Paris in February?

It won't be South Dakota cold. It may be damp and chilly. It might snow but it is more likely to rain. It could be foggy and drizzly. Google average temps in Feb for Paris. Things ought to be open and you will certainly see fewer tourists than in the summer!

Hope you have a lovely trip!

I saw their temps were usually in the low 40s. However, about half the days also include precipitation during an average February (13).

Paris anytime is fantastic! Don't worry about the weather - you'll most likely have at least a couple of decent days. I've been to Paris in March and October, and am going this year in early December. You'llhave a good time no matter when you go.

I was in Paris in February of this year, and it was great. The only time it got uncomfortably cold was when we took a nighttime open top bus tour (but it was still beautiful) - during the day, while we were walking around, it was just fine.

It's unlikely to rain for a week straight - it rarely does in that part of the world.

Paris is never bad. But if you went with RS between April and September and enjoyed it, then very little of what you enjoyed will be evident in February. I love Paris and we go back every couple of years; but Paris isn’t my first choice in the winter. There are plenty of other places that do winter so much better than Paris.

First, ask yourself what do you want to do? What interests you? If it’s the great outdoors head north, if it is theater, music, “culture”; head “east”. If it is cafes and sun; head south.

There are a couple of specific museums we loved but didn't get enough time to really enjoy. We also didn't get to due anything than walk around the Eiffel Tower, and there are a few other places in the city we didn't get to visit.

Here are links to statistical climate Paris numbers:
http://en.climate-data.org/location/44/
https://www.yr.no/place/France/%C3%8Ele-de-France/Paris/statistics.html

Temperatures in February are in the plus Celsius range but note that Paris does not have a dry season. (Nine days/46 mm of precipitation in February on average). The Lewis and Clark team found wintering in Fort Mandan, North Dakota was more comfortable than a winter at Ft. Clatsop, Oregon. The difference is that cold Dakota snow didn't melt, while wet rain was just that, wet. They were more comfortable being dry in cold weather than wet in less cold weather.

Interesting that Minot, ND is dryer in February than Paris.

http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/minot-afb/north-dakota/united-states/usnd0243

Minot, ND with 0.39 inches (10 mm) of precipitation in February vs. 1.8 inches (46 mm) in Paris. Dress accordingly. Staying dry is staying warm.

Big cities are good winter destinations and Paris is not super cold. It will be grey, rainy, chilly etc but so much of what makes it great is in doors. So if you love good restaurants, opera, museums etc it is a great winter destination. There is usually an ice rink somewhere (Eiffel Tower or Hotel DeVille) It would not be my first choice but it would probably be delightful. Or you could pick someplace warm.

For me it's not about the temperature, it's about what I most enjoy in Paris which revolves around the outside markets, sidewalk cafes, strolls. It's perfect. For me I know to return some place that it is at the expense of seeing something new so I try to pair the time of year with something special no matter where I go. In the dead of winter the theater culture and the cafe culture for me is better in eastern/central Europe so that's where I go. In the spring and early summers I prefer the sidewalk cafes and parks of Paris. But, again, Paris is never "bad", but I only have so much time so I try and get the most out of what I enjoy.

The pluses in February, daylight is from 8 to 6 (in S. Dak, from 7-5), the trees are bare so the beautiful buildings aren't hidden, everything is open, not so many tourists.

If you can manage 8-9 nights in Europe, how about combining a few days in Paris with a warmer, sunnier destination? There's a fast train to Barcelona, 6.5 hours to relax and watch the scenery. Or a short flight to Venice (Carnevale begins in mid-February) or Rome.

We have been to Paris many times in January - Love it! The crowds are gone, everything is open - no lines! The cafes all have enclosed patios &/or patio heaters so you can sit sit outside. We always found the Parisians themselves to be cheerier when their city is not overrun by tourists! Paris is fairly temperate due to the warmer air brought by the gulfstream - just dress for the weather and you will have a great time!

You'll be equipped with the right clothes for Paris, so no worries there.
Sitting in outdoor cafes will be chilly - most of them are only enclosed by sheets of plastic, and must be "ventilated" for the smokers. There are overhead heaters, which help a little bit - so does "un verre de vin chaud"...
Crowds will be much smaller, so you won't have much trouble doing what you have planned.
It gets dark around 5:30 PM in February, so walking around seeing the lights come on is very nice.
As far as the Eiffel Tower goes, it's possible that the top level might be closed if the weather is really bad. Normally, in February, there will be cloud cover and drizzle, so you won't see much from the summit. I wouldn't advise buying advance tickets - you will be able to buy them on the day you want to go.
Just bundle up, bring something waterproof, and enjoy yourselves.

We celebrated 30 years in March 2015 in Paris. Fabulous week! We wore winter coats, but we are wimps from Rome, now (though born & raised in MN and ND!). We even got to sit outside for lunch in the garden at Versailles, although most days were not that nice. Lots of museums, long walks, and great dinners. We only had rain one day: the day we had Eiffel Tower tickets. You will have a ball!