Christmas in Paris is such a magical time of year. If you will be spending December in Paris, you will love these Christmas activities. Staying through the new year? Make sure you check out these French new year traditions. Get your free Paris food guide and plan out all of the fun food experiences to have during your trip to Paris.
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Christmas in Paris – The Best Locations to See Christmas Lights & Decorations (Christmas Decorations in Paris)
The Christmas lights and decorations in Paris are something to write home about. They are stunning! One of our favorite activities during the Christmas season in Paris is setting out after dark to enjoy the Christmas decorations all over the city.
Luckily, it gets dark quite early during the holiday season (around 5pm), leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations featured throughout the city.
Christmas Decorations at Luxury Hotels
- The Plaza Athénée
- The Four Seasons, George V
- The Bristol
- Le Meurice
Related : Paris Hotels with Eiffel Tower Views
The best outdoor Christmas decorations
- Avenue Montaigne
- Champs Elysées
- Rue Faubourg Saint Honoré
- Rue Royale
- The Village Royal
- Place Vendôme
- The Dior Boutique, rue Faubourg-Saint-Honoré
- The Chanel Boutique, rue Faubourg-Saint-Honoré
- The hot air balloon in front of the Eglise Polonaise (Eglise Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Paris), Place Maurice Barrès
Christmas in Paris – Paris Christmas Tours & Cruises
Champagne at the Moulin Rouge & Seine River Cruise
Book the Champagne at the Moulin Rouge & Seine River Cruise experience!
Open Top Christmas Bus Tour
This bus tour is such a fun way to see all of the gorgeous Christmas decorations around Paris.
Book your Open Top Christmas Bus Tour experience!
Paris Christmas Photo Shoot
We love booking a photo shoot with a professional photographer when we travel. What better way to capture your Paris at Christmas memories than to have some professional photos taken? Get your favorite photo from the photo shoot printed and framed and you will think of your beautiful Christmas trip to Paris every time you see it in your home!
Book your Christmas Photo Shoot in Paris!
Paris Christmas Markets Photo Shoot
Another photo shoot option, this one specifically focuses on capturing beautiful shots of you and your loved ones in the Christmas markets!
The lighting at Christmas markets as well as the crowds can make it difficult to get good photos at the Christmas markets in Paris.
Booking a professional photographer to make sure you get 20-100 fantastic photos of you and your loved ones in the Parisian Christmas markets is the way to go!
Book your Christmas Markets in Paris Photo Shoot!
Christmas Markets in Paris (& 2024 Christmas Market Dates)
Tuileries Gardens Christmas Market (November 16th, 2024 – January 1st, 2025)
Paris’ most famous and most centrally located Christmas market is the Tuileries Christmas market. Located inside the Tuileries gardens, facing the Louvre Museum, this is the perfect location to enjoy traditional Christmas food and drink, such as French saucisse aligot (French sausage prepared with creamy, cheese potatoes) and vin chaud (mulled wine), as well as fun rides, such as the ferris wheel.
La Defense Christmas Market (November 14th, 2024 – December 29th, 2024)
The La Defense Christmas market in Paris is the largest Parisian Christmas market. It features 350 Christmas market stalls selling everything from French cheese and sausage, to traditional prepared foods like tartiflette and confit de canard, to handmade sheepskin slippers and handwoven wool sweaters. There is something for everyone. It is so much fun!
La Defense is the financial sector of Paris where many Parisians (including Hugo!) work. It is interesting to visit the main part of La Defense (l’Esplanade de la Defense) to see the tall building and the beautiful La Defense arch.
One of our favorite Christmas in Paris traditions is to schedule a lunch date at the La Defense Christmas market. Hugo pops down from his office on the Esplanade and go for a decadent lunch usually including confit de canard and vin chaud!
Notre-Dame Christmas Market (November 29th, 2024 – December 1st, 2024)
The Notre-Dame Christmas market is a small Christmas market facing beautiful Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Christmas market is in the Square Viviani, a small garden square across from Notre-Dame Cathedral and next to my favorite church in Paris, Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. (If you love beautiful churches, pair your trip to the Notre-Dame Christmas market with a stop into Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre or even buy tickets to one of their Christmas concerts.)
