January in Paris
All you need to know for visiting Paris in January 2025.
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 2025, with the main events and local tips so you know what to expect during your trip.
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our 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
- Château de Versailles and Gardens
- 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! SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
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.
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 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.
What to Do in Paris in January 2025 (and Paris Events, January 2025)
What to do in Paris in January 2025? 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 my article about New Year’s Eve in Paris.
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.
Without further ado, here’s the list of the best things to do in Paris in January 2025, the best places to visit in Paris in January, and the main Paris events January 2025. Some dates and activities may still need to be confirmed, so keep clicking for the latest updates.
JANUARY 1st, 2025 IN PARIS
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, 2025:
- 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)
- Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Centre Pompidou
- Grand Palais.
Parisian Cabarets offering a show on January 1st:
TIP: If you are unsure what is the best cabaret for you, 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 7 January.
You can find my recommendations on what to see in Paris at Christmas here.
ENLIGHTEN YOUR SOIRÉE AT THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
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 2024-2025, the exhibition takes place from 20 November 2024 to 19 January 2025 and is named Jurassique en Voie d’Illumination. This exhibition will embark you on a memorable journey of 200 million years to discover the species of the Jurassic… illuminated!
CHRISTMAS AT DISNEYLAND PARIS (UNTIL 6 JANUARY 2025)
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 2025, 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 5 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 7 JANUARY 2024)
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 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, 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 8 January 2024 at 8:00 a.m. and will last until February.
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, 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 5 January 2025, 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 12 January 2025. 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 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 21 to 26 January 2025, followed by Haute Couture from 27 to 30 January 2025.
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 2025
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 January 2025. Keep clicking for the latest updates!
Surrealism – Centre Pompidou, from 4 September 2024 to 13 January 2025
The Egypt of the Pharaohs, from Cheops to Ramses II – Atelier des Lumières, from 9 February 2024 to 5 January 2025
Zombies – Death is Not the End – Musée du Quai Branly, from 8 October 2024 to 16 February 2025
The Orientalists: Ingres, Délacroix, Gérôme… – Atelier des Lumières, from 9 February 2024 to 5 January 2025
The Art of James Cameron – Cinémathèque Française, from 4 April 2024 to 5 January 2025
Arte Povera – Bourse du Commerce, from 9 October 2024 to 20 January 2025
Pop Forever: Tom Wesselman &… – Fondation Louis Vuitton, from 17 October 2024 to 24 February 2025
Caillebotte. Painting Men – Musée d’Orsay, from 8 October 2024 to 19 January 2025
The Saga of Department Stores: from 1850 to the Present Day – Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, from 6 November 2024 to 6 April 2025
Ribera: Darkness and Light – Petit Palais, from 5 November 2024 to 23 February 2025
Pixels – Grand Palais Immérsif Bastille, from 5 November 2024 to 6 April 2025
Suzanne Valadon – Centre Pompidou, from 15 January to 25 May 2025
Stephen Jones – Artists Hats – Palais Galiera, until 16 March 2025
The Collection: Revoir Picasso – Musée Picasso, until 12 March 2025
Dance – Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, until 28 June 2025
Here’s the full list of exhibitions, shows, and concerts for your dates in Paris (use the calendar on the left side to select a date range).
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.
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 come with awesome views of the Eiffel Tower, especially beautiful during its night show! – Check out the best hotels with Eiffel Tower Views
HOTELS AT LE MARAIS IN PARIS 3
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 THE LATIN QUARTER
If you prefer to stay in the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter is also a good option, usually with less expensive options. Stay close to the Luxembourg Gardens or the Jardin des Plantes but also to lively areas like rue du Mouffetard or the Sorbonne, with many bars and restaurants nearby – Click here for the best hotels in the Latin Quarter
- Hotel La Lanterne (4-star hotel located between Notre Dame and Luxembourg Gardens)
- Observatoire Luxembourg (4-star hotel near the Luxembourg Gardens)
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.
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 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 2025? 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.
And there you have it – what to do in Paris in January 2025 and seasonal events to help you plan your Paris trip. Bon voyage!
