zones and short street closures are in effect near select venues, especially around Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V in the 8th. Expect heavier traffic in the 1st and 2nd where Tuileries and Bourse area events cluster. Plan Metro for crosstown moves, and add buffer time for airport transfers to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, CDG, and Paris Orly Airport, ORY.

Key Points

Why it matters: Central Paris street restrictions will slow taxis and rideshares near show venues.
Travel impact: Police orders are in place on select 8th arrondissement streets, with congestion likely in the 1st and 2nd.
What's next: A full week of runway shows and presentations keeps peak activity through October 7.
Best routes: RER B for CDG, Metro Line 14 direct to ORY, plus Metro Lines 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13 for central venues.
Allow extra buffer for hotel pickups, especially around Avenue Montaigne, George V, and Place Vendôme.

Snapshot

The official calendar confirms women's ready to wear from September 29 to October 7, with a showroom session at Palais de Tokyo running October 1 to October 7. Paris Police Prefecture has issued multiple temporary parking and circulation orders in the Triangle d'Or area, including Avenue George V and nearby streets Pierre Charron, François 1er, and Euler in the 8th. Shows and trade events also cluster near the Louvre and Tuileries in the 1st, and around Palais Brongniart in the 2nd. For crosstown travel, Metro is the fastest and most reliable choice. For airport runs, use rail, then build a cushion if you still plan any surface segments.

Background

Paris Fashion Week is citywide, not a single campus. Venues and presentations pop up across central arrondissements and along the Seine, which concentrates traffic and curb demand in narrow streets. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode's final calendar lists a full daily slate, with shows by invitation and public presentations scattered through the week. The Palais de Tokyo will host an official showroom session October 1 to October 7, adding steady footfall on the Right Bank. In parallel, off calendar happenings, pop ups, and after dark events draw crowds around Place Vendôme, Avenue Montaigne, and the Bourse area, tightening ride pickup zones.

Latest Developments

Police orders tighten parking around Avenue Montaigne and George V

The Paris Police Prefecture has filed several temporary orders that restrict parking and, at times, vehicle circulation on select streets in the 8th. An order covering Avenue George V runs September 25 to September 29, bracketing opening day arrivals and build outs. Separate orders modify parking and circulation on streets Pierre Charron and François 1er, with another covering rue Euler, plus an order on rue d'Amsterdam that touches the 8th and 9th. Expect intermittent tow away enforcement and barricades near entrances, with loading limits around delivery hours. Drivers should stage pickups one to two blocks off venue doors to avoid loops and closures, then walk the last minutes.

CDG and Orly by rail, then add margin for last mile

For CDG, take RER B directly to and from Aéroport Charles de Gaulle stations at Terminals 1 and 2. For ORY, Metro Line 14 now runs directly to Aéroport d'Orly in about 25 minutes from Châtelet, with RER B plus Orlyval remaining a fallback. RATP's Airports ticket products cover rail to both airports. Airlines and Paris Aéroport recommend arriving early, commonly 3 hours for long haul and 2 hours for European flights. During Fashion Week, add time to your ground segment if you rely on surface transfers on the Right Bank, and favor rail for schedule certainty.

Analysis

Transit beats traffic this week. The 1st, 2nd, and 8th offer excellent Metro coverage that bypasses curb pressure. For Tuileries or the Louvre in the 1st, Saint Paul and Palais Royal Musée du Louvre on Line 1 and Pyramides on Lines 7 and 14 are strong bets. For Palais Brongniart in the 2nd, Bourse on Line 3 or Quatre Septembre on Line 3 minimize surface time. Around Avenue Montaigne and George V in the 8th, use Franklin D. Roosevelt on Lines 1 and 9, George V on Line 1, Alma Marceau on Line 9, or Champs Élysées Clemenceau on Lines 1 and 13. Build 10 to 15 minutes of walking or interchanges into any time sensitive plan. For hotel pickups, set your pin one or two cross streets away from barricades, then message the plate and stand on the correct side of the boulevard. For airport days, ride rail to the city center, then complete the last mile by Metro or on foot rather than switching to a car at peak curb locations. Always check RATP traffic updates before you leave, then confirm your terminal and station pairing in the Paris Aéroport app.

Final Thoughts

Paris Fashion Week concentrates people, vehicles, and barricades in a small grid of central streets. The simplest play is to ride rail for anything crosstown, then walk the last block or two near venues. Put your airport day on rails, then layer on a conservative schedule using airline guidance for check in timing. With a few extra minutes of margin and a Metro first plan, you can avoid most bottlenecks and keep your week on time, even during peak Paris Fashion Week traffic.