What is there to do in Rome and Paris in the winter?

Question

Besides your Louve, Trevi Fountain, Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, and the essentials, what else is there to do in Italy and France during winter time? Are there any markets, restaurants, clubs, shops, shows that are a must see? I want to experience France and Italy like the natives... Help!

Answer 1

I have been in Paris in winter, not in Rome.
There is the same as in the summer, but people wear wintercoats and stay outside shorter.
Sidewalk cafes will be behind glass, and unless you are rich, better not drink there, it costs a fortune.

In the smaller towns the touristy things will be closed but Paris is busy round the year, so the tourist attractions stay open round the year.

I found it very satisfying just to walk around. I would take a metro from my hotel to the first thing I planned to do, or walk there if it was not too far, and walk on to the next. At the end of the day I would take a metro home.
In cold weather you appreciate the hot drinks even more.
If you want to meet the locals, go to the smaller places in the side streets, and the back streets, not on the boulevards.

Paris is big and you are sure to come back to it one day, so you do not need to do everything in this one visit.
Just list a few things you think are essential, like the Eiffel tower, some of the big museums or the Churches.
If you have not been in Paris before, think about taking the hop-on hop-off bus that goes to all famous sights, so you can say that you have seen them all. Just do not try to enter all, a few is more than enough for one visit.

I used the Lonely Planet guide, (France,) and found that it had all info I wanted and some more. If you combine Italy with France you might want to get the guide covering both countries, or the city editions.
These guides are good in showing the things like markets, unexpected sight, how to travel within (and to) the towns and hotels and hostels, restaurants and where to go for your drinks, all with prices and opening times where needed.