France, Europe
Paris in February
Still blissfully quiet. Cafe-and-museum weather; pack for rain and you win.
The straight answer
February is a quiet, good-value month to visit Paris. Still blissfully quiet. Cafe-and-museum weather; pack for rain and you win.
- Weather
- Cold and damp, highs near 47F (8C)
- Crowds
- 1 of 5
- Prices
- 1 of 5
What February is like in Paris
February stays cold and damp, with highs near 47F (8C) and frequent drizzle, but the days are getting longer. Paris is still blissfully quiet and cheap. Museums, galleries, and cafes run at full speed, and nothing important closes. French school winter holidays bring some families to the big kid attractions for a couple of weeks, but the city itself feels calm.
It suits couples, museum fans, and budget travelers who are happy spending half the day indoors. Families with young kids who want playgrounds and gardens will have more fun from April on. Valentine's week pushes up restaurant bookings, so reserve if you care about a specific table.
Make the most of February
What is especially good about Paris this month.
Short museum lines
Orsay, the Orangerie, and the Rodin are calm on weekdays. This is the month to see a lot without booking weeks ahead.
Cafe and hot chocolate weather
A thick hot chocolate in a warm cafe is the right answer to every drizzle, and you will never wait for a table.
Covered passages
The 19th century glass-roofed arcades around the Grands Boulevards make a perfect rainy-day walk.
What to pack for February
- A warm waterproof jacket
- Layers you can shed in heated museums
- Shoes that handle wet cobblestones
- A small daypack for a spare sweater
Our timing tip
Check the French school holiday calendar before booking, since the zone that includes Paris adds weekend crowds at kid attractions for two weeks.
Book Paris for February.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for February
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in ParisOpens a hotel search for Paris in February, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in ParisWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in ParisTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Paris for February. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Things to do in Paris
The Louvre
Book the first timed slot and go straight to what you came for; Wednesday and Friday evenings run late and calmer.
Musee d'Orsay
The Impressionist floor is the best single museum floor in Europe. Thursday evenings stay open late.
Eiffel Tower
Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in season. The classic photo is from Trocadero at sunrise.
Notre-Dame and the islands
Reopened after the fire restoration; entry is free but the timed-entry app queue moves fast in the morning.
Montmartre at first light
Sacre-Coeur steps before 9am belong to locals and bakers. By noon in season it is a scrum.
Luxembourg Gardens
The city's living room: toy sailboats, chess games, and the chairs you are actually allowed to move.
Beat the crowds
- Book the Louvre's first entry slot of the day, enter at the Carrousel or Porte des Lions entrances, and see your must-list in reverse order from the crowds.
- Do headline sights before 9:30am or in the last two hours before closing; spend the middle of the day in gardens, food streets, and lesser museums that never queue.
- Museums with timed reservations reward booking two to four weeks out in spring and fall; same-week almost always works in November through February.
- The first Sunday of the month is free at many museums: wonderful for the budget, terrible for the lines. Know which trade you are making.
Know before you go
- August: many family-run restaurants and small shops close two to four weeks for annual vacation. Major museums, department stores, and sights all remain open. Check any specific restaurant before you build a day around it.
- Most museums close one day a week: the Louvre on Tuesdays, Orsay and Versailles on Mondays. Plan the pairings accordingly.
- May is a minefield of public holidays (May 1, May 8, Ascension, Pentecost). May 1 in particular closes nearly everything, including the Louvre.
- December 25 and January 1 close most sights; the days around them are open but run holiday hours.
Paris in February, quick answers
Is February a good time to visit Paris?
February is a quiet, good-value month to visit Paris. Still blissfully quiet. Cafe-and-museum weather; pack for rain and you win.
What is the weather like in Paris in February?
Cold and damp, highs near 47F (8C).
Is Paris crowded in February?
February is one of the quieter months in Paris; most sights can be done without long waits.
Keep planning Paris.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
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