What to see and do in May in Île-de-France?
#1. The European Night of Museums: a free evening to visit the region's places of art and history
Save the date: on 23 May 2026, the 22nd edition of the European Night of Museums will take place. That evening, many cultural and heritage sites will open their doors free of charge to visitors.
Concerts, visits, screenings: 148 free events organized in Île-de-France
On the website of the Night of the Museums, a map lists all the events that will take place on the night of May 23 and. They are very varied:
- A play at the Renaissance Museum at the Château d'Ecouen
- A musical night in the galleries of the Château Versailles
- A concert in the Paul Eluard Museum of Art and History, in Saint-Denis
- Until the organization of a video game tournament at the Commanderie des Templiers, in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
How to enjoy the European Night of Museums by public transport?
Download the Île-de-France Mobilités app to calculate your journeys in real time, throughout the evening.
#2. From station to station: from Plessis-Chenet to Ponthierry-Pringy, a change of scenery on the banks of the Seine
How about a walk from station to station to enjoy spring on the banks of the Seine?
Head for Essonne and the RER D, where you will get off at Plessis-Chenet station. Over 16 kilometres, the walk is cut between undergrowth, locks, barges, small villages in the Ile-de-France region, an improvised picnic and a shaded walk along the water's edge, to the village of Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry in Seine-et-Marne.
On the program?
A half-day walk along the Seine as we know little about it: wild, bucolic, less touristy.
How to get there by public transport?
To get to the start of the hike, go to Plessis-Chenet station, on the RER D line.
Then follow the recommended route on foot, and end your day at Ponthierry-Pringy station, on the same line, to return safely.
#3. Free exhibition at City Hall: a look into the lens of photojournalist Sebastião Salgado
What do the gold mines of the Serra Pelada in the Amazon (Brazil), the famine in the Sahel (Ethiopia), the Rwandan genocide and the streets of Paris in summer have in common?
Sebastião Salgado, a multi-award-winning Franco-Brazilian photojournalist, who has traveled the world for more than fifty years to capture reality.
A free tribute exhibition at City Hall
Sebastiã Salgado passed away in May 2025, he was 81 years old. To retrace his career, a retrospective is organized in his honor at the Paris City Hall (4th arrondissement) until May 30, 2026.
On the program?
A selection of some of the artist's most beautiful photos and paintings by his son, Rodrigo Salgado, who has Down syndrome, who expresses his feelings through his paintings.
Practical information
- Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6.30pm (closed on public holidays)
- The exhibition is free, but by reservation : remember to select your slot on the City of Paris website.
How to get to the City Hall by public transport?
Hôtel de Ville, 3 rue de Lobau, Paris IVe
- Metros 1 and 11 : Hôtel de Ville station
- Metro 7 : Pont Marie station + 8 min walk
#4. Terrace, forest and castle: shall we take you to the National Estate of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye this weekend?
About thirty minutes from Paris, the Domaine national du Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye pulled the winning combo. It brings together:
- A magnificent castle - where many kings of France stayed - and its park
- A (gigantic) terrace designed by Le Nôtre with an unobstructed view of Paris and the Seine valley and a café where you can enjoy the view
- A former royal forest of 3500 hectares
The park, the forest and the terraces are freely accessible and offer a spectacular walk without the need to enter the castle, which is for a fee.
How to get to Saint-Germain-en-Laye by public transport?
Head for the RER A to the station of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the Yvelines, you will exit directly in front of the castle and the park, the terrace awaits you at the end of the park, less than 10 minutes walk.
Do you want to go for a walk in the forest? Many hikes, more or less long, are available online - especially to the beautiful Corra pond.
In summary: what to do in May in Île-de-France?
- Visit the museums that catch your eye for free on the night of May 23, 2026
- Walking quietly on the banks of the Seine between Essonne and Seine-et-Marne
- Discovered the free exhibition on the photojournalist Sebastião Salgado at the Paris City Hall
- Visit the National Estate of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Have a good weekend, and see you next month for ideas for sunny activities accessible by public transport, everywhere in Île-de-France.