Monthly Paris Guide: February 2021

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Despite the low temperatures and freezing weather this month, expect February to be a month of warmth as the romance of the city envelopes you. Many restaurants, hotels, and commercial establishments are decked out in hearts in different colors to promote love all around! These normally seem cheesy, but after a rough several weeks of the strikes across different sectors, promoting people to express love more isn’t such a bad thing.

It’s also worth mentioning that while February is still part of the low season for tourism, most French kids will be on their school vacation from the 8th until the 24th of the month which means that attractions like Disneyland will be more crowded than usual. And one last bit of good news, 2021 is a leap year which means we all get an extra day in February! We hope you intend on using it wisely! Here’s what this month’s article has in store:

• Weather in Paris
• Top events happening
• Best attractions to visit this month
• News in Paris

 

Weather in February

Unfortunately, no. It’s not springtime yet and we advise that you bring all your thermals and stockings for your trip here. Travellers coming to Paris in February should expect to experience an average temperature of 5°C and a low of 2°C. At the same time, the amount of sunshine we’re getting this month isn’t that much different from January. Sunrise in the beginning of the month is expected at around 8:30am and it will gradually become as early as 7:30am by the end of the month. As for sunsets, the days in Paris will soon transition from Depressing to Moody-Chic as sunset will be after 6pm!

 

Events happening in February

1. Valentine’s Day

When: February 14, 2021

Paris is one of the most referenced cities when it comes to romance. Sure, Venice in Italy comes as a close second but it doesn’t quite have the same appeal as Paris. If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris with a special someone for Valentine’s Day, we highly recommend that you get a few expert tips on how to celebrate it uniquely. And it doesn’t even matter if you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day. We’ve got that covered as well. Read our guide to the most unique Valentine’s Day activities in Paris!

INSIDR Tip: Get glammed up before your special Valentine’s date. Head to BY TERRY on February 14 and get your make-up done for free! This is a great opportunity to sample the products of this luxury skincare and cosmetics brand. A lot of us in the INSIDR team love their makeup!

Locations: 36 Galerie Véro-Dodat, 75001 ; Galeries Lafayette Haussmann 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 

2. Paris Fashion Week – Womenswear

When: February 24 to March 3, 2021

After the menswear and haute couture shows are the much anticipated womenswear shows from the biggest French fashion houses. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Chloé and many others will be parading their latest collections which will set the trends for the seasons ahead! While getting to watch these runway shows are impossible, you can still mix in with the fashion crowd by hanging out at the top Paris Fashion Week hot spots!

INSIDR Tip: If you’re a shopaholic who loves these brands,  make sure that you keep your receipts when you shop in Paris so you can claim exciting rewards! Choose from designer card holders, attraction tickets, luxury cosmetics and many more! Click here to find out more about the INSIDR Rewards!

3. 6 Nations Tournament

When: February 2, 2021

Rugby fans from all over the world will be tuned in to watch the annual rugby tournament between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Stade de France in the the north of Paris on February 2 will especially be crowded with French and English fans as their 2 teams will fight it out on the field. Head over here to buy your tickets!

Location: Stade de France, 93200 Saint-Denis

4. Retromobile Expo

When: February 5 – 9, 2021

The Retromobile Expo is not just any automobile expo, it’s dedicated especially to vintage and classic cars! The expo is going to be one of the largest ever as it will take place at pavillions 1, 2, and 3! And if you’re looking into starting your own vintage car collection, you’ll have the opportunity to meet collectors and car manufacturers! Make sure to book your tickets online to get the cheaper rate of 19€ (23€ for tickets at the door).

Location: Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015

 

Best Attractions in February

1. Soon-to-close museum exhibitions

 

Coming to Paris in February might just be your best decision yet! This means that you’re catching the final days of the best exhibitions that debuted in 2019. Among those are:

– the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition at the Louvre (until February 24)

– architecture and interior design fans must catch the last few weeks of Charlotte Perriand’s world at the Fondation de Louis Vuitton (until February 24)

– fashionphiles must make it their mission to see the Marche et Démarche exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (until February 23)

2. Cooking and baking classes with Ferrandi

Ferrandi is one of the most sought-after culinary schools in all of Europe. This is where so many of the most successful chefs have graduated and getting into the program can be very tough! If you’re looking for a fun and challenging experience during your next trip to Paris, we highly recommend booking one of the classes by Ferrandi chefs at Galeries Lafayette!

There are 4 different classes to choose from and you can decide whether you’d like to create something sweet or savory. Do you wanna know how to cook scallops perfectly? How about making the famous Paris Brest dessert? The best part about these classes is that they only take a maximum of 2 hours which leaves you plenty of time to do other things during your stay in Paris. Book ahead here.

If you’re traveling with kids, find the perfect class for them! Read our article on the best cooking classes in Paris this 2021!

3. Valentine’s Day at the Moulin Rouge

The world-famous Moulin Rouge cabaret has prepared 2 very special evenings for Valentine’s! Only on February 14 (Friday) and February 15 (Saturday), you’ll have the chance to enjoy a special Valentine’s-inspired menu by Chef David Le Quellec.

Here’s what you can expect on the special menu: King crab, beautiful scallops, and sea urchin for appetizers, turbot or steak for the main course, and a soft pink praline cake for dessert! The menu costs 240€ per person and this includes the dinner and Féerie show!

4. A Lover’s Cruise on Vedettes de Paris

From the 8th to the 16th of February, Vedettes de Paris invites you and your Valentine to discover Paris, the most romantic city in the world. Embark from the foot of the Eiffel Tower for a 1h sightseeing cruise and enjoy the best of Paris, its bridges and most famous monuments! A mini-bottle of Champagne and chocolate will be waiting for you at the boat bar in order to turn your trip in unforgettable memories. The cruise costs 45€ for 2 people. Book it here!

 

Paris News in February

1. Transport Strikes Update

If you’ve been following our social media accounts, you might have several posts related to the labor strikes that started on the 5th of December last year.  The sector which has had the most paralyzing impact on daily life in France is the transport sector. You can read our Paris Transport Strikes updates to learn more about these strikes and how you might be affected during your trip.

As of this writing, no fixed deal has been agreed upon by the Macron government and the labor unions. While more metro lines have re-opened since the beginning of the strikes, the RATP network has not yet resumed 100% of its rail services and operations. We will do our best to keep updating travellers through our Facebook Page and Instagram.

 

 

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