February in Paris
All you need to know for your trip to Paris in February 2024.
What is Paris like in February? February in Paris is still a winter month and, therefore, mostly cold and with the occasional rainy days. Paris in late February sees the first blossoms on some trees, but you still need to wrap up if you want to explore Paris outdoors.
In general, February is a quiet month, so it is an excellent month for sightseeing in Paris and enjoying the fun atmosphere of festivals like carnivals or the Chinese New Year. If you want to visit Paris in February 2024, here’s a guide to making the most of your time in the city.
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, we’ve got you covered! Below are our must-guides, top tours, hotels, and more:
» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists
» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio
Book your transfer from the airport to the city with Welcome Pickups.
» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris
- Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
- Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
- Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)
» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:
- Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
- Seine River Night Cruise
- Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas
Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
» Don’t leave without travel insurance! Compare plans and prices amongst the world’s leading programs with Travel Insurance Master
Table of Contents:
- Is Paris in February Busy? Crowds Forecast
- Weather in Paris in February
- What to Pack for Paris in February 2024
- Best Tips for Visiting Paris in February
- Best Things to Do in Paris in February 2024 (and Main Events in Paris, February 2024)
- Where to Stay in Paris in February
Related content
Is Paris in February Busy? Crowds Forecast
February in Paris is still low season, so it is a great time to explore the city and visit its main attractions without the crowds.
The only busy time in Paris in February is the days around St Valentine’s Day. This is not a traditional festivity in France, but being Paris one of the world’s most romantic cities, many people visit Paris for a romantic getaway.
In Paris, February is a great time to visit your favorite exhibitions or bigger museums like the Louvre or Orsay. Even the free museums in Paris can be visited without the crowds!
Weather in Paris in February
Is Paris cold in February? February is a winter month in Paris, and it is cold, with short hours of daylight and some rainy days. However, as you get closer to the end of the month, the weather improves, and in Paris in late February, the start of spring is in the air.
If we stick to the statistics, the average temperature in Paris in February is 7C (45 F) maximum and 2C (36 F) minimum, with a 13% probability of rainfall.
What to Pack for Paris in February 2024
What to wear in Paris in February? The key to dressing in Paris in the winter is a good, warm coat. Still, it is a good idea to dress in layers for when you are indoors.
What to pack for Paris in February 2024? The Paris weather, February, calls for good walking shoes (sneakers or Chelsea boots), warm socks, scarves, gloves, thermal underwear (if you plan long walks), and a good warm jacket. Here’s the ultimate guide to packing for Paris in February for a more local look. If you need ideas on how to combine things to blend in with locals, check out our Fall /Winter style guides for men and women.
Best Tips for Visiting Paris in February
In general, February is a quiet month to visit Paris and possibly one of the cheapest. If you decide to visit Paris in February, you will find cheaper flight tickets and train tickets, especially if you travel during the week, and many hotels offer reductions at this time of year.
18 February to 6 March 2024 are school holidays in Paris (vacances d’hiver), and, commonly, parents take one week off for a family cultural trip somewhere else in France or Europe or a ski vacation in the Alps. If you decide to come during this period, book things in advance, especially train and flight tickets from /to Paris.
Saint Valentine’s Day in Paris 2024
14 February (St. Valentine’s Day) and the days around this date are a busy period in Paris. People like to come to the city for a romantic weekend getaway.
If you want to climb up to the Eiffel Tower on the 14th of February (or the days around St. Valentine’s Day), book months in advance. With Get Your Guide, you can purchase Eiffel Tower tickets up to 3 months in advance and cancel up to 24 in advance and receive a full refund if you can’t make it – Click here to book your Eiffel Tower tickets with Get Your Guide
There are many romantic restaurants in Paris for a special dinner for your other half. If you have a restaurant in mind for a special dinner on the weekend of St. Valentine’s Day, be sure to book well in advance. Check that they don’t charge more than usual for Valentine’s specials.
Always have a B plan for Paris when it rains. You can check out our list of fun things to do during a rainy day in Paris for inspiration.
A week before the departure, have a look at our Transportation Strikes in Paris post, which is always up to date. Just in case . . .
Need insurance for France? HeyMondo offers travelers insurance that combines medical and travel-related coverage for single trips (leisure and business trips), annual multi-trip, and extended stays (with COVID-19 coverage included). And you will get a 5% off for being a World in Paris reader! – Click here for more information and a quote for your trip
You can also compare plans, prices, and coverage with Travel Insurance Master, a comparison site that will find the perfect fit for you amongst the world’s leading programs. Travel Insurance Master is also the best place to look for senior travelers.
