Paris events during January ring in the New Year with celebrations and good cheer.
Although days are short and the weather can be damp and chilly, you'll find plenty of warmth inside cozy Paris bistros, jazz clubs, museums, and concert halls, making January the perfect month to explore the "real" Paris without lines of tourists everywhere.
The eagerly awaited January Winter Sales markdowns bring a lot of excitement almost as soon as the New Year's celebrations end, with discounts offered on almost everything in the city: designer fashions, decorative items, jewelry.
If you don't want to brave the weather, you'll find plenty of tours and cruises to keep you dry while letting you experience top Paris attractions.
Find out about the best places to stay in Paris in the winter
Top photo: Signs in Paris stores in the Marais neighborhood announcing savings for the biannual sales, (c) Paris Discovery Guide
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Winter Sales on Designer Fashions - 2023
The famous Paris winter sales for 2023 run from January 11 - February 7.
As always, savings will be spectacular.
Look for Soldes signs in store windows all over the city, often followed by the amount of the reduction - typically 30-40% at the beginning but soaring as high as 70-80% at toward the end.
Best places to find bargains? Everywhere! Luxury labels such as Chanel, Valentino, and Armani draw huge crowds - ditto for the designer boutiques in the "Big 4" department stores: Galeries Lafayette, BHV, Bon Marché, and Au Printemps. But don't ignore smaller boutiques (head to the Marais, Les Halles, Saint-Germain-des Prés) and even global mid-market chains like Zara and H&M.
As usual, coveted Hermès bags, ties, scarves, jewelry, and other goodies go on sale for only 2-3 days at the special Hermes sale - scheduled this year for January 10, 11, 12 at Palais de Congrès near Porte Maillot - and yes, the Hermes sale begins one day before the regular sales. Again this year, it is a private invitation-only event. Invitations reportedly went out only to selected prior customers in France. If you are a customer but did not receive one, your best chance is to contact your SA (sales associate) and ask to be put on the list.
Find out more about Paris Winter Sales 2023
Paris Tours for Fashionistas
Paris Concerts & Musical Events - January 2023
January Concerts in Paris
January Concerts in Paris 2024
- Les Violons de France: Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Caccini, & Schubert - Saint-Germain-des-Pres Church - Jan 1, 6
New Year's Day Concerts in Paris
More Paris classical concerts, opera, & dance performances during January
More Paris rock, pop, jazz, rap, indie, & other concerts during January
Find Paris concerts for other months
Epiphany Day & Galette des Rois in Paris
Paris (and the rest of France) celebrates Epiphany, the arrival in Bethlehem of Three Wisemen bringing gifts to Baby Jesus, on January 6. (Less commonly in France, some people may instead observe this Catholic and Orthodox event on the first Sunday after January 1st.)
The tradition in France is to celebrate with Champagne and galette des rois - Kings' Cake. This delectible confection is made from buttery puff pastry and almond paste with a tiny porcelein figurine or bean - la fève - hidden somewhere inside. When the cake is sliced and served, whoever finds the fève (hopefully without breaking a tooth in the process) gets to wear a golden paper crown for the rest of the day and even better, enjoy good luck for the coming year. Even though Epiphany is only one day, bakeries keep their windows filled with tantalizing displays of galette des rois in all sizes throughout most of January. Then the cakes disappear for the rest of the year - but if you're not in Paris during January, you can enjoy a somewhat similar taste with an almond croissant at any time.
Chinese New Year Parades in Paris - Dates & Locations - 2023
Dragon Dances - Chinese New Year Celebration
Chinese New Year parades, festivities, and other events span about two weeks during late January / early February in Paris, home to Europe's largest Asian community. Don't miss the chance to experience the big parades with Lion Dancers, colorful dragons, drums, firecrackers, food, and activities!
Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year, or Têt) falls on Sunday, January 22 in 2023, which marks the Year of the Rabbit. According to traditional beliefs, people born in the Year of the Rabbit are believed to be pleasant, creative, compassionate, friendly, and peaceful. In China, celebrations take place over about a 15-day period.