Saint-Germain Christmas Market (November 26th, 2024 – January 1st, 2025)
The Saint-Germain Christmas market is on Saint-Germain-des-Près. There are — beautifully decorated chalets to enjoy. Get a cozy drink and shop for handmade gifts as you walk along gorgeous Saint-Germain-des-Près.
Eiffel Tower Christmas Market (on the Quai Jacques Chirac) (December 7th, 2024 – January 5th, 2025)
La Villette Christmas Market (November 23rd, 2024 – December 29th, 2024)
Alsatian Christmas Market (December 1st, 2024 – December 17th, 2024)
Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market (December 14th, 2024 – January 6th, 2025)
This is one of our personal favorite Christmas markets in Paris!
The market is very small, just a few chalets, in front of the Hôtel de Ville (the mayor’s office in Paris), facing the famous department store, BHV.
They install a mini forest with decorated trees and cute forest animals like squirrels and deer in front of the Hôtel de Ville each year and it is so pretty. They also project lights on the Hôtel de Ville itself which is a gorgeous building and adds to the charm of this Christmas market.
Buy a vin chaud, walk around the sweet little market and then head across the street to see the decorated windows at BHV.
Drink vin chaud in Paris (hot mulled wine) & Where to Drink the Best Mulled Wines in Paris at Christmas
My favorite Christmas beverage in Paris is vin chaud (or hot mulled wine).
Vin chaud can be made with red or white wine depending on where you get it and a variety of spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg and star anise. It is delicious!
These are our favorite places to enjoy mulled wine in Paris :
- The Christmas Markets
- La Closerie des Lilas
- Le Refuge Montmartre
- Maison Sauvage
- Café Marly
- Le Square Trousseau
- Café Hugo
- Un Zèbre à Montmartre
- Le Chantefable
- Le Pick Clops
Where to See the Best Christmas Windows and Displays During Christmas in Paris
The Grands Magasins of Paris
- Galeries Lafayette Haussmann (starts November 14th, 2024 at 5pm and continues until December 31st, 2024)
- Printemps Haussmann (starts November 7th, 2024 at 5pm and continues until December 31st, 2024)
- BHV (starts November 6th, 2024 at 5pm)
- Le Bon Marché (starts November 8th, 2024 at 5pm)
- La Samaritaine (starts November 8th, 2024 at 5pm until January 5th, 2025)
Christmas Eve Dinner in Paris
Luxury Christmas Eve Dinner at Le Meurice Alain Ducasse
This is the magnificent menu :
Christmas Eve Dinner
€900/person, including drinks
€650/person, excluding drinks
Oyster and caviar
Vegetables cooked in a salted crust, black truffle condiment
2009 – Dom Pérignon
***
Confit duck foie gras, quince variation
2010 – Sauternes – Château Guiraud
***
Lobster, sunchoke, cooking juice
2007 – Alsace Riesling Frédéric Emile – Domaine Trimbach
***
John Dory, butternut squash ‘scales’, caviar
2015 – Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru – Referts – Domaine Marc Morey
***
Back of venison, chestnut, black truffle
2011 – Hermitage – Domaine Yann Chave
***
Resin-smoked pear by Cédric Grolet
2004 – Rivesaltes Ambré – Domaine Gardiès
***
Soberts and Mignardises
Asian French Fusion Christmas Eve Dinner at Cafe Kitsune
For their Christmas Eve dinner, they will be serving a delightful menu of French classics made with quality ingredients and given an Asian fusion twist.
Menu – €95/person
Christmas in Paris – All the best Christmas Food to Try & Enjoy
The following foods are the traditional foods enjoyed during the holiday season in France.
Bûches de Noel
The Christmas pastry in Paris is called a bûche de Noel (or a Yule log). You can try delicious Yule logs at all of the best hotels in Paris and most Parisian bakeries.
