Does It Snow in Paris? See When and How Much

Paris is not one of the cities on people’s lists when they think of snow. The city is romantic, it is known as the “City of Light.” The French food, the coffee, the strolls along Luxembourg Gardens, the sights and landmarks — that’s what Paris is famous for. But the question that remains is, does it snow in Paris? Yes, it snows in Paris. Even though it is not common and does not happen frequently, Paris does experience snow. Paris’s snowiest months, when and if it snows, are between January and March. The amount of snow varies per month and year, with an average of 3-15 snowy days during the winter months.

Let’s take a look at where most of the snow in Paris takes place, the average amounts, temperatures, and more.

Average Snow in Paris

Although it doesn’t snow frequently in Paris, snow is most common between December and February. However, the snowy months can extend in either direction from November to March. The two months that experience the most snowfall are January and February, followed by December. Throughout the year the average is 11.9 days, but it has ranged from three to 15 snowy days. The table shows the average amount of snowy days between November and April.

Snowiest Places in Paris

The snow in Paris is infrequent but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. With a higher elevation, the best spot and the snowiest one in Paris is the area of Montmartre. You can look from above at the entire city with its snowy rooftops. You can also make snow angels or even play fun, snow games.

Wildlife in Paris

Paris is a big city, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have wildlife. Paris is home to many parks, including two large parks that are on either end of the city: the Bois de Boulogne is on the western side, close to La Defense, and the Bois de Vincennes is on the eastern side, close to the Paris Zoo. In both parks, you can find rabbits, squirrels, insects, reptiles, and several species of rodents, like mice and rats.

If you want to see more exotic animals, you can head to the Paris Zoo. There are also regional parks that are outside the city of Paris like the Vexin Français Regional Park, Versailles, or the Hate Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Park.

Best Places to See Snow in Paris

Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. With its cobblestone streets, its historical landmarks, and its beautiful bridges that traverse the Seine River, you can fall in love with the city in an instant. If you are lucky and it snows while you are visiting the city, then you are in for an even more romantic time. 

The best places to see the snowfall and experience a snowy, romantic time are places that will truly make your visit shine. You can go to Sacre Coeur and Montmartre to see views of the entire city. Or take the elevator up to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower to see a winter wonderland. You can also walk down the Champs-Elysees, check out all the high-end stores, and finish off the day at the Arc de Triomphe before waltzing into a chic restaurant for a delectable glass of wine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paris’s winter like?

Winters in Paris are cold and dark. The month with the least amount of sunshine hours in Paris is December with an average of 1 hour and 29 minutes per day of sun. But even though Paris will be cold, you can bundle up and do your favorite tourist activities. You can go shopping, take strolls around in its famous parks, go inside the city’s iconic churches, and even go to museums. At the end of the day, you can go to a cafe for a warm coffee.

How cold does Paris get in winter?

Paris has an oceanic type of climate, which means that in the winter it gets cold. During the winter months, you can expect the temperatures to range from a high of 47 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month of the year is January with an average temperature of 41.7 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by February, which averages around 42 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the month.

Conclusion

And there you have it, it does snow in Paris. Although snow is infrequent in France’s capital, it does occur. The average snowfall per winter season is between 3 to 15 days, which means the odds are good that if you go to Paris during its snowy season, you will experience snowfall. There are so many fun activities you can do during the snowy season —  many of them are more metropolitan. However, if you go to the countryside, you may experience a more rural snowy feeling.