Although the City of Light is lively and welcoming, it does not spare us from the winter chill. However, there’s no need to stay cooped up at home. Here are several ways to discover Paris away from the cold!
Learn stuff
The Arab World Institute
1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris
The Arab World Institute is a ” one of a kind ” site that highlights the Arab world through its cultural, religious, social and anthropological aspects.
There are numerous temporary exhibitions that perfectly compliment the permanent collection of the museum.
The café-restaurant on the panoramic terrace on the ninth floor of the Institute offers a breathtaking view of Paris.
At the Café littéraire, on the ground floor, you can enjoy a delicious gourmet break and savor mint tea, oriental pastries, Moroccan crepes, cinnamon orange salads etc.
Le Musée en herbe
23 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 75001 Paris
Even children can still get educated in playful places that are suitable for everyone.
It is a multi-generational experience that offers guided tours, game trails on artistic, scientific and civic themes and events and workshops suitable for all.
The museum also pays special attention to accessibility for people with disabilities.
Information and booking (French website)
L’atelier des Lumières
38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
This former foundry in the 11th district has been renovated to offer you an extraordinary experience.
The exhibitions at the Atelier des lumières are immersive in a digital universe.
From floor to ceiling, over more than 3,000 square meters of surface and up to the 10-meter high ceiling, the works of several major painters color the walls and shift to the rhythm of hypnotizing music.
Les Catacombes
1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris
It’s an experience 20m underground and chills are guaranteed!
The largest ossuary in Paris, which remains at 14° Celsius all year round, is a labyrinth of underground galleries containing walls of human bones.
A surprising ” walk ” under the Place Denfert-Rochereau in the 16th district.
However, be careful not to take the youngest or most sensitive ones there.
Information and booking (French website)
Les Vedettes de Paris
The cold weather shouldn’t stop you from taking a cruise on the Seine.
Embark day or night in one of the Vedettes de Paris which are waiting for you at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
If you prefer the outside deck for your cruise, fleece blankets will be at your disposal to keep you warm but the inside of the boat is heated!
Information and Bookings (in French)
Warm up in a café or restaurant
Le Used Book Café
111 Bd Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris
Whether it’s for brunch, reading or a cup of coffee or tea, the Used Book Café is perfect!
If you want to do so, you can even bring in old books, which are then offered for second-hand sale and decorate this unique place very well. While getting lost in the lines of a novel, you can sip one of the 6 Dammann teas (sencha, lapsang, darjeeling…) that you can enjoy with gourmet scones, citrus cakes, cheesecakes or chocolate fondants…
Information on the Used Book Café
Les Marmottes
26 Rue de la Grande Truanderie, 75001 Paris
What could be more winter-like than enjoying a raclette in a Savoyard atmosphere?
Well, Savoie has come to Paris!
In the warm setting of a chalet, Les Marmottes offers dishes based on the world of raclette and fondue.
Above all, the raclettes are all-you-can-eat (€28-30): you can ask for as much cheese, potato and salad as you like.
Information and booking (in French)
Have fun inside
La Revanche
38 Av. Daumesnil, 75012 Paris
This fun bar has many shelves full of all kinds of board games, family games, games to have fun with, games to rack your brains and warm up from head to toe…
You can also drink and eat food platters and hotdogs.
Perfect for a good time with friends and family!
Facebook page (in French)
Prizoners Paris
15 rue Quincampoix, 75004 Paris.
If you want to forget the grey weather, why not go to Hawaii on a mission to find Agent 006 and thwart the plans of the new order.
This is the adventure that Prizoners Paris offers in its Escape Room “Hawaii Protocol”.
With your friends or family, it’s the ideal activity to spice up your daily life and rack your brains with more or less twisted riddles.
Information and booking (in French)
Le café des chats
9 Rue Sedaine, 75011 Paris
The Café des Chats is a very popular place to sit and watch the cats because of its location, vintage environment and traditional restaurant.
Come and enjoy your tray of mini desserts, tea and hot chocolate the old-fashioned way while cuddling little furballs.
Website (in French)
Chez Bouboule
46 Rue d’Argout, 75002 Paris
It’s already been a few months since the chirping of the crickets, the glasses of pastis and the games of pétanque have disappeared.
But at Bouboule’s, the pétanque field next to the bar will keep us waiting for the summer.
Website (in French)
Go shopping
Les passages couverts
Sheltered from the cold and hustle and bustle of Paris, the covered passages are the ideal places to stroll and shop.
The Jouffroy passage is a must if you are coming out of the Musée Grévin, it is renowned for its old-fashioned toy shops and its special atmosphere.
And to take shelter in the longest covered passage in Paris, go to the 2nd arrondissement in the Passage Choiseul.
Le carrousel du Louvre
99 rue de Rivoli Paris 75001
The Carrousel du Louvre offers an excellent opportunity to take a break after visiting the stunning collections of the eponymous museum.
The place is architecturally beautiful: the lower part of the famous Louvre Pyramid is visible from inside the mall.
Moreover, it is a place that hosts many exhibitions and is considered a fashion shrine.
Le BHV Marais
52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
The BHV Marais is the most popular department store in Paris.
The Bazaar Hôtel de Ville offers a catalog ranging from home and craft to leisure, fashion and more.
You can also find something to eat or do a creative workshop such as the “Beaux-Arts Wednesdays”.
Website (in French)
Go to the movies
Cinéma Pathé Beaugrenelle
7 Rue Linois, 75015 Paris
If you are a fan of new technologies and an eternal lover of cinema, you can enjoy the Dolby Cinema at Pathé Beaugrenelle, where everything is more comfortable and the cinema experience is the best.
Thanks to high-quality images and sound, you can have the chance to watch a film without distraction and in the best conditions.
Le Grand Rex
1 Bd Poissonnière, 75002 Paris
In a New York style, the Grand Rex is a legendary and historical place.
With its art-deco façade, starry vault and decorations, you will be more than seduced by this place.
The public can also explore its backstage in an interactive audio tour.
Go to the arcade
La tête dans les nuages
5 Bd des Italiens, 75002 Paris
La Tête dans les Nuages offers more than 1,500 m2 of fun for the whole family.
It’s a playground in the center of Paris that will please the youngest thanks to the “Universe Kids” and a mini-bowling.
It is also perfect for older people, with its billiards area, retro arcades and sports events.
It is ideal to shelter one’s self from the cold weather and play without watching the time go by!
Create a souvenir
6 rue Saint-Bernard, 75011 Paris
The weather makes us take shelter, so we might as well take advantage of it to be creative and use our hands.
Geneviève offers a ceramic painting workshop to spend a great creative and convivial moment around a snack or an aperitif.
Mug, bowl or plate… paint those beautiful objects and pick them up a few days later.
This is a unique souvenir to treasure.
Information and booking (in French)
Facing the cold
Take a walk in a park
For the bravest among you, we will always recommend a walk in the Parisian parks, which remain beautiful in winter, especially under the snow.
The Buttes Chaumont park looks like a black and white photograph under its winter blanket, while the Montsouris park offers hills and slopes that will please sledging lovers.
Go ice skating
On the roof of the Grande Arche, on the Champs de Mars, on the terrace of the Tour Montparnasse, put on your skates and come and slide on an ice rink set up near the most beautiful places in the capital.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the different venues as prices vary (from free of charge to €20) and it is sometimes best to book a slot to have fun with your friends and family!
If the cold is sparing us, but the rain spoils your plans, then check out our article on the activities to do in Paris when it rains.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
