Paris in December is cold, grey and damp, and it's also beautiful: lights on the boulevards, Christmas markets and early dusk over the Seine. The good news for budget travellers is that the Parisian winter look is one of the easiest to pack light, because it relies on a few dark pieces worn again and again.
This guide plans everything to the strictest common free bag, 40 × 30 × 20 cm (Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling, Transavia, Jet2's under-seat bag). The trick is to wear your bulkiest things on the plane: the coat, the boots and the thickest jumper.
The weather in Paris in December
Shoulder months for comparison
| Station | November | December | January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris-Montsouris | 11.1 °C / 6.2 °C52 °F / 43 °F · 54 mm | 8.0 °C / 3.8 °C46 °F / 39 °F · 62 mm | 7.6 °C / 3.2 °C46 °F / 38 °F · 48 mm |
Source: WMO 1991–2020 climate normals, published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI accession 0253808). Stations: Paris-Montsouris (WMO 7156). Normals are long-term averages, not a forecast. Sunrise, sunset and daylight are calculated for the 15th of the month in 2026 (local time). °F and inches are converted from the metric figures. “n/a” means the station doesn’t report sunshine in this dataset.
- Cold, not freezing. Average daytime highs sit in single figures, and nights average a few degrees above zero.
- Expect drizzle. Around 11 days in a typical December get at least 1 mm of rain, so pack for wet pavements and use an umbrella rather than a rain shell.
- Short, dim days. Sunrise is after 08:30 and sunset before 17:00 in mid-December, with little sunshine, so plan your outdoor sightseeing around the middle of the day.
This week in Paris
The outfit plan in this guide is built from 30-year averages for December. This panel is the real forecast for the next 7 days, turned into packing tips for your cabin baggage.
The live forecast needs JavaScript. Everything else in this guide works without it, and the climate-based plan above covers any December trip.
Weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips.
Karen’s tipWeather changes fastLayer it up
Three thin layers from your capsule beat one thick coat in Paris in December: add or peel them off as the day changes.
- Base · next to skin
- Long-sleeve tee or thin thermal top
- Mid · warmth
- Merino or cashmere crewneck
- Outer · wind and rain
- Long wool coat, with the packable down jacket underneath on the coldest days
☀ When it warms up: Afternoons stay cold, but museums, cafés and the metro are warm: open the coat and pull off the scarf.
🎒 Stash it: The packable down rolls into its own pouch; the scarf stuffs into a coat pocket.
Check the live “This week” forecast above for big swings between morning and afternoon.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Karen’s tip On the plane
- Wear your heaviest items on travel day: coat, knit and your bulkiest shoes. They’d take the most space and weight in your bag.
- Planes can be cold with the air con, so take a jacket on board.
- An inflatable cushion that packs into its own small, discreet pouch: a head cushion on the flight and a pillow on beach sunbeds. You choose how much air goes in, so it’s as firm or soft as you like, which a foam neck pillow can’t do.
More comfort tips for flying economy → · Is a lounge worth it? →
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
What locals actually wear
Sourced tips summarise or quote the linked source; anything marked editorial is our own advice. We don’t make up “local” style tips.
- Most Parisian women wear a long wool coat in winter, usually black, navy or camel. Save the trench coat for spring.Source [1]: Rebecca Plotnick, Everyday Parisian (Paris-based)
- Black boots are a safer bet than brown, and black tights with a skirt or dress are a winter staple. Chelsea or waterproof boots handle the wet pavements.Source [1]: Rebecca Plotnick, Everyday Parisian (Paris-based)
- Veja trainers come out at weekends. A thin puffer layered under a wool coat "is what the French do", and Uniqlo Heattech-style thin thermals keep the bulk down.Source [1]: Rebecca Plotnick, Everyday Parisian (Paris-based)
- A traveller on r/ParisTravelGuide reported in November 2025 that "Parisian women were all in black or very dark colors… wool wrap or button coats in midi or ankle length, and just use umbrellas."Source [2]: Reddit user report
- Other r/ParisTravelGuide threads say the same: skip athleisure and aim for smart-casual, with Adidas Sambas or Vejas as the go-to trainers.Source [3]: Reddit users
3 outfit formulas
Your style: best fits here are Parisian chic and Quiet luxury. Find your holiday style →
The Left Bank uniform
- Long dark wool coat
- Fine merino or cashmere crewneck
- Straight or wide-leg dark jeans
- Black waterproof Chelsea boots
- Big wool scarf
Tip: Tuck a thin thermal under the jumper on the coldest days, then take it off once you're indoors in a warm museum.
Skirt and tights for evening
- Knit or satin midi skirt
- Black opaque or fleece-lined tights
- The same crewneck, or a silk-feel blouse
- Black Chelsea boots
- The long coat
Tip: Black tights with a skirt is the Parisian winter staple, and it gives you an evening look for very little extra space.
