A toddler enjoys a snow shower in Paris in January

What to do in Paris in January

By Ian Packham

January is a month many of us like to forget. The Christmas festivities have come to an end, yet the warm days of spring still seem a lifetime away. Paris in January is different. Whilst spurned by spoiled Parisians, if you come prepared, there’s no reason you can’t start the new year with a bang.

Other advantages include smaller crowds at big name attractions and the chance to update your wardrobe with the winter sales. Wondering what’s on in Paris in January? You’ve come to the right place.

What’s the weather like in Paris in January?

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The Parisian penchant for fluffy scarves is actually the result of an icy wind that can whip through the boulevards from the River Seine in the first months of the year.

With temperatures ranging between 3 – 8°C and averaging 5°C much off the day, decent winter clothing is a must for visiting Paris in January. Skies can be a little overcast throughout the month, although the lack of rain means you can probably do without the waterproofs. Average levels for January are just 18 mm.

It may also snow. However, it’s very unusual for snow to settle, so if you see flakes begin to drift across the city be sure to take a selfie!

What to expect from Paris in January

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First off, it’s wrong to say that the Christmas period is all done and dusted. The first week to 10 days of January continues to spread much of the cheer of the season. Ice rinks and marché de Noël – that’s Christmas markets to you and me – often don’t shut up shop until after the new year begins.

It varies by market – there are up to 20 each year – but the biggest in Paris at the Tuileries Garden is generally a reliable friend right into January.

The Festival of Lights at the Jardin des Plantes botanic garden goes one step further, lighting up the 70 acre site until the end of the month. No ordinary light show, the festival is made up of large-scale lanterns in the form of various animals and other designs.

At the same time, most of those taking advantage of these events after Christmas week will be Parisians rather than travelers. Visit Paris in January and you therefore don’t face the same crowds you will at other times of year. Now’s the time to experience Paris at its most authentic.

Check out the Paris stores

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Paris is known as one of the finest shopping destinations in the world. Those keen to add a touch of Gallic elegance to their apparel are in luck. Not only do department stores including Galeries Lafayette host regular fashion shows, but January is the time of the winter soldes (sales) too.

Nor do any passing rain showers have to put you off. Covered shopping arcades are hidden across the city. Often bathed with natural light on even the gloomiest of days, their history dates back several centuries. Passage de Panoramas has some excellent dining options, whilst Galerie Vivienne is lined with luxury boutiques.

You might even find a patisserie selling galette de rois. Made from layers of puff pastry and almond paste, ‘king cake’ is a specialty of epiphany on January 6. Look out for the fève or figurine placed in each one. It grants the finder good luck for the following year, but has also been responsible for its fair share of broken teeth!

Join the café culture

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Another way to fight off the January chill in Paris is in its cafés. A key part of French culture, each has its own ambience and clientele, be that the out of work artists of Montmartre or the bankers of the La Défense business district. Stop by for a freshly-brewed café, and you’re sure to be tempted into also buying a pastry. The only real question is which do you choose – croissant, madeleine or éclair?

To feel at one with your adopted home, you might instead decide on a traditional Parisian breakfast at Café Louise. But that doesn’t have to stop you checking out the cake counter here or in any of the hundreds of independent coffee shops lining the streets of Paris.

For drinks with a little more potency, the heritage of Harry’s New York Bar is hard to beat. Shipped across the Atlantic from the Big Apple in the first part of the 20th Century, it became a favorite watering hole of Nobel prize for literature winner Ernest Hemingway. Order a bloody Mary, sidecar or Paris 75 cocktail – the bar claims to have invented all three.

Don’t miss Paris’s January events

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By far January’s biggest event is the New Year celebration. It is centered on the Arc de Triomphe rather than the Eiffel Tower. Hundreds of thousands of people gather at the monument to enjoy a spectacle that includes fireworks and live music.

The cabaret clubs of Montmartre and the Paris Opera ballet company put on special new year’s shows too. Other places to spend the day include the city’s churches, who put on a host of concerts. Don’t expect much else to happen on January 1 though. A national holiday, many stores and restaurants give their staff the day off to be with family.

Gear heads should also keep an ear to the ground for the Traversée de Paris winter vintage car and motorbike rally. Roughly 700 vehicles make the departure from Vincennes chateau in the southeast of the city before following a route that takes them to Les Invalides and the Place de la Concorde amongst other attractions.

Save on Paris January attraction admission

January is a great time of year for anyone who loves a bargain to visit Paris. There are the winter sales, some fantastic deals to be had on hotels and the ability to explore with Go City.

Our passes give you reduced admission at many of the top museums and attractions in Paris. Our flexibility allows you to choose as you save. If the weather brightens up, you don’t have to find yourself trapped indoors all day, and vice versa.

