France, Europe

Paris in January

The quietest, cheapest Paris of the year. Museums nearly to yourself; winter sales (soldes) run most of the month.

Quiet valueChilly and gray, highs near 45F (7C), short days

Eiffel Tower, Paris — ParisPhoto: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Paris. The quietest, cheapest Paris of the year. Museums nearly to yourself; winter sales (soldes) run most of the month.

Weather: Chilly and gray, highs near 45F (7C), short days
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What January is like in Paris

January in Paris is chilly and gray, with highs near 45F (7C) and the sun setting before 5:30pm. It is the quietest and cheapest month of the year. Flights and hotels drop, museum lines shrink to almost nothing, and the winter sales (soldes) run most of the month. The Christmas lights hang on into early January, and every sight is open outside of New Year's Day.

This is a great month for museum lovers, shoppers, and anyone on a budget who does not mind a coat and an umbrella. It is not the month for picnics, garden strolls, or long days outdoors. If you want Paris in bloom, wait for late April.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Paris this month.

Winter sales

The official soldes run for several weeks from early January, and the big department stores mark down heavily. Go on a weekday morning.

The Louvre almost to yourself

January weekdays bring the thinnest crowds of the year. A first-slot entry can mean a calm look at the Mona Lisa.

Cheap, cozy bistros

Lunch prix fixe menus are the best deal in town, and a warm bistro on a cold day is Paris at its most Parisian.

What to pack for January

A warm, waterproof coat
A compact umbrella that survives wind
Waterproof walking shoes with good grip
A scarf, hat, and gloves

Our timing tip

Skip the first week if you want the lowest prices; from the second week on, holiday travelers are gone and hotels drop further.

Book Paris for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Paris
Opens a hotel search for Paris in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Paris
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Paris
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Paris for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in January

Christmas season

Late November through early January

Department-store windows, markets, and the Champs-Elysees lights.

Things to do in Paris

Full guide

The Louvre

Book the first timed slot and go straight to what you came for; Wednesday and Friday evenings run late and calmer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Musee d'Orsay

The Impressionist floor is the best single museum floor in Europe. Thursday evenings stay open late.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Eiffel Tower

Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in season. The classic photo is from Trocadero at sunrise.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Notre-Dame and the islands

Reopened after the fire restoration; entry is free but the timed-entry app queue moves fast in the morning.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Montmartre at first light

Sacre-Coeur steps before 9am belong to locals and bakers. By noon in season it is a scrum.

Tickets and tours →

Luxembourg Gardens

The city's living room: toy sailboats, chess games, and the chairs you are actually allowed to move.

Tickets and tours →

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 January, quick answers

Is January a good time to visit Paris?

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Paris. The quietest, cheapest Paris of the year. Museums nearly to yourself; winter sales (soldes) run most of the month.

What is the weather like in Paris in January?

Chilly and gray, highs near 45F (7C), short days.

Is Paris crowded in January?

January is one of the quieter months in Paris; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Paris in January?

Christmas season (late november through early january).