Weekend trainers
- Thin packable down jacket (under the wool coat when it's cold)
- Long-sleeve tee plus merino half-zip
- Dark jeans
- Clean white leather trainers
Tip: Wearing the thin puffer under the wool coat gives you two warmth levels from one outer layer.
Swatches are a colour guide for each formula, not product photos.
Day to night in Paris
Same capsule, evening version: keep the base, swap one or two pieces. Every swap below stays cabin-bag friendly. How day-to-night swaps work →
01Left Bank day → bistro night
- Base (stays the same)
- Dark jeans
- Long dark wool coat
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Merino crewneck
- White leather trainers
- Big wool scarf
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Silky blouse instead of the crewneck
- Black Chelsea boots instead of the trainers
- Red lip and a small crossbody
Pieces added to your bag: 1, the silky blouse (the lipstick lives in your toiletries pouch, the crossbody is your day bag emptied out).
02Museum day → dinner in a skirt
- Base (stays the same)
- Knit midi skirt
- Black fleece-lined tights
- Black Chelsea boots
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Long-sleeve tee under the crewneck
- Scarf
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Silky blouse tucked in
- Statement earrings
Pieces added to your bag: 1, statement earrings (the blouse is already in your bag from swap 1).
Karen’s tipChange your hair, change the look
Swapping my hair from up in the day to down in the evening (or the other way round) gives the whole outfit a different look. Even one piece of jewellery I didn’t wear earlier does the same.
💡 It’s a free trick, and it saves packing extra outfits.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Preview note: placeholder links to each shop’s normal pages, with no affiliate tracking yet.
What’s underfoot
The ground
- Cobbled streets, some steep (Montmartre)
- Long flights of steps (222 to Sacré-Cœur; Abbesses metro has 176 steps, with lifts)
- Wet, slippery stone and cobbles in December rain
- Gravel paths in parks (Tuileries, Luxembourg)
- Metro corridors and stairs
15,000–20,000 steps (about 10–14 km) is typical for a sightseeing dayeditorial estimate
Trouble spots
- Montmartre: steep cobbled streets and the 222 steps up to Sacré-Cœur. The RATP funicular costs the same as a metro ticket (€2.55) and takes about 90 seconds
- Sacré-Cœur dome: 280 narrow steps, no lift
- Abbesses metro (line 12): the deepest station in Paris, 176 steps (lifts available)
- Wet cobbles in Le Marais and around the Seine quayseditorial
☀ Day shoes
Cushioned, broken-in trainers or waterproof walking shoes with a grippy rubber sole. December is wet, so water-resistant leather or treated trainers are ideal.
☾ Evening shoes
Smart flats, loafers, or a low block heel or Chelsea ankle boot. A sleek leather ankle boot works from day to night.
✕ Leave at home
Stilettos and smooth leather soles on Montmartre cobbles and wet stone. Brand-new, unbroken shoes.
Season notes: Rain and occasional frost, so choose water-resistant uppers and warm socks.
Karen’s tipHeels and cobbles don’t mix. Check the ground before you pack heels: thin heels catch between cobbles, so a wedge or block heel is steadier for evenings.
One pair, day to night: The best space-savers are a sleek waterproof leather ankle boot (Paris, London, Vienna & Prague, Amsterdam, Rome in December), a clean minimalist leather trainer or slip-on loafer (Tokyo, London), and a low block-heel sandal (cruise). Travel day: wear the heavier pair (see On the plane). Break in shoes before the trip.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: paris.fr · parisjetaime.com · ratp.fr · bonjour-ratp.fr · sacre-coeur-montmartre.com. Shoe recommendations are our own editorial advice based on these sources, checked 20 Oct 2026.
The free baggage packing list
Your bag: 40 × 30 × 20 cm
Planned for 4 nights, using a soft backpack of about 20–24 litres made to the 40 × 30 × 20 cm size. The rule that makes it work: wear your bulkiest items on the plane. The dotted outline is easyJet’s bigger free bag.
Wear on the plane worn
In the bag 13 items
Karen’s tipRoll, don’t fold. I roll my clothes, stuff socks and small bits inside my shoes, and keep socks in a clear bag that comes home full of dirty laundry or wet swimming costumes. How I pack →
Karen’s tipPack a bag in a bag.A foldable shopping bag that folds into its own little pouch, for shopping, dirty laundry and pool towels. It saves buying a bag abroad.Why, and where to get one →
- A trench coat (locals leave it for spring)
- Brown boots and bright colours (they break the dark capsule)
- Athleisure as daywear
Liquids: going vs coming home
UK airports vary. Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast International, Belfast City, Bournemouth, Southend allow containers up to 2 litres; most others, including Manchester, Stansted and Luton, are still 100 ml.
- 100 mlParis Charles de Gaulle (CDG), in a 1 L clear bagto re-check
- 100 mlParis Orly (ORY), in a 1 L clear bagto re-check
- 100 mlParis Beauvais (BVA), in a 1 L clear bag
Pack your liquids to 100 ml for the whole trip.
