The 15 Best Things To Do in Paris in February
If you are traveling to Paris in February, you have to read this post. In addition to the typical tourist things to do in Paris, you will find new places and activities that we have been discovering since we moved here.
Keep reading; I’ll tell you everything here.
If what you’re looking for are the essential attractions that you must see in Paris at any time of the year, read this post.
February 2nd: Celebrate Chandeleur in Paris with Crepes
Chandeleur, or ‘Fête des Crêpes,’ is a popular French celebration on February 2nd each year, marking the day of crepes.
This tradition, associated with the Christian festival of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple, features making crepes that symbolize the sun with their round shape and golden color, reflecting the lengthening days and the approach of spring.
Originating from the Latin ‘Festa Candelarum’, meaning ‘festival of the candles’, Chandeleur is a time for lighting candles and flipping crepes, a practice dating back to medieval times.
Established in 741 by Pope Gregory III, this tradition continues to be a beloved part of French culture.
Spending Chinese New Year in Paris
Chinese New Year is a grand celebration, no matter where you are. Among the things to see in Paris in February is this special event for the entire Asian community.
The main event is the New Year’s parade, which includes the dragon dance, accompanied by dancing lions and many artists and musicians.
The most popular Chinese New Year parades take place in the 13th district, where Chinatown is located.
Besides the parade, there are various celebrations throughout almost the entire month in the neighborhood. For example, on February 3rd, it is celebrated in Belleville, and on the 18th, there’s the spring parade in the 13th district.
Some museums also organize exhibitions and special displays for these dates.
Food Market Boom Boom la Villette Starting February 8th
Starting February 8th, in the lively La Villette neighborhood of Paris (19th district), Boom Boom Villette opens its Food Market, a space dedicated to the best of street food.
This new venue, with colorful and fun decor, spans over 4,000 square meters and houses around twenty kiosks and bars.
On the menu, you’ll find everything from street food classics to new flavors, including Asian delicacies, Italian dishes, and even reinvented Indian specialties. It’s more than a culinary experience; it’s a feast for the senses!
This destination promises to be a landmark in Paris thanks to its cheerful and welcoming atmosphere.
Beyond its extensive gastronomic offerings, it features arcade games, foosball tables, basketball hoops, and a stage for various events, including music, cooking, comedy, and more, available Monday to Sunday, both day and night.
Weekends also feature workshops for children, allowing adults some relaxation time. The fun at Boom Boom Villette is endless!
Mardi Gras in Paris
Mardi Gras 2024 is celebrated with great enthusiasm on February 13th. This traditional festivity, enjoyed by both children and adults, marks the occasion to use rich ingredients like butter and eggs before the 40 days of Lent, characterized by abstaining from lavish foods.
In France, the treats vary by region: oreillettes in Provence, Merveilles in Bordeaux, ganses in Nice, bugnes in Savoy and Lyon, among others. It’s an ideal time for sweet lovers, with a tradition that includes enjoying doughnuts, waffles, and crepes of all kinds.
Mardi Gras, often preceded by a carnival with roots in the Middle Ages, is celebrated in Paris with costumes and sweet recipes. For an unforgettable February 13, 2024, don’t miss the best plans and addresses in Paris for this celebration.
This year, the Jardin d’Acclimatation will once again host its carnival during Mardi Gras. A particularly festive event will take place during the February holidays, specifically on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Get ready with your best costumes, wigs, accessories, and outfits of all kinds, as the carnival atmosphere is guaranteed!
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Paris
Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world, so many choose to visit the city at this particular time of the year.
To have a perfect romantic evening, you can choose some of the most beautiful hotels in France, such as the Terrass” Hotel, which has a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower, or the Hotel Brighton from where you can see the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries.
Another option to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to take a cruise on the Seine River. Several companies offer this service. If you want to treat yourself, you can take a night cruise with glasses of champagne included.
And, of course, there is also the option of taking a gastronomic tour, delighting in traditional French food.
Exhibitions in Various Museums in Paris in February
Tutankhamun, the Pharaonic Immersive Experience opens in Paris: An Egyptian Journey in 3000 m² in Paris, created by the team of the exhibitions on Ramses and Tutankhamun at la Villette, available from February 2024.
