A Guide to Visiting Paris in Winter

Getting around Paris in Winter

Getting around Paris in winter is almost as easy as in summer. While Paris is a very walkable city, the charming cobblestone streets can become slippery during winter, making it advisable to rely more on public transportation or taxis during this season.

The public transportation network in Paris is excellent, offering a convenient subway, train, tram, and bus connections. The metro is the preferred way to navigate the city for its speed, affordability, and convenience. With 16 lines and 300 stations, it provides easy access to all parts of Paris. Tickets are available at automated machines, information booths at stations, and online.

During the night, when public transport options are limited, taxis are a good choice. Taxis can be hailed or found at designated taxi stands. Many take card payments, however, it is worth carrying some cash with you just in case they do not. 

Where to stay in Paris in Winter

Paris in winter offers numerous Christmas attractions and events both in the city centre and its surrounding areas. Consider staying in the La Défense district, which provides convenient access to many of these festive sites. La Défense is a modern business district with a range of hotels and serviced apartments, offering a more budget-friendly alternative to central Paris.

Choosing to stay at Fraser Suites Harmonie Paris La Défense serviced hotel apartments offers a cost-effective and convenient accommodation option for travellers looking to explore Paris during the winter peak season and visit festive attractions throughout the city. The La Défense metro station is just a short walk away, providing direct access to many Christmas fairs and activities via metro line 1.

Additionally, the serviced apartments feature fully equipped kitchenettes and onsite laundry facilities. This allows guests to prepare meals in their own way and saving on laundry expenses.

Each apartment boasts a well-appointed living area, offering more space and the comfort of home during winter breaks or extended year-end holidays. Our location in a major business district, just a few miles from the old Paris city limits, makes our hotel an ideal choice for solo travellers or families. Start planning your winter trip at our modern serviced hotel apartments in La Défense Paris now!

Things to do in Paris in Winter

1. La Défense Christmas Markets in Paris

Located just west of the city centre, the sprawling La Défense business district hosts the largest Christmas Market in the Paris region, with almost 180 chalets festive stands and chalets, spreading over 13,000m². Here you'll discover a vast selection of gifts ranging from trinkets to high-quality jewellery and leather goods.

Several stalls offer gorgeous finely-tooled leather goods from Morocco, while others have large selections of fashionable scarfs and coats, candies, and tins of herbal teas. Look for lots of specialty items not typically seen in smaller markets such as Santa costumes, stuffed animals, huge bins brimming over with clementines and other seasonal fruits, candies from the South of France, freshly baked gingerbread, antique books, fine paintings, and large pop-up stores filled with Christmas decorations.

Kids will also find plenty to do and see here, including multiple Santas who happily pose for photos. For the after-work crowd from the surrounding high-rise office towers, there's even a rotation of popular DJs on several evenings. You can easily spend an entire evening at this market. Plan to have a meal and enjoy a glass or two of mulled wine or spiced eggnog here. This is one of the best Paris Christmas markets for dining.

The market's spectacular setting in this glittering business district makes your stay in the La Défense area well worth your time during the winter in Paris.

Place: Parvis de la Défense

Dates: about 5 weeks from late November to late December

2. Ice Skating in Paris

Ice skating with sky-high views of Paris? Discover the rooftop Ice Skating Rink on the Grande Arche!

Located just in front of the La Défense Christmas Market, the ice rink, perched at 110 metres high, offers a panoramic view of some of Paris's most iconic monuments: the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre hill. Put on your skates and create magical memories with family, friends, or loved ones to cherish this winter in Paris!

Other ice rinks in Paris include one beneath the glass cupola of the Grand Palais and on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower (both available only during Christmas time), while the Patinoire Pailleron is open throughout the year.

Prices typically range from 10€ to 15€, and ice rinks in Paris during winter are usually open from late November to early January.

3. Window shopping in Paris

At renowned department stores like Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, and Le Bon Marché, the holiday season comes with a plethora of visual delights. The extravagant window displays are the first enchanting sight, featuring scenes that span from cheerful Santas and gingerbread men doing the cancan to complete miniature winter wonderlands.

Once you venture inside these stores, you'll find yourself captivated by towering Christmas trees, their branches aglow with a sea of lights that gracefully adorn the halls.

4. Winter sales in Paris

The Les Soldes, or the sales, are a shopper’s delight and take place twice a year in Paris, featuring significant price reductions on a wide range of items, including designer clothes and home goods. The winter sales season spans from January to February every year, with markdowns increasing as the weeks go by. It's a prime opportunity for savvy shoppers to indulge in some fantastic bargains.