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Magnolia blossom beside the Eiffel Tower in Paris in April
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What to do in Paris in April

April is such an extraordinary time of year to visit Paris that there’s even a song about it which has been recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Frank Sinatra. The month sees café and brasserie tables spill out onto elegant boulevards once more, flowers erupt in bloom and several major annual events take place. With the mercury steadily rising in thermometers across the French capital’s 20 arrondissement (neighborhoods), Paris in April is a great month to explore its many outdoor attractions. Its museums provide welcome respite from any incoming rain showers. What’s more, the crowds of summer are yet to descend on Paris, and hotel prices are still for the most part significantly below their peak. Wondering if spring in the City of Light is for you? Check out the array of things to do in Paris in April below. Get outdoors Although it’s the grand boulevards like the Champs-Élysées which are the focus of events such as the Bastille Day celebrations, Paris has several unmissable green spaces. The best-known name is perhaps the Bois de Boulogne, a former royal hunting ground gifted to the city by Napoleon III in 1852 and home to attractions including the Château de Bagatelle. Public access to the Jardin des Tuileries, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, dates to almost two centuries earlier. Its formal layout has become a place of celebration and relaxation. It’s also the location of the Musée de l'Orangerie, containing eight of Monet’s larger Water Lilies masterpieces. The highlight of the Jardins du Trocadéro has to be its views across the River Seine to the Eiffel Tower, although the creatures at the Paris Aquarium come a close second. Outside of the city, the gardens of the Palace of Versailles are usually free to enter, except for when their musical gardens and fountains shows are on. The shows start in April and continue several times per week until October. Experience easter in Paris Taking place in April or at the very end of March, easter has transcended its religious origin to become a festival which anyone can enjoy. Beyond the services of Holy Week, Paris’s churches host an array of classical music concerts. Often, all you need to do is turn up at the advertised time. But you can also do far worse than admiring the window displays of the patisseries and chocolateries of Paris, who go out of their way to outdo each other. Stepping across the threshold for a sneaky sample is a must. Chocolate is a key element of the easter egg hunts put on by organizations and major hotel chains too. But if you’re looking for a more rounded meal, be warned that most restaurants close on Easter Sunday and Monday. Parisians take to the parks for picnics instead. Take part in mass participation events As funfairs go, none are older than the Foire du Trône – or Throne Fair – in the Pelouse de Reuilly area of the Bois de Vincennes. Spread over 25 acres, the space provides temporary residence to 350 rides and stalls throughout April and May for a fair over a thousand years old. Now in its fifth decade, the Paris Marathon has to be one of the most unusual ways to take in the landmarks. One of the largest races in the world, with up to 65,000 participants, its route begins on the Champs-Élysées and follows the Seine eastward past the Eiffel Tower before doubling back towards its finish line at the Arc de Triomphe. One of Europe’s leading contemporary art shows, Art Paris also takes place in April. It brings together the collections of around 150 galleries from 20 countries within the impressive modern glass and steel structure of the Grand Palais Éphémère opposite the Eiffel Tower. Curated by a different figure in the art world each year, it’s one of the city’s most anticipated art events. Adopt the Paris style If you’ve a fondness for style, then Paris doesn’t disappoint. For one thing, the world’s style capital boasts its very own Museum of Decorative Arts. Located within the majestic surrounds of the Pavillon de Marsan – part of the Louvre complex – the museum contains over one million objects. They span centuries of decorative arts and include furniture, wallpapers and ceramics. But you certainly don’t need to head into the hallowed halls of the Louvre to become acquainted with Paris’ legendary elegance. Sit at a café table anywhere from Rue Bonaparte in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood to Rue Faubourg du Saint-Honoré, where luxury brands are based, and you can people watch with abandon. Then consider heading to Boulevard Haussmann and the flagship store of Galeries Lafayette. Its intricate interiors are worthy of museum space in their own right. What to wear in Paris in April Dominated by the arrival of spring, the weather in Paris in April is generally good. Average daily temperatures hit 15°C, but can occasionally fall as low as 10°C. Anticipate seven hours of sunshine per day. Rain is also frequent, although light, with just 25 mm falling during the entire month. As a result, most visitors to Paris in April will want a light jacket for the early mornings, late evenings and the breeze that whips through the upper stories of the Eiffel Tower. There’s otherwise little wind to worry about. Wearing layers will ensure you’re ready for anything, whether riding the roller coasters of the city’s theme parks, drifting along the Seine on a river cruise or hanging above the city in a hot air balloon. Save on April Paris attraction admission April is a great month to travel to Paris. Outside of the easter period, hotels tend to have reduced nightly rates and the city’s major landmarks are yet to see the crowds of summer. But this is not the only way to save on a vacation in gay Paris. Go City gives you reduced admission to many Paris attractions whilst still giving you the flexibility you would expect to have on vacation. It’s really as simple as that.
Ian Packham
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An Alternative Guide to Paris Museums

