01Weather
Paris weather in January
Afternoons in January average 7.3 °C (45 °F) and nights cool to 1.8 °C (35 °F). The month brings about 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain spread over roughly 13 days, with around 106 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with December it is 1.1 °C cooler; February is 2.3 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical January | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 12 °C / 54 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 2 °C / 36 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | -3 °C / 26 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 11.7 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 1.1 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 41 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest January day 2016–2025 | 15.3 °C / -6.8 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 08:44 | 17:04 | 8.3 h |
| 15 January | 08:38 | 17:21 | 8.7 h |
| 31 January | 08:21 | 17:46 | 9.4 h |
Daylight grows by about 66 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris).
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in January
quiet Paris hotels registered 1,202,965 arrivals in January 2019, an index of 0.85 against the monthly average of 1.0 (690,077 in January 2022). What drives it:
- winter sales from 6 January
- menswear and couture shows 19–28 January
- lowest hotel rates of the year
School holidays that fill the city in January
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Christmas (all zones) | 19 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 |
| Germany (16 states, staggered) | Christmas | 21 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027 |
| England (local authorities set dates; Royal Greenwich shown, most councils within a few days) | Christmas | 21 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
04Public holidays
Public holidays in January 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Paris in January
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas market on the Champs-Élysées (Jardins des Champs-Élysées) | 22 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Jardins des Champs-Élysées · source |
| Winter sales (soldes d'hiver) | 6 Jan – 2 Feb 2027 | citywide · source |
| Paris Fashion Week, menswear (autumn/winter 2027-28) | 19–24 Jan 2027 | various · source |
| Haute Couture week (spring/summer 2027) | 25–28 Jan 2027 | various · source |
Every year in January
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Winter sales (Soldes d'hiver) | from the second Wednesday of January, six weeks | shopping |
06Closures
What is closed, and what to book
- Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Non-EEA adults pay €32 since 14 January 2026, EEA residents €22.
- Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required.
- Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays.
- Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
- Catacombs: Reopened 8 April 2026 after renovation; closed Mondays; online timed booking only, no tickets at the door.
- Giverny, Monet's house and garden: Open 1 April to 1 November 2026 only; closed all winter.
- Shops and markets: Winter sales 6 January to 2 February 2027 (national dates, to be confirmed by decree). Most shops close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; many close on Sundays except in tourist zones.
07Packing
What to pack for Paris in January
- a winter coat, gloves and a hat
- thermal layer for early mornings
- waterproof shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
- gloves: frost on about 12 mornings
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
January is the emptiest month in the hotel statistics, 15 percent below the yearly average, and the cheapest: the average Paris room cost €356 in January 2025 against a June peak of €514. The winter sales open on 6 January 2027 and run to 2 February, the one time of year the department stores on Boulevard Haussmann discount seriously. Fashion follows: menswear shows run from 19 to 24 January 2027 and Haute Couture from 25 to 28 January, which fills a few hotels in the 8th arrondissement and nothing else.
The weather is grey more often than not, with frost on about twelve mornings and a dusting of snow on one or two days in a typical year; the coldest ERA5 reading in the last decade was –6.8 °C. The sun sets before six all month, and before half past five in the first week. Plan indoor days around the closing rules: the Louvre is shut on Tuesdays, Orsay and Versailles on Mondays, and everything closes on 1 January. The Catacombs and the Monet gardens at Giverny are both closed in winter, Giverny until 1 April. The reward is the Louvre's Denon wing on a weekday morning with room to stand in front of the paintings, something that does not happen again until November.
09Compare
Paris month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 13 | 106 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C | 11 | 149 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| March | 12 °C | 4 °C | 13 | 225 | moderate 0.99 | Good |
| April | 16 °C | 6 °C | 10 | 306 | busy 1.04 | Mixed |
| May | 19 °C | 10 °C | 13 | 340 | busy 1.03 | Good |
| June | 24 °C | 14 °C | 12 | 354 | very busy 1.12 | Good |
| July | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 367 | very busy 1.1 | Good |
| August | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 340 | moderate 0.96 | Excellent |
| September | 22 °C | 12 °C | 10 | 270 | busy 1.06 | Good |
| October | 17 °C | 10 °C | 12 | 205 | very busy 1.09 | Good |
| November | 11 °C | 5 °C | 13 | 140 | busy 1.02 | Mixed |
| December | 8 °C | 3 °C | 13 | 106 | moderate 0.91 | Mixed |
Not sure about January? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
January in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in January | 7 °C | 11 |
| Amsterdam in January | 7 °C | 12 |
| Dublin in January | 8 °C | 12 |
| Barcelona in January | 15 °C | 4 |
| Venice in January | 8 °C | 5 |
| Prague in January | 4 °C | 10 |
11FAQ
Paris in January: your questions
Is January a good time to visit Paris?
January is a reasonable month with trade-offs to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 7 °C (45 °F), rain falls on about 13 days, and hotel arrivals run below the yearly average, so the main sights are quiet.
What is the weather like in Paris in January?
Expect cold days around 7 °C (45 °F) and nights near 2 °C (35 °F), with about 106 hours of sunshine over the month. One January in ten brings afternoons above 12 °C, and one in ten stays below 2 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in January?
January brings about 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain over roughly 13 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 41 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in January?
Pack a winter coat, gloves and a hat, thermal layer for early mornings, waterproof shoes.
Is Paris crowded in January?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,202,965 arrivals in January 2019, 15 percent below the monthly average, so expect quiet conditions. Main drivers: winter sales from 6 January; menswear and couture shows 19–28 January; lowest hotel rates of the year.
What time does it get dark in Paris in January?
Around the middle of January the sun sets at about 17:21 and rises at 08:38, giving 8.7 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in January?
Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required. Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays. Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
Are there school holidays in January that affect Paris?
Yes: France christmas (all zones) 19 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027; Germany christmas 21 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027; England christmas 21 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.