Best Things to Do in Paris in February 2024 (and Main Events in Paris, February 2024)
What to do in Paris in February 2024? If you visit Paris for the first time, you may want to tick some top tourist attractions off your Paris bucket list. The itineraries below are thought for first-timers in Paris, and they are planned around the main attractions and neighborhoods in Paris:
If you want to travel to Paris for a romantic getaway, check out our dedicated articles, with all the most romantic activities in the city (far from the clichés) and our best tips.
Here’s the list of the best things to do in February in Paris 2024 (and popular events in Paris, 2024), with something for everyone. Some of the dates and activities are still to be confirmed, so keep clicking for the latest updates.
If you plan to visit other parts of France after your days in Paris, check out the most popular French festivals and celebrations for this month.
CELEBRATE THE CRÊPES DAY
On 2 February (Candlemas), France celebrates the Crêpes Day! Look for the best crêpes in Paris to celebrate this sweet day with your favorite crêpe recipe. During this day, food trucks and some bakeries also propose crêpes to eat on the go.
CELEBRATE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IN PARIS
If you are visiting Paris in February this year, you’re in for a treat! February in Paris comes with the New Chinese Year (10 February 2024), and the New Year’s Parade and Chinese New Year food in Paris 13 is something not to miss.
Paris has three Chinese communities, located in Paris 2 (the oldest one), Paris 10, and Paris 13. They are all organizing big events to celebrate the New Year in these three districts of Paris.
TREAT YOURSELF TO A STEAMY HAMMAM AT THE GRANDE MOSQUÉE
After a busy day exploring Paris, treat yourself to a steamy hammam at the Grande Mosquée de Paris (39 rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire).
In the Latin Quarter, the Mosque of Paris offers within its walls one of the best hammams in the city, and it was entirely renovated in 2019.
For 30€, you will discover an oriental spa that looks like the real hammams of the Maghreb: a succession of rooms with different temperatures. For an additional cost, you can ask for a massage performed by real professionals.
The hammam is open every day from 10 am to 9 pm. Note that this hammam is only for women.
CONSIDER A DAY TRIP TO DUNQUERKE TO CELEBRATE THE CARNIVAL
February is also the month of carnivals. Carnival in Paris is not as traditional as in other parts of Europe, so if you like this kind of event, consider a day trip to Dunquerke (Dunkirk), in Northern France.
Dunquerke is located only two hours from Paris by direct TGV train, and they know how to celebrate carnival! – Click here to buy your train tickets to Dunkirk
Dunquerke holds one of France’s best carnivals, running three months, this year from 06 January 2024 to 7 April 2024. However, the main events of Dunkirk Carnival this year are held from 18 to 21 February 2024 and from 25 to 26 February 2024 (click here for the full program).
Dunquerke’s unique carnival traditions date back to 18th-century farewell feasts, which were given in honor of the cod fishermen who were about to depart for Iceland. If you can, try to visit Dunquerke one of the three days before Ash Wednesday when the fisher music bands parade the streets confronting each other with songs – Click here to book your accommodation in Dunkirk
VISIT THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN FRANCE WITHOUT THE CROWDS
A day trip to Disneyland Paris is always a good idea, especially if you don’t have to wait in line to enjoy the most popular Disneyland Paris rides. Enjoy the Caribbean, the Far West, or Adventureland without the crows and winter-themed celebrations and parades with Frozen and her tribe (click here for our quick guide to Disneyland Paris).
February in Paris Disneyland is still low season, and the entrance to the parks is cheaper than in other months – Click here to buy your Disneyland Paris tickets
TIP: extend your Disney experience, by spending one night or two at one of the hotels near Disneyland Paris with a free shuttle bus.
FUN SOIRÉE IN A PARISIAN CABARET
A cabaret show with dinner is a good way to spend a fun evening in Paris. Enjoy an entertaining show with can-can, music, and extravaganza whilst sipping a glass of wine or champagne.
The Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse, Paradis Latin… There are many good cabarets in Paris, and choosing only one is always hard. To help you choose your cabaret experience, check out our Paris Cabarets Guide with the best cabarets in Paris.