Karen’s tipWater bottle: keep it full through a 2-litre UK airport, or take it empty through a 100 ml one. Flying home: Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Paris Beauvais are 100 ml, so empty it and refill airside.Check your airport →
Karen’s tipDecant, don’t buy mini. I decant sun tan lotion into clear 100 ml spray bottles, and my day cream, night cream and cleanser into one squashy three-section silicone pot for trips of up to 4–5 days (separate pots if longer). Far cheaper than minis. How to do it →
Karen’s tip Check your room first
Read the hotel, Airbnb or hostel listing, or message the host, and ask whether they provide:
- Iron or steamer
- Hairdryer
- Toiletries: shampoo, shower gel (conditioner often isn’t supplied)
- Towels, plus beach or pool towels
- Washing machine or laundry service
- Plug adapters or USB sockets
- Kettle, tea and coffee
- Slippers and a robe
- A safe
Hostels often don’t provide towels or padlocks.
Karen’s tip Bring your own hair products. Most hotels supply shampoo but often not conditioner. Decant favourites into leak-proof travel bottles under 100 ml (fill them about ¾ full), or switch to solid bars, which don’t count as liquids. Amazon UK: Lericttor 100ml Silicone Travel Bottles ↗Check price · Amazon UK: Friendly Soap Travel Bar 95g (hair & body) ↗£4.72, price checked 20 Oct 2026 Every item they provide is one you don’t carry.
Karen’s tip No-iron packing
Pick fabrics that don’t crease. Woven cotton and linen crease; knits, merino, jersey and most polyester blends barely do.
- Hang creased clothes in the bathroom while you shower.
- Pack a small crease-release spray under 100 ml (it counts as a liquid).
- Roll clothes, and keep crease-prone pieces in a packing cube on top, not in a vacuum bag.
- Check whether your hotel or Airbnb has an iron.
Karen’s tip Buy it there?
Adding a checked bag typically costs around £60–80 return on a budget airline. So if your bag is full, buying bulky or liquid items when you arrive is often cheaper.
Think sun cream, full-size shampoo, insect repellent, a beach towel or flip-flops.
Usually yes in this destination: Supermarkets are everywhere, though central Paris is generally pricier than at home.
Tick items off as you pack (your ticks aren’t saved). Liquids rules depend on your departure airport and change from time to time. Check your airport’s current security rules before you decant your toiletries (see liquids rules by airport).
Flying there on Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz?
- Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling and Transavia basic fares give you a 40 × 30 × 20 cm under-seat bag. Pack the list above into a 24 L-ish backpack and wear the coat and boots.
- easyJet's free under-seat bag is bigger (45 × 36 × 20 cm), so you can add a second pair of shoes or a heavier knit.
- Don't stuff your coat pockets so full that you look like you're smuggling a second bag. Do wear the scarf onto the plane.
Duty-free bag: Ryanair: extra bag allowed · easyJet: extra bag allowed · Wizz Air: extra bag allowed. It still has to fit under the seat or in a locker, and gate staff decide. Duty free and your free baggage →
Sizes come from each airline’s official page (see our free baggage reference for links). Rules change, so check your booking before you fly.
Baggage picks
The ticks compare each bag’s stated outer dimensions with each airline’s free-bag size. A struck-through name means the bag is too big for that airline. Soft bags squash a little; hard cases don’t. We haven’t tested these bags ourselves yet.
Want to fit more in? Compression cubes and packing cubes that store more in a free bag →
Pieces that fit the formulas
- QuinceDouble-faced merino wool scarf coat
- M&S (White Stuff)White Stuff Wool Blend Textured Funnel Neck Longline Coat£96 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- QuinceMongolian cashmere oversized crewneck
- M&SM&S Feather & Down Padded Puffer Jacket£68 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- Clarks UKClarks Hencroft Step Waterproof Chelsea Boots£75 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S 140 Denier Thermal Sheer Fleece Tights£15 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S High Waisted Knitted Midi A-Line Skirt£36 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Umbrella with Windtech£12 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Set of 3 Packing Cubes£12 · checked 20 Oct 2026
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Prices are shown only where we confirmed them on the retailer’s page (checked 20 Oct 2026); otherwise check the current price.
Dates and practicalities
Christmas markets
Everyday Parisian notes that Paris's Christmas markets run from late November to early January. Check each market's own dates before you book, because they change every year. [1]
Sources
- What to Pack for Paris in the Winter, Rebecca Plotnick, Everyday Parisian (Paris-based)
- r/ParisTravelGuide thread (Nov 2025), Reddit user report
- r/ParisTravelGuide threads on what to wear, Reddit users
Airline free-bag sizes: see the free baggage reference. Climate: see the source under the weather table. Live forecast: weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips. Photos: Unsplash, credited on each image and on the photo credits page. Last checked October 2026.