Most Chinese New Year events in Paris take place this year in January. Here are dates and locations of the biggest New Year parades and other celebrations:
- Faubourg Saint-Honoré (where it intersects Rue Royal) - Monday, January 23 - starts at 3pm, and usually lasts about 2 hours - Festive red lanterns and a colorful parade with about 30 lion dancers, dragons, and drummers.
- Guimet Museum - February 2-5 - Special activities, with a lion dance on Feb 5 at 4pm, free with museum admission. Check the museum's website for more details.
- 13th Arrondissement Spring Festival & Parade - Sunday, January 29, 2pm. The largest Chinese New Year Parade in Paris with lion and dragon dances, and many marchers and even more watchers. The 13th district reflects numerous Asian cultures: Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Tibetan, Mongolian. Check the 13th's website for any late-breaking announcements: Paris 13 Town Hall website
- Belleville Chinese New Year Parade - No announcements yet
- Marais Chinese New Year Parade - 3rd arrondissement - No announcements yet
- Guimet Museum - No announcements yet. Check the museum's website for any updates.
Future Chinese New Year dates: February 10, 2024; January 29, 2025
Paris Museum Exhibitions for January 2023
Claude Monet - Joan Mitchell @ Fondation Louis Vuitton
A side-by-side "dialogue" between about 60 emblematic paintings by 19th century Impressionist Claude Monet and 20th century Abstract Expressionist Joan Mitchell highlighting their similar artistic goals and visions
Dates: Through February 27, 2023
Tickets: 16€ adults; book in advance on website
Location: 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16; Metro: Pont de Neuilly
Füssle, The Realm of Dreams & The Fantastic@ Musée Jacquemart-André
Discover the work of late 18th century/early 19th century Swiss-born British painter Heinrich Füssli in this exhibition of 60 paintings exploring the intersection between reality and fantasy.
Dates: Through January 23, 2023
Tickets: 15€ adults; includes permanent collections plus exhibition; museum website
Location: 158 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8; Metro: Saint Philippe du Roule
Find more Paris museum exhibitions for January & future months
Paris Museum and Attractions Passes
Get free admission and skip-the-line access to 60+ museums in and near Paris when you have a Paris Museum Pass for 2, 4, or 6 days. More info
Open-Air Exhibitions & Strolls during January
Embrace the fresh air of crisp winter days with these fun outdoor exhibitions and strolls while seeing lesser-known parts of Paris:
- Orlinski sculptures - Look for 10 giant sculptures by Richard Orlinski of bears, lions, gorillas, and even an enormous crocodile as you stroll along a 2-km stretch of Avenue George V and Champs Elysees from now through February 8.
Bonus: Check out the winter sales at the designer boutiques and other stores along the way. - Regards d'Asie - See photos of Asia showing dreamy landscapes and everyday life in this outdoor exhibition displayed on the walls of Bercy Village from now through January 18. Bonus: Take a winter walk through the Botanical Garden (free admission) next door.
- Jardin d'Acclimatation - 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).
Bonus: Entrance to the park is free when you have a ticket to Fondation Louis Vuitton (access the park directly through the doors near the restaurant). - Street Art - On this 90-minute street art walking tour of the 19th and 20th arrondissements, you'll explore two vibrand neighborhoods as you view the some of Paris's best graffiti art and learn about the artists who created it. Get your tickets
Recommended January Day Trip from Paris: Champagne Tour & Tastings!
What's the best way to welcome January and the New Year? With Champagne, of course!
On our recommended day trip from Paris for January, you'll visit 2 or more Champagne houses (including a world-famous choice and 1-2 small traditional Champagne houses), savor Champagne and food pairings during lunch, tour the champagne cellars, and join a masterclass conducted in a vineyard (or inside in case of bad weather). By the end of your trip to the Champagne region near Paris, you'll have tasted 8 different Champagnes and will have a new understanding of how Champagne is made. Pickup from your hotel or apartment in central Paris is included, and you can choose a small group (8 people max) or private option.
