January in Paris? Is it a good time to visit Paris? Well, as Audrey Hepburn once said, “Paris is always a good idea.”
When visiting Paris in January, there will definitely be fewer people than in high season. The advantages for the traveller are fewer crowds, cheaper flights, fewer lineups and seeing real Parisians settled into their winter life.
Amidst the grey, January in Paris pops with a burst of yellow. Look for the round golden blooms of mimosas outside the flower shops. Hyacinths and tulips also make an appearance! Sit at a café, listen to street music, and soak up all that January in Paris has to offer.
Here is your guide to the best of Paris in January 2024.
Travel Planning For Paris France In January
Book your airline tickets with my favourite platform, Skyscanner.
Book a transfer from Charles de Gaulle or Orly airport with Welcome Pick Ups.
Reserve a car (not for Paris) but for a road trip in France.
Reserve train tickets for further travels in Europe with Trainline (my go-to).
Weather In Paris In January
Paris sees cold weather in January and can be dreary and wet. The days are short and can be gloomy. When the sun peeks out be ready to head outside as the winter light in Paris is beautiful.
January is the coldest month of the year in Paris with average temperatures of 8°C (46°F). Sometimes the Paris temperature in January hovers around 2°C (37°F) or in a warm year around 15°C (59°F). The grass is always green in the French capital, unlike in Canada!
Paris weather in January can be very windy. The wind is cold and makes all the difference in enjoying a January day in Paris. Bundle up!
In January in Paris, the forecast is always for rain. Always take an umbrella with you. In reality, it rarely rains all day. In fact, the sun usually peeps out at some point.
Although it doesn’t snow as frequently as it used to in Paris, the city comes alive when it snows in Paris. Snowmen, snowballs, photo shoots, and tobogganing fill the city of Paris for an hour or two, Then the snow turns to rain and it disappears.
What To Wear In January In Paris
It is cold and damp in January in Paris. Bring a warm winter coat, gloves, scarf and a hat. The best idea is to wear layers. Definitely bring a compact umbrella for rainy days. The sidewalks are rarely slippery so wear comfortable footwear for walking, boots included. Waterproof shoes or boots are super practical in Paris in January.
Bring a cross-body bag. This one is for men and women. This purse is a travel anti-theft shoulder bag. There are multiple advantages of a crossbody bag, but especially to tuck it under your arm for safekeeping on the Paris métro.
Where To Stay In January In Paris
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.
Eiffel Tower Views: 21 Hotels with an Eiffel Tower view Oh là là!
In Le Marais: The Hotel Bourg Tibourg in the Marais.
Near the Arc de Triomphe: The stylish 4-star Hotel Keppler
Near The Eiffel Tower: The Cler Hotel
Near the Louvre: The charming 4-star Relais du Louvre or The Hoxton
On the Left Bank in Saint-Germain des Prés: Hôtel des Académies et des Arts and Hotel d’Angleterre
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 River Knows
January In Paris Holidays 2024
New Year’s Day: January 1 is New Year’s Day which is a National Holiday in France and therefore most shops are closed. Some major tourist attractions are closed but not all. The Eiffel Tower, Château de Versailles and the Musée d’Orsay all remain open. Check specific attractions for opening days.
School Holidays: The school holidays for the Christmas Season run from December 18, 2023 and end on January 2, 2024.
Epiphany: January 6 is Epiphany and families celebrate with the tradition of sharing a Galette des Rois. These golden pastries appear in the pâtisserie shops for about a month. After the end of January, they are no longer available. There is a delightful tradition where a bean or trinket is hidden between the layers of puff pastry.
Read More | Read my full article on this French tradition of Galette des Rois so you know what to expect on your January visit to Paris.
Popular Guided Tours and Tickets for Paris In January
Planning Your Paris Trip? Be sure to book in advance for the most popular things to do. Get to the top of the Eiffel Tower with direct access to the summit by elevator. Book your one-hour Seine cruise, a timed-entry ticket to the Louvre, and a skip-the-line ticket to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. And don’t forget Versailles and Disneyland!
January In Paris Things To Do
1. January In Paris: Christmas Lights
At the beginning of the month, the magnificent Christmas lights are still on display in Paris.
Read my full article on where to see all the best Christmas lights in Paris. One of my favourite places is Place Vendôme. Pop into Galeries Lafayette and see the final days of the magnificent Christmas tree.
In 2024, the light display at the Jardin des Plantes runs until mid-January. This is a fun and educational display with large animations in the park’s alleys.
2. The Christmas Markets
At the end of the holiday season in early January, there are still a few Christmas markets in operation. Read my full article here on the Christmas markets in Paris.
Think carousels, artisanal goods, and chalets selling tartiflette, hot chocolate and vin chaud!
3. The Seine River In Paris
No matter the time of year, it is always a good idea to walk the banks of the Seine River. My favourite walk is between the Louvre and Ile Saint Louis. Even in the winter months (on the weekends) you will find musicians on the Pont Louis-Phillipe.
Another way to enjoy the Seine River and get a different perspective on the City of Light is to hop on one of the Seine River cruises. The best time is at dusk or in the evening when the Eiffel Tower lights up. It truly is magical.
Read More | What to do (and how to flâner) on Ile Saint-Louis.
Pro Travel Tip: It’s quite typical for the water of the Seine to rise. In January 2021 for example, the water rose quite high. Everyone was out looking at the water levels and taking photos.
4. January In Paris: Walk The Hidden Passages
One of the best things to do on rainy days is to explore the passageways of Paris.
