The best time to visit Paris during winter time | highlights, tips
Updated: Feb 12, 2023
One of the hottest Christmas destinations is of course Paris, but also one of the most crowded. Visiting the City of Light during Christmas and NYE may seem like a splendid idea, but the fact is (especially for a middle-income traveler) that it also may be quite stressful, because of the waiting lines, the traffic, and the prices…
On the other hand, right after the Christmas vacation and in general during the low season period, meaning between October and April (December excluded), things are much better. I decided to keep my days off and I had my 5 day vacation in Paris at the beginning of January. Following are the highlights of the city and the benefits of traveling during the off season in Paris.
The Louvre… of course (3 hours - 3 days)
The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum. This building was, in the past, home to French Kings, but during the French Revolution in the 18th century, the Louvre was converted into a museum.
You could literally spend days in this museum, but if it is your first time visiting, I would suggest sticking with the musts, such as The Mona Lisa and of course the Egyptian and Greek antiquities focusing on the Winged Victory and Venus de Milo.
The Eiffel Tower (30’)
The Eiffel Tower was intended to be a temporary installation that commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution in 1889. The world's fair was hosted in Paris at the same time where cutting-edge inventions, architecture and art from around the globe were displayed revealing many "futuristic" inventions of the past days. The tower is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built it in 2 years.
As time is limited, I wouldn’t recommend wasting time and waiting in line to go all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower on winter, windy days – you’ll be exhausted. Instead have a close look at this impressive monument from the ground, take a beautiful photo to remember it by and move on to your next location.
Musée d’Orsay (1-2 hours)
The Musée d’ Orsay is in the former railway station Gare d’Orsay built in 1900. Since 1986 it is one of the most popular art galleries where beautiful sculptures and paintings ranging from the late 19th to the early 20th century are displayed – amazing art by Renoir, Manet, Van Gogh, Gauguin and so on. Additionally, many temporary exhibitions are held in Musée d’ Orsay, and I was lucky to admire a beautiful collection of Munch paintings.
Although it was an off season period and a weekday, there were a lot of people, especially in the temporary exhibition area, so it would be wise to prebook your place online. (I don’t even want to think about the lines during the Christmas period!)
After entering the museum, take advantage of the free coat check services, and leave your coats there, for a more comfortable museum tour.Montmartre / A walk with a view (2 hours)
Montmarte is a hill in Paris, where a charming district is located and at the top you will find the impressive Basilica of Sacre Coeur, constructed in the 1875.
Dress warmly as it may be quite windy and take a walk in the beautiful artistic area all the way up to the top where the air is refreshing and the vibes are chilling - people gathering, taking photos, singing.
For a breathtaking photo of the spectacular view pick a clear day and organize your program to get there an hour before sunset. Otherwise, the sun may be just in front of you, burning your photos, which may be quite a disappointment for your Instagram account…
Be careful with your valuables as pickpockets are at work, especially in this area.Le Marais / city walk (2 hours)
Once the city's Jewish quarter, Le Marais, nowadays, is a fashionable Parisian district filled with beautiful boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. The famous Place des Vosges is a perfect spot to sit and have a break as it is a mini replica of the beautiful French gardens. It is surrounded and protected by impressive buildings, making it a much more comfortable area to rest as it not so cold and windy as in the big parks – don’t forget it is winter, meaning it is quite cold in Paris. This oasis of calm is surrounded by small art galleries where you may visit and have a close look at renowned modern artists’ work and maybe even buy one! Have a stop at the Dammann Freres shop and treat yourself to some excellent tea.
When it comes to dinner, Le Marais has plenty of excellent restaurants. I picked the "Robert and Louis Shop" which I totally recommend – take into consideration that the prices here are above average.
On Sundays the streets are closed to cars from 10:00 to 18:00, so it is a walker’s paradise. Shopping / Champs Elysées (2 – 8 hours… depends)
The Champs-Élysées must be visited of course, cause beside the impressive huge shops and malls on both sides of the street of popular brands such as LV, Nike, Disney and Dior, the street itself is a walking pedestrian paradise. Often described as “the world's most beautiful avenue” starts from the Place de la Concorde and after 2km ends at the majestic Arc de Triomphe.
In Paris you will find many small French boutiques and of course more recognized designers. As I wrote above, I love "Le Marais" district but in general wherever you are in the city in January you will find many interesting shops with huge discounts because it is the sales season in France – so behave like a smart shopper and buy yourself some Parisian outfits for a 30-50% discount.
The Champs-Élysées must be visited of course, because besides the impressive huge shops and malls on both sides of the street of popular brands such as LV, Nike, Disney and Dior, the street itself is a walking pedestrian paradise. Often described as “the world's most beautiful avenue” starts at the Place de la Concorde and after 2km ends at the majestic Arc de Triomphe.
During January there is also the Paris Fashion Week!
Food and Drinks
The food is soooo good in Paris. The bread, the cheese, the wine and the décor are stunning. There was not one place I visited that I was disappointed in. Eateries I liked a lot and were value for money are as follows:
For lunch The Louise where we had a cozy soup, a meat dish and snails… ,
and the Terra Nera where the famous Emily in Paris was shot - mainly pasta dishes are served
for brunch, a salty and sweet crepe in the Crepe Avenue
for pizza: Grazie
and for a drink don’t miss the hidden spot named BaraNaan Street Food where you will find an impressive variety of cocktails and delicious, spicy, Indian finger foods (be careful not to be allergic or sensitive to the spices).
In general, no reservation at Paris restaurants is required, but keep in mind the opening hours – take a look at google maps before you visit, as some restaurants may be closed from 3-6pm.For an easy stay try to book a hotel in the city center. I chose a beautiful one in "The Marais" district named "Villa Beaumarchais" , whith an impressive breakfast experience!
Paris is an amazing city to visit over and over again, as each time you will find something new to explore, to taste and to remember. The City of Light is quite an expensive and popular destination, so I suggest you go during the off season to thoroughly enjoy the full Parisian experience!
Sonia Gerodimou
Proof-reader: Valerie Kousoulis