The Perfect Winter Break in Paris
Frosty, bright-skied and quiet, Paris in winter is particularly special. Here we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do if you’re heading to the French capital.
Shop the grands magasins
A trip to Paris’s famous department stores is a must at any time of year, but go at the beginning of the year and there’s a big bonus - the sales! Regulated by the French government, there are only two official sales a year - one in the summer and one in the winter. The good news is the dates are announced in advance, so time your trip to coincide with the price cuts.
Try the city's newest restaurants
A winter visit provides the perfect opportunity to check out some of Paris’s freshest dining options. Open since October, 2015, is the café at Shakespeare and Company (below), the much-loved bookshop on the banks of the River Seine. The café serves tea, coffee, baked goods and afternoon tea (10am-6:30pm, Mon-Fri; 10am-7:30pm, Sat-Sun).
Other recent restaurant openings include Le 116 - a “rare find” near the touristy Champs-Élysées, which is “affordable, comfortable, and actually good” (Thrillist.com) - and Le Bateau Qui Fume, a floating food truck serving top-notch burgers and fries on a barge opposite the Musée d’Orsay.
Lindsey Tramuta, from renowned Paris-based food blog Lost In Cheeseland, says: “Paris has a lot to offer during the winter. Book tickets to see a ballet or performance at Opéra Garnier, go for dinner at the newly opened La Bourse et La Vie and cozy up inside the Dali Restaurant of Le Meurice hotel for a bit of holiday indulgence.”
Hit the museums
When the weather turns chilly, stay toasty with an afternoon of culture. There are more than 150 museums in Paris, and many of them have exhibitions over winter.
Top of the bill in 2016 is Picasso Mania (until 29 Feb) at the Grand Palais, which focuses on Picasso’s influence on the art world. There aren’t many pieces by the great man himself, but the exhibition draws fascinating links with modern artists, including Hockney, Warhol and Koons. We recommend visiting early in the morning before the queues build up.
And don’t miss the Rodin Museum (below), which re-opened in November, 2015, following a 3-year renovation.
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Explore the city on foot
Paris comes into its own in winter, when it “transforms from City of Lights to City of Fairylights”, says The Daily Telegraph. At this time of year, the weather is also perfect for walking - crisp and with a slimmer risk of rain than during the spring.
And if you should find yourself there when the festive season rolls round again (a long way off now, we grant you), then remember the following advice from Anne S Ditmeyer (the blogger behind Prêt à Voyager and one of the top Paris Instagrammers according to Condé Nast Traveler): “Go for a long stroll to find the holiday lights around the city (paris.fr posts a map every year). End the evening with a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine) on Rue Montorgeuil, ideally while sitting in an outdoor terrace with a heat lamp above you if it's not too cold. There are more ideas for experiencing holiday cheer in this blog post.”