Is Visiting Paris in December a Good Idea?

When people think of Paris, most picture themselves there in the spring or summer; however, I am here to say that Paris in December rivals the other months!

As someone who has been to Paris many times and in different seasons, December is one of my favorite times to travel to the City of Lights. I’ll explain why in this post.

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Paris in December Reason #1 – Less Crowded

Beautiful passage way in Paris decorated with string lights for December celebrations.

Beautiful cobblestone street in Paris lined with trees and shops but no people to show how empty it is in Paris in December.

Because most people want to travel to Paris during the spring and summer months, it can be obnoxiously crowded. Paris is actually having a bit of a tourism crisis because of how crowded it is during these peak times. However, in December, especially early December, you won’t have to deal with crowds hardly at all. In fact, there is a saying that:

“In Winter, Paris is for the Parisians.”

Meaning that the locals can enjoy their city without all of the tourism nuances that they have during the peak months. You’ll find the locals are more relaxed and there is just a more calm feel to the city.

If you are like me and love to really experience places like the locals do, then early December is a great time to visit Paris! You’ll be able to mesh in with the locals more and really experience a Parisian lifestyle.

However, you are still a tourist and you’ll want to see the touristy things of Paris. Because the crowds are significantly less (and almost nonexistent), you’ll be able to see so much more of the city than if you traveled during peak times.

On my last trip to Paris, I went with 3 of my girlfriends. We were able to get in and out of the most touristy spots in Paris with NO lines. Here are a few examples of some of the most touristy places we visited. This will give you an idea of what to expect if you visit Paris in December.

Eiffel Tower

Most of the time, you will need to either pre-order Eiffel Tower entry times or wait in a really long line. This was not the case for us in early December though.

I’m talking about walking right up to the Eiffel Tower and going straight to the top within 5-10 minutes! In fact, the only thing we saw in line was a big ole rat. (There is a reason why Ratatouille is a movie based in Paris after all lol!)

Blonde girl looking up at the Eiffel Tower from directly underneath of it.

Blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower when it is all lit up at night.

Four girls standing in front of the Eiffel Tower with their arms out. Eiffel Tower is lit up behind them at night.

Louvre

For the Louvre, we had absolutely no wait time entering. Then again very little wait time to see the Mona Lisa.

You can see in the picture below the line we had for the Mona Lisa. Normally, it is at least triple this. However, we waited no more than 5 minutes. Then because there were very few people behind us, we were able to take our time taking pictures.

Four girls standing in front of the pyramid at the Louvre. There is no one else around showing how empty it is in Paris in December.

As we continued through the Louvre, we did come across many school groups. It was pretty cute to see the local French kids experiencing the art. Most were making fun of the paintings and sculptures lol. They don’t appreciate the art quite yet but it was another moment where we could be with the locals and experience Paris through their eyes.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the whole trip. See the giggling school boys as they took in the naked statue lol!

Little stuffed mouse covering her eyes at the sight of a naked man statue in the Louvre in Paris while there are preteen boys laughing in the background and pointing at the statue.

Montmartre

One of my favorite spots in the city is a place called Montmartre. I discovered Montmartre 20+ years ago as a college student who was in France studying art. I immediately fell in love with it! However, over the years, it has become so overpopulated with tourists that the locals are denouncing the ‘Disneyfication’ of it.

If you visit Montmartre in winter though, you’ll get to experience a more calm artist neighborhood like I did 20+ years ago. Artists will be out in the square, the bells from the Sacré-Cœur will still be chiming, and the incredible views overlooking Paris will still be there. These are a few pictures of Montmartre in December.

A view of Montmarte in Paris in December to show less crowds than in peak seasons.

4 girls standing in front of the Sacre Coeur in Paris.

A view of a cafe in Montmartre to show that it isn't crowded in Paris in December.

The cafes will be even more inviting in winter as you can sit inside and enjoy the warmth of the coffees and pastries. It will be a nice break from the brisk air that winter brings.

A cafe in Montmarte to show no crowds in Paris in December.

Two friends having coffee in a cafe in Paris in December.

Shakespeare & Co.