Macarons
Our favorite macarons are at Pierre Herme but we love Laduree too!
French Hot Chocolate
We love hot chocolate and especially love indulging in the best hot chocolates in Paris during the holiday season.
One of our winter in Paris traditions is getting the African hot chocolate from Angelina to go and sipping it as we walk through the Tuileries garden across the street.
Carette has incredible hot chocolate too!
Mont Blanc Pastry
The Mont Blanc pastry has a meringue base and is covered with chestnut cream. The best one in all of Paris is at Angelina. Enjoy it in their beautiful tearoom or get it to go and enjoy it at home, in your hotel or in the Tuileries or on the Quais de Seine.
View Nativity Scenes (Crèches) in Parisian Churches
- Eglise de la Madeleine (8th arr.) – this beautiful church around the corner from Place de la Concorde, in the heart of the city, has one of the most beautiful nativity scenes.
- Eglise Notre Dame de Nazareth (9th arr.) – pop into this church to see the nativity scene when you go to see the Christmas windows and decorations at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
- Sacre Coeur (18th arr.) – go to see the nativity scene in the Sacre Coeur when you head up to see Montmartre.
Go to Christmas Mass
If you will be in Paris on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, consider attending a Christmas Mass in one of the beautiful churches dotted around Paris.
The following churches offer Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day Mass:
- Madeleine Church
- Le Basilique du Sacré Coeur
- Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois
- Saint-Eustache
- Saint-Germain-des-Près
- Saint-Augustin
- Notre-Dame des Blancs-Manteaux
- Saint-Louis en l’île
- La Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse
Go Ice Skating in Paris
- The giant rink at the Grand Palais (pictured above)
- Galeries Lafayette
- The Hotel Plaza Athenee Christmas Chalet
Go to an exhibit
Jackson Pollack : The Early Years at the Picasso Museum
Dates : until January 19th, 2025
Gustave Caillebotte : Painting Men at the Musée d’Orsay
Dates : until January 19th, 2025
The Gold of the Ming Dynasty at the Guimet Museum
Dates : until January 13th, 2025
Masterpieces from the Borghese Gallery at the Jacquemart André
Dates : until January 5th, 2025
Drink vin chaud in Paris (hot mulled wine)
Go for afternoon tea
Several restaurants and hotels around Paris offer special Christmas afternoon tea menus during the holidays.
- Le Lutetia Festive Afternoon Tea
- Christmas Teatime at the Ritz
- Festive Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula
Experience the Magic of Disneyland Paris at Christmas
If you are a Disney fan, a trip to Disneyland Paris is fun any time of year. I love visiting at Christmas for the decorations.
It’s fun to see the Christmas decor, the Christmas parade and to enjoy a chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) during the festive season!
Disney pulls out all the stops for some fun Christmas souvenirs in their gift shops too, making this the best time of year to bring home a cute Disney souvenir.
Book your Disneyland Paris passes here!
Take a Traditional Festive French Christmas Cooking Class
If you love to cook like we do, add a French cooking class to your Paris itinerary!
This one is Christmas-themed, so you shop at a Parisian market before learning to make a traditional Christmas meal.
Book your Traditional Festive French Christmas Cooking Class!
Go on a Parisian Christmas Walking Tour
Visit specialty gourmet shops in the enchanting heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près in Paris during this 3-hour Parisian Christmas walking tour!
Saint-Germain-des-Près is one of my favorite areas of Paris any time of year, but it is especially stunning all decked out for Christmas! This tour is a wonderful way to experience the area like a local while also enjoying traditional French Christmas treats.
Book your Parisian Christmas Walking Tour!
Where to Stay in Paris
Paris has no shortage of exceptionally beautiful hotels. Choose one of the hotels from the list below to experience the Christmas season in Paris!
See more Paris accommodation to suit your style and budget here.
More Things to Do in Paris
Christmas in Paris
What to see, where to eat and what to do if you’re spending Christmas in Paris.
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Last updated November 12, 2024 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.
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