Invader Space Station: the immersive street art exhibition that takes us to space in Paris. Embark on an extraordinary journey to the stars… almost! Street artist Invader invites us to his space station, an immersive exhibition available from February 17 to May 5, 2024.
In Léonce Rosenberg’s Apartment: discover the world of the art dealer at the Picasso Museum, from January 30 to May 19, 2024.
Etienne Dinet, Algerian Passions: the exhibition that takes us on a journey at the IMA – photos. Discover Etienne Dinet and his Algerian passions in an exhibition at the Arab World Institute in Paris, from January 30 to June 9, 2024.
A Thousand and One Orchids 2024 in Paris, the floral walk in the large greenhouse of the Jardin des Plantes. Don’t miss this floral exhibition: A Thousand and One Orchids returns from February 8 to March 4, 2024.
On the Seine: an exhibition at the Archaeological Crypt reveals objects found in the Seine. Visit this unique exhibition starting January 31, 2024, until the end of the year.
Egypt of the Pharaohs, from Khufu to Ramses II: the immersive exhibition at the Atelier des Lumières. A fabulous journey awaits us this year at the Atelier des Lumières: from February 9, 2024, to January 5, 2025, discover Egypt of the Pharaohs, from Khufu to Ramses II.
Musicanimale, the exhibition at the Philharmonic Enamored, the immersive and interactive installation at the Philharmonic of Paris. Participate in a unique, interactive, and immersive experience with the Enamored installation, presented at the Philharmonic of Paris from February 9 to August 25, 2024.
The Orientalists, the exhibition at the Atelier des Lumières that takes us on a journey to the East. The mysteries of the East await you at the Atelier des Lumières: join Ingres, Delacroix, Vernet, and many others in this unique exhibition, available from February 9, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
Girolamini Library, Naples, 2019 Journey in Stones and Light: the magnificent photographic exhibition to discover at the Conciergerie. Photographer Ahmet Ertuğ allows us to admire exceptional monuments through his photographs in the exhibition ‘Journey in Stones and Light,’ available at the Conciergerie from February 9 to May 20, 2024.
Free Things to Do in Paris in February
In February 2024, Paris and the Île-de-France region offer several free activities:
- Free Museums and Monuments: On Sunday, February 4, 2024, visit the National Archaeology Museum – Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye and other places at no cost.
- Over twenty museums in Paris, including the Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art, are free all year round.
- Free screening of Henry Bizot’s high mountain exploration films in Central Asia at the Forum des Images on Saturday, February 3, 2024.
- Free Ferris wheel at the Paris-Vincennes: Racecourse on Sunday, February 4, from 12 pm, with animations like carousels, pony rides, and games.
- “Multitude and Singularity” Exhibition: Explore digital art at Bicolore – Maison du Danemark, from December 8, 2023, to February 25, 2024, with a guided tour on Sunday, January 14.
- Art and Architecture: Discover the unique design of the Arts et Métiers metro station, evoking a submarine, and the macabre history behind Félix Potin on Réaumur Street.
- Cultural Celebrations: Join the lively Chinese New Year in the 13th district from February 8 to 25, and don’t miss the parade in Belleville on February 3, celebrating the year of the Wooden Dragon.
- Contemporary Art: Explore a free exhibition of 14 Japanese artists in Marais from January 31 to February 4, and discover the work of Mr. at the Galerie Perrotin until March 2.
- History and Design: From January 31, learn about Hector Guimard and Art Nouveau in Paris with free lectures and activities, and see the unique Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre metro exit, a work by Jean-Michel Othoniel.
- Family Events: On February 3, enjoy a free children’s party at the Communale de Saint-Ouen and explore the most beautiful libraries in Paris and its surroundings.
- Gastronomy and Art: Experience a cultural and gastronomic event at Samaritaine Paris-Venise from February 7 to April 23, and admire the work of fashion photographer Richard Avedon at the Galerie Gagosian until March 2.
Winter Sales Shopping
Between mid-January and mid-February, you can take advantage of the winter sales in Paris.
Keep in mind that the more time passes, the more the products are discounted, so if you are in Paris in February, you will be able to find good deals.
