With nearly 150,000 people each year, the Paris outdoor rinks are a veritable popular success (so much so, in fact, that you should be prepared to queue)

This year the Paris council is putting in place the same three rinks as last year, and although the exact details haven't been released yet, the following details are almost sure:

Hôtel de Ville
20th December 2008 - 1st March 2009

This is the biggest of the three: a main rink (25m x 50m), plus a teeny one for kids and beginners (14m x 21m) and a sledge slide area for under-12s (space for nine, 15 minutes only).
place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris, métro Hôtel de Ville (lines 1 & 11)
Open all week round but with varying hours: Monday - Thursday, midday - 11pm, Friday midday to midnight, Sundays and public holidays from 9am - 10pm
Free entrance for those with skates, or 5 euros to rent some (free for kids)

Montparnasse
20th December 2008 - 1st March 2009

Main rink 22m x 35m
Special 100m² rink for tots (3-6 ans)
Place Raoul Dautry, 75015 Paris, métro Montparnasse-Bienvenüe (lines 4, 6, 12, 13)
Open all week round, weekdays midday - 8pm, weekends 9am - 8pm
Free entrance for those with skates, or 5 euros to rent some (free for kids)

Bibliothèque François Mitterand
20th December 2008 - 18th January 2009
corner of rue des Grands Moulins and rue Olivier Messiaen, 75013 Paris. Métro line 14 or RER C, station Bibliothèque François Mitterrand.
Still free is you have skates, or 5 euros to rent adult skates, free for kids.

photo by jpbourque used under cc licence


Bigger map here