Month guide · Paris · France
Paris in January
What January is really like in Paris: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 8.7 hours of daylight. Cold and often grey, but museums are quiet and the winter sales (les soldes) usually start in early-to-mid January.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Paris: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (8°C (46°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:38
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:21
- Daylight
- About 8.7 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and short days, but quiet museums, low prices outside the holidays, festive lights in December and the January sales.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early January)
- Lunar New Year parades in the 13th arrondissement (late January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · 1st arrondissement
Louvre Museum
Go straight to the Mona Lisa at opening time or leave it for the final hour, then explore the quieter Richelieu wing.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · 7th arrondissement
Musée d'Orsay
Housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station, the Orsay has the world's best collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Le Marais
Musée Carnavalet
Don't miss the courtyard garden and the room of old painted shop signs near the entrance.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Tuileries
Musée de l'Orangerie
Two oval rooms built to Monet's own design hold his eight enormous Water Lilies panels, lit by natural light.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 3°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Paris?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Paris in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Paris?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and often grey, but museums are quiet and the winter sales (les soldes) usually start in early-to-mid January.
+How warm is Paris in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Paris in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.