Christmas Market La Défense – Don’t Miss the Biggest Christmas Market in Ile-de-France!
Located in the business district of La Défense, at the foot of La Grande Arche, La Défense Christmas Market is the largest winter fair in the Paris region, with an impressive number of around 200 chalets!
This pop-up seasonal venue is packed with fun activities and delicious local foods.
One of the locals’ favorite places to be in Paris at Christmas time, especially for people working at La Défense, keep reading to discover all the magic of the Christmas Market La Défense with this guide.
La Défense Christmas Market Dates 2025 and Hours
La Défense Christmas Market 2025dates are from Thursday, 13 November to Sunday, 28 December 2025. This year is super special because the Christmas Market is celebrating its 30th anniversary!
La Défense Christmas Market Hours
La Défense Christmas Market opening hours depend on the day of the week:
- Monday to Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
- Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
The exceptions to these market hours are Tuesday, 24 December (from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Wednesday, 25 December (closed).
Because this is Paris’s business district, the most crowded times differ from other Christmas Markets in Paris. The best times to visit La Défense Christmas Market to avoid the crowds are on weekdays, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. During the lunch break, the market is fully packed!
How to Get to the Christmas Market La Défense
There are many ways to get to La Défense Christmas Market by public transportation. I will only mention the main ones.
The fastest way to get to La Défense Christmas Market is by RER A train. The closest RER A station is La Défense – Grande Arche. In Paris, you can catch any RER A train heading west at Nation, Gare de Lyon, Châtelet – Les Halles, Auber, and Charles de Gaulle – Etoile stations.
You can also use the Paris metro, line 1. The closest metro station is La Défense – Grande Arche (terminus). The journey from Paris to La Défense by metro is much longer, though.
To use the metro or RER A, you can buy a carnet de 10 (a set of 10 individual tickets) that you will charge on a plastic card (Navigo Easy) or on your mobile. If you plan on using the metro or RER often, check out the different Paris metro tickets for a cheaper option.
La Défense Christmas Market – Things to Do
1. Christmas Shopping
One of the best things to do at La Défense Christmas Market is visit the charming Marché Artisan (Artisan Village) for some unique Christmas-themed shopping!
You will find 50+ wooden chalets where artisans sell precious, hand-made items, from crafted jewelry to handbags, house ornaments, and food products.
If you have an eye for style, this market is the ideal place to spot awesome high-quality accessories embodying French chic essence that will make for lovely gifts.
Noëlle is another must-visit place for your Christmas shopping. Located in front of the Christmas tree, it’s a giant indoor shop offering decoration objects and unique gifts.
Most stalls feature items made in France, but you will also have the chance to shop for hand-crafted items made in places like India!
Last year, the Christmas Market featured the region of Québec, and it was possible to buy products from this region in Canada.
2. Unwrap the Spirit of Christmas around the World
Every year, the La Défense Christmas Market welcomes a special guest of honor. In 2024, visitors were virtually transported across the Atlantic to Québec, Canada!
Place Ville de Québec created an authentic Quebecois atmosphere, featuring La Cabane à Mario, where guests enjoyed typical treats like cookies, a variety of maple-based products, local beers, and more.
The organizers have yet to announce the guest of honor for 2025, so keep checking back for the latest updates!
Not far from La Cabane à Mario, there was a typical restaurant where you could enjoy traditional dishes from Québec in a warm atmosphere.
Last but not least, the six themed shop windows surprised visitors with the incredible diversity of Québec culture.
- The Ice Hotel
- The sugar shack
- The Dufferin Terrace slide
- Nature nearby
- The longhouse in Wendake
- Ice fishing
3. La Défense Christmas Market for Kids
If you visit Paris with kids, they will surely love the fairground part of La Défense Christmas Market, especially the youngest ones.
In addition to the ice rink and the different shows (more on this below), there are four merry-go-rounds and a giant Christmas tree.
Kids (and adults) can also meet Santa Claus in his illuminated chalet. Hand him your Christmas wishlist and take pictures with him!
Santa Claus is super busy at this time of the year, so you will find him in the hut only at the following times:
- Monday and Tuesday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
This year, there’s a special surprise: Mrs. Claus will be joining the festivities! Don’t miss her enchanting Christmas tales and cheeky smile. She’ll be in the hut at the following times:
- Wednesday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
4. La Défense Christmas Market Ice Rink
Unlike last year, the ice rink will no longer be at the foot of the Grande Arche. Instead, it will be located in the second part of the village, opposite the large decoration shop and surrounded by chalets offering gourmet delights. Plus, it will be bigger, covering an impressive 540m²!
With such an impressive size, this ice rink is much bigger than the one at the Tuileries Christmas Market! Lace up your skates and get ready to have a blast around the giant Christmas Tree.
The ice rink at La Défense Christmas Market is open from 13 November to 28 December 2025. The opening hours are:
- Monday to Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The exceptions to these opening hours are 24 and 31 December (from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and 25 December (closed).
The entrance fee is 5€ for kids (up to 13 years) and 10€ for adults. Sessions are organized in 30-minute slots, bookable directly online or on site (depending on availability).
Skate rental costs 2€, and wearing gloves is compulsory.
Special Events at La Défense Christmas Market 2025
On weekends, La Défense Christmas Market hosts several events for kids and adults, from Christmas carols and gospel to music and dancing shows.
Events take place on Saturdays starting at 6 p.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m., while weekday evenings come alive with after-work entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. You can find the full list of events here.
What to Eat at La Défense Paris Christmas Market
La Défense Christmas Market offers plenty of enjoyable activities, and tasting local food specialties is definitely a highlight!
Stroll through the chalets to discover tasty treats perfect for enjoying on the move, or choose one of the market’s cozy restaurants for a relaxing sit-down meal.
The venue offers a culinary tour of France, showcasing a wide range of regional specialties from Alsace to Brittany, and from Normandy to the French Antilles.
Among the delicious savory dishes, you’ll find Alsace’s wursts and tarte flambée, a variety of hearty soups, and the must-try tartiflette from Savoy – a comforting cheesy potato bake made with pickled onions, cream, and charcuterie.
If you’re a fan of cheesy delights, don’t miss raclette. This rich, flavorful dish features melted cheese (usually French reblochon) served over boiled potatoes, grilled meats, or vegetables, all prepared on a traditional raclette grill.
During our visit to the market last year, we also saw chalets offering American food, Indian food, Brazilian Food, and Tibetan food.
For those with a sweet tooth, the food stalls serve up irresistible treats like hot waffles (gaufres), crêpes, a variety of chocolates, traditional French nougat, and classic fairground sweets such as barbe à papa (cotton candy).
To complement all these delicious treats, enjoy a wide selection of drinks – from local beers and warming grog (a mix of hot water, lemon, honey, and rum) to the classic vin chaud (mulled wine).
Restaurants & Food Courts at La Défense Christmas Market
Here’s the list of indoor restaurants in La Défense Christmas Market 2025:
- Délices du Sud-Ouest – Southwest Delicacies
- Spécialités Québécoises – Specialties from Québec
- Saveurs Créoles – Flavors from the French Antilles
- Mets Savoyards – Dishes from Savoye
- Plats Alsaciens – Dishes from Alsace
In addition to these restaurants, there are two food courts: a small, more