Exciting Paris events during February include final Winter Sales (look for the biggest bargains this month!), a lively roster of concerts and museum shows, a big Mardi Gras parade, and believe it or not, the first signs of spring toward the end of the month.

Visiting Paris in February?

If you're coming to Paris this month, consider booking your "bucket list" tours and activities ASAP to make sure you get your top choices.

Top Paris attractions & experiences:

Most popular Paris destinations this month:


February gets off to a tasty start with La Chandeleur (a.k.a. "Pancake Day"), when everyone in France eats crepes.

Valentine's Day means you'll see lovely displays in bakery windows, and special menus in the city's romantic bistros.  If you're visiting, don't miss the romantic dinners, shows, and cruises on this day.

With warmer temperature, noticeably longer days (especially toward the end of the month), and the first flowers appearing on early-blooming cherry trees, February is a wonderful time to explore Paris, visit museums, and enjoy hints of romance in the air.

Want to celebrate being in the "City of Love"?  Pose for a photo in front of the famous blue and white Wall of Love in Rictus Square in Montmartre where you'll see I Love You written 311 times and in 250 different languages.

Top photo: Le mur des je t'aime (the Wall of Love) in Rictus Square in Montmartre, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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Valentine's Day in Paris:  Celebrate Your Love in the City of Love

Roses and peonies outside a Paris florist
Roses and peonies outside a Paris florist

It's hard to imagine a more romantic city in the world than Paris - so what better destination to celebrate your love on Valentine's Day, especially if you plan to propose? 

First, save by finding a cheap flight so that you can splurge once you get there by staying at a 5-star Palace hotel. 

Spend the day exploring the city and enjoying a leisure lunch in a cozy bistro.

As night falls, head out to one of these romantic destinations for the perfect place to propose:

And if a proposal might happen - or if you just want to commemorate the day, consider getting romantic photoshoot to capture your special day in Paris.

February Concerts in Paris - 2025

Notre Dame Cathedral - Popular classic concert venue in Paris
Notre Dame Cathedral - Popular classic concert venue in Paris

Paris concerts during February include an exciting mix of opera and ballet, top contemporary artists, and classical concerts in historical churches, where you can hear favorites such as Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Vivaldi, and more.  Valentine's Day concerts usually sell out far in advance, so if you're interested, don't wait to book!

More Paris classical concerts, opera, & dance performances during February

More Paris rock, pop, jazz, rap, indie, & other concerts during February

Find Paris concerts for other months

Winter Sales on Designer Fashions - Final Days 2025

Winter sales of Missoni, Valentino, Pinko, and other designers in a Paris boutique
'Soldes' sign announces sales in this Paris boutique 

The famous Paris winter sales end on February 4.  

By early February, Soldes signs in store windows all over the city will be announcing final reductions - as high as 70-80%, and occasionally even more. 

Savvy shoppers know that these last few days are when you'll find the biggest bargains.  

Can you still find any desirable items in the sales area?  Absolutely! 

PDG Publisher's Note:  I've snatched up some of my favorite capsule wardrobe pieces for unbelievably low prices during the last day or two of the Paris sales.  Always check to see what's left on the rack!  ~ Susan

Find out more about Paris Winter Sales 2025


Paris Tours for Fashionistas

La Chandeleur in Paris:  Crêpe Day!

Chinese New Year Parades in Paris - dates and locations
Au Lys d'Argent Creperie on Île Saint Louis in Paris

In case you've never heard of La Chandeleur, it takes place on February 2 and is the day in France when everyone eats crêpes.  (In English, it's called "Candlemas" - or just "pancake day.")  

Why?  The date is based on a rather obscure Roman Catholic holiday that celebrated the presentation of Baby Jesus at a temple 40 days after Christmas, which is the 2nd of February. 

La Chandeleur is also associated with superstitions about prosperity (you'll lose it if you drop a gold coin held in your left hand while holding the crepe pan in your right hand and flipping the crepe) and the weather (rain on February 2nd predicts 40 more days of rain - similar to Groundhog Day in the U.S. and Canada).

Bottom line:  If you're in Paris on February 2nd, head to the nearest creperie to celebrate this tasty French tradition.


Fun Ways to Tour Paris in February

What to see Paris from a fun, slightly off-the-beaten-path perspective?  Take a look at these interesting ways to experience the city's culture:


Paris Exhibits - Must-See Shows during February 2025

Mark Rothko exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton
Mark Rothko exhibition previously at Fondation Louis Vuitton

These are just a few of the top exhibitions you can see in Paris this month:

  • Musee du Louvre:  Guillaume Guillon-Lethiere - A major exhibition of the paintings and drawings depicting the political upheavals between the Revolution to the July Monarchy by this 19th century African/Guadeloupean-French artist and collector, little-known today but renowned during his lifetime.
    Dates: Through Feb 17, 2025
    Tickets:  22€ adults plus the Louvre's 3€ online booking fee; includes special exhibits and permanent collections; book in advance for skip-the-line access; can also book in advance with a Paris Museum Pass
    Location:  Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1;  Metro: Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre
  • Fondation Louis Vuitton: Pop Forever, Tom Wesselmann & ... - An exhibition on Pop Art, with a major focus on 150 works by Tom Wesselmann, plus 70 works by 35 other Pop artists spanning Dadaism to the present day - Dates:  Oct 16 - Feb 24, 2025 
    Tickets:  Book in advance
    Location: 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16;  Metro: Les Sablons, plus a 10-minute walk (or take the shuttle bus included with the ticket)
  • Guimet Museum:  Guardians of Time - Monumental, spectacular installations by contemporary Shanghai artist Jiang Qiong Er - Dates:  Through Feb 2025
    Tickets:  13€ adults; includes permanent collections plus most exhibitions; buy online or enter free with a Paris Museum Pass
    Location: 6 Place d'Iéna, Paris 16;  Metro:  Iéna

