While Halloween isn’t typically celebrated in Europe, we Americans living here still know how to make the most of it. We also know that it’s more than just a day — it’s a full season, or at least a weekend, long.

From ghost tours to costume parties, read on for my recommendations for enjoying the Halloween season in Paris!

Père Lachaise Cemetery 

Located in the 19th arrondissement, the Père Lachaise Cemetery is perhaps the most famous cemetery in Paris. It’s the final resting place of icons like Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, and Oscar Wilde, as well as thousands of ordinary Parisians.

Whether you visit around Halloween or any other time in the year, be sure to read my full guide for visiting Père Lachaise before you go. 

Ghost Tour 

Paris is already a city full of mystery, but during Halloween, its dark history really comes to life. While I knew there were plenty of stories related to ghosts, crimes, and more, I didn’t actually know the stories themselves until the week of Halloween a few years ago. 

This spooky walking tour focuses on areas such as Île de la Cité and Châtelet, where our tour guide shared eerie tales mixed with a bit of humor and history.

The Catacombs

An underground maze filled with skulls and bones? Okay, it’s not a haunted house, but it’s close enough!

The Catacombs are a top tourist attraction for good reason. Visitors can learn about history, geology, and architecture while also honoring the countless Parisians whose bones now line the underground pathways.

Costume Parties

Nothing says Halloween like a traditional American costume party!

While many bars and clubs in the city host special Halloween events, I love attending my friends’ Halloween soirées and hosting my own, which are always complete with obligatory costumes, multilingual music, and lots of Halloween-themed snacks. 

And the best part? Watching my French friends’ reactions to trying candy corn for the first time!

Shopping for Halloween Essentials 

When preparing for a Halloween event in Paris, it can be difficult to find all the typical American essentials. Here are some of my go-to spots for finding Halloween supplies: 

Costume pieces – Claire’s, thrift stores like Emmaus Campus and Guerrisol

Decorations – Auchan, Gifi, Monoprix 

Candy – Normal, Action, Carrefour, Monoprix

Pumpkins – Intermarché, plant shops around the city, farms in the suburbs

But perhaps the scariest Paris activity of all? It has to be a solid tie between (1) encountering rats along the Seine and (2) begging for a visa at the Préfecture de Police… BOO!