There are countless articles and guidebooks with advice about fitting in with Parisians and trying to see the city like a local. Rarely do they give what I consider to be the simplest advice: visit Paris in the winter. The winter months in Paris see far fewer crowds, and the locals feel more free to venture into the city and visit landmarks they love. As a bonus, Paris is so compact and has so many wonderful things to do that you’ll never be out in the cold too long.
Why Winter is the Best Time to Visit Paris
The height of the tourist season is April to October, so a winter trip is a chance to see Paris with fresh eyes, away from the hallmark mobs of tourists that flock to the city every year.
Winter is also the best time to find deals on flights and accommodations, and you won’t need to reserve every single activity, leaving some additional room for spontaneity.
The swarms of tourists can exhaust even the most seasoned hospitality professional, so visitors to Paris often complain of curt service during their trips. During the winter, you’ll find that the Parisians you encounter are likely to be more laid back, with more patience for your budding French skills.
Don’t forget to say, “bonjour,” however; this is required year-round in French culture!
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Why Visit Paris In December
Paris in December is adorned with twinkling lights and tinsel, with beautiful glass displays in windows throughout the city. It’s made for window shopping, and it’s easy to get into the holiday spirit.
You’ll see Parisians bundled up in their effortlessly chic coats and scarves, strolling past small Christmas markets selling vin chaud, a French style of hot mulled wine, and freshly roasted chestnuts.
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Christmas in Paris
In December, you’ll find Paris aglow in Christmas decor. The already charming and romantic city takes Christmas seriously, with festive lights and decorations around the city.
A trip to a department store, like Le Bon Marche or Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, would be an especially lovely way to spend a holiday afternoon in Paris.
New Year in Paris
New Year’s Eve, known as La Réveillon de Saint Sylvestre in France, is a festive time in Paris, so you’ll want to get dressed up and hit the town. A few places to consider spending your New Year’s Eve include Disneyland Paris and Moulin Rouge, the legendary cabaret.
Alternatively, you could go for a ballet performance at Palais Garnier, or see a Christmas concert at La Sainte-Chapelle, a beautiful church adorned with stained glass windows.
Why Visit Paris in January
January is a lovely time to visit Paris because there are very few crowds, giving the city even more local energy than in December.
Traipse through the Louvre, where you may even have an entire gallery room to yourself. Have dinner at a lovely bistro where you’d otherwise never be able to get a reservation.
If you’ve always thought that Paris is inaccessible because it is out of your price range, check the prices in mid-January; you might be pleasantly surprised that you can enjoy Paris on a budget too!
Want More Winter Travel Inspiration?
Check out these blog posts for your European winter vacation inspiration!Winter Weather in Paris
Paris is chilly but not frigid in both December and January, with highs in the mid-40s and lows in the mid-30s Fahrenheit. You’ll definitely want to bundle up, as the city will sometimes have strong winds that blow across the River Seine.
Does it snow in Paris? You may see some snow flurries, but it is unlikely to accumulate on the streets; chilly winter rains are much more common although some Paris snow does fall occasionally!
What to Wear in Paris in Winter
Even in the winter, you’ll likely want to spend a decent amount of time outside while in Paris. So, dress for the elements with warm layers you can remove when you go inside.
Waterproof or water-resistant fabrics will go a long way towards keeping you dry, and wool fabrics are warm even if they get a little wet.
I suggest wearing long underwear layers, a sweater, pants, and a warm coat as your main layers, along with a hat, gloves, and a scarf to keep warm. You may encounter some flurries and/or rain on your winter trip, so bring warm and waterproof shoes and an umbrella or raincoat to use as an outer shell.
Parisians are well-dressed even in the winter, so you’ll want to avoid ski coats and similar outerwear if you’d like to fit in with the locals.
Things to do in Paris in Winter
Although there are a few Parisian activities you won’t be able to enjoy during the winter, like lazing about in a sunny park near an iconic fountain, there’s still plenty to love when visiting Paris in the winter.
Some of the top things to do in Paris at any time of year include:
You can browse more tours and attractions in Paris here, or enjoy some of the best free things to do in Paris. Most of the tours and activities in Paris are available throughout the year, you’ll just need to dress accordingly – and remember that it gets dark earlier during the winter – and plan your trip bearing in mind the weather might not cooperate!
Other activities are perfectly suited for a trip to Paris during the winter, allowing you to enjoy the city while keeping warm and dry!
Get a hot chocolate from Angelina’s and sip it in the Jardin des Tuileries
When I think of Paris in the winter, my mind immediately drifts to sipping a cup of chocolat chaud from Angelina Paris and walking through the nearby Jardin des Tuileries. The hot chocolate from Angelina Paris seems almost impossibly rich and has a deep, perfectly sweet chocolate flavor.