Start with a stroll along the gorgeous mosaic floors of Galerie Vivienne and transport yourself, for a moment, back to 1823 when this covered passageway was filled with Parisians socializing and meeting up at cafés. Today it is possible to do the same! With natural light streaming along the hallway of Galerie Vivienne, the boutiques, stores and cafés are worth exploring.
Also on your radar should be Passage de Panoramas, and Passage des Grand Cerfs.
5. January In Paris: Shop The Paris Sales
It’s rigorous in France. The store sales (“Soldes”) have specific dates in both January and July. In January 2024, the winter sales start on January 10 and run for three weeks until February 6. Each week, the prices get a little cheaper! It’s the perfect time to get a terrific discount!
Pro Travel Tip: If you are here in early January, the “Avant-Premières” (advance sales) start two weeks before the set date. The shopkeepers will say that most items will not be further reduced in price when the sale date starts. Should you take the risk and wait?
It’s fun to go to the shops and department stores, like Le Bon Marché, to browse, shop and watch Parisians perusing the sales. Who doesn’t love a great bargain?
Les Soldes in France in 2024: Wednesday, January 10 – Tuesday, February 6, 2024
6. Drink Hot Chocolate At Angelina’s
January in Paris is just not complete without a creamy hot chocolate! One of the best places in Paris for hot chocolate is Angelina’s. At Angelina’s the hot chocolate is rich and delightful. Stop by Angelina’s to order a hot chocolate and melt-in-your-mouth macarons. It’s a deluxe January treat.
The original Angelina’s location on rue de Rivoli has a stunning tearoom. In a hurry? Pick up a creamy hot chocolate from the boutique on the fabulous shopping street, rue du Bac.
7. January In Paris: Taking A Cooking Class
What better way to spend a chilly January day than to take a cooking class? Learn with a French chef and come away ready to cook something new and delicious!
I took a cooking class in January at the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. It was the perfect way to spend a chilly January half-day.
These cooking classes that might interest: Parisian Cooking Class with a Chef or a French pastry class.
8. Indulge In A Hammam Experience
On a grey, damp January 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
9. Visit A Paris Museum In January
Is there an exhibition that calls to you? Paris is full of marvellous exhibitions. Or, if you need to stay warm, a Paris museum is the perfect way to spend a half-day. It’s a great time of year to visit the Louvre Museum or try visiting a smaller museum like the Musée Marmottan Monet or the Musée Jacquemart-André. Passionate museum-goers will love the 2,4, or 6-day Paris Museum Pass.
Read More | My guide to 20 Paris museums.
10. Disneyland Paris In January
In 2024, the magic of Christmas at Disneyland Paris runs until January 7. Bundle up at the beginning of January and plan a day trip to see Mickey Mouse. Here are some great planning tips for Disneyland Paris.
11. In January Be Like A Parisian: Find The Sun
The minute the sun appears, head to a park. At the Luxembourg Gardens, for example, Parisians fill the iconic green chairs and draw them up against the wall of the Senate where the sun is shining. Noses are poked in the warmth of the sun, newspapers are read and neighbours exchange a few words. Everyone is content on the sunny days in January.!
12. Paris Fashion Week In January
Paris Fashion Week is the event when designers and major fashion houses show their haute couture and ready-to-wear collections for the 2024-2025 year.
The bottom line is that it is nearly impossible to get into a fashion week event without a personal invitation. That being said, if one hangs about there is always the possibility of seeing a fashion icon or a star.
Men’s Fashion Week: January 16 to January 21, 2024
Women’s Fashion Week: January 22 to January 25, 2024
13. Look For Hidden Gems In Paris
It’s one thing to see the major attractions in Paris but uncovering hidden gems is always a treat. Here is my list of 43 hidden gems in Paris.
14. January In Paris: Dine At A Bouillon
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 January 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.
15. Enjoy A Vintage Car Event
Calling all vintage car lovers! On January 14, 2024, La Traversée de Paris takes place. Imagine, a parade of over 700 classic cars and motorbikes making their way across Paris. They make a stop in Montmartre which will delight any unsuspecting visitors! The vintage cars meet at the Château de Vincennes, liven up the streets of Paris, and then finish at the horserace track in Vincennes. This event also takes place in the summer at the end of July.
16. Go Ice Skating In Paris
Lace up and glide along under Paris winter skies at La Magie de Noël Christmas market in the Tuileries Garden until January 7, 2024!
The Grand Palais has the world’s largest temporary indoor rink called The Grands Palais des Glaces. Renovations which began in 2021 currently continue in the Grand Palais but it is set to reopen in 2024.
17. January In Paris: Why Not Flâner?
To flâner is to wander, to stroll and to observe life. Paris is the perfect city to flâner, no matter the weather. Sit at a café, linger on the Pont des Arts, and turn down a tiny Paris street with an interesting name. You just never know what you might notice. Some of the best neighbourhoods to flâner are le Marais, Saint Germain des Prés and Montmartre. Why not go off the beaten path in the 20th arrondissement?
Pro Travel Tip: If your trip to Paris is at the beginning of February, check out Paris Face Cachée where venues not normally open to the public are open. Book your tickets in January and enjoy incredible experiences in Paris.
Read More | My guide on how to flâner
I hope you have a wonderful time in Paris in January. Paris is always a good idea!
Until next time,
More Paris Travel Info…
Other Wintery Paris Articles:
- French Christmas Traditions to Enjoy
- Paris in the Snow
- Paris in the Winter
- Galette des Rois
- How to Make the Perfect Cheese Board for the Holidays
Looking Ahead To Other Paris Seasons:
- Paris in the Spring: How to Enjoy the Best Season
- Where To Find the Best Spring Flowers
- Paris in the Summer
- Paris in the Fall
Paris by Month:
Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
