Paris In February: How To Have The Best Time

Is February a good time to go to Paris? Unveil the magic of Parisian winters this February and discover her winter charm!

Paris in February comes with a cold wind but Paris, with fewer tourists, less expensive accommodation, longer days, and a few early blossoms, is well, Paris after all. It’s perfect for intimate walks along the Seine River and cosy cafés in the heart of Paris.

I first moved to Paris in the month of February. What I remember, aside from the heady mix of excitement sprinkled with fear, are the flowers. Delicate pink blossoms appeared while hyacinths and daffodils dared to show themselves.

Here are the 12 best things to do when visiting Paris in February.

Weather In Paris In February

Is it cold in February in Paris? Does it snow in Paris in February? These are two questions I get asked often about coming to Paris in February. Here are the answers:

February in Paris Temperatures:

Average Low Temperature: 37°F | 3°C

Average High Temperature: 46°F | 8°C

Wet Days: 6.6

In 2023, there were many mornings that began at 30° F (-1°C). That’s cold.

It does not snow frequently in Paris in February, but it can. The snow never lasts long but it is a beautiful sight! Here is how to enjoy a snowy February day in Paris.

The Paris February weather has a mind of its own. In late February 2023, there were 30 days without precipitation. In other years, it rains frequently and even snows.

I find the most surprising thing about the February weather in Paris is the wind. It’s a very cold wind, even on the sunny days.

Paris In February What To Wear?

Paris in February? Bring warm clothes. Bring a winter coat, warm gloves, a woollen hat and a cashmere or wool scarf. A key tip is to dress in layers.

Bring a compact umbrella for the rainy days.

Don’t forget a fashionable and safe cross-body bag. This one is for men or women. This purse is a travel anti-theft shoulder bag. There are multiple advantages of a crossbody bag. It allows you to put your hands in your pockets, hold a warm cup of hot chocolate, sip on mulled wine, and pull it under your arm for safekeeping on the Paris métro.

Comfortable walking shoes or boots (even waterproof shoes) are another essential item to pack. The sidewalks are not icy, nor snow-covered making walking a perfect way to visit Paris in February.

Where To Stay In Paris in February

No matter the season, even low season, hotels in Paris book up quickly. Book well in advance.

Affordable Hotels: 13 Affordable Hotels in Paris

Boutique Hotels: These fabulous Boutique hotels in the Marais.

Hotels with Eiffel Tower Views: Oh là là! Perfect for a romantic getaway! Find your perfect place to stay

Paris hotels:

• Hôtel la Comtesse with an Eiffel Tower view
• Chouchou Hotel with an eclectic vibe
• Hôtel de Joséphine Bonaparte in the heart of the Marais
• Hôtel des Académies et des Arts in Saint-Germain des Prés (the left bank)

Prefer staying in an apartment? Here are some fabulous Paris apartments:

• Portrait of Splendour literally filled with portraits, in the Marais
• Joyau de Marais
• The Panthéon Pageantry

February In Paris Holidays

February 15 to March 3, 2025 – School Holidays Paris

Celebrations And Events In Paris In February

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, when the celebrations for bringing in the Year of the Dragon begin. Chinese New Year celebrations take place in the Marais, Belleville, and the 13th arrondissement with parades and lion and dragon dances.

La Chandeleur(Candlemas)

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. One way it is celebrated is by eating crêpes. Yum! Originally a pagan festival, it was thought that using wheat from the previous crop would bring good luck for the next season’s harvest. and though you’ll find plenty of crêpes folded into triangles in the local boulangeries, plain or filled with chocolate, the circular shape of a crêpe represents the sun and the cycle of life. Phew. Spring is on its way!

1001 Orchids

Grand Serres du Jardin des Plantes, 47-57 rue Cuvier 75005 or 18 rue Buffon

February 6 to March 10, 2025

This year is the 10th edition of the 1001 Orchids Show in the greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes in the Latin Quarter. Over 700 varieties of rare orchids are on display. Don’t forget to investigate the pop-up orchid shop.

Course de la Saint-Valentin

February 15, 2025

This fun run in Parc des Buttes Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement of Paris draws over 1000 runners of all ages. The purpose of this February event organised close to Valentine’s Day, is to raise public awareness about all forms of discrimination. Read more about the fun run here.

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2025

Oh là là! Spending Valentine’s Day in Paris! Paris is the perfect city for a romantic getaway. Have a glass of champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower, have a romantic dinner on a Seine River cruise or, wander through the City of Love to find her hidden gems.

