12 things to do on a snowy day in Paris

...or on a rainy day in Paris

As you probably saw on social media: It snowed in Paris this week. What a glorious treat, what a wonderful sight. What a miracle.

Unless of course, you’re me. I was sitting on a plane, on the tarmac at Charles de Gaulle, getting more snowed under by the minute.

Three hours I sat in that plane, on the tarmac, as the snow got worse and worse. I was just sitting there, scrolling around on social media as everyone shared dreamy Paris pics and videos of snow.

Anyhow, the flight took off in the end, and I’m out of Paris for a few days. And today seemed like a good chance to share with you some excellent indoor activities for next time it snows in Paris… I’ll be honest: These ideas were actually from a “Paris when it rains” blog post I wrote once upon a time. But it works equally well for snow. Let’s go!

1. Explore the Panthéon

This has to be one of the most stunning buildings in Europe. If there’s a queue, buy an online ticket for the exact same price and waltz past everyone. It always works. Don’t forget to see the crypt downstairs for tombs of many French greats like Victor Hugo and Marie Curie. And make sure to pay a little extra to get to the top for the panorama views of Paris (though they often close the top bit when the weather is bad). Address: Pl. du Panthéon, 75005

2. Taste your way through the ancient covered market

In case you’ve never heard of the marché Beauvau, it is a historic monument that was built in 1843, with a fascinating ceiling similar to an inverse boat hull. The indoor market goes hand in hand with the outdoor marché d’Aligre, which has been around since the 1770s, and which offers both fruits and vegetables, as well as a flea market. But it’s snowing, so stay inside. The market’s lively atmosphere offers an authentic glimpse into Parisian life and culture. Be sure to try a coffee at EarlyBird. Address: Pl. d’Aligre, 75012 Paris

Click here for our insider’s guide to the market.

3. Stroll the covered passages

During the late 19th century, Napoleon III ordered an upgrade for the city, widening the streets, adding parks and making the buildings more uniform. This meant that a large part of old Paris was demolished – but not everything. One artefact that remains is the covered passages, scattered mostly around the 2nd arrondissement. These passages were historically a way for people to avoid the often filthy streets and bad weather while shopping and socializing. And it works perfectly the same way today! Click here to find our favourite of these passages.

4. Go to a museum – maybe the Musée Carnavalet

Ah what’s not to love about the Musée Carnavalet? This museum of Paris history reopened in 2021 after a five-year facelift. After a long renovation project, it looks spectacular. Do not miss this the old shop signs in the entry hall. Address: 23 Rue de Sévigné, 75003

In any case, you don’t necessarily need to flock with all the others to the famous museums like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. Here’s our list of nine more excellent Paris museums that are criminally underrated.

5. Behold the Saint-Sulpice Church

This beauty, which dates back to 1646, is the biggest church in Paris that’s open to visitors (the Notre Dame is still closed for repairs - but only for a few more weeks). Saint Sulpice features magnificent Delacroix paintings on the interior walls. Once you’re done, the Église de Saint Germain des Prés is just around the corner. Address:  2 Rue Palatine, 75006

6. Marvel at the Ateliers des Lumières

Opened in 2018, this immersive museum hosts light shows that feature classical works of art from the likes of Dali, Van Gogh and Cézanne projected on the expansive industrial museum walls. Or, sometimes they go more modern as with the recent Tintin show. You’ve not experienced a museum like this before, and you’ve not seen art in this way before either. Advance online bookings are essential. @ateliersdeslumieres Address: 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011.

7. Wait out the snow over a long lunch

Treat yourself to a true Parisian lunch and enjoy a complete menu in a restaurant. You’ll get three courses to help you pass the time waiting for the snow to stop and you’ll quickly realise why the French insist on taking long lunch breaks. Click here for our top restaurant recommendations around Paris.

8. Warm yourself up at a good cafe

People-watching is not strictly a Paris summer activity. Find a cosy cafe, grab a seat near a window, a hot drink and watch the city streets turn white during the snow fall. Here’s our list of best cafes in each arrondissement.

9. Read a book at the National Library of France

This library re-opened fairly recently after ten years of renovations and the result is exquisite. Explore the glorious interior or grab a chair and a book, and stay for a while. Remember: There’s an unusually tucked away museum upstairs that’s among my personal favourites in Paris. Address: 5 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris

10. Go underground to the Catacombs

Caveat: There is often a queue here, so you will need an umbrella and warm clothes. But if you like this kind of thing, it’s worth it to see the fascinating tunnel network with the bones of six million people. The catacombs definitely aren’t for everyone, especially if you’re extremely claustrophobic. But it’s a pretty awesome part of the city that deserves an exploration. There’s also a deep, dark, illegal-to-enter section if you really want to explore. Here’s what happened when I did it. Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris

11. Catch an exhibit at Palais de Tokyo

There are regularly changing exhibits at this museum, and it’s sometimes open to midnight for all you late night culture vultures out there. Address: 13 Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 

12. Grab an umbrella and go for a stroll

Social media this week proved that Paris is beautiful during the snow; not least because the people scurrying inside leave the streets empty. So why not embrace it? Grab your sturdiest umbrella and explore Paris and its beautiful streets all to yourself.

You want even more things to do in Paris?

Need more? This week’s podcast might be for you! We listed 21 things to do in Paris with children (though the recommendations work for everyone).

For the full list of things to do you can read this blog post, full of links and details.

And for the most enjoyable version, press play on the pod below. At the end, you’ll hear about the ultimate day trip outside of Paris, according to Bertrand from My Private Paris. (Spoiler alert - it’s Versailles and there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained, too.) Double spoiler alert, I just did a day-trip to Versailles with Bertrand and that’ll be next week’s episode.

For more Paris recommendations and tips check out my PDF guide to Paris, exclusively on sale here. Meanwhile, if you’re a fan of The Earful Tower podcast and want to help improve the channel, you can become a Patreon supporter here and gain access to extra content including your own copy of my guide on sign up. I just sent out a save the date for our annual Christmas party too!

I’ll leave you with a pic from snowy Paris in the years gone by, when I found my red scooter like this the morning after.

Have a lovely weekend.

Oliver