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Transports, museums, cinemas… Here’s what’s open or closed in Paris on May 1st!

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The Editor

©Jagoda Bartus/Le Bonbon

May 1st is fast approaching, and do you know what that means? A public holiday, of course! So, we looked into Paris, its shops, and its institutions to find out which ones will stay open.

Here we are finally — or already — in May. And just like every year, this month starts with the traditional Labor Day celebration on May 1st. On this special day, no one (or almost no one) works. It’s the perfect time to enjoy life and the city, even though some institutions are also taking a break. Let's take stock!


Openings and Closures in Paris on May 1, 2026

The Metro

Aside from the already announced disruptions on certain lines, traffic will be normal across the entire Paris network. Thus, the only disruptions will be on line 3, where traffic will be interrupted between Gallieni and Gambetta until May 12; line 3bis will be interrupted starting at 10:15 PM until May 10; and line 4 will be closed between Barbès-Rochechouart and Châtelet until May 1.

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The Museums 

This is where you need to plan ahead the most! On May 1st, a large number of Parisian museums exceptionally close their doors. This includes the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée de l'Orangerie, the Army Museum, the Great Gallery of Evolution, the Quai Branly Museum, the Arab World Institute, the Guimet Museum, the City of Music, and even the French Cinematheque. 

However, it will be a great opportunity to enjoy the Grévin Museum, the Jacquemart-André Museum, the Museum of Illusion, the Maillol Museum, as well as the Paris Zoological Park or the Jardin d'Acclimatation. 

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The cinemas

If the museums are closing, the cinemas, on the other hand, are still wide open! This is great news for us because Given the rain that is forecasted for May 1st, we’re not going to miss the chance to settle into the dark theaters to watch Just a Illusion or The Devil Wears Prada 2 — why not? 


Florists 

We stick to tradition: on May 1st, we buy lily of the valley! So, it's highly likely that your local florist will be open, especially since this day is particularly important for their revenue.


Bakery News

Just a few weeks ago, the situation was uncertain for bakeries. In theory, a baker has the right to open their shop, but not to have their employees work. However, on April 17, the Government announced a new measure allowing artisanal bakeries and pastry shops to open that day, with specific conditions: the employees must give their written consent and their salary must be doubled for that day. However, this initiative still needs to be approved by Parliament and would only take effect on May 1, 2027.