TAKE A COOKING CLASS IN PARIS
Cooking lessons are a great way to learn about delicious food in Paris whilst having fun. Cooking classes help to immerse yourself in the local culture, and it is also a great way to connect with other foodies in Paris.
Add a cooking lesson in Paris to improve your cooking skills and learn how to prepare the best traditional food in Paris.
There are many cooking classes available in Paris, but French pastry cooking classes are always the most popular. Here’s the list of our favorites.
ORGANIZE A FONDUE NIGHT WITH YOUR TRIBE
February in Paris calls for a hot and comforting fondue with your tribe. There are many places to enjoy a fondue in Paris; here’s the list of our favorites:
- Il Cottage. 1, Boulevard Lannes, 75006 Paris
- Pain, Vin, Fromages. 3, rue Geoffrey-l’Angevin, 75004 Paris
- Le Chalet Savoyard. 58, rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris
CHECK OUT THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS IN PARIS FEBRUARY 2024
February in Paris (and winter in general) is a great time for museum-going. It is worth checking the list of temporary exhibitions, especially if this is not your first time in Paris.
Notre Dame de Paris, from Builders to Restorers – Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, from 15 February 2023 to 29 April 2024
La Mode en Mouvement – Palais Galliera, from 16 June 2023 to 15 March 2024
Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise, the Final Months – Musée d’Orsay, from 3 October 2023 to 4 February 2024
American Mythologies – Bourse du Commerce – Collection Pinault, from 13 October 2023 to 19 February 2024
Loading. Urban Art in the Digital Age – Grand Palais Immersif, from 6 December 2023 to 21 July 2024
Prehistomania – Musée de l’Homme, until 24 May 2024
Mark Rothko – Fondation Louis Vuitton, until 2 April 2024
Mike Kelley, Ghost and Spirit – Bourse du Commerce, until 19 February 2024
Rudolf Nureyev at the Paris Opera – Opéra Garnier, from 21 December to 5 May 2024
The Egypt of the Pharaohs, from Cheops to Ramses II – Atelier des Lumières, from 9 February 2024 to 5 January 2025
The Orientalists: Ingres, Délacroix, Gérôme… – Atelier des Lumières, from 9 February 2024 to 5 January 2025
Corps à Corps, History(s) of Photography – Centre Pompidou, from 6 September 2023 to 25 March 2024
Félins – Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, from 22 March 2023 to 21 April 2024
Immersive Experience “Aura Invalides” – Musée de l’Armée, from 22 Septembre 2023 to 31 December 2024
Johnny Hallyday, l’Exposition à Paris – Porte de Versailles, from 22 December 2023 to 19 June 2024.
NEED MORE IDEAS FOR FEBRUARY IN PARIS?
Need more inspiration for your trip to Paris in February? Check out our articles January in Paris and March in Paris. Some of the activities proposed in these pieces are also great for February in Paris.
Where to Stay in Paris in February
I recommend Booking.com for booking your hotel in Paris. They have a wide variety of accommodation of all kinds and good rates. In addition, they propose the option to cancel for free, most of the time up to 24 hours.
WAKE UP WITH AN EIFFEL TOWER VIEW
If you have the budget, why not treat yourself to the pleasure of waking up at an amazing hotel with an Eiffel Tower view? Some of the best hotels in Paris also have awesome views of the Eiffel Tower, which is especially beautiful during its night show! – Check out the best hotels with Eiffel Tower Views
HOTELS AT LE MARAIS
Le Marais is a central neighborhood in the Seine’s Right Bank, perfect to set your base in Paris, especially if you are visiting Paris for the first time. It is beautiful, well connected by the metro, and with many beautiful cafes and restaurant options – Click here for the best hotels in Le Marais
- Hotel de Josephine de Bonaparte (charming 4-star hotel inspired by Napoléon’s wife)
- Hotel France Louvre (mid-range hotel in a typical Haussmanian style)
HOTELS AT SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS
The neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on the Left Bank, is a great place to put your luggage down in Paris, especially if you are visiting Paris for the first time. It is picturesque and central, with many entertainment, beautiful cafes, and restaurant options – Click here for the best hotels in Saint-Germain
- Relais Christine (4-star hotel in a 16th-century private mansion)
- Hotel Chaplain Paris Rive Gauche (mid-range hotel a few meters from Luxembourg Gardens)
We hope you enjoyed this quick guide to Paris in February 2024, with the best things to do and the main events in Paris – February 2024. Bon voyage!