5. Museums in Paris

If the weather turns gloomy during your visit to Paris, you'll find an abundance of outstanding museums and exhibits scattered throughout the city. Whether you're a fashion enthusiast, a lover of impressionist art, or a history buff, Paris has something to offer every type of traveller. Just remember, it's a good idea to book your tickets in advance. This winter, captivating exhibitions await in Paris:  

• Mark Rothko retrospective exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation (until 2^th of April 2024)
• Van Gogh: The Final Months at the Musée d'Orsay (until 4^th of February 2024)
• The Treasury of Notre-Dame Cathedral at the Louvre (until 29^th of January 2024)   
• Fashion and Sports: From One Podium to Another at the Decorative Arts Museum (until 4^th of April 2024), in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympics

6. Indulge in French cuisine in Paris

French cuisine is arguably one of the best in the world, and winter is a great time to savour delicious food and explore the culinary scene in Paris

Begin your day at a charming café, where you can relish a flaky French pastry paired with a comforting café au lait. For lunch and dinner, bistros across the city present you with classic French winter dishes, featuring hearty soups and stews that will warm your heart. And after a chilly day exploring Paris, there's nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a cup of decadent hot chocolate.

The enchanting Christmas markets in Paris also offer lots of great food options. Here, you'll encounter a delightful assortment of seasonal treats, from beloved Christmas market classics to traditional French delicacies such as cheese, and international snacks. Of course, no visit to these markets is complete without sipping on a steaming cup of mulled wine.

For those who aspire to make those delicious French dishes and pastries themselves, enrolling in a cooking class is a great indoor activity on a rainy day. These classes are offered throughout Paris, offering different themes and at different levels so that anyone can add something new to their cooking repertoire. So why not embark on a culinary adventure and elevate your cooking skills during your winter sojourn in Paris?

Local places to Eat and Drink in La Défense Paris in Winter

Whether you’re in the mood for a drink and nibbles or a more substantial lunch or dinner, you’re sure to find something satisfying at one of these local places in La Défense Paris.

Eclipse: Select carefully prepared dishes from a gourmet menu and dine in a sophisticated and warm atmosphere at Eclipse. This restaurant is perfect for lunch with business associates or a romantic dinner with someone special. 86 Esplanade du Général de Gaulle.

Le Ferney: A brewery and brasserie, Le Ferney is known for specialties made with local products, a wide selection of beers and cocktails, and fast, friendly service. The establishment is ideal for lunch and happy hour drinks. 13 place des Degrés.

Les Philosophes: Retro décor, an impressive range of draught beers and estate wines, and traditional French cuisine are what Les Philosophes is all about. If you’re looking for the classic brasserie dining experience in La Défense in winter, this is where you’ll find it. 28 rue Vieille du Temple.

Find the perfect spot for family dining with our list of the top 10 best restaurants in Paris La Defense. From casual eateries to fine dining, we've got you covered!

Events in Paris in January

If you're planning a trip to Paris in January, you'll discover numerous delightful activities to enjoy. While some Christmas activities might have concluded, Paris still has a wealth of events and experiences in store for January. With fewer crowds and a unique, cosy ambiance, Paris in January offers a delightful mix of cultural experiences and culinary delights, making it an ideal time to explore the City of Light in a different way.

Celebrate New Year's Eve: Known in French as le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with gusto in Paris. You’ll have no trouble finding an elegant dinner, raucous party, or anything in between on the 31^st of December. For a party close to La Défense Paris, head to the Oxygen Nodd rooftop at 2 Espl. General de Gaulle, where you’ll find terraces with 360-degree views of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Grande Arche, and La Défense skyline, bars, private heated bubbles, dancefloors, DJs, and more.

Enjoy a French Epiphany tradition: An almond frangipane tart known as galette des rois is traditionally eaten on the Epiphany feast, also known as Three Kings Day. Celebrate this tradition by heading to a bakery and enjoying a hearty slice of this once-a-year treat. Who knows? You might be crowned king (or queen) for a day! Save the date for the 6th of January 2024!

Attend the Candlelight Concert: Chopin & Liszt: Watch talented performers play the music of Chopin and Liszt in St Ephrem Church at 17 Rue des Carmes, a venue known for remarkable ambience and outstanding acoustics, taking place on the 14^th of January at 4.30pm.

Attend the Paris Carnival Procession: Dating back to the Middle Ages, the Paris Carnival is a time of sheer indulgence and fun before Lent. The highlight undoubtedly is the Paris Carnival Procession, known as the Promenade du Boeuf Gras. Watch this colourful parade featuring floats, dancers, musicians, jugglers, acrobats, and other entertainers. The parade starts at Place Gambetta at 1pm, makes its way through the city streets, and ends at the Place de la République on the 19^th of February 2024.

Discover France’s rich agricultural and regional heritages at Salon d’Agriculture: A major highlight on the trade fair calendar, the Salon d’Agriculture brings together France’s finest regional specialities, such as dairy products from Normandy, dry-cured sausages from the French Alps, and rum distilled in the country’s overseas departments. Paris Porte de Versailles. From 25^th of February 2024.

Winter in Paris brings fewer crowds, lower prices, increased choices, and more quality time. While the weather may not be perfect, but Paris doesn’t lose any of its charms when it’s chilly. Paris' low season offers a host of enjoyable and exciting things to do that are often impossible when the city is bustling.