Paris in winter
So what if it’s chillier and the days are a bit shorter? In many respects, winter is actually the perfect time to visit the City of Light and to experience the real Paris.
A Time for Tightwads
For travelers on a tight budget, winter is the least expensive time to visit Paris. For one thing, airfares generally hit rock bottom. This year in Philadelphia and New York, for example, winter round-trip flights to the City of Light are averaging at only about $360. Since its low season, you will also save a few francs on hotel rooms. (Rates, by the way, must be clearly posted on the door of each room, broken down by season.) Shopoholics will want to visit Paris in January, when Parisian stores hold their traditional annual blockbuster winter sales. You can go home looking très chic, for pas très cher.
Peace and Quiet
Since fewer people vacation during winter, you’ll find that even the usual tourist traps seem less cliché; in fact, they can be downright romantic. You won’t soon forget, for example, the sight of a gentle winter snow wafting onto the Louvre’s stately courtyard as you stand inside its galleries, warmed by the energy of centuries of art. Visit the Louvre during winter, and you might actually get to - gosh! see La Joconde (the Mona Lisa) without having to elbow your way through a thick wall of camera-flashing tourists. You will find also enough tranquility and room to contemplate the canvases in the museum’s plethora of less frequented salons.
On that note, museum-hopping is certainly an enriching Parisian winter pastime. With over 100 to choose from, museum lovers will be wise to buy a Carte Musées et Monuments. For one low price, this card gets you into 65 museums and monuments in the greater Paris area. Options include 1, 3 or 5 consecutive days. (Buy the cards in major metro stations or at major museums.) A comforting post-museum cup of chocolat chaud will make winter memories even more delicious.
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année
Visit Paris before Christmas, and you will see the city at its cheerful best. Twinkling lights and festive holiday store displays, featuring ubiquitous Père Noëls and reindeer, cast a spell of good cheer on everyone. The city bustles with activity; everyone is busy with their Christmas shopping and preparing for the festivities. Don’t miss the huge nativity set in front of the Hôtel de Ville. Kids will also love sampling the merry-go-rounds that pop up around the city like flowers in the winter. You’ll want to ring in the New Year at Place de la Concorde, where a stunning contemporary light show contrasts against the ancient Egyptian obelisk - which aptly represents eternity.
A Variety of Events
Far from sleepy, January and February in Paris also offer a plethora of events, from the (ho-hum) touristy to the offbeat. If you plan on visiting during these months, however, book your hotel room well in advance. The International Ready-to-Wear Fashion shows (Information: 01-44-94-70-00) are held from mid -January to mid-February, and they quickly eat up many accommodations (at least in the mid-to-high end hotels). For the starstruck: keep your eyes opened: you might well catch glimpses of famous models, celebrities and designers in town.
Ice skaters can show off their skills in the temporary rink on the square in front of the Hôtel de Ville until Feb. 25. Rent skates for just 30 francs and don’t forget to wear warm socks.
Antique lovers will enjoy the Foire à la Feraille de Paris, an antiques fair held in the Parc Floral de Paris and the Bois de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement. And soccer fans won’t want to miss several opportunities to see Paris Saint-Germain play. Fans can buy tickets at any FNAC store, or by visiting the stadium (Le Parc des Princes 24, rue du Commandant Guilbaud, M: Porte de Saint-Cloud), or by calling 825 075 078. (Call in advance or you might be sorry.) Bundle up and get ready to cheer.
The Ten Best Things about Winter in Paris
1. Holding hands and drinking hot cocoa with someone you love in an obscure neighborhood café.
2. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve at Notre-Dame.
3. The amazing Christmas displays that adorn the Champs-Elyssées and the Boulevard Haussmann.
4. Bargain hunting at Paris’ traditional January sales (les soldes d’hiver).
5. New Year’s Eve light show at the Place de la Concorde.
6. Cheering PSG onto victory at Parc des Princes.
7. Ice skating in front of the Hôtel de Ville.
8. Museum-hopping.
9. The absence of long lines at Paris tourist traps.
10. Saving big bucks on airfare and hotels.