Paris in January 2024 – Quick Guide by a Local

January in Paris

All you need to know for your trip to Paris in January 2024.

What is Paris like in January? January in Paris is a special time to be in the French capital. January is the heart of winter in Paris. The days are short, the temperatures low, and once the festivities are over, the city slowly settles into its most local, everyday life pace.

January is the quietest time of year to visit Paris and possibly the cheapest. If you decide to visit Paris in January, you will find cheaper flight and train tickets, especially if you travel during the week, and many hotels offer reductions at this time of year.

In January, sales are also on, so you can review your winter outfits and shop at some of Paris’ top shopping destinations for less.

In Paris, January is an excellent month for a cultural getaway and a shopping weekend. Here is our guide to the best things to do in Paris in January, with the main events in Paris – January 2024 and packing tips so you know what to expect when you visit Paris in January.

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Is Paris in January Busy? Crowds Forecast

Is January a good time to visit Paris? In Paris, January is the low season. You can expect many visitors during the first days of January. Still, after the New Year’s celebrations, crowds leave the city, and this is the best time to see some of Paris’ most popular attractions without booking months in advance.

Paris in January 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 seen without the crowds!

Also, when the crowds are gone, servers, receptionists, and salespeople are less stressed and kinder, and it is much easier to go local.

Weather in Paris in January

How is the weather in Paris in January? If you visit Paris in January, you can expect cold weather and the occasional rainy day. Expect daily highs of 8°C and nighttime temperatures near freezing.

In January, Paris’ rooftops are occasionally covered by snow, but it does not last long.

However, don’t be discouraged! If it is too cold outside, Paris has many indoor activities.

Make sure to wrap up warm when out visiting Paris in January. Then, take refuge from the cold in one of Paris’ quintessential cafés with a hot chocolate, or enjoy your favorite cocktail with a view on a heated rooftop terrace transformed for winter.

What to Wear in Paris in January 2024

What to wear in Paris in January? The key to dressing in Paris in the winter is a good, warm coat. Still, it is a good idea to dress in layers because some places, like the museums or the metro, are too warm, and you will likely be ok with fewer layers.

Best Tips for Visiting Paris in January

1 January (New Year’s Day) is a national holiday in France. This impacts the opening of several museums and attractions, bars, and restaurants, so be sure to plan this day in Paris carefully (more on this below).

6 January (Epiphany) is not a national holiday in France, so expect all shops and Paris attractions open.

If you are flexible with your travel dates, come after the first week of January to avoid the crowds. 6 January is the last day of the French Christmas holiday and the end of the high winter season in Paris.

Always have a B plan for rainy days in Paris. If you need some ideas, check out our list of fun things to do when it rains in Paris, which comes in handy also for the coldest days in Paris.

A week before the departure, have a look at our Transportation Strikes in Paris post, which is always up to date. Just in case . . .

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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 January 2024 (and Events in Paris, January 2024)

What to do in Paris in January 2024? If you visit Paris for the first time, you may want to tick some of Paris’ must-see attractions off your bucket list. The itineraries below are thought for first-time visitors in Paris, and they are planned around the main sights and the most popular neighborhoods in Paris:

• 1 day in Paris itinerary
• 2 days in Paris itinerary
• 3 days in Paris itinerary
• 4 days in Paris itinerary
• 5 days in Paris itinerary
• 6 days in Paris itinerary
• 7 days in Paris itinerary

If you want to visit Paris for New Year’s celebrations, check out our New Year’s Eve in Paris article.

Here’s the list of the best things to do in Paris in January 2024, the best places to visit in Paris in January, and the Paris events January 2024. Some dates and activities still need to be confirmed, so keep clicking for the latest updates.

After midnight, continue the New Year’s Eve festive fun during the first hours of January 1st. You can check how to celebrate the New Year in Paris here.

Tourist Attractions and Museums Opened on January 1st, 2024:

Note: This year, January 1st falls on a Monday. All those museums that usually are open on January 1st but have the weekly closure on Monday will also be closed on January 1st.

• The Eiffel Tower
• Musée Grevin
• Musée Dali
• Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck
• Musée de Montmartre
• Musée du Luxembourg
• Basilique du Sacré Coeur in Montmartre
• Musée du Quai Branly
• Musée d’Orsay (not this year, as it is usually closed on Monday)
• Musée Maillol
• Château de Versailles (not this year, as it is usually closed on Monday)
• Domaine de Chantilly (Château + Horse Museum)
• Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (not this year, as it is usually closed on Monday)
• Centre Pompidou
• Grand Palais (not this year, as it is under restoration)

Parisian Cabarets offering a show on January 1st:

• Crazy Horse
• Moulin Rouge
• Paradis Latin Cabaret

TIP: If you are unsure what is the best cabaret for you, check out our Parisian Cabarets Quick Guide

During the first days of January, you can still enjoy some Christmas activities, including a couple of Christmas Markets, ice skating rinks, and festive shows.

You can find our recommendations on what to see in Paris at Christmas here.

The Festival of Lights at the beautiful Jardin des Plantes (Paris 5) is an enchanting experience for kids and adults, with monumental light structures set in the alleys and pitches of this beautiful garden.

The exhibitions usually aim to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species and the environment in general and are always lovely.

This year 2023-2024, the exhibition takes place from 22 November 2023 to 21 January 2024 and is named La Jungle en Voie d’Illumination. This exhibition is dedicated to the creatures and ecosystems living in the jungle, and we are sure it will steal your heart.

