Paris in February? Are we crazy?
 

My husband and I are thinking about booking 4-5 days in Paris for mid February. Are we crazy? We would just pack our winter clothes and tough it out. Take metro a bit more than walking. Would one still get a good experience going that time of year. I know we will not be able to sit at outdoor cafes etc. so I am worried we will not have a 'true" Parisian experience. Any thoughts?

Where are you from..? I live in Florida and would definitely have to 'brace' for February weather. Someone just posted about their winter visit, mentioning snow and icy steps. If you're from NYC or Philly or similar, I imagine you'd be able to envision how to enjoy your stay.

Plenty of museums, shopping (remember those "Passages"?), concerts, dining (inside of course!)and such to keep you busy. I think you would be missing only the outdoor terraces and the parks, and I enjoy taking the metro AND the buses... and stop frequently for hot chocolates and coffees...

I think even I could stand it for a few days!

We live in Maryland; normally cold in the winter; however, today it is 63 and sunny!

We've been to Paris twice Jan/Feb and loved it both times. One time we went with DH's sister and her husband who are from Florida. They were a little more bothered by the cold..but they were only wearing lined rain coats too! With hats and gloves, they made it without a problem. We all had a wonderful time taking the Seine river cruise since they're covered and heated too.There are so many museums, cafes and other "inside" places of interest that Paris in winter is great IMO.

I think layering is better than wearing heavy winter gear...the metro and interiors can be vey hot otherwise.

We used to live in Paris for a couple years and I loved February. It was so quiet. As to the weather, it may be cold or warm. You never know just bring appropiate clothing for any weather or plan on buying whatever you need in Paris. Don't forget to bring a scarf.

Paris schools have their winter holiday (when many go skiing) from February 4 to 20. It's probably a quiet time in Paris, with not too many tourists. I would go for it, dress warm, have plenty of hot chocolate to warm you up.

Weatherwise, February can be - 5 C or + 12 C. But the sure and good thing is that you won't be as dark as, say, Christmas, when it's night before 17h00. In February, on a good day, there should be light until 18h30.

I've visited Paris twice in February (for work) and now I live here. It was 10C for about 4-5 days last week; now it's hovering around OC. That's not cold by my standards (but I'm Canadian). It snowed in late February (and, unusually, the snow stuck around for a day) last year.

Other than the fact that you probably won't want to sit outside at cafés, I think you'll still have a Parisien experience. It's really not cold to walk around. It sometimes rains for an hour during the day (but that seems to be true all year-round), but there are also moments when the sky is bright and clear and the city looks gorgeous. There are some very scenic bus routes you can take, too. And, of course, a brisk walk justifies the very Parisien indulgence of hot chocolate.

Splurge on lunches at restaurants with good views - we just had dinner at the restaurant on top of the Institut du Monde Arabe, overlooking the Seine - and it was gorgeous. Also the café at the top of the Pompidou Centre.

The tourist crowds will be smaller, and you're more likely to see real Parisiens than if you visit in the summer (especially if you visit in August when all of the city's residents flee the city for a month).

Pack a light or midweight winter coat (or even a thinsulite-lined leather jacket) and bring a few sweater layers and some gloves. Buy scarves when you get here (long, striped ones are popular here). You'll fit right in.