Best Things To Do In Paris In Winter From A Local

What are the best things to do in Paris in Winter? If you’re planning a trip to the capital of France during the holiday season, it’s a question you’re probably asking yourself, and rightfully so.
As a local, I thought it’d be a good idea to make a bucket list of the things to do in Paris when it’s cold. The city has a lot to offer, so it can be overwhelming. Here are the best things to do in Paris in winter!

Best Things To Do In Paris In Winter

Let’s start with some useful information to help you plan your trip to Paris. If you’d like further information, you can check out my post about visiting Paris in Winter: the Pros and the Cons.

What is the average temperature in winter in Paris?

Winter in Paris lasts from the 20th of December to the 22nd of March; the average temperature is between 3° to 8° degrees Celsius. Those are pretty much the norm for Paris in winter temperatures.
Although, it can get much colder or hotter with global warming and everything going on.
Last year it was 20c in the middle of February, which is pretty insane.

What time does the sunset in Paris?

We have a daily light-saving time in Paris which means when winter draws to an end, the clocks are turned forward an hour, so there is more light in the evening.
This means when winter is close, it’s time to reverse this, and clocks are turned backwards for 1 hour. So in winter, the sun usually sets around 5:30 pm at the latest. This is already noticeable by the end of October, though.

Be sure to make the most of the daylight!

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#1 VISIT CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND DRINK SOME HOT WINE

This one is a no-brainer if you’re visiting Paris in winter and during the holiday season, you must visit the Christmas Markets!
There are tons of Christmas Markets throughout Europe, and Paris is no exception. You can find dozens of Christmas markets here!

They are the perfect place to enjoy a friendly day activity, some yummy food and maybe a cheeky glass of wine. Another good thing about them is that you can get many artisanal goodies that are the perfect Christmas gift.

#2 GO ICE SKATING FOR CHRISTMAS

Ice skating is one of the best winter activities in any country you can visit, granted there is a winter season where you’re going.

It’s the perfect activity for couples, families or even solo travellers!

Best Outdoor Ice Skating Spots in Paris in 2019:

– Ice skating rink at the Hotel de Ville
– Eiffel Tower Ice skating rink at the Trocadéro
– The rooftop of the Galleries Lafayette

And one indoor – > Grand Palais: ice skating rink.

#3 EAT SOME BUCHE AND GALETTE DES ROIS

France, in general, is notorious for its delicious dessert and pastries or, as we say in French, patisseries. If one visits Paris (or any place in France), one can not leave without at least trying a pastry.

During the year there’s some special occasion that calls for a special kind of dessert. For Christmas, you have the Buche and La Galette des Rois for the Epiphany on the 6th of January!

La Buche is a traditional dessert shaped like a lodge. Its name is Buche, which is log in French. It’s a chocolate butter cake, but there’s also a frozen alternative (which I love) or some alternative flavour for anyone not too keen on chocolate!

After Christmas and the New Year, it is time to eat some Galette des Rois (King Cake) to celebrate the Epiphany – in the Christian religion, it is associated with sharing and the arrival of the 3 Wise Men.

La Galette des Rois is a, well, kind of a national obsession over this delicious frangipane-filled tart. Here is the twist inside each galette, you’ll find a five (it can be a minor character or anything shaped, really).
The tradition wants you to cut the galette according to how many people will eat it, and the youngest person (usually kids) has to go underneath the table and assign which slice goes to whom.

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#4 ENJOY SOME HOT CHOCOLATE

Who doesn’t love a hot, thick, sumptuous cup of hot chocolate in winter?
When it’s icy cold drinking a hot beverage in the comfiness of one café, we’re not talking about whatever hot chocolate here; we’re talking about real artisanal hot chocolate with rich flavours.

Where to get the best hot chocolates in Paris?

• Angelina Paris
• Un Dimanche A Paris
• Charles Chocolatier
• Jean-Paul Hevin
  

#5 GO CHECK OUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT THE GALLERIES LAFAYETTE AT HAUSMANN

Every year in Paris, the Galleries Lafayette comes up with bold, marvellous and super-awaited Christmas displays. The main piece is a giant Christmas standing right under the fascinating dome of this gigantic shopping mall.

As mentioned above, under #2, the mall will also be hosting an ice skating rink this year, so why not check the displays, go ice skate, and maybe do some Christmas shopping? A perfect winter afternoon in Paris.

Be sure not to forget to check the outside windows display as well.

READ: 5 BEST TRAVEL APPS FOR PARIS

#6 ENJOY THE WINTER SALES

There are two major sales in France, one in summer and one in winter.
The winter sale in Paris starts right after the new year. Paris is known as the capital of fashion, and many people have shopping in Paris written on their bucket lists.
So why not enjoy one of the year’s biggest sales to cross this off your bucket list? You’ll also get some good deals from it; it’s a win-win situation!

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READ: BEST SHOPPING MALLS IN PARIS

#7 SEE A CABARET SHOW

In Paris, a popular place is the Moulin Rouge, this famous red mill located in the 18th arrondissement.
Why not book a ticket for a spectacular evening if you enjoy shows? You can enjoy a drink or have dinner there; it’s up to you!

Of course, more than one cabaret offers excellent shows in Paris; you might consider checking out two more famous nightclubs, the Lido and the Crazy Horse. They’re also a great way to celebrate the new year.

