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Restaurants, museums, swimming pools: everything that closes or stays open on May 1st in Paris

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The Editor

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This Thursday, May 1st, 2025, looks bright and you’re eager to make the most of it with a spring getaway in the capital, but you want to avoid any surprises? We’ve got all the info on which shops, municipal locations, and cultural institutions are open or, on the flip side, closed for this day off. Not an exhaustive list, but almost. 


What’s Open on May 1st 

Transportation 

This Thursday, May 1st, the Île-de-France transportation network will operate at the same rhythm as on Sundays. The Transilien trains, RER, metros, and buses will be running, but with lower frequency than usual. Transportation around the route of the May 1st demonstration might also be disrupted.

In Paris, the inter-union march – which includes CGT, Solidaires, FSU, and youth organizations Fage, Unef, Union étudiante, and USL – will start at Place d’Italie (13th) at 2 PM, with the rallying cry of fighting «against the far right, for peace, freedoms, and social justice », according to the event's announcement. The demonstrators will pass

along the Boulevard de l’Hôpital to Place Valhubert. Then head towards the Austerlitz Bridge to cross the Seine and reach the Right Bank by taking Avenue Ledru-Rollin until you get to Avenue Daumesnil. The final stop is at Place de la Nation.


Parks and gardens 

Don't worry, this May 1st, you'll be able to soak up some vitamin D while relaxing in one of the many parks, squares, and gardens that bring life to the capital. The city assures that all will remain open. Here are the exact hours for the various green spaces, to make your stroll even better. 


Food markets 

Here too, it's worth checking on a case-by-case basis. While some food markets decide to keep their stalls open, like the Marché Saint-Eustache les Halles (1st), and the Marché covered by Les Enfants Rouges (3rd arrondissement), from Marché Port-Royal (5th), or even from Marché couvert Saint-Germain (6th), other merchants will take a well-deserved break. The City website allows you to check the hours for each to avoid any unpleasant surprises. 


The Carrousel du Louvre 

Most department stores close their doors on May 1st, but the Carrousel du Louvre is the exception that proves the rule. The underground shopping center will be open from 10 am to 8 pm this Thursday. It's a great chance to admire the inverted pyramid of the Louvre. The museum, however, will keep its doors closed. 


The cinemas 

It’s unlikely that you’ll want to...

you can cozy up in a dark room with the 28 degrees forecast for this Thursday, and at the same time, it's the perfect chance to enjoy empty seats and fully savor your moment. In any case, the Pathé and UGC cinemas are open in Paris on May 1st. 


A handful of museums

As you may have guessed, it's time to say goodbye for a day to the Louvre, but also to the Musée d'Orsay, the Quai Branly Museum, the Orangerie Museum, and many other must-visit Parisian museums. However, you can still enjoy other equally fantastic cultural institutions. Open will be the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Aquarium, the Atelier des Lumières, the Jardin d'acclimatation, the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, the musée du C.Chocolate, the Museum of Fairground Arts, the Dalí Museum, the Grévin Museum, the Montmartre Museum, the Maillol Museum, and the Natural History Museum. 


Some small shops 

In Paris, just like everywhere else, the small shops that need few staff will be able to open on May 1st. This includes certain Carrefour City, Carrefour Express, and Franprix stores. To be sure, we recommend checking the store's website. It usually states online whether the shop is open or not.


Fast food 

While most restaurants will be closed, Fast food places will keep their doors open. So, you can satisfy your cravings at McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and other fast food spots this Thursday, May 1st!


Florists 

Labor Day is a big day for florists since they make a significant part of their sales from the sale of lily of the valley. Most shops will be open in the morning, or even all day long. Come on, let’s be generous and take this chance to buy a sprig or a pot of lily of the valley for our loved ones.  


What Closes on May 1st 

Hypermarkets and Supermarkets 

Every year on May 1st, the majority of large retail stores (Auchan, Carrefour, Intermarché, Leclerc, and Cora) are closed.  This also applies to major DIY and decoration chains like Leroy Merlin, Castorama, Jardiland, Gamm vert or Gifi. However, there might be exceptional openings, so it's a good idea to give them a quick call to check the opening hours. 


Bakeries 

Last year, Jean-François Bandet, owner of Bo & Mie bakeries and owner...

A chain of about a dozen shops (including six in Paris) was hit with a €78,750 fine for opening a store on Labor Day in 2021. The inspection carried out by the Labor Department has rekindled the discussion about opening certain businesses on May 1st. However, this year there are no exceptions: the law remains the same, and bakeries must stay closed, or they'll face the same fate as Jean-François Bandet.
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Shopping Malls 

Most Parisian shopping malls will be closed this May 1st. Among them, you'll find Le Forum des Halles, the Galeries Lafayette, La Samaritaine, BHV Marais, Le Bon Marché, Centre Italie 2, Printemps Haussmann, Bercy Village, and the Centre Beaugrenelle.


Gyms and Swimming Pools 

On Thursday, most gyms and swimming pools will be closed.

At Basic Fit, the doors to “ all the gyms ” will remain closed. For other networks, it will be more of a case-by-case basis. As for swimming pools, we’ve heard that some facilities may open their pools: Piscine Suzanne Berlioux (1st), Espace sportif Pontoise (5th), Piscine Catherine Lagatu (10th), Piscine Roger Le Gall (12th), Piscine Joséphine Baker (13th), Piscine Thérèse et Jeanne Brulé (14th), Aquaboulevard, Piscine Keller (15th), Piscine Georges-Vallerey, and finally, Piscine Yvonne Godard (20th).


Pharmacies 

On May 1st, like every public holiday, the operation of pharmacies may vary. Generally, most stores have limited hours or are closed. However, to ensure...the continuity of healthcare, on-call pharmacies are available to meet the urgent needs of patients. Click on this site to check the pharmacies open during the day and those on duty on Sundays, holidays, and at night  near your home. 


There is still some uncertainty regarding restaurants 

There is no common rule for restaurants. They are subject to the same rules as businesses : according to the Labor Code, May 1st is the only day that is mandatory for rest… except for employees who, due to their type of work, cannot stop working. In that case, they must be paid double. For this reason, most restaurants will be closed, except for those that can prove their activity is essential. Lthe place you have your heart set on to check today’s opening hours. You know the drill.