Find out more about this Champagne Wine Day Tour from Paris
Learn about other popular Day Trips from Paris
Paris Fashion Week - January 2023
Fashion Week brings a special buzz to Paris during January, when designers, celebrities, and fashionistas from around the world converge to see the latest trends in Haute Couture (January 23-26) for the Spring/Summer 2023 season. This is when renowned and trending fashion houses such as Hermès, Agnès b., Jil Sander, Pigalle Paris, Victor & Rolf, Fendi Couture, Isabel Marant, Dior, Chanel, Stéphane Rolland, Zuhair Murad, Valentino, Ungaro, Courrèges, and Ami reveal their newest collections.
The best places to glimpse the models (assuming you're not going to the invitation-only shows) are around the venue locations - the Grand Palais in the ritzy 8th arrondissement (although temporarily relocated to Champs de Mars), Palais de Tokyo and Palais Galliera in the 16th, Espace Eiffel near the Branly Museum in the 7th, Palais Brongniart in the 2nd, and at a variety of smaller, hipper venues scattered around the city. The trendy Marais neighborhood, especially around Place des Vosges, and Palais Royal are always good model-spotting locales.
Even if you're not remotely interested in these shows, here's what you need to know: every hotel in central Paris neighborhoods fills up with attendees and rates soar (unlike Paris hotel rates during the rest of January) - so if you're planning a visit during this period, book as early as possible to get the best rates - shift your dates a bit to miss this period.
Festival of Lights at Paris's Jardin des Plantes 2023
The annual winter Festival of Lights returns to the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden) in Paris's 5th arrondissement, with giant illuminated statues of animals creating a magical experience during the evening. Each year, the animals represent a different phase of evolution, and this year you'll see butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, snails, spiders, and other insects as you stroll through the garden's enchanting imaginary universe filled with lights and colors.
Although the exhibition attracts almost 400,000 visitors each year, the garden never seems crowded.
You can see the creatures unilluminated during daytime hours without a ticket (in other words, for free), but the ticketed event which begins after dark is more spectacular.
Dates: Through January 15, 2023, except for Dec. 24 & 31, 6pm l- 9:30pm, with last entry at 8:30pm, and until 11pm (last entry at 10) on Friday, Saturday, & school holidays
Location: Jardin des Plantes, 57 Rue Cuvier, 5th arr
Tickets for evening strolls: 15€-17€, with reduced prices for children and families; tickets must be bought online (and get yours early, as they will sell out on many nights, especially during the holidays)
Saint-Jacques Scallop Festival in Montmartre 2023
As seafood-loving Parisians know, the annual Coquille Saint-Jacques Festival at Place des Abbesses in Montmartre should be on your must-visit list for the weekend of January 21-22.
Although this pop-up festival offers free and fee-based tastings of fresh scallops, oysters, and other seafood from Brittany presented by about 20 specialists, there's a lot to love here: crepes, buttered caramel, and traditional Breton charcuterie, culinary demonstrations and tastings, musical entertainment, and even a fish pavilion.
Festival hours are 9am - 7pm on Saturday and 9:30am - 6 pm on Sunday. And for even more choices, check out all the seafood, cheese, wine, produce, and chocolate shops along Rue des Abbesses, one of Paris's great market streets.
More Fun Things to Do & See in Paris in January
Need a Paris Hotel or Apartment for Your January Visit?
Planning a trip to Paris? Use this hotel booking map to find hotels and apartments during your travel dates:
Booking.comCheck out the newest Paris hotels
More Things to Do & See in Paris in January
- Paris Church Concerts - Where to hear the best classic, baroque, sacred, and choral music in historic Paris churches
- Sainte Chapelle - All about the gorgeous stained glass, interesting tours, and candlelight concerts
- Why Visit Paris - In case you're wondering if you should visit Paris, here's why you should!
- Paris's Famous Winter Sales - Everything you need to know to score bargains at Paris's famous January/February sales