There’s nothing more magical than Christmas at Disneyland Paris. Disney’s Enchanted Christmas wraps everything that makes Christmas special in the most enchanting seasonal settings.

Disney’s Enchanted Christmas festival lasts until 7 January 2024, so if you visit Paris during the first week of January, you cannot miss it! Start planning your Disney trip with our quick guide to Disneyland Paris, and book your Disneyland Paris tickets here.

The Galette des Rois is a cake traditionally made and consumed in most of France on the occasion of the Epiphany. This Christian festival celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus. Because the Epiphany is not a holiday in France, the Galette des Rois is eaten on the closest Sunday to 6 January (this year, on 7 January).

Traditionally, we eat a piece of galette with family, friends, or even at work (there’s always somebody who brings a galette in the office), and you should definitely try one!

Despite the tradition of eating it for the Epiphany, bakeries start proposing galettes from Christmas until mid-January, so many people end up eating many slices of (very) caloric galettes for a week or two.

During the winter holidays, Astérix, Obélix, and their tribe invite you to discover the Gallic Christmas at Parc Astérix.

Snow-covered menhirs, delirious sliding activities, a charming little Christmas market, and new shows are to be discovered for a unique Christmas!

This year, Christmas at Parc Asterix lasts until 7 January 2024, and it’s definitely a very original way to start January in Paris. Click here to book your tickets to Parc Astérix.

If you like shopping, January in Paris is a bit of a treat! In January, the much-awaited winter sales happen in Paris, with important discounts in all the Parisian shops.

This is definitely the perfect time to review your wardrobe, perhaps with a Parisian touch.

This year, the winter sales will start on 10 January 2024 at 8 am and will last until February.

The Musée des Arts Forains becomes the theatre of a beautiful array of festive shows and performances during the Christmas holidays.

Don’t miss the Festival du Merveilleux or Festival of Wonders, when storytellers, magicians, aerial silk dancers, funambulists, musicians, puppeteers, tap dancers, and other artists create dreamlike stories while mechanized music performances, automatons shows, and optical illusions succeed one another all day long.

The Festival of Wonders will finish this year on 7 January 2024, so hurry up!

The Taversée de Paris en Anciennes is one of the biggest events in Paris for old car amateurs. For a morning, the capital’s streets are invaded by vintage cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and buses, a crazy ride that finishes at Château de Vincennes.

This year, the Traversée de Paris will occur on 14 January 2024. The theme this winter will be “Paris, une santé de fer” (Paris, strong health), where the vehicles will follow a unique itinerary inspired by the constructions made with iron. Expect 700 vehicles (cars, motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles, and tractors), each vehicule over 30 years old!

At the end of the parade, the cars stay parked in the car park behind the Château for a while. It’s an excellent opportunity for photography amateurs to take fantastic pictures of beautiful vintage vehicles and chat about cars with their passionate owners.

PARIS MEN’S FASHION WEEK

In January, Paris is on the top of the podium with the Paris Fashion Week. For the occasion, the biggest names in the field, people, and journalists flock to the capital of fashion to discover the new trends in prêt-à-porter and haute couture.

The Men’s Fashion Week is announced from 16 to 21 January 2024, followed by Haute Couture from 22 to 25 January 2024.

Even if the catwalks and after-show parties are reserved for professionals and VIPs, the show also occurs in the street, particularly around major Parisian places such as the Grand Palais, the Palais Brongniart, and the Palais de Tokyo. It is common to meet stars, models, and fashion designers there, so keep your eyes open!

CHECK OUT THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS IN PARIS IN JANUARY 2024

Museums and art galleries are always a good idea in January, especially when it’s too cold or wet outside.

If you have already checked the permanent exhibitions of the main museums in Paris, here’s the list of temporary exhibitions in museums and galleries for Paris in January 2024. Keep clicking for the latest updates!

Chagall, Paris – New York – Atélier des Lumières, from 17 February 2023 to 7 January 2024

Paul Klee, Painting Music – Atélier des Lumières, from 17 February 2023 to 7 January 2024

Notre Dame de Paris, from Builders to Restorers – Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, from 15 February 2023 to 29 April 2024

Yves Saint Laurent – Shapes and Forms – Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, until 14 January 2024

Naples in Paris – Musée du Louvre, until 8 January 2024

Amedeo Modigliani. A painter and his dealer – Musée de l’Orangerie, from 20 September 2023 to 15 January 2024

La Mode en Mouvement – Palais Galliera, from 16 June 2023 to 15 March 2024

Bollywood Superstars! – Musée du Quai Branly, until 14 January 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

Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso – Musée du Luxembourg, until 28 January 2024

The Treasure of Notre Dame de Paris – Musée du Louvre, from 18 October 2023 to 29 January 2024

Le Paris de Gustave Eiffel – Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, from 26 July 2023 to 8 January 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

Victory-The Factory of Heroes – Musée de l’Armée, until 28 January 2024

Rudolf Nureyev at the Paris Opera – Opéra Garnier, from 21 December to 5 May 2024

NEED MORE IDEAS ABOUT THINGS TO DO IN PARIS IN JANUARY?

No problem! Have a look at our articles about December in Paris and Paris in February. Some of the activities proposed in these articles are also good ideas for Paris in January.

We hope you enjoyed this quick guide to January in Paris, with the best things to do and the main events in Paris – January 2024. Bon voyage!

Click here for more Paris travel tips

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