What to Wear in Paris in December: Layers, Shoes and 4 Outfits

Last updated: November 2026

Quick answer: Paris in December averages a high of about 8°C (46°F) and a low of about 4°C (39°F), with rain on roughly 11 days and under 60 hours of sunshine all month, according to Météo-France's 1991 to 2020 normals for Paris-Montsouris. Pack for cold, damp and dark rather than snow: a water-resistant wool or insulated coat, a merino or thermal base layer, a warm sweater, a scarf, gloves, and waterproof boots with grippy soles for wet cobblestones.

December in Paris is Christmas markets, lit-up boulevards and long museum days, but it is also short, grey and wet. The good news is that it is rarely brutally cold, so you do not need ski gear. You need layers you can peel off in a heated museum or metro, and an outer layer that shrugs off drizzle. This guide covers the weather, a layering formula, four outfits for the things you will actually do, shoes, and what to wear inside churches. Heading on to London too? Our London in December guide covers the other side of the Channel.

Paris weather in December

December is cold and damp rather than freezing. Météo-France's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Paris-Montsouris station, as summarised on Wikipedia's Climate of Paris page, give these December averages:

• Daily high: 8.0°C (46.4°F)
• Daily low: 3.8°C (38.8°F)
• Rain: 62 mm, on about 11 days with at least 1 mm
• Sunshine: about 57 hours for the whole month
• Snow: about 2 days a year in December (1981 to 2010 data)

Two things matter more than the averages. First, it feels colder than the number when you are standing still, which is why a Christmas market evening needs more than a museum day. Second, the inside of Paris is warm: museums, cafes, department stores and the metro are heated, so a single huge coat with a T-shirt underneath leaves you either freezing outside or sweating inside. Layers solve both.

The layering formula for Paris in December

Build every outfit from the same four layers and adjust by plan:

• Base: a thin merino or synthetic long-sleeve top. It traps warmth without bulk and does not smell after a long day. Our thermal base layers guide explains which weight to buy.
• Mid: a wool or cashmere sweater, or a fine knit you can wear alone in a restaurant.

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• Outer: a wool-blend coat with some water resistance, or a longline insulated coat for evenings outside. Look for a hood or pack a compact umbrella, because December rain in Paris is usually drizzle rather than downpours.
• Extremities: a wool scarf, gloves and a hat. These are the cheapest way to add warmth and the easiest to take off indoors.

Colour-wise, dark neutrals (navy, charcoal, camel, black) hide splashes from wet pavements and mix with everything, so a carry-on can cover a week. Add one colour through the scarf.

4 outfits for Paris in December

1. Sightseeing day: museums and long walks

Wear a merino base, a crewneck sweater, dark straight-leg jeans or wool trousers, a mid-length wool coat and waterproof leather ankle boots. Carry a crossbody bag worn in front, which is easier in crowded museums and on the metro. Take the coat off in galleries; the sweater alone is enough indoors. Men can swap the sweater for a quarter-zip and the coat for a waxed or insulated jacket.

2. Christmas market night: standing outside for hours

Christmas markets are the coldest part of a December trip because you stand still after dark. According to Sortir à Paris, the 2026 season includes the Tuileries Garden market (November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027), Notre-Dame's market in Square René Viviani (November 26 to December 27) and the Eiffel Tower market on Quai Jacques-Chirac (December 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027). Add a thermal layer under your jeans, a long insulated coat that covers your hips, a knit hat, mittens and boots with a thick sole to keep the cold ground away. Our Christmas market outfit guide goes deeper on staying warm standing still.

3. Bistro dinner, show or bar

Paris dinners are relaxed but put-together. A fine-knit midi dress with opaque tights and heeled ankle boots, or tailored trousers with a silk or merino top, under a long wool coat, works almost anywhere. Men can wear dark trousers, a knit polo or shirt and a sweater, with leather boots or loafers. Choose a heel or sole you can walk on wet stone in, because you will probably walk or take the metro between dinner and a bar.

4. Churches and day trips

If Notre-Dame is on your list, its official practical information page asks visitors to wear modest clothing suitable for a place of worship: cover shoulders, torso, stomach and thighs, avoid transparent or tight-fitting clothes, and men should remove hats inside. In December that is easy: a long coat, a midi skirt with thick tights or trousers, and a scarf you can drape over your shoulders. The same outfit suits a day trip to Versailles, where the gardens are gravel and often wet in winter, so wear waterproof boots rather than smart shoes.

Shoes for wet cobblestones

Your shoes will do more work than anything else you pack. Choose waterproof or treated leather ankle boots with a rubber lug sole: smooth leather soles slip on wet stone and metro stairs. Break them in before you fly, and add a second pair (clean leather trainers or loafers) so one pair can dry overnight. If your favourite boots are not waterproof, treat them first with our guide to waterproofing leather boots.

FAQ

What should I wear in Paris in December?
Layers: a thermal or merino base, a warm sweater, a water-resistant wool or insulated coat, a scarf, gloves, a hat and waterproof boots with grippy soles. Average highs are about 8°C (46°F) and lows about 4°C (39°F), with rain on around 11 days.

How cold is Paris in December?
Météo-France's 1991 to 2020 normals put the average December high at 8.0°C (46.4°F) and the average low at 3.8°C (38.8°F) at Paris-Montsouris. It feels colder in wind, rain or when standing still at night.

Does it snow in Paris in December?
Rarely. The long-term average is about 2 snow days in December, and snow that falls usually does not settle for long. Pack for rain and cold rather than deep snow.

Do I need a dress code for Notre-Dame?
Notre-Dame asks visitors to wear modest clothing: cover shoulders, torso, stomach and thighs, avoid transparent or tight-fitting clothes, and men should remove hats inside.

What shoes are best for Paris in winter?
Waterproof leather ankle boots with a rubber lug sole. They keep feet dry on wet cobblestones, grip on metro stairs and work with jeans, trousers and dresses.

Pack from your own closet

Add your coats, knits and boots to Elara, put each Paris day on the Calendar, and ask the styling chat to build outfits for museum days, market nights and dinners from what you already own, so you pack fewer pieces and wear all of them. Try Elara free.