Paris is one of those amazing European cities just brimming with art, culture, and history. In fact, some of the most famous museums in the entire world are found right here in the City of Lights. We’ve all heard of the Louvre, Musée D’Orsay, Versailles, and so on. But what about those of you who’ve already hit up the biggies and are looking to explore some more distinctive or unusual Paris museums? If you’re looking for alternatives to the major label museums in Paris, have we got the handy little guide for you. Check out our guide to the quirky, unique, and unexpected museums in Paris. The alternative museums we highlight in this post include: Musée des Plans-Reliefs Musée de Cluny Museum of Arts & Crafts Museum of Decorative Arts Château de Rambouillet Sèvres, City of Ceramics Museum of Music Discovery Palace Picasso Museum Musée des Plans-Reliefs The Musée des Plans-Reliefs would be Toby Shandy’s delight. Housed in the Hôtel des Invalides, this collection features a massive assortment of “plans-reliefs,” or scaled-down models of cities and other geographic features for military purposes. They were originally used to strategize during battle—something of an early precursor to our digital renderings. The collection includes pieces from the late seventeenth through the early nineteenth centuries. Musée de Cluny Although it’s a museum that tends to escape people’s radar when visiting Paris, the Cluny Museum is actually among the most significant cultural institutions in the city. Found in the Latin Quarter, this museum features one of the best collections of medieval art and artifacts anywhere in the world. For example, you’ll find a number of famous tapestries, crowns, engravings, sculptures, and other evidence of medieval artistry and craftsmanship from France and beyond. Museum of Arts & Crafts The Musée des Arts et Métiers is something of a misleading name for this fine collection of scientific and industrial materials. Here you’ll find tens of thousands of drawings and objects—among which are some of the most famous technical objects in history, such as an original Foucault pendulum, the original model for what would become the Statue of Liberty, and the first mechanical calculator. Visitors can also explore historic cars, planes, and other artifacts from the history of transportation. Museum of Decorative Arts Housed in a portion of the Louvre Palace (but distinct from the Louvre itself), the Musée des Arts Décoratifs brings together compelling exhibits from the history of graphic arts, advertising, and fashion. The overall focus is on design and decorative arts, with objects like furniture, wallpaper, ceramics, glassware, children’s toys, carpets, and much more comprising its extensive collections. Visitors will also want to take time to explore themed period rooms that showcase different moments in the history of material goods. Château de Rambouillet Castle of Rambouillet is located a fair distance southwest of Paris, but it’s worth the extra effort to see this remarkable museum. Formerly the summer home of the Presidents of the French Republic, it’s now a historic monument preserving the long history of the castle. It was originally built in the fourteenth century but is most famous as the place that Louis XIV transformed into an idealized version of a country dairy to please his queen, Marie-Antoinette. There were further additions and modifications made by later rulers as well. Sèvres, City of Ceramics A small community in the southwest suburbs of Paris, Sèvres is known for its unparalleled production of exquisite porcelain. The largest porcelain manufactory in Europe is still located in this neighborhood, as the eponymous Sèvres – Cité de la Céramique museum. A visit here is an opportunity to learn about the historic porcelain production in France, as well as a chance to see their fine collection of Asian and European ceramics, including many pieces by modern and contemporary artists. Museum of Music Located within the renowned performance space Cité de la Musique, the Musée de la Musique boasts a unique collection of rare and unusual instruments. Visitors can peruse over 1,000 instruments and musical artifacts ranging from a tortoise guitar to a crystal flute. The collections span the period from the seventeenth century through the modern era including non-European instruments and music. The accompanying audio guide allows visitors to listen to recordings, and free daily concerts provide live musical inspiration. Discovery Palace The Palais de la Découverte is an exciting modern science museum located in the 8th arrondissement in Paris. Permanent exhibitions here include a focus on topics like mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, geology, and astronomy. It’s particularly notable for its Zeiss planetarium. About a decade ago it merged with the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, sharing their collective dedication to spreading scientific knowledge and education with visitors of all ages. Picasso Museum An art gallery dedicated exclusively to the expansive productions of one of Europe’s most famous artists, the Musée Picasso is absolutely a must-visit for fans of the Spaniard’s life and works. You’ll find more than 5,000 works of art including paintings, notebooks, sculptures, ceramics, engravings, and drawings, as well as thousands of archival documents include Picasso’s personal correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs. This collection is located in the Marais district of Paris. Save on Admission to Paris Museums Visit these museums and plenty of other cultural institutions with the Go Paris pass. Pay only 95 Euro for the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass, which covers admission to more than 55 different museums and monuments in the broader Paris area. The Go Paris pass also includes admission to tours, cruises, and other fun attractions to help round out your weekend getaway. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination, too!
Katie Sagal

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