What are some fun things to do in Paris in January?
August 4, 2010 by Paris Vacations
Filed under Paris, France Information
Can someone tell me what are some good things (the best actually) to do in Paris in mid-January?
Me & 2 friends (middle aged) are going in January and we want to make sure we see all the best Paris has to offer in just a few days.
Apart from cold weather and shorter days, January is no different from the rest of the year to visit Paris. The only differences will be the possibility to use the outdoor skating rink outside the city hall and watching the kids enjoy the sledding hill.
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=24832
Also, some of the Christmas lights and decorations should still be on in mid-January.
- Take a cruise tour on the Seine, that’s enjoyable in any weather and you will see most of the famous monuments (do it at the beginning of your stay). On a rainy day, wait till it’s dark to do it as the lights will make the monuments stand out much better.
- If you only have a few days and it is your first time, I would suggest skipping the Louvre (go there to see the pyramid in the courtyard though). It is huge and overcrowded. There are a lot of smaller museums if you really care for art museums (Picasso, Rodin, Carnavalet, Cluny or even Orsay is more manageable in a few hours).
It is too long to list all the things you can do in Paris in a few days but here are the traditional must-sees:
- Notre Dame (you can go to the top (in winter the waiting line is not as long, which is one of the advantages of traveling off season)
- Walk in the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement), St-Germain-des-Prés (6th) and Marais (4th) districts as well as on Ile St-Louis (the smaller of the to islands in the center of Paris).
- Eiffel Tower (long waiting line to go to the top). At night, check the lights which sparkle every hour:
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/pratique/a_voir/page/phare.html
- Montmartre (actually best in winter, a little more authentic and less crowded)
- the Champs Elysées from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.
- In winter, it is nice to go to the Galeries Lafayette if you have time, it is not far from the Opera house: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeries_Lafayette
Don’t try to visit all the monuments in a short stay, try to spend half the time visiting a few and half the time walking in the streets, strolling along the river, window shopping and enjoying cafés. Do not miss the night life either. There are a lot of jazz clubs or salsa discos. Avoid restaurants in super touristy areas, venture into little side streets instead.
Here are also some "off the beaten path" ideas:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ahul7H0qSTnTYqiYj_MTinDty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071116102448AA87xzl&show=7#profile-info-AA11026176
Have fun in Paris!
Personally,, I love visiting the markets in Paris, at any time of year. Marché Bastille is probably the biggest and best known. It takes place Thursdays and Sundays (if I recall) from 7am. It’s on Boulevard Richard Lenoir, nearest Metro is Bastille. There are loads of wonderful food stalls, and plenty to taste and buy. Everyone knows Parisians love their food, and in this market it really shows.