Find more Paris museum exhibitions

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"One Thousand and One Orchids" Show at Jardin des Plantes

One of the greenhouses in Jardin des Plantes
One of the greenhouses in Jardin des Plantes

Chase away the final dregs of winter at the Botanical Garden's annual display of 1,001 rare and fabulous orchids (just a tiny fraction of the Garden's collection of 92,000 specimens) arranged in natural settings throughout the garden's enormous greenhouses. 

You can even experience orchid animations between February 10 and March 3, and buy a beautiful orchid at the temporary onsite pop-up store.

Dates:  February 6 - March 2, 2025 (to be confirmed) 
More information: website
Tickets:  9€ adults; buy online or at the greenhouse entrance (admission to the Botanical Garden is free).  Please note:  It's best to buy online in advance because dates fill up quickly as this show is extremely popular.

Location: Greenhouses, Jardin des Plantes, 57 Rue Cuvier, Paris 5;  Metro:  Jussieu, Place Monge, Austerlitz, or Quai de la Rapée (walk across the Pont d'Austerlitz bridge to the garden)

Find fun things to do in Paris in February

Mardi Gras (Carnaval) in Paris:  La Promenade du Boeuf Gras - 2025

Paris Mardi Gras Parade
Costumed participants in Carnaval de Paris: La Promenade du Boeuf celebrating Mardi Gras - Photo courtesy of Maciej Zgadzaj

Paris celebrates Mardi Gras with a huge parade based on ancient cultural traditions called La Promenade du Boeuf Gras (literally, March of the Fat Beef Cow) featuring masks and processions.  

Led by Pimprenelle, a lovely French Limousin beef cow wearing a gorgeous red dress, and her escort Pat the Clown, about 5,000 flamboyantly costumed paraders fill the streets of Paris with music and dancing, attracting massive crowds of spectators. 

The Paris Mardi Gras parade takes place in the 20th arrondissement, always on the Sunday before the Tuesday when Mardi Gras occurs.  The event is free, free-form, and definitely one of the most fun things to do in Paris in March. 

Want to march?  Just join in.  Want to watch?  That's fine too.  What should you wear?  Whatever you want - but the more fanciful and flamboyant, the better!

Carnaval de Paris (Mardi Gras) Parade Route:  Starts at Place Gambetta in the 20th, and goes down Avenue Gambetta past Père Lachaise Cemetery, turns right at Boulevard Ménilmontant and continues along Boulevard de Belleville, turns left on to Rue du Faubourg du Temple and ends at Place de la République. 

Like every parade in Paris, unanticipated route changes can (and often do) occur - so check the Mardi Gras Carnival website for any last-minute updates.

Parade date:  February 2, 2025
Starts:  1pm
Ends:   The parade ends around 6pm, followed by two hours of dancing around Place de la Republique, with the whole event ending at 8pm - so 7 full hours of fun and celebration
Nearest metro station to starting location: Gambetta
Future dates:   February 15, 2026; February 7, 2027

 

Just a reminder - The parade takes place two days before Mardi Gras, which is on February 4 in 2025 (and in case you're planning ahead, February 17 in 2026 and February 9 in 2027). Like Easter, the date changes every year because it is based on the Gregorian calendar which calculates dates based on phases of the sun and moon.  Mardi Gras always takes place 47 days before Easter.

Dragons & Lanterns Festival at Jardin d'Acclimatation

Dragon & Lanterns Stroll at Jardin d'Acclimatation in Bois de Boulogne
Dragon & Lanterns Stroll at Jardin d'Acclimatation in Bois de Boulogne

Through most of February, the new Dragons & Lanterns Festival at Jardin d'Acclimatation (next to Fondation Louis Vuitton) transforms the garden into a fantasy land filled with giant illuminated dragons and flowers. 

The family-friendly event takes place through February 25 from 6pm-10pm on Wednesdays through Sundays, excluding holidays.  Find more information and a link to get the special tickets (not the regular entrance tickets) here. 

Of course, you can also visit Jardin d'Acclimatation during the day as you stroll along the trails in this popular children's amusement park on the edge of Bois de Boulogne in Paris's 16 arrondissement, and explore the exquisite Korean Garden, Norman "hamlet" complete with farm animals, aviary, and wooded slopes.  

Admission is 6.50€ (3.50€ seniors) at the gate (5-minute walk from Les Sablons Metro station) - or you can get free entrance to the park when you have a ticket to Fondation Louis Vuitton.   Right now, the Mark Rothko show is still on (through April 2) - so if you haven't seen it yet, that's reason enough to go!


More about Paris in February


Find more fun things to do in Paris in February

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Heat lamp ouside this Paris bistro keeps sidewalk diners warm in February
Heat lamp outside this Paris bistro keeps sidewalk diners warm in February
Quiet street in the Marais neighborhood in Paris in February
Quiet street in the Marais neighborhood in Paris in February

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