Paris in January 2023 – Quick Guide by a Local

01/14/23

January in Paris 2023

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

In Paris, January is a great month for a cultural getaway and also a shopping weekend. Here is our guide to making the most of your time in Paris in January 2023.

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Is Paris in January Busy? Crowds Forecast

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 visited without the crowds!

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

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

Snow occasionally covers the rooftops of Paris in January, but it does not last long.

However, don’t be discouraged: there are many indoor activities in Paris if it is too cold to be outside!

Make sure to wrap up warm when out exploring Paris in January. Then, take refuge from the cold in one of Paris’ quintessential cafes 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? 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 are likely to be ok with fewer layers.

What to pack for January in Paris 2023? The weather in January in Paris calls for good walking shoes (sneakers or Chelsea boots), warm socks, scarves, gloves, thermal underwear (if you plan to do long walks), and a good warm jacket.

For a more local look during your trip to Paris in January, have a look at our winter packing lists for men and women:

• Paris Packing List for Women
• Paris Packing List for Men

Best Tips for Visiting Paris in January

1st 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).

6th 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. January 6th 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 the 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 . . .

Need insurance for France? Since August 2020, SafetyWing, our trusted travel insurance policy for long and short trips (starting with a minimum of 5 days), covers COVID-19 for new policies purchased, and since April 2021, unplanned quarantine is covered, too. Be sure to check France travel insurance rates and coverage with SafetyWing.

Top Things to Do in Paris in January 2023

What to do in Paris in January? 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 article on New Year’s Eve in Paris.

Here’s the list of the best things to do in Paris in January 2023. Some of the dates and activities are still 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, 2023:

• The Eiffel Tower
• Musée Grevin
• Musée Dali
• Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck
• Musée de l’Orangerie
• Musée de Montmartre
• Musée du Luxembourg
• Basilique du Sacre Coeur in Montmartre
• Musée du Quai Branly
• Musée d’Orsay
• Musée Maillol
• Château de Versailles
• Domaine de Chantilly (Château + Horse Museum)
• Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
• Centre Pompidou
• Grand Palais

Parisian Cabarets proposing a show on January 1st:

• Crazy Horse
• Moulin Rouge
• Paradis Latin Cabaret
• Lido 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 time here.

The Festival of Lights at 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 very beautiful.

This year 2022-2023 the exhibition takes place from 14 November 2022 to 15 January 2023 and is dedicated to the littlest creatures living in this world (Mini-Mondes en Voie d’Illumination). We are sure this beautiful exhibition 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 of seasonal settings.

Disney’s Enchanted Christmas festival lasts until 8 January 2023, so you cannot miss it when you visit Paris! 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, a Christian festival that 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 6h of 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 to eat 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!

Christmas at Parc Asterix lasts until 2 January 2023, and it’s definitely a very original way to start January in Paris. Click here to book your tickets with transfer 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 11 January 2023.

The Musée des Arts Forains becomes the theatre of a wonderful 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 whilst mechanized music performances, automatons shows, and optical illusions succeed one another all day long.

This year, the Festival of Wonders will finish on 2 January 2023 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 take place on 15 January 2023. The theme this winter will be ‘Montmartre en Fil Rouge.’ Expect 700 vehicles (cars, motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles, and tractors) each more than 30 years old!

At the end of the parade, the cars stay parked for a while in the car park behind the château. It’s a great opportunity for photography amateurs to take cool pictures of beautiful vintage cars 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 17 to 22 January 2023, followed by Haute Couture from 23 to 26 January 2023.

Even if the catwalks and after-show parties are reserved for professionals and VIPs, the show also takes place in the street, particularly around major Parisian places such as the Grand Palais, the Palais Brongniart, or the Palais de Tokyo. It is not uncommon to meet stars, models, and fashion designers there, so keep your eyes open!

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

Check out our article on the best French food festivals in Paris to see what January has to offer.

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Museums and art galleries are always a good idea in Paris in January, especially on those days when it’s too cold outside.

If you have already checked the permanent exhibitions of the main museums in Paris, check out the list of interesting temporary exhibitions happening in Paris in January 2023.

Cézanne, Lumières de Provence – Atélier des Lumières, from 18 February 2022 to 2 January 2023.

Kandinsky, the Odyssey of Abstraction – Atélier des Lumières, from 18 February 2022 to 2 January 2023.

A Second of Eternity – Bourse du Commerce, from 22 June 2022 to 3 January 2023.

Edvard Munch – Musée d’Orsay, from 20 September 2022 to 22 January 2023.

Frida Khalo, beyond Appearances – Palais Galliera, from 15 September 2022 to 5 March 2023

Expo Hyperréalisme “Ceci n’est pas un Corps” – Musée Maillol, from 8 September 2022 to 5 March 2023.

Arts and Prehistory – Musée de l’Homme, from 16 November 2022 to 22 May 2023

Art Déco: France-America – Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, from 21 October 2022 to 6 March 2023

Oskar Kokoschka Un Fauve à Vienne – Musée d’Art Moderne MAM, from 23 September 2022 to 12 February 2023

Boris Mikhaïlov, Journal Ukranien – Maison Européenne de la Photographie MEP, from 7 September 2022 to 15 January 2023

La Fabuloserie a 40 ans – Halle Saint Pierre, from 25 January to 25 August 2023.

A COZY BREAK IN ONE OF THE HEATED TERRACES AND ROOFTOPS IN PARIS

Beautiful terraces and rooftop bars are not exclusive to summertime. There are some beautiful heated places in Paris where you can finish your explorations with your favorite drink and awesome views of the capital or in a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Some of these terraces and rooftop bars are part of hotels but are also accessible to non-guests. Below, is the list of our favorites:

• The Parisian Bubble first floor of the Eiffel Tower, Paris 7
• La Bulle du Novotel Paris Les Halles – 8 Place Marguerite de Navarre, Paris 1
• The Chocolate Bar at Hotel Les Jardins du Marais – 74 rue Amelot, Paris 11
• The Royal Marché at Hotel Royal Monceau – 35-37 avenue Hoche, Paris 8
• Le Terrass Hotel – 12-14, rue Joseph de Maistre, Paris 18
• L’Hotel Amour – 8, rue de Navarin, Paris 9
• Les Climats (a bar-restaurant classed historical monument) – 41 rue de Lille, Paris 7
• L’Hotel the Westin Paris – 3 rue de Castiglione, Paris 1
• Le Hibou, a trendy bistro – 16 carrefour de l’Odéon, Paris 6
• Le Sinople. Inside Le Klay fitness club but also open to non-members – 4 bis, rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris 2

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 found some inspiration for your coming trip to Paris in January 2023!

Click here for more Paris travel tips

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