February in Paris often begins at home – with the lucky find of plane tickets. A few hours in the air, and you’re already leaving the airport, where the winter air smells of coffee and fresh pastries.
On the one hand, February is a winter month and quite damp. On the other hand, when could Paris be more romantic than in February? When tourist boats lazily float down the Seine, photographers catch rare rays of winter sun on the bridges, and bakery windows beckon with warmth and fresh pastries.
» READ MORE – Orly Airport in Paris: how to get there quickly and easily
Winter is already packing its bags, but spring is still standing at the doorstep, hesitating to enter – that’s February in Paris. You’re walking along the embankment, admiring the view of Notre Dame, and suddenly – raindrops are already tapping on your head because you left your umbrella at the hotel. So it’s better to always carry a sturdy umbrella with you.
- The average daytime temperature is around +7 °C. It is cooler at night, but it rarely gets really cold
- By six in the evening, you won’t be looking for a café just to hide from the darkness
- The main treacherous elements are the wind and sudden rain
To feel comfortable on your walks, follow the «cabbage» principle – several layers of clothing, a warm sweater, a jacket, and shoes that can handle puddles.
The February sun in Paris is like a rare invitation to a private party: it’s not a given that you’ll get to enjoy it, but if you’re lucky, grab your coat, download our audio guide, and run. For example, to Montmartre. Here you can feel like the hero of an old film: narrow streets, the smell of croissants, artists ready to turn you into a caricature in five minutes. On a clear day, the view from Sacré-Cœur stretches across the city, revealing rooftops in every direction.
February in Paris means sales!
The winter discount season in Paris starts in January and lasts until 6 February. This is a great opportunity to combine walks with bargain hunting. In the last days of the sales, prices fall particularly noticeably – sometimes signs with -70% appear in shop windows, and at the checkout, the pleasant surprise is even greater.
» READ MORE – Paris 2025. How much does it cost?
February in Paris is Valentine’s Day!
The main holiday in February for tourists in Paris is, of course, Valentine’s Day. On 14 February, Paris lives up to its title as the capital of romance – the city glows with lights, and the air is filled with the light aroma of champagne and fresh pastries. You can watch thousands of people kissing on the streets of Paris, and it’s not a sin to kiss yourself!
The most popular evening option is a cruise on the Seine with a candlelit dinner. As you glide along, you will see the illuminated bridges and silhouettes of the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
It is best to book tickets in advance: on this day, there are no empty tables on the boats.
Restaurants offer special menus for lovers – from exquisite tastings in Michelin-starred halls to cosy dinners in bistros with twinkling lights outside the window. A popular option is an elegant dinner with drinks at the Eiffel Tower, where you can see the whole of Paris at night.
» READ MORE – Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris
And, of course, hotels go all out. Special menus and decorations appear in lobbies and rooms.
Select a hotel near the Eiffel TowerIn the evening, light declarations of love appear on the facades of buildings: on Trocadéro Square, at the Sacré-Cœur, and on the bridges over the Seine. This spectacle invariably attracts spectators with cameras.
Throughout the month, tourists and locals alike will see more than 170 illuminated panels in all 20 districts of Paris. They are usually used as daily city information boards, but in February they will carry messages of love, passion and similar things: from declarations of love to solemn proposals of marriage.
And for those who love the atmosphere of shows, there are cabarets and evening programmes. The Moulin Rouge hosts special romantic evenings with champagne and live music.
February in Paris is carnival time!
The main holiday for Parisians is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. It is a noisy costume parade before the beginning of Lent.
In 2026, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, will fall on 17 February, but the fun will start earlier.
- From 14 to 16 February, there will be street performances, mini-parades and theatrical shows throughout the city
- The main event is the carnival parade on Sunday, 15 February. The parade starts at Gambetta Square in the 20th arrondissement, passes by Père Lachaise and ends at Place de la République. Along the way, you will be greeted by orchestras, jugglers, dancers and a whole crowd of Parisians in masks and costumes
Be sure to try the traditional treats – thin pancakes and golden doughnuts, which are prepared right on the streets. The festive atmosphere is such that by the end of the route, you will be singing along with the brass bands and dancing with them.
February in Paris is Chinese New Year!
On the same day, in the 13th arrondissement, the streets will be filled with another colourful event – the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The parade starts at Place d’Italie and winds its way through the entire neighbourhood, transforming it into a kaleidoscope of red lanterns and golden dragons.
Here you can see dragon and lion dances, martial arts performances and fireworks exploding above the rooftops. The neighbourhood’s restaurants serve jiaozi dumplings and sweets, and the fairs sell souvenirs bearing the symbol of the year – the Fire Horse.
February for the French means skiing
While tourists wander around winter Paris, the French themselves pack their suitcases en masse and head for the Alps. February is school holiday time, which starts on different dates depending on the region, so ski resorts live in the rhythm of a never-ending holiday.
Snow is guaranteed at this time of year, and towns and hotels compete to offer guests more entertainment, from night skiing to gastronomic festivals right on the slopes. So, if you suddenly feel like swapping stone boulevards for snow-capped peaks, you can join the French on the slopes of Méribel and visit other resorts in the Alps at the same time.
Paris in February lives to the rhythm of short days and long evenings, when walks along the embankments are replaced by conversations over a glass of wine, and the noise of the street suddenly dissolves into the sounds of an accordion from a neighbouring café. But just around the corner is March, with its first warm rays, flowers in the markets and a new reason to return.
Peter Mitchell / Unsplash 
Luca / Pixabay 
Jean-Baptiste D. / Unsplash
Marcel Dominic / Pixabay
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!