Paris in Winter: Pros and Cons + Tips for Visiting
Paris in winter reveals a quieter, less hectic side of the city. As temperatures drop, the usual crowds thin out somewhat, allowing a more leisurely exploration of its streets and monuments.
Cafes become cozy havens, inviting visitors to linger over a hot chocolate or coffee, watching the world go by. Though the nights grow darker, the City of Light simply glows all the brighter.
I’ve visited Paris 7 different times and during every season of the year. In fact, on my most recent trip to France I spent an entire week in Paris during the winter season. So I’m very familiar with what Paris is like during winter and how it compares to other times of year!
With all that in mind, in this post, we’re going to discuss different aspects of coming to Paris during the winter season, some pros and cons of visiting during the colder months, tips, and things to be aware of.
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What to Know About Visiting Paris in Winter
Crowds
One big perk to visiting Paris in winter are the lighter crowds, though you should know that Paris is never truly empty of tourists.
Top attractions – including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Sacré Coeur, Versailles, and Disneyland Paris can still have some crowds, even during the winter time.
Still, there’s no denying that while there’s not NO crowds, tourism levels are quite a bit lower in wintertime than spring, summer, and fall.
Weather
Weather in wintertime in Paris varies considerably. Generally, days are chilly, but not frigid. It rains quite a bit, but there is rarely snow.
- Average highs: Low 40’s to mid-50’s F (4-12°C), though sometimes the highs are in the 30’s F (0-4°C).
- Average lows: High 20’s-40’s (-2 to 4°C)
Like many places in the world, there are a much higher number of overcast days in winter compared to other seasons, and sunny days are few and far between.
An average of 10 days per month get precipitation during the winter, which is a little bit higher than in other seasons. It usually snows several times every year, but the snow rarely sticks for longer than a day.
Prices
Lower prices on accommodation and airfare is one of the best reasons to visit Paris in winter. While attractions, metros, and restaurant prices stay the same, lodging prices are significantly lower between November-February (although December can be higher due to Christmas markets).
In general, hotel prices can be almost half the cost compared to summer prices, and if you’re on a budget, you can definitely find hotel rooms for around €150.
Need help finding a great hotel? Here are the best cheap hotels near the Louvre, and the best places to stay in Montmartre.
There are quite a few museums that participate in Free Museum Sunday on the first Sunday of the month during the wintertime (that don’t participate during summer). However, Free Museum Day at any time of the year can be a zoo and I’d actually highly recommend you avoid it.
Instead, I’d just pay the admission and go during normal hours, buy the Paris Museum Pass, or visit one of these great free museums in Paris.
Christmas Markets
French Christmas Markets are absolutely delightful and are a huge reason to visit Paris in December (or late November).
The city explodes with Christmas lights and decorations and cozy, adorable markets dot the city, selling hot drinks, warm food, seasonal gifts, regional goods, and offering activities like ice skating and carousels.
I absolutely adore European Christmas markets (and have been to around 13 in 9 different countries) and the markets in Paris are among the best.
You can find the main Christmas markets in Paris in these locations:
- Tuileries Garden
- Notre Dame
- Place des Abbesses
- La Defense
- Les Halles
- Eiffel Tower
- Saint-Germain-des-Pres
- Hotel de Ville
And incredible light displays can be enjoyed along the Champs Elysées and by Galeries Lafayette.
Plus, you can easily take a 2-hour train from Paris out to Strasbourg and visit the truly amazing Christmas atmosphere that descends on the entire Old Town.
Les Soldes
France does sales differently than other countries, including the US. Here, sales, or les soldes, happen twice a year and is a major event where almost every retailer slashes prices.
Les soldes in winter happen in mid-January (and les soldes in summer happen in early July), and if you are a big shopper, this is a great reason to come to Paris during the winter.
Gardens + Bouquinistes
One of my favorite activities is strolling through the beautiful parks and gardens in Paris – and there are so many lovely greenspaces dotting the city.
However, this is one of the biggest downsides of visiting Paris in winter – the trees don’t have leaves, the flowers aren’t in bloom, and the fountains and basins are empty.
It means that all those beautiful gardens are just… not that great. I mean, they’re still nice and I wouldn’t go out of my way to skip them on a wintertime visit, but it’s nothing like spring, summer, or fall when the leaves are full and the flowerbeds are vibrant.
The bouquinistes – the pop-up bookshops lining the Seine River, are also usually closed and out of commission in winter, unfortunately.
Additionally, spots like the Champs Elysees (lined by perfectly trimmed trees) or some of the best photo spots around the Eiffel Tower where the tower is framed in by foliage just don’t have the same dazzle that they normally do.
What to Wear in Winter
In winter, Parisian style tends towards cozy, stylish layers. In particular, Parisians love the color black, long coats, boots, and of course scarves.
A very common outfit formula for French women during winter is a sweater + short black skirt (or a dress) + black tights + boots + a great coat + scarf.
The skirt + black tights + boots formula in particular is very, very common.
Sheer tights are hard to do on chilly days, but I love, love, love my fleece-lined leggings that are designed to look like tights. I wore these with shorter skirts all through the winter in Europe and stayed very warm.
You can certainly wear jeans + sneakers in Paris and not stand out – these days, plenty of French people wear denim + sneakers, especially in winter.
Don’t forget your scarf! Scarves are an integral part of any French winter outfit, and they are very functional.
A hat (such as a beanie) is also very helpful.
However, I would avoid hoodies and baseball caps, as this is way more casual than most French people dress. Oh, and berets are usually not worn by locals.
Good Winter Activities in Paris
Paris has so many attractions that even if the weather is crummy, you can still have a very enjoyable day.
For example, you have the top museums in Paris:
- Louvre
- Musee d’Orsay
- Pompidou
As well as many other beautiful hidden gem museums like:
- Hotel de la Marine
- Hotel de Soubise – National Archives
- l’Orangerie
- Rodin Museum
- Conciergerie
There are also plenty of free museums in Paris to explore:
- 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 Panorames
Cozying Up in a Parisian Cafe
While café culture is strong any time of year in Paris, heading into a warm, cozy café to enjoy a leisurely meal is especially nice during winter. A couple of my favorite restaurants include Le Trumilou or Breizh Café.
We particularly like sitting down to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, a very popular winter beverage in Paris. And there are quite a few great places to drink thick, rich, creamy hot chocolate in Paris!
Is it Worth Visiting Paris in Winter?
For me, Paris in winter is a mixed bag. Is Paris worth visiting in December? Yes, 100%, absolutely. The Christmas season in Paris is so magical with the Christmas markets and the lights all over the city.
However, once the lights and decorations go away and you’re left with overcast days, chilly weather, and dead foliage, it’s just not *quite* as amazing as it could be.
I personally much prefer the city in mid-April to May, or September to mid-October. I’m someone who *really* likes warmer weather and beautiful gardens, so I prefer these seasons in Paris.
However, the lower prices and somewhat lighter crowds are a huge plus for coming to Paris in winter, and Paris certainly isn’t *bad* in winter.
If you’re on a budget and really need to make your trip as affordable as possible, Paris is still going to be amazing for you during wintertime.
Why? Because Paris is just an amazing city, period.
