What to Do in Paris in January 2026 – Quick Guide by a Local

January in Paris

Planning a trip to Paris in January? This guide is packed with firsthand tips, local recommendations, and insider advice to make the most of your visit in January 2026. Short on time? Jump straight to our list of the best things to do this month!

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 Paris, January is an excellent month for a cultural getaway and a shopping weekend. If you are traveling to Paris in January this year, here are the best things to do in Paris in January 2026, with the main events and local tips, so you know what to expect during your trip.

Table of Contents:

• Is Paris Busy in January? Crowds Forecast
• Best Tips for Visiting Paris in January
• What to Do in Paris in January 2026 (and Paris Events, January 2026)
• Where to Stay in Paris in January
• Paris Weather in January
• What to Wear in Paris in January

Related content

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.

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 to be open.

If you’re flexible with your travel dates, consider visiting after the first week of January to avoid the crowds. 6 January marks the end of the French Christmas holidays and the close of Paris’s high winter season.

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

Need travel insurance for your trip to France? Be sure to check rates and coverage with my recommended provider, SafetyWing. SafetyWing – Essential or Complete – works well for long and short trips (starting with a minimum of 5 days) and covers unexpected medical and travel issues while abroad. It also includes coverage at home, and you can sign up at any point during your travels! Check out plans and prices.

Best Things to Do in Paris in January 2026 (+ Paris Events, January 2026)

What to do in Paris in January this year? 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 designed 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 Eve celebrations, check out my article about New Year’s Eve in Paris.

Without further ado, here’s the list of the best things to do in Paris in January 2026, the best places to visit in Paris in January, and the main events. Some dates and activities may still need to be confirmed, so keep clicking for the latest updates.

NEW YEAR’S DAY IN PARIS

After midnight, keep the New Year’s Eve celebrations going into the early hours of January. Check out our guide on how to celebrate the New Year in Paris here.

Tourist Attractions and Museums Opened on 1 January 2026:

• The Eiffel Tower
• Musée Grevin
• Musée Dali
• Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck
• Musée de Montmartre
• Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre
• Musée du Luxembourg
• Musée du Quai Branly
• Musée Maillol
• Château de Versailles
• Domaine de Chantilly (Château + Horse Museum)
• Grand Palais.

Parisian Cabarets offering a show on the night of 1 January:

• Crazy Horse
• Moulin Rouge
• Paradis Latin Cabaret

TIP: Unsure what cabaret to choose? Check out this Paris Cabarets Guide

ENJOY THE LAST DAYS OF THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN PARIS

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. The Tuileries Christmas Market, for example, ends on 4 January 2026.

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

ENLIGHTEN YOUR SOIRÉE AT THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

The Festival of Lights at the stunning Jardin des Plantes (Paris 5) is a magical experience for both kids and adults, featuring monumental light installations along the garden’s paths and lawns.

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

The 2025-2026 edition of the festival, titled Lumières de la Nature, lasts until 16 January. It invites visitors to explore the hidden lights of the plant and animal kingdoms, as well as the mineral and celestial worlds. It lasts until

CHRISTMAS AT DISNEYLAND PARIS (UNTIL 6 JANUARY 2026)

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 6 January 2026, 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.

CELEBRATE THE EPIPHANY WITH A GALETTE DES ROIS

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 4 January).

Traditionally, we eat a piece of galette with family and friends or even at work (there’s always somebody who brings a galette to 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.

CHRISTMAS AT PARC ASTÉRIX (UNTIL 4 JANUARY 2026)

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, the Gaulish Christmas is from 20 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, and it’s definitely a very original way to start January in Paris. Click here to book your tickets to Parc Astérix.

PARIS WINTER SALES

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 7 January 2026 at 8:00 a.m. and will last until 3 February included.

LE FESTIVAL DU MERVEILLEUX (FESTIVAL OF WONDER)

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, where storytellers, magicians, aerial silk dancers, tightrope walkers, musicians, puppeteers, tap dancers, and other artists bring dreamlike stories to life. Throughout the day, mechanized music performances, automaton shows, and optical illusions follow one another in a mesmerizing atmosphere.

The Festival of Wonders will finish this year on 4 January 2026, so hurry up!

TRAVERSÉE DE PARIS EN ANCIENNES

The Taversée de Paris en Anciennes is one of Paris’ biggest events for vintage 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 Sunday, 25 January 2026. Expect 700 vehicles or so (cars, motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles, and tractors), each vehicle 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 at 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 scheduled from 20 to 25 January 2026, followed by Haute Couture from 26 to 29 January 2026.

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!

FOOD FESTIVALS IN PARIS IN JANUARY

Food festivals are always a good idea to start a new year, especially in France, which is world-renowned for its incredible food, cheese, and wine.

In January, you can attend the Montmartre’s Scallop Festival, the Overseas Gastronomy Fair, or enjoy a delicious galette des rois!

CHECK OUT THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS IN PARIS IN JANUARY 2026

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

If this is your first time visiting Paris, keep in mind that many museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month (this year, on Sunday, 4 January). Here’s the full list of free museums on the first Sunday of the month.

If you’ve already explored the permanent collections of Paris’s major museums, consider visiting one of the temporary exhibitions on view this January 2026.

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

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

You can also follow us on Facebook, where I post every Thursday about what to do in Paris on the weekend.

Where to Stay in Paris in January

As you make your bed, so you lie. Find the right accommodation in Paris – whether it’s a hotel or guesthouse, holiday apartment, or private apartment – I have them all! Book your accommodation by using the map below.

Paris Weather 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.

What to Wear in Paris January 2025

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.

What to pack for January in Paris 2026? The Paris weather in January 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 January for a more local look. If you need ideas on how to combine things to blend in with locals, check out my Fall /Winter style guides for men and women.

• Paris Style Guide Winter for Women
• Paris Style Guide Winter for Men

And there you have it – what to do in Paris in January 2026 and seasonal events to help you plan your Paris trip. Bon voyage!

Click here for more Paris travel tips

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