Paris in February
Paris in February is a
delight. My birthday's in February, so it's always a very special month for me. Mid-winter
has passed, and although it's still cold, it's a great place to be without the tourist
throngs, easier to get into places ... who ever said you had to always
go on holidays in summer? Not me :-) As long as I'm
travelling or enjoying a different culture, I'm happy at any time of
the year but February makes me extra happy :-)
Above: Paris
Carnaval
Paris : February things to see and do
 Throughout Feb - Festival
of St Valentine
Who else but the Parisians in the City of Love
would they go all out to celebrate St. Valentines Day? If you're
visiting Paris in February you'll be treated to over 170 luminous
panels in all 20 Parisian districts. These panels are generally used
for every day mundane city information, but this month they'll be
carrying messages of love, lust and like, from admissions of
infatuation to grand marriage proposals.
February - March - Six Nations Rugby
Pris is invaded for 5 huge weekends of rugby - the
invadors? The British and the Celtic :-)
Held at the Stade de France [Stadium of France]
 February - Carnaval de Paris
Parisians come out in their hundreds to
participate in this wonderful yearly procession, which is also known as
the Pantruche Carnaval and the Saint-Fargeau.
The parade meanders
along the streets of Paris to the sounds of trumpets and all
kinds of instruments, until it reaches l'Hotel de Ville - the town hall.
500 ans de tradition !!
500 years of tradition!
Soyez spectateurs,
Soyez acteurs!
Site is in French:
http://www.carnaval-pantruche.org/
14 February - St Valentine's Day
Ahhhh romance is in the air!
You're in the City of Love, and you want to treat
your sweetie to something fabulous to remember.
Will it be a romantic horse-drawn
carriage ride, a
romantic cruise on the River Seine, followed by dinner and a show at
the Lido? Perhaps it'll be chocolates or flowers, or spending a day
visiting the romantic paintings in the museums and art galleries of
Paris? Whatever you choose
to do in Paris, it'll be special.
February - Chinese New Year in Paris
Paris' Chinese community celebrates the Chinese
New Year with a fantastic parade of music, fireworks, martial arts
demonstrations, dancing and giant dragons and serpents. The action is
in Chinatown which stretches between Place
d'Italie and the Porte de Choisy, in the 13th arrondissement.
This is the most important Chinese festival of the year and
lasts over many days.
http://www.chine-informations.com
Throughout
February - Open Gaz de France
Some of the world's top woman tennis players are
brought together by the Open Gaz de France. The prize money is a juicy
US$600,000. Played on the indoor courts of the Stade Pierre de
Coubertin, the weather is never a problem.
Paris in February
... has everyone's mind
thinking of the glorious days of
spring, when winter is no longer nipping at noses and fingers. It's
still cold, but definitely not as cold as December.
Ongoing : Paris
sur Glace
Today's
weather - how cold do you think it is?
* Minimum temperature: 3
degrees C (35.6 degrees F)
* Maximum
temperature: 8 degrees C (46.4 degrees F)
* Average temperature: 2
degrees C (37.4 degrees F)
* Average rainfall: 39
millimeters (1.5
inches)
February is the month when
romantic thoughts turn to Valentine's Day,
cuddling with your sweetie, strolling hand in hand on a cold day,
romantic dinners and cocktails ... and don't forget cruises on the
River Seine which may also involve chocolate :-)
Even if you're not celebrating
Valentine's Day, Paris in February puts
on some spectacular events like Chinese New Year, when you can witness
colourful processions of fabulous dragons and dancers liven up the
south of Paris.
Definitely consider February
in Paris because it is low season and you should get great rates on
airfares and hotels.
If you're lucky enough to be
visiting Paris in February you should take
advantage of the short or non-existent queues to see the city's best
monuments and attractions, like introducing yourself to the
Mona Lisa,
and having your photo taken at Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel
Tower.
The winter sales are coming to an end
February is the end of Paris'
annual busy winter sales, where you might
find a fabulous bargain to take home with you - your very own 'French
label'.
Watching the world go by from a cafe
I love sitting in cafes
year-round, but winter is especially pretty, a
lot less busy, and wonderful to sit in a cosy cafe, hot chocolate
grasped in chilly hands, slowly warming them up as you watch the world
go by. People watching is one of my all-time favourites no matter where
I am. :-)
So check out the cafes all
over Paris, from Rue Mouffetard to the Latin
Quarter or Saint-Germain-des-Près - and don't forget to talk
to
strangers, practice your French, and HAVE FUN!
Would you like to ask about or recommend tips
for things to do in Paris in February?
If you'd like to provide a tip, or tell a story of your visit to Paris, please do! Simply fill in the form below - thanks!
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