Paris in winter is cold, often grey and dark by 5 pm, but it is also quieter, cheaper outside the holidays and full of atmosphere. December brings Christmas lights, markets and ice rinks; January brings the big winter sales and some of the lowest hotel rates of the year; and February is ideal for museums without the crowds. If you pack for cold rain and plan around indoor sights, a winter trip can be one of the most rewarding times to see the city.

Here is what the weather is really like, what to do from December to February and the pros and cons of a winter visit.

What Paris Is Like in Winter

Winter in Paris runs roughly from December to February. The city does not shut down: museums, restaurants, cafés and shops keep normal hours, and Parisians are out on café terraces under heaters even on chilly days. What changes is the light, the crowds and the mood.

• December is festive and busy, especially in the two weeks around Christmas and New Year, when many Europeans visit.
• January starts with New Year celebrations and the sales, then becomes one of the calmest months for sightseeing.
• February is cold and quiet, though French school holidays (staggered by region in February and early March) bring more families to museums and attractions.

Weather and Daylight

Month	Typical high	Typical low	Daylight (approx.)
December	7–8°C (45–46°F)	3°C (37°F)	About 8 to 8.5 hours
January	7°C (45°F)	2–3°C (36–37°F)	About 8.5 to 9.3 hours
February	8–9°C (46–48°F)	3°C (37°F)	About 9.5 to 11 hours

These are long-term averages; cold snaps below freezing and mild spells happen most years. Snow falls occasionally but rarely stays on the ground for long. The main things to expect are drizzle, wind and overcast skies. Around the winter solstice the sun rises at about 8:40 am and sets before 5 pm, so plan outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day and save museums and dinners for the dark hours.

Pack a warm, waterproof coat, layers, a scarf, gloves and comfortable waterproof shoes for cobblestones. Our guide on what to wear in Paris in winter has a full packing list.

Christmas Lights and Markets

From late November to early January, Paris is at its most festive.

• Christmas lights: the Champs-Élysées trees are lit from late November until early January, and Avenue Montaigne, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Place Vendôme and many neighborhood streets add their own displays.
• Department stores: the animated windows and giant Christmas tree under the dome of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, and the windows of Printemps next door, are a Paris tradition for families.
• Christmas markets: Paris markets are smaller than those in Alsace or Germany. In recent years the largest has been at La Défense, with others in the Tuileries Garden, at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, near Notre-Dame and in Montmartre. Locations and dates change from year to year, so check this year’s listings.
• Light festivals: in recent winters the Jardin des Plantes has hosted an evening lantern festival, and other parks and monuments run illuminated trails.

For a full December plan, see our guide to the best ways to celebrate Christmas in Paris. If you want traditional Alsace-style markets, consider a train trip to Strasbourg or Colmar.

Ice Rinks and Winter Events

• Ice skating: seasonal rinks appear in December. Recent winters have seen a large rink under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, a small rooftop rink at Galeries Lafayette and a rink at the La Défense Christmas market. Year-round indoor rinks such as Pailleron in the 19th arrondissement are an option in any winter month.
• New Year’s Eve: crowds gather on the Champs-Élysées for a countdown and light show at the Arc de Triomphe. Expect security checks and closed metro stations nearby.
• Epiphany (early January): bakeries sell the galette des rois, a puff-pastry almond cake with a hidden charm, all through January.
• Lunar New Year: parades and celebrations take place in the 13th arrondissement and Belleville in late January or February.
• Paris International Agricultural Show: held at Porte de Versailles in late February or early March, a fun way to see and taste produce from every French region.

Best Indoor Museums and Covered Passages

Winter is the best season for museums: lines are shorter, and you can spend a whole day inside without missing the weather.

• The Louvre: book a timed ticket even in winter, and go early or on a late-opening evening. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
• Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie: Impressionist masterpieces in two buildings close to each other; Orsay is closed on Mondays and the Orangerie on Tuesdays.
• Smaller museums: the Musée Rodin, Musée Jacquemart-André, Musée de Cluny and Musée Carnavalet (free permanent collections) are quieter and easy to fit into a short winter day.
• Palais Garnier: the opera house is magnificent inside and can be visited on most days when there is no performance or rehearsal.
• Covered passages: the 19th-century glass-roofed arcades of the 2nd and 9th arrondissements, such as Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas, Passage Jouffroy and Passage Verdeau, are perfect for a rainy afternoon of browsing old bookshops, toy stores and tearooms.

Check our list of the best museums in Paris and our ideas for things to do in Paris when it’s raining. Most major museums close on January 1 and December 25, and some close on other holidays, so check before you go.

Cosy Food: Hot Chocolate, Fondue and Onion Soup

Winter is the season for rich, warming French food.

• Hot chocolate: Parisian chocolat chaud is thick and intense. Angelina on Rue de Rivoli is famous for its very rich version; many tearooms, pastry shops and classic cafés serve a chocolat à l’ancienne made with melted chocolate.
• French onion soup: soupe à l’oignon gratinée, topped with bread and melted cheese, is a traditional late-night dish in the brasseries around Les Halles, such as Au Pied de Cochon.
• Fondue and raclette: Savoyard restaurants serve melted Alpine cheeses with bread, potatoes and charcuterie, a hearty meal on a cold night.
• Oysters and seafood platters: winter is peak oyster season, and brasseries display seafood stalls outside their doors.
• Street snacks: roasted chestnuts sold from carts, crêpes and mulled wine (vin chaud) at the Christmas markets.

Warm up between sights in a café; our guide to ordering coffee in France explains the menu and the etiquette.

Winter Sales (Les Soldes)

France’s winter sales are fixed by law and run for four weeks, starting on a Wednesday in early January in most of the country. For 2027, the national dates are January 6 to February 2. Department stores such as Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Le Bon Marché, as well as fashion boutiques in the Marais and Saint-Germain, offer discounts that deepen over the weeks. The first days are crowded; the best sizes go early, the best prices come later.

Pros and Cons of a Winter Visit

Pros	Cons
Fewer tourists from early January to mid-February	Short days with darkness before 5 pm in December
Lower hotel rates outside Christmas and New Year	Cold, damp weather and frequent grey skies
Festive lights, markets and windows in December	Busy and pricier between Christmas and New Year
Short museum lines and easier restaurant bookings	Gardens and fountains are bare; river cruises are less pleasant on deck
Winter sales in January	Some attractions close or reduce hours on public holidays

If you are weighing different months, our article on the best season to visit Paris compares the whole year, and our guide to France in autumn covers the fall.

Tips for Visiting Paris in Winter

1. Book hotels and restaurants early for the Christmas and New Year period, which is the busiest part of the winter.
2. Plan outdoor sights between about 10 am and 3:30 pm to make the most of the daylight.
3. Buy timed tickets for the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower summit and Sainte-Chapelle even in low season.
4. Carry a compact umbrella and wear waterproof shoes; cobblestones get slippery.
5. Use the metro for longer distances; walking in the rain is less fun than in spring.
6. Check opening hours around December 24–25, December 31 and January 1.

Summary

Paris in winter means cold, grey and short days, but also festive December lights and markets, ice rinks, quiet museums, January sales, lower prices outside the holidays and plenty of hot chocolate and onion soup. Pack for cold rain, plan outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day and spend the long evenings in museums, covered passages, cafés and brasseries.