How Skating Works in Paris
Paris does not have a permanent outdoor rink at a landmark. What it has instead is a changing set of temporary winter rinks that appear from late November or December and close in early January, plus a few indoor municipal rinks that run through the cold season. Which temporary rinks open, and where, changes from year to year, so treat any list as a guide to what to look for rather than a guarantee. The City of Paris events listings (paris.fr) and the venues' own websites publish dates each autumn.
Some well-known past rinks have not returned. The rink on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, for example, ran for several winters in the past but has not been part of recent seasons, so don't plan a trip around it.
The Grand Palais des Glaces
The headline rink of recent winters is under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, the 1900 exhibition hall off the Champs-Élysées that reopened in 2025 after a long restoration. In winter 2025–2026 the Grand Palais des Glaces ran from mid-December to 7 January 2026, with a rink of around 3,000 square metres according to the City of Paris listing, billed as one of the largest indoor rinks in the world. Sessions ran across the day, including late-evening sessions that ran until 2am.
The rink had appeared in the nave before, in earlier years, and skating under the steel and glass vault is the closest Paris gets to a landmark rink. Tickets are sold for timed sessions and popular slots, especially weekends and the school holidays, sell out, so book online as soon as dates are announced. Check whether it returns for the coming winter on the Grand Palais website.
Rooftop Rinks on the Grands Magasins
The big department stores on Boulevard Haussmann have also run small seasonal rinks on their rooftops in recent winters. In 2025–2026, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann had a rooftop rink from early December to early January, and Printemps Haussmann ran a small rink on its top floor, free with reservation. These are compact and best for a short skate, but they come with rooftop views over the Opéra Garnier and the city. Booking a time slot in advance was recommended for both.
Park and Outdoor Rinks
Outdoor rinks in parks and squares come and go with sponsorship and city programming. In 2025–2026, Parc André-Citroën in the 15th arrondissement hosted a seasonal rink with a separate area for small children. Christmas markets and winter fairs sometimes add small rinks too. Look at the paris.fr events section in November to see what is planned.
Year-Round Indoor Rinks
If you want proper ice and longer sessions, Paris has permanent indoor rinks that open to the public in the skating season, including the municipal Patinoire Pailleron in the 19th arrondissement and the Patinoire Sonja Henie beneath the Accor Arena at Bercy in the 12th. These are less atmospheric than the Grand Palais but are quieter, cheaper and better for practising. Public session times are limited around club training and school bookings, so check the timetable before you go.
Practical Tips
- Gloves are often required. Many rinks in France require gloves on the ice for safety. Bring your own; some rinks sell them, but not all.
- Skate hire. Temporary rinks generally include or rent skates; at municipal rinks you can usually hire them at the desk. Thick socks help with rental boots.
- Children. Most rinks have rules on minimum ages or accompaniment and may provide skating aids for beginners. Helmets are a good idea for small children.
- Weather. Outdoor rinks can close temporarily in mild or rainy spells, which are common in a Paris winter. Indoor rinks such as the Grand Palais and the municipal patinoires are the safer choice if your dates are fixed.
- Prices. Admission varies widely, from free rooftop sessions to paid timed tickets, so compare current prices on each venue's website rather than relying on past years.
- Timing. Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the quietest. School holidays around Christmas are the busiest period.
- Combine it. The Grand Palais is a short walk from the Champs-Élysées Christmas lights and the Pont Alexandre III; the Haussmann rooftops sit above the department-store window displays, which are a winter sight in their own right.
