What to see and do in September in Île-de-France?
Our four recommendations released in September 2026
When summer comes to an end, one of the things we most want (or need) to do is to keep pulling on our sleeve to make it last a little. So, the back-to-school bell may have rung, but not the one of discoveries to fully enjoy the Île-de-France in September.
Mark your calendars, here we go again for good ideas for outings this month!
#1: Noisiel, this weekend? Open-air circus, refreshing riverbanks and a journey back in time
Noisiel is a town in Seine-et-Marne that can be found on the RER A line, and which hides architectural beauties and green corners that Paris envies.
How to get there?
- By RER A : Noisiel stop
First stop - Noisiel Park
A green well four times larger than the Jardin du Luxembourg, you can come across donkeys, cows or sheep mowing the hills and take beautiful walks on the banks of the Marne, with a view of the old and elegant factories of the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Noisiel forever linked to the name Menier
Menier, for history lovers, is the name of a French chocolate manufacturer. In the 19th century, a pharmacist had the (brilliant?) idea of coating his medicines in chocolate. One thing leading to another, he gave up drugs to set up the largest chocolate factory in the world.
Around the factory, a real industrial city was built : with houses for the workers, a school for their children, shops and a farm to supply all these beautiful people. Their architecture (most of which is listed as a Historic Monument), typical of the 19th century, is resplendent.
Second stop - La Ferme du Buisson, opens its new season of shows under the sign of the circus
A performance hall, arthouse cinema and contemporary art centre, the Ferme du Buisson has been rehabilitated into a joyful place of culture, life and sharing, with an open-air space. The good news? The art center's exhibitions are free of charge.
And psst
To open its 2026-2027 cultural season, La Ferme du Buisson is betting on the circus with two companies whose shows are free of charge in September and October. Go and discover them!
#2: Enghien-les-Bains, the 4-in-1 outing that everyone agrees on
Did you know that in Île-de-France there was a thermal spring?
And that it was the most sulphurous (rich in sulphur) in the whole country? Welcome to Enghien-les-Bains, in the heart of the Val-d'Oise.
A spa resort appreciated by artists, thinkers and the beautiful European bourgeoisie of the 19th century, Enghien-les-Bains is a pretty town, with its villas, gardens and large lake, towards which everything is turned.
Three kilometres of walk around the lake
As you walk around, you can see hundred-year-old plane trees, manicured gardens, a beautiful jetty, breathtaking views of the lake and brave people in full activity (you can fish, sail, pedal boat or row).
To rest, walk, enjoy the freshness of nature or simply take a well-deserved break with a view that will take you on a journey : in our opinion, it's always a good idea.
And psst
On September 12, 2026 (from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.), the city will host the International Fireworks Festival "Les Couleurs du Val d'Oise", at the Enghien-Soisy racecourse.
How to get there?
- With the Transilien H : Enghien-les-Bains stop
#3: European Heritage Days 2026, two days to (re)discover Île-de-France
On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, it is the European Heritage Days throughout France.
For three days, places usually closed to the public open their doors free of charge or at low prices, to:
- Conferences and round tables,
- Guided tours,
- Concerts,
- Unprecedented immersions through French heritage.
For the 43rd edition, two themes are in the spotlight:
- The Heritage of Photography (for the bicentenary of its invention)
- Heritage in Danger : "Revive, Resist, Reimagine" (theme chosen at the European level to raise awareness of the preservation of threatened sites).
And psst
For all those who lack inspiration and don't know where to turn among the hundreds of events: the Paris tourist office, Paris Je t'aime, has made a small selection.
#4: Simulacra exhibition: when art disturbs reality at the Magasins Généraux
How to get there?
1 rue de l'Ancien Canal, 93500 Pantin
- Metro 5 : Église de Pantin stop
In Pantin, at the Magasins Généraux, a cultural venue set up in a former 1930s warehouse on the banks of the Canal de l'Ourcq, the group exhibition "Simulacra" is being held until 27 September 2026.
Some twenty international artists explore the many ways in which art blurs reality: trompe-l'oeil, hyperrealism, shadow play, images generated by artificial intelligence...
An exhibition that questions our ability to distinguish truth from falsehood
Between the hyperrealist sculptures of Tony Matelli, the hybrid creatures of Julius Von Bismarck or the false memories of holidays imagined by Maria Mavropoulou, the exhibition invites us to question our ability (or our difficulty) to distinguish the true from the false.
A free exhibition accessible to all
- Free admission
- Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Every Saturday at 5 p.m. and every Sunday at 2:30 p.m., a free guided tour is offered by the mediation team.
- For families, creative workshops around optical illusions are organized!
In summary: what to do in September in Paris and Île-de-France?
- Visit Noisiel, between spectacle, riverbanks and architecture that takes you back in time
- Discover Enghien-les-Bains
- Rediscover Île-de-France, its culture and heritage during European Heritage Days
- Questioning reality with the exhibition Simulacra at the Magasins Généraux