This famous bookstore normally has a massive line to get in. Once you are in, its shuffling around in a crowd just to say that you’ve been inside. However, visiting it in the winter brings a whole new experience.

I was able to sit for hours on the 2nd floor of the bookstore when I was there in December. I took my time to read, write and draw in my notebook. The window that I sat at overlooked Notre Dame so I sketched my view. It was such an incredible morning. It did my soul good to slow down.

Instead of being just another tourist that was shuffled through, I was able to make my own memories and become part of the bookstore.

A view of the outside bookstore, Shakespeare & Co. The picture shows that there are no crowds or lines to get in.

A picture of a drawing that was done inside of Shakespeare & Co looking out the window to see Notre Dame.

More Examples Of No Crowds

Here are some more pictures to give you an idea of how non-crowded it is in December. All three of these locations are pretty famous but, as you can see, there are hardly any people there.

The first spot is the location of where Emily from ‘Emily in Paris’ is supposed to live in the show. The second are the famous steps from the movie ‘Midnight in Paris’. The third spot is the Luxembourg Gardens. Again, there are no flowers but the architecture is still stunning! As you can see, hardly anyone at all locations!

A girl standing in front of a movie location for Emily in Paris to show how empty it is in Paris in December.

Two girls sitting on the steps where Midnight in Paris was filmed. The picture shows how empty this spot is even though it is famous.

A girl sitting in the Luxemburg Gardens and there is no one else around her to show how empty it is in Paris in December.

So whether it is the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Louvre, or the shopping on Champs-Élysées, you’ll be able to experience these touristy places with way less people making it a more enjoyable experience!

Reason #2 – You’ll Save More Money

During peak season, flights from the U.S. are typically over $1,000. In early December, you can find flights that are right around $500-$600…sometimes even cheaper!

Because it is off-season, you can also find great deals at hotels and AirBnBs. During peak season, lodging in the best areas fill up super fast and are $$$, pushing you to either pay an arm and a leg or stay further out. With fewer people in the city in December, you’ll be able to stay in places that you may have not have otherwise been able to stay in.

If you love saving money, check out my other blog post:

Paris on a Budget: Top 35 Things To Do In Paris For Free!

Reason #3 – Be More Comfortable

A lot of places in Paris do not have air conditioning so in those hot summer months, the overcrowded cafes, shops and attractions can become more miserable than enjoyable. I’ve been in places that I’ve dreamed of visiting only to have my husband want to hurry through it because he was too hot. Not the ideal scenario if this is your first time visiting Paris!

Also, a lot of hotels and AirBnBs do not have air conditioning. If you like to sleep cold, like we do, then traveling to Paris in spring/summer isn’t the ideal scenario as those rooms get pretty warm.

While a lot of places don’t have air conditioning, almost all have heat so if you are someone who gets cold easily (like me), you’ll be able to warm your room up to where you are comfortable. Or if you want it even colder than what it naturally is, just open the windows for that brisk night air. We’ve slept with the windows open in many places and it’s been lovely!

Being comfortable for sleeping will not only make you happier and more comfortable, it will help you get over being jet-lagged faster which will make your whole trip a better experience.

Another reason why visiting Paris in December / winter is a favorite of mine!

Paris in December Outfit Must-Haves

You may think that I don’t get cold easily – and that is not true. I definitely get cold but the trick here is to prepare for it. If you pack correctly, you can have the best time in Paris in December without being cold!

Fleece Lined Tights

A girl in a pink dress and black fleece leggings leaning against the Paris Opera House, Palais Garnier, steps.

A girl in a black dress and skin tone fleece leggings on the steps of the Palais Garnier Paris Opera House.

Fleece lined tights were an absolute must have to keep warm without sacrificing style. I love wearing skirts and dresses and these fleece tights let me do just that without me freezing.

Each of us girls wore these tights at some point on our trip. You can see in the pictures above how they looked with two of our outfits. I had two sets…one in black and another in a natural skin tone color. They were so warm! Get them here.

A Fashionable Coat

I actually took several coats as I wanted several different looks for pictures. See below for my top suggestions.

A Black & White Coat

A blonde girl in a black and white coat on top of a building overlooking Paris in December. There is a Christmas tree on the street and the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Two girls, one in a black and white coat, inside of a Paris cafe.