Sipping chocolate chaud while bundled up in a warm coat and strolling through a large public park is one of the most relaxing things to do on an afternoon in Paris, as long as it stays dry. Or bring an umbrella along and enjoy the city no matter what the weather is doing!
Visit a Cozy restaurant
Winter is a perfect time to get cozy, so make your way to a lovely bistro or wine bar. The dishes are likely to be seasonal, with plenty of root vegetables and substantial, savory meals, commonly paired with a robust red wine.
My favorite bistro is Le Florimond, located about a 10 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and my favorite wine bar is Augustin Marchand d’Vins, near the Sainte-Chapelle chapel.
For an experience that is just as cozy but more budget-friendly, make your way to Rue Sainte-Anne for a bowl of lovely prepared ramen or to Hank’s Burger for a tasty vegan burger and local beer.
Visit the Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is home to the infamous “Mona Lisa” painting and the “Venus de Milo” sculpture, but you could spend a day marveling at all the other artwork here and never even see them. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, with approximately 38,000 pieces of art on display at any given time.
Winter is the perfect time to visit the Louvre because it’s the only time during the year when you can see exhibits without the trademark mobs of people. There will still be crowds in front of the Mona Lisa and other famous pieces, to be sure, but you’ll be able to experience countless other works of art in relative solitude.
You can book tickets for the Louvre online here.
Enjoy the Other Museums in Paris
When it is cold and wet outside visiting more of the city’s incredible museums is a wonderful way to pass the time and keep warm and dry!
The Musée d’Orsay is one of my favourites, housed in a beautiful former station building, it is filled with French art including pieces by Cezanne, Monet, Manet and Renoir, as well as some of Van Gogh’s self-portraits and a host of other works. >>>Buy tickets for the Musée d’Orsay here.
A few of Paris’ other popular museums include Les Invalides, a military museum where you can visit Napoleon’s tomb, the Georges Pompidou Center for the National Museum of Modern Art and the Musée de l’Orangerie, an art gallery of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings including some of Monet’s famous Water Lillies.
MONEY SAVING TIP: If you plan on visiting several museums in Paris then check out the Paris Museums Pass which could save you money on tickets as it includes access over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris, including the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, and Pompidou Center.
Christmas Shopping in Le Bon Marché
The enormous, wonderful Le Bon Marché department store is the perfect place to spend a chilly day in Paris and, as a bonus, you can even complete some of your Christmas shopping.
Le Bon Marché will have something for everyone on your holiday list, from fine wines to artisan snack crackers to French kitchen gadgets. If you start to feel homesick, there are aisles for nearly every nationality and cuisine in the expansive food section, so you easily can pick up a snack that reminds you of home.
Cheap Places to Stay in Paris in Winter
When deciding where to stay in Paris, know that there is no singular city center where you’ll find all of the action. For example, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame are almost 5km apart, so there are plenty of wonderful places to stay throughout the city.
If you don’t mind taking the metro or walking further, you can also choose to stay in the city’s outskirts and commute in to save money.
If you decide to stay in a central area, Le Marais, The Latin Quarter, specifically near La Sorbonne University and Le Jardin du Luxembourg, and Canal Saint-Martin are all great options. Le Marais is the Jewish and LGBTQ center of Paris, with amazing falafel, great vegan restaurants, and plenty of hip young Parisians wandering around.
The Latin Quarter is the oldest part of Paris, and its windy medieval streets are full of popular tourist hotspots and restaurants. Finally, Canal Saint-Martin is perfect for a more local experience, and you’ll find plenty of great restaurants and bars–along with fewer tourists–here.
Some of our top picks for hostels and budget hotels in Paris include
- Hotel du College de France: This great value hotel near the Sorbonne and just 500m from Notre Dame gets excellent reviews for the friendly and helpful staff and ideal location. >>>CHECK REVIEWS & PRICES
- Caulaincourt Montmartre by Hiphophostels: This hostel is ideally located in the 18th district near the famous places of Montmartre and the subway is very close. The hostel has clean and modern individual rooms and dorm beds with private or common bathrooms >>>FIND OUT MORE
- Boissiere: Located in the 17th arrondissement in a safe and quiet neighborhood, this hotel is well decorated and some rooms have a terrace. The little extra: you will be only a 20min walk from the Champs Elysées >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
If you’d like more options, you can browse all hostels in Paris on Hostelworld, or find great value hotels on Booking. There are also various options for Airbnbs in Paris too, take a look at some of the rental homes available here.
About the Author
Amber Haggerty runs Amber Everywhere, a site dedicated to encouraging others to travel. The mission of Amber Everywhere is to help people feel the sort of belonging, purpose, empathy, and expansiveness that travel can offer, especially if approached with the right mindset.
Amber is originally from Colorado, but now she now lives in Europe and writes about her experiences traveling and living abroad. You can find her on Instagram at @amber.everywhere, on Facebook, and on Twitter @EverywhereAmber.