Sales are made by the big department stores, small stores, and even some of the famous designer stores, so it’s a matter of walking around and seeing what opportunities you can find.
Of course, the big luxury brands do not usually give discounts.
Some of the Parisian streets where you can find shopping malls are Rue de Sèvres, Boulevard Haussmann, Rue Saint-Honoré, Boulevard Saint-Germain, and Rue Du Commerce in the 15th arrondissement.
Classic Visits in Paris
Visiting the Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum
February is one of France’s coldest months of the year, so visiting museums can be a great alternative to enjoy your capital without suffering the weather.
And if we talk about museums, we must consider the most famous of all: The Louvre, where you can see the Mona Lisa.
But the Louvre is much more than this painting by Leonardo da Vinci. There are also the Wedding at Cana, paintings by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and many other great artists.
Several famous sculptures, such as the Venus de Milo and the Horses of Marly, are also on display. In addition, outstanding works from different parts of the world, including an Egyptian mummy and art from ancient Islam, are also on display.
Climbing the Eiffel Tower and enjoying the view
From the moment you enter the elevators with transparent walls, you know you are living in a unique moment.
So don’t worry so much about the photos; try to focus on the moment and enjoy yourself.
You will be at the top of Paris, 276 meters above sea level. You will see the beauty of its avenues, feel the wind in your face and your heart beating for the excitement of being there… and for the adrenaline of being so high.
At the top of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll find two levels. One indoor and one outdoor. From them, you can enjoy the view, whether you go at night or during the day.
And if you want to celebrate the moment at the bar, you can buy a glass of champagne and toast to fulfill your wish of someday returning to Paris.
You will also see a replica of Gustave Eiffel’s original office and a model showing the tower’s original top.
Visit the Arc de Triomphe
This monument was built by order of Napoleon to celebrate his victory in the battle of Austerlitz, but the emperor never got to see it.
Tú sí puedes hacerlo, e incluso puedes subirte al mirador que hay en su cima y contemplar una de las vistas más maravillosas de París, incluyendo la Avenida de los Campos Elíseos, el río Sena y la Torre Eiffel.
In the lower part of the Arch, there are four sets of engravings, which exhibit the most significant victories of the Napoleonic army. And you can also see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the scene of various tributes that occur throughout the year in Paris.
The ticket to go up to the terrace of the Arch also allows you to see a small museum inside, with models and objects from the Napoleonic era.
Enjoy a Day at Disney Paris
Another of the activities you can do in Paris in February is to go to Disney Paris for a day.
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Paris, but it’s great to do if you’re visiting the city with your family and enjoying amusement parks.
It is 32 kilometers from the city and can be reached by public transportation.
You will find games for all ages. Roller coasters, exhibitions of what the future will be like, parades with the main characters of Disney world, shows, and games of the most famous sagas, such as Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean.
In addition, there are hotels, restaurants, and a shopping mall inside the park, so if you get a cold or rainy day, you will have a place to take shelter.
Spending a rainy day at the Pompidou Center
The Pompidou Center is one of the most important museums in France, and another of the activities we recommend you do in Paris in February.
The building itself is a work of art, a reference to avant-garde architecture. And inside, it houses the National Museum of Modern Art.
Among the most outstanding works are those of Matisse, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Frida Khalo, and Chagall.
Another work of art is the view from the top floor of the Pompidou Center, from where you will have a panoramic view that allows you to see the Eiffel Tower, the Luxembourg Gardens, and the Sacre Cœur Basilica.
Admission includes the permanent collection, a pass to the viewpoint, and the children’s gallery.
Enjoying Dinner and Show at the Moulin Rouge
It is perhaps the most famous cabaret in the world and one of the oldest. Edith Piaf, Liza Minelli, Charles Aznavour, and Sinatra passed through here. And while a ticket is by no means cheap, it is one of those shows that you have to see once in a lifetime.
Moulin Rouge presents shows that change every few months. Each show usually lasts about two hours and features dozens of performers, including their famous dancers, as well as jugglers, magicians, and more.
The scenery, set, music, costumes, and dresses are incredible. It is truly a world-class show.
You can choose to see only the show or opt for a combo that includes the show plus dinner or a glass of champagne.
