Paris in Winter shows a more peaceful, less energetic side of the city. The typical crowds disperse when the weather cools, making it possible to take a more relaxed stroll around the city’s streets and landmarks.
Cafes turn into welcoming havens where people can stay and enjoy a hot beverage or coffee while taking in the scenery. The City of Light shines brighter even as the nights become darker.
Paris in Winter is an opportunity to discover the city’s little-known beauties rather than just the cold weather. Winter marketplaces overflow with handcrafted goods, and people embrace customs that unite communities and light up long nights with joy and laughter.
So take your most comfortable jacket and join me as we investigate why Winter may be one of the most fascinating seasons to visit this timeless city.
What to Know About Visiting Paris in Winter
Crowds
While you should be aware that Paris in Winter is always full of visitors, one significant benefit of traveling to Paris in Winter is that there are fewer crowds.
Top attractions include Disneyland, Sacré Coeur, Versailles, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. It is possible to find some crowds in Paris in Winter, even in the cold.
Weather
The weather in Paris in Winter, which gets high marks for its charming volatility, creates a fascinating background for the city’s appeal. Every season has a different color scheme that makes ordinary views seem extraordinary.
The Paris in winter changes a lot. Days are often fantastic but not freezing. Although it rains a lot, snow rarely falls.
- Average highs: from the low 40s to the mid-50s F (4–12°C), with occasional highs in the 30s F (0–4°C).
- Lows on average: High 20s to 40s (-2 to 4°C)
Like many other parts of the world, Winter brings excessive cloudy days and a shortage of sunny days.
During the Paris in Winter, there is precipitation on average on 10 days each month, which is slightly more than in other seasons. Although it rarely stays for more than a day, it typically snows multiple times yearly.
Prices
One of the best reasons to visit Paris in Winter is the reduced hotel and airfare costs. Prices for restaurants, metros, and attractions remain the same, but between November and February, hotel costs are much less (though December may be more expensive because of Christmas markets).
If you’re on a tight budget, you can locate hotel rooms for about €150. In general, hotel prices can be about half those of summer rates.
Many museums participate in Free Museum Sunday, which takes place on the first Sunday of the month in the Winter (they don’t participate during the summer). But Free Museum Day may be a circus any time of year, so I advise you to avoid it.
Instead, I would purchase a Paris Museum Pass, pay the admission price, and visit during regular business hours or visit one of these fantastic free museums in Paris.
Christmas Markets
Paris in Winter (December or late November) is an excellent opportunity to see the lovely French Christmas Markets.
The city is bright with Christmas lights and décor, and warm, quaint markets all over the place provide hot beverages, warm cuisine, seasonal gifts, local products, and amusements like ice skating and carousels.
The following places are home to Paris’s main Christmas markets:
- Tuileries Garden
- Notre Dame
- Place des Abbesses
- La Defense
- Les Halles
- Eiffel Tower
- Saint-Germain-des-Pres
- Hotel de Ville
Amazing light shows may also be seen by Galeries Lafayette and along the Champs Elysées.
Furthermore, it’s easy to travel to Strasbourg from Paris in just two hours by train, where you can experience the incredible Christmas mood that permeates the entire Old Town.
Les Soldes
France approaches sales differently than the US and other nations. Sales occur twice a year here and are a significant occasion on which nearly every retailer lowers prices.
If you are a vast shopper, one excellent reason to visit Paris in Winter is the Les Soldes, which take place in mid-January and early July for the summer.
Gardens + Bouquinistes
Walking through Paris’s stunning parks and gardens is one of my favorite things; the city has gorgeous green places.
The lack of leaves on the trees, the absence of flowers, and the deserted fountains and basins are among the main drawbacks of traveling to Paris in Winter.
That implies that all those lovely gardens are not that amazing. While they’re still pleasant, and I wouldn’t deliberately avoid them on a visit in the Winter, it’s different from spring, summer, or fall when the flowerbeds are colorful and the leaves are abundant.
Unfortunately, the bouquinistes, or temporary bookstores along the Seine River, are likewise closed and unavailable during the Winter.
Furthermore, locations such as the Champs Elysees, bordered by beautifully groomed trees, or some of the best photo locations surrounding the Eiffel Tower, where the tower is framed in foliage, lack the same sparkle as they usually do.