I absolutely loved my black & white coat that I wore in Paris. Not only did it keep me warm, I felt that the style gave me the “Paris look” that I was going for. The design matched what I wanted for my photos and I absolutely loved the big neck / hood.

I was fortunate enough to find this coat at a secondhand store here in the U.S. but would highly recommend you checking out their website to see if you can find a similar look for your trip. At the time of writing this blog, they have several coat styles that would be great aesthetically for a Paris in December trip! Shop their styles here!

Long Wool Coat

A blonde girl in a long tan coat standing in front of the Arc de Triumph.

A dark haired girl in a long tan coat standing in front of the Paris Opera House, Palais Garnier.

A long wool coat not only will keep you warm, but will be super stylish too. Two of my girlfriends had them and they looked like they fit right in with the locals. Check out these super cute styles here and here.

Fur / Faux Fur Coat

A girl in a long black dress and white faux fur coat leaning against a light pole in front of the Palais Garnier in Paris in December.

A girl in a faux fur white coat and white boots standing in a beautiful restaurant with two big, blue curtains framing the hall.

If you are planning on going anywhere nice, like the Opera or a really nice dinner, then a fur coat (or faux fur like I did) will keep you warm plus be great for pictures!

Depending on your budget, you can splurge and get a real fur like this one here or if you are on a budget, something like this will do just fine too!

Don’t forget your gloves, hats and scarfs for your trip to Paris in December!

Keep adding on those layers with cute scarfs, hats, gloves, sweaters, wool socks and to be extra prepared, get these hand warmers and body warmers! Better over-prepared than to be cold!

Reason #4 – Decorations

Paris City Hall decorated for Christmas. City Hall is lit up blue with a ton of Christmas trees and ornaments hanging in front of the building.

It’s no lie that the flowers all around Paris in the spring and summer are beautiful. However, what you’ll be missing with the flowers, the city makes up for in Christmas decorations!

Paris is called “The City of Lights” and that takes on a whole new meaning in December as it is decorated to the max! It is so fun to walk around the city and take in all of the Christmas lights and displays. To me, if I had to choose between the flower gardens or the Christmas decorations, the Christmas decorations get my vote!

A view of Champs Elysees from a rooftop. Paris is decorated for December and Christmas with a Christmas tree and lights all over the city. The Eiffel Tower is standing tall in the background.

A girl in a gold skirt, black boots, a black off the shoulder top, and a black scarf looking to the side with twinkling Christmas lights behind her.

I do want to say that even though it is December, there are still a ton of buildings with flowers all over them. So you won’t miss the opportunity to see buildings that are adorned with cascading greenery and flowers!

A beautiful store in Paris in December with flowers covering the outside of the building.

A building in Paris in December that has flowers cascading down the front of the building.

Reason #5 – Picture Opportunities

With fewer people in the city, you’ll have more opportunities to get the photos that you want without the large crowds in the background.

My friends and I actually took really pretty dresses and did a big photoshoot at the Eiffel Tower and the Opera House and we didn’t have to photoshop anyone out of them!

A girl in a beautiful, long black dress posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in December.

A girl in a long, beautiful red dress posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

A girl in a big, black dress with a train running up the stairs at the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris.

A girl in a long, black dress posing on the Palais Garnier Opera House stairs.

The one regret that I have is that we didn’t bring a pop up changing tent as that would have been a huge help. We made it work but if you all want to do something like this, I would suggest bringing a collapsible pop up changing tent for any shoots outside.

There are many, many other spots that we took photos around Paris, but I think you all get the idea. No waiting in long lines to get your shot. You can take your time and just play with angles and poses without feeling rushed. For someone like me who absolutely loves travel photography, this is a huge win for traveling to Paris in December!

The Wrap Up: Is Paris in December A Good Idea?

I say absolutely, yes! I think especially for your first visit to Paris. You will be able to take the city in at a more relaxed pace with fewer crowds. Plus, you’ll save money!

Dress appropriately, wear good shoes and take in the City of Lights when it is lit up the most! Paris in December is a oui to me!

Thanks for reading…now go live that Free Life, my friends!