If you’re not into prominent places and looking for a smaller-sized cabaret, yet just as great and famous, then it’s Chez Michou you need to go.

If you’d like to see a show at any of them, I suggest you book a reservation early. They are pretty popular and tend to sell out quickly.

#8 CHECK OUT THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DISPLAY

Of course, winter also means the holiday season is here, with all the Christmas and New Year celebrations. I couldn’t make a list of the best things to do in Paris In winter without including all the beautiful Christmas decorations.

This means the whole French capital dressed up with fairy lights and illuminations, as well as plenty of Christmas decorations scattered throughout all the shops and restaurants of the city.
You can’t be wrong wherever you go to see some Christmas displays.
I already mentioned that you should visit the Galleries Lafayette for its beautiful display, and in my next point, I will get to one of the most famous avenues in the world.

Here are a few more worthy places that you should check out for Christmas Lights Display in Paris:
– Avenue Montaigne
– Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré
– Place Vendômes
-& more

If you want to know more about Christmas in Paris, check out where to see the best Christmas lights in Paris!

#9 WANDER IN A MUSEUM

Visiting a museum in Paris is a pretty obvious activity as there are many famous museums here in Paris; I mean, most tourists have le Louvres on their bucket list, right?

You can visit plenty of museums in Paris to have a lovely chill morning or afternoon away from the cold and potentially gloomy weather. If you’re not a museum person, no worries, you can also go there to find the weirdest painting or sculptures; you’d be surprised at how many of those there are.

#10 EXPLORE THE PARISIANS ARCADES

You already know about the covered arcades if you read my 10 things to do in Paris when it rains.

The covered passages of Paris are often found going through the building as they have been built simultaneously. In those galleries, you can find a lot of shops or restaurants.
They also have beautiful architecture and decorations, one of my favourites being the Galerie Vivienne!

Here are a few covered passages in Paris to visit:

• Passage des Panoramas
• Passage des Princes
• Galerie Vivienne

#11 DAY TRIP TO DISNEYLAND PARIS

One of the best day trips from Paris in winter is Disneyland Paris. And what’s a more fitting place than Disneyland to experience the magic of Christmas? If you are visiting Paris in December, then It’s a perfect day trip for kids and adults.

Disneyland Park decorations change with every season and holiday; Christmas at Disneyland is one of the most popular times to visit. If not the most popular time.

The Christmas decorations at Disneyland Paris are up from the 12th of November until the 8th of January 2023. You can still visit Disneyland Paris after Christmas and New Year to enjoy the magic with less crowd.

#12 VISIT A GREENHOUSE

Visiting a greenhouse during winter might not be the first activity that comes to mind.
It is nonetheless a great and unusual activity to do in Paris! If you don’t fancy being outside in the cold and want to see some excellent plants and flowers, you should visit one of the following greenhouses!

Greenhouses in Paris:

• Serres d’Auteuil
• Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes
• Serres du Sénat, Jardin du Luxembourg

#13 STROLL AROUND THE CHAMPS ELYSEE

The Champs Elysee is one of the most famous avenues globally, so no matter the season, it’s a popular spot among tourists.

While I think it might be overrated somehow, a bit like Times Square in New York (albeit not nearly as crowded), it’s a place I love to visit at least once in winter.

It has this lovely and comforting feeling, especially at night when all the illuminations glow.

#14 ATTEND LE FESTIVAL DE MERVEILLEUX

Le Festival De Merveilleux is held every year during winter in Paris at the end of the year. This festival is the perfect place to discover the wonders of the entertainment and fair world.
With daily shows, attractions, and “old school” carrousel, it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself into the magic of artfully and fair.

It is a perfect convivial winter activity for both children and adults not to miss in Paris.

Address: 53 av des Terroirs de France
75012 Paris
Price: 18,80€ for adults and 12,80€ for children. You can buy your tickets online here.
Date: 26th of December to the 2nd of January 2023 without reservation from 10 am to 6 pm

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Paris is a lovely cultural city that is interesting to visit all year round, but if you decide to visit it during the colder season, then with this post, you have enough material to plan a fun trip!

And that’s a wrap on the best things to do in Paris in winter! Now you know all the best things to do in Paris in winter, so layer up, put that coat on and have some fun in the French capital!

Let me know which activity is your favourite from all the best things to do in Paris in Winter that I listed, or if you’d like to add anything to this list!

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Best Things To Do In Paris In Winter

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✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip

If you need help planning your next trip, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered! Here are my favourite websites and apps to plan a trip!

✈ How To Find Flights?

My favourite website for booking flights is Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
Google Flight is also a good help when it comes to comparing flights.

✈ Where To Book Accommodations?

The best sites to book accommodations are Booking.com or Expedia. They both allow you to collect points for a discount; it’s worth comparing the two as they often have different pricing for the same hotels.

Another perk of Booking.com and Expedia is that you can sometimes get bundle deals for flights and accommodations, which can help you save a lot of money.

✈ Best Sites To Book Activities

My go-to website when I need to book an activity is GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
I always check if the price is the same, though, as the whole point is for it to be easier but not more expensive.

You can also check out Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).

✈ Other helpful travel resources

– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them. It was a great help when we needed a place to keep our luggage safely while we left the city for a few days.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe. It is very reliant and easy to use.

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