What to Wear In Paris in Winter
Combining is a necessity and a form of art when navigating the cold streets of Paris in Winter. Start with a flexible base layer (think lightweight warming shirts) and work up to stylish mid-layers that capture the heart of the French joie de vivre, such as oversized sweaters or cardigans. Accessorizing may make a statement as well as serve a practical purpose. Add a striking scarf contrasting neutral ensembles and luxurious leather gloves to project elegance.
Comfortable, fashionable clothes are an essential component of Parisian style in the Winter. Parisians, in particular, are big fans of black, long coats, boots, and scarves.
During the Winter, French ladies frequently wear a beautiful coat, scarf, black tights, boots, sweater, and short black skirt (or dress) as a costume formula.
In particular, the combo of skirt + black tights + boots is trendy.
Many French people wear jeans and sneakers these days, especially in the Winter, and you may wear jeans and sneakers in Paris without standing out.
Another great accessory is a cap, such as a hat.
Suitable Winter Activities in Paris
There are so many things to do in Paris in Winter that you may have a great day there, even in bad weather.
For example, the best museums in Paris are as follows:
- Louvre
- The Orsay Museum
- Pompidou
Along with numerous additional exquisite hidden gem museums such as:
- La Marine Hotel
- Conciergerie
- Hotel de Soubise – National Archives
- l’Orangerie
- Rodin Museum
There are also lots of free museums to visit in Paris in Winter, including:
- Petit Palais
- Musée d’Art Moderne at the Palais de Tokyo
- Carnavalet Museum
- Musée de la Vie Romantique
And gorgeous churches:
- Sainte Chapelle
- Sacré Coeur
- Saint-Germain-des-Pres
And other beautiful places to explore:
- Opera Garnier
- Galeries Lafayette
- BNF Richelieu Library Reading Room
- The covered passages like Galerie Vivienne or Passage des Panoramas
Cozying Up in a Parisian Cafe
A small café tucked away in Paris’s cobblestone streets delivers more than just a steaming cup of coffee; it is an immersive experience saturated in the vibrant cultural fabric of the city. Imagine relaxing in a sun-kissed nook while the appealing smell of freshly baked pastries permeates the air and soft conversation dances around you. Enjoying a well-brewed coffee is a spiritual experience inviting introspection and thought as locals and visitors cherish these moments.
FAQs
Does Paris get in winter snow?
Yes, it snows in Paris yearly, but it does so relatively infrequently. I only repeat it sometimes in terms of amount or timing.
Is it a good time to visit Paris in Winter for sightseeing?
Yes! Winter sees fewer tourists, making popular attractions less crowded and offering a more intimate city experience.
Are there any winter-specific events or festivals in Paris?
The Christmas markets, festive lights along the Champs-Élysées, and various ice skating rinks pop up throughout the city during Winter.
Is Paris in Winter Expensive?
There is no escaping the cost of living in Paris. However, as it’s off-season and less congested, you’ll likely get far cheaper airfare and accommodation discounts while visiting Paris in Winter (I wish I could tell you that the prices of designer clothing and cuisine also drop, but I’d be lying!).
Is it Worth Visiting Paris in Winter?
Travel Paris in Winter has an attraction that is sometimes lost amid the summer’s bustle. The city is covered in a lovely veil, charming cafés beckoning you to enter, and warm lights shine on the city’s old streets. When fewer tourists are swarming popular sites like the Louvre or Notre Dame, you can enjoy a more private experience when meandering through serene gardens blanketed with snow, like those seen at Jardin du Luxembourg.
Wintertime in Paris is a mixed bag. Is a trip to Paris in December worthwhile? Yes, without a doubt, 100 %. With Christmas markets and lights illuminating the entire city, Paris is truly magical during the holiday season.
But when the decorations and lights go off, and all left are gloomy skies, low temperatures, and withered greenery, it’s not quite as spectacular as it could be.
However, visiting Paris in the Winter is highly recommended due to the reduced costs and crowds, and Paris isn’t wrong in the Winter either.
If you’re on a tight budget and must travel as cheaply as possible, wintertime in Paris will still be an incredible experience.
Why? Because, well, Paris is just a fantastic city.