Valentine’s Day in Paris as a solo traveller is a day to treat yourself to the max! Here is how to spend Valentine’s Day in Paris on your own!

Pro Travel Tip: Valentine’s Day in France is not as widely celebrated as in North America. Shops and chocolate boutiques though have plenty of “love” in the air!

Wine Paris And Vinexpo

February 10 – 12, 2025

The Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris draw wine and spirit producers from all over France and the world at large. If you love wine and learning more from world-class sommeliers, this will be the February in Paris event for you! Highlights include Be Spirits where 20 bars, from Europe, France, and Paris, share a 40-m-long bar and mix incredible creative drinks. In the Craft Pavillion, you’ll find young producers who have come to promote their brands. I wonder what new craft beer surfaced this year?

1. Be In Awe Of Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened on December 8, 2024, after the devastating fire of April 15, 2019. In just five years, the cathedral’s reconstruction is an amazing feat and Notre-Dame Cathedral in all her glory is a must-visit in Paris. Read my full article on Notre-Dame Cathedral for what to expect and how best to get tickets.

2. Take A Seine River Cruise

Any time of the year, it’s an essential thing to do in Paris. A Seine River cruise. Seeing Paris from a different perspective is awesome. Cruise past Notre Dame Cathedral and the Conciergerie. Pass under the beautiful bridges. It’s an unforgettable experience in the French capital.

With the cold weather, it might be advisable to take a dinner cruise on the Seine River. How romantic! That way, you are on the water longer (2.5 hours) and while dining, out of the cold elements.

Here is another variation on the Seine River Dinner Cruise.

3. Visit A Museum In Paris

The winter months in Paris are a great time to visit museums and see some of the special exhibitions that are on. Pick up your copy of L’Officiel des Spectacles at one of the corner kiosks in Paris. It comes out every Wednesday and lists absolutely everything going on in Paris.

Paris in February is the perfect time to visit the Louvre Museum. With fewer crowds, seeing the Mona Lisa will be a decidedly more enjoyable experience. Visit the popular permanent collection at the Musée d’Orsay. It is highly recommended to purchase your entry tickets beforehand.

Paris has around 130 museums. There is a museum to meet everyone’s interest – fashion museums, a smoking museum, a fairgrounds museum, a medieval museum, and a wax museum. Why not head to the Centre Pompidou which has the largest contemporary art collection in Europe and the best views over Paris? The Centre Pompidou closes for renovations in 2025 so Paris in February 2024 is the perfect time to visit!

Passionate museum-goers will love the 2,4, or 6-day Paris Museum Pass which includes entry to many museums including the Louvre Museum and Versailles.

Pro Paris Tip: Many museums have free entry on the first Sunday of each month, excluding high season.

Read More | My guide to 20 Paris museums.

4. Wander And Explore

Of all the things to do in February in Paris, walking is the ultimate way to enjoy the City of Light! Stroll. Morning. Noon. And Night! Embrace the Parisian way to flâner, which is really to amble, saunter and observe your surroundings. Here are some tips on how best to flâner in Paris.

Toss on your woollen scarf (in the most Paris chic fashionable way) and head out to one of the best neighbourhoods for walking. Here are a few suggestions:

• le Marais – Place des Vosges, gorgeous mansions, shopping…
• Saint Germain des Prés – iconic left bank Paris
• Ile Saint-Louis – oldest village in Paris…
• Montmartre – Sacré Coeur, staircases and oozing charm…
• the 7th arrondissement – Eiffel Tower & views, La Grande Epicierie…
• Canal Saint-Martin – iron bridges, boutiques, wine by the canal

Or start to flâner on one of these Paris streets.

When sauntering in Paris in February, plan for more frequent stops to warm up.

5. Browse In A Bookstore

Slow right down and browse. Investigate the famous booksellers (bouquinistes) along the banks of the Seine River. Who knows what treasure you may find?

Or, one on of the rainy days in Paris in February, head over to Shakespeare and Company. It’s not hard to while away a few hours in this iconic bookstore. Be sure to climb the tiny staircase up to the second level. I have listed all my favourite English language bookstores in Paris. Any bibliophile would be thrilled to spend a day bookstore-hopping in Paris. Of course, interspersed with hot chocolate or vin chaud.

6. Eat Warm Comfort Food

Paris in February is the perfect month to indulge in warm comfort food. French onion soup anyone? Or how about raclette? These hearty dishes that warm you up right down to your toes are essential when partaking in the winter months in Paris. My favourite place to share a hearty raclette is in the 11th arrondissement at Chalet Savoyard. Reserve in advance.

