Is Halloween a thing in Paris?

Don’t expect to see kids trick-or-treating, carved pumpkins and haunted houses on the 31st. Halloween isn’t a big deal in Paris. At least not yet. Supermarkets and other businesses have already jumped at the opportunity to commercialize yet another day in the year, now the public has to follow.

With La Toussaint as a public holiday the next day, France has the perfect conditions for a proper Halloween celebration. Some Parisians take the opportunity to throw a soirée in their apartment (we’ve been invited to two different Halloween parties this year, compared to none last year, so it seems to be gaining popularity), and local bars may offer Halloween-themed nights, but they likely won’t live up to what you’re used to back home.

If you really want the full experience, Disneyland and Parc Astérix are probably your best bet. Both parks honor the holiday with spooky animations and haunted houses throughout the month. Or why not visit the magnificent cemeteries of Paris?

Visit the world’s creepiest museum

For something truly unique, head to the Musée des Moulages, a museum like no other, housed in a hospital. On display are morbid wax models of body parts of former patients who suffered from syphilis, leprosy and other skin diseases. To make the experience even more makabre, artist duo ‘The Bells Angels’ have currently added haunting sounds, lights and images. Warning: the moulages are very lifelike and not for the faint of heart.

Visits from Monday to Friday for visitors aged 12 and over by appointment only. Registration and more info on the museum’s website.

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