Free Walking Tour of Montmartre
Speaking of cabarets, one of the best things to do in Paris in February is to tour Montmartre, home to the city’s best cabarets. For Parisians, this is the artists’ quarter.
This free walking tour, in addition to stopping for a while in front of the Moulin Rouge façade, you will pass by the Cafe Deux Moulins, which you will recognize from the movie Amélie.
Then you will visit the building where Van Gogh lived, and the guide will tell you how impressionist art influenced his works.
The tour continues along Montmartre street until you reach the workshop where Picasso worked. And you will continue to see more important buildings in the neighborhood, such as the Moulin de la Galette, the Maison Rose, and the Lapin Agile cabaret.
The tour ends in front of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
Check out all the free tours you can do in Paris with an English-speaking guide.
Dining on a Seine River cruise
We have already told you that a visit to Paris in February is a good time for romantic plans, and here we tell you about one of the best plans to do with your partner.
You can take a night cruise on the Seine River and contemplate the lights of the city and the main monuments from a panoramic boat.
As if the view was not enough to have a magical moment, this tour also offers a great experience for the palate. You will have a dinner with a gourmet menu.
And if you want, to the typical menu they serve, you can add special details with the romantic combo, including champagne, a table decorated with rose petals, and a heart-shaped dessert.
Dining on the 7th Floor of the Printemps with a View of the Eiffel Tower
Printemps is a department store located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, where you will find the most important fashion, luxury, and beauty stores.
It is a group of 3 buildings whose facades have been declared historical monuments.
All this is reason enough for you to take a walk and see this charming place, but you can also go up to the 7th floor and have lunch at noon or look at the Eiffel Tower in the evening.
The food is delicious; this dish is a cuttlefish carbonara. It was excellent. Of course, prices do not go below 20€ per plate.
Or, if you go early, you can have a coffee or a glass of wine while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic view.
In addition to the Eiffel Tower, you will be able to see Montmartre and all its beauty. (below is a picture of Montmartre from the Printemps)
Take a photo on the Je t’aime Wall
The I love you wall is a 40m2 1mural where the phrase “I love you” is displayed in 250 different languages.
Beyond the romantic look, the wall has a symbolism given by the artists who created it. The wall refers to an element of a union but also of separation.
And if you notice, there are touches of red paint on different parts of the wall, representing a broken heart.
The I Love You Wall is a great place for photos and an excuse to get to know a different part of Paris.
Stop by the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
It is not just another bookstore among the many in Paris. Some of the most essential authors in history have been here, such as Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, and Joyce.
In fact, it was the owner who first published Ulysses in 1922.
Although it is not in its original location, it has the spirit in which it was created a century ago.
This visit is included if you take a free walking tour of the Latin Quarter. And when you see it, you might remember it from some movies, like Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris.
Among its shelves are those dedicated to English literature. And if you want, there are several armchairs, so you can spend some time reading in Shakespeare and Company.
Weather in Paris in February
During February, the weather is freezing in Paris. The average minimum temperature is 3°, and the maximum is 8°. The minimum may drop to -3°.
In addition, there are usually 6 to 8 days with rain, and there may be a couple of days with snow.
February brings a major change in day length. On February 1, you have 9.5 hours of daylight; on the last day of the month, you have almost 11 hours.
The sun rises between 7:40 and 8:20 and sets between 17:50 and 18:30.
This photo was taken at about 2 pm in February. These are the views you get from the Printemps with a little zoom and the beautiful* February sky.
What to Wear to Paris in February
In such weather, you can imagine that you will need waterproof footwear and an umbrella or a waterproof coat.
In addition, you will need a good winter coat, gloves, and scarf. And we would recommend that you even wear a wool hat if you are one of those who suffer from the cold.
You may have noticed that you have a lot to see in Paris in February. This month is a good opportunity to make a romantic getaway and take advantage of the fact that it is not a high-season month.
So you can expect that some prices will be lower than at other times of the year and that the main attractions will have fewer tourists, so you won’t have to queue as much and it won’t be as crowded.
Plan Your Trip to Paris
- Seasons in France
- Romantic plans in Paris in winter
- Visiting Versailles from Paris
- The best Free Walking Tours in Paris
- Paris museums in the 16th arrondissement
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