Bouillon restaurants offer traditional French cuisine at affordable prices. The service is quick and efficient and they are open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Slip into a Bouillon restaurant in Paris to warm up on a February day. Which one will you choose? My favourite is Bouillon Julien.

Read More | Here is everything you need to know about Bouillon restaurants in Paris.

7. February In Paris: Plan A Day Trip

Obviously planning a day trip is for travellers who have ample time. Paris is not to be rushed but it is also in a fantastic location for visiting other parts of France. Here are 18 suggested day trips from Paris. Recommended February day trips are:

• Visiting Versailles Palace and Gardens
• Visiting the Château de Fontainebleau
• Visiting the Château de Chantilly

8. Hit Up The End Of The Winter Sales

Les Soldes in France in 2024: Wednesday, January 8 – Tuesday, February 4

Paris in February gives you seven days to enjoy the famous sales. Browse both the department stores and the independent boutiques. You’re sure to find something at an amazing price!

By the last week of “les Soldes,” merchandise has been pretty picked over… but the prices are further reduced. I have had good luck in the final days of the winter sales in Paris.

Pro Travel Tip: By law, sales are allowed twice yearly in January and July. In my experience, there are pre-sales before the real sales begin. Once the real sales begin, the reductions are significant and the shoppers are out!

9. Stop By The Hemingway Bar

It’s cosy. It’s iconic. Even if you have never read a book by Ernest Hemingway, you can’t help but get caught up in the fabulous atmosphere in this bar tucked away in The Ritz Hotel. Siddle up to a Hemingway typewriter and choose a legendary cocktail! Read more about the Hemingway Bar.

10. Disneyland Paris In February

Disneyland Paris is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. With the school holidays in February in Paris, Disneyland Paris is a prime destination for locals. That being said, Disneyland in February is much less busy with shorter queues than in the summer months. The best days of the week to visit Disneyland Paris are Tuesdays and Thursdays. The weather at Disneyland Paris in February is similar to Paris. Wear layers and be prepared for the wind!

Here are some great planning tips for Disneyland Paris.

Buy your tickets in advance for Disneyland.

11. Indulge In A Hammam Experience

On a sunny, windy February day in Paris, why not head over to the Grand Mosquée in the Latin Quarter? For women only, the Hammam at the Mosque is the perfect way to treat yourself. Sit in the steam room, and have a “gommage” (a scrub with black soap) and a massage. You will step back out into the Paris streets just relaxed and glowing.

Read More | The full experience at the Hammam at the Paris Mosque

12. Be Dazzled At The Moulin Rouge

Step into the dazzling world of the Moulin Rouge and you’ll be instantly captivated by the glitz and glamour of the showgirls. Elaborate costumes, enchanting music, and the magnetic atmosphere make it an unforgettable evening. Indulge in a gourmet dinner, sip champagne, and let the legendary performances unfold on the stage.

Book My Moulin Rouge Tickets

I hope you enjoyed this Paris Travel Guide to Paris in February.

Until next time,

More Paris Info…

Get mixed up with the arrondissements of Paris? This guide to the Paris arrondissements will help you plan your best visit to the City of Light!

If you love hidden gems, here are 43 to discover in Paris.

 This post on Montmartre leads you to the most popular sites as well as some lesser-known places in Montmartre.

Another of Paris’s most-loved areas is Saint-Germain des Prés. Here are my best tips on things to do in Saint-Germain des Prés.

Le Marais is one of the best areas of Paris to flâner. Here are 23 top things to do in le Marais.

La Butte aux Cailles, tucked away in the 13th arrondissement, is another place in Paris that has retained its village-like charm. My article on La Butte aux Cailles will lead you to discover some of the area and its visually enticing street art.

Canal Saint-Martin is another place full of small restaurants, boutiques and plenty of character. Stroll the bridges of the canal under the chestnut trees and feel like a true Parisian. All the details on this “bobo” district are in this article on Canal Saint-Martin.

Here are all the things to do on Ile Saint-Louis, one of the oldest villages in Paris.

Don’t forget that the 7th arrondissement has lots to see and do once you have seen the Eiffel Tower.

And the 11th arrondissement of Paris? Authentic and full of great restaurants and shopping (like a local).

Other Paris and France Travel Tips:

Travelling to Paris alone? This article on navigating Paris alone is full of tips and tricks for the solo traveller.

This page has all my articles on Paris that will help you plan out your trip, including day trips from Paris. I hope you subscribed to my newsletter to get my free download – An Amazing 2-day Itinerary in Paris.

If you are going further afield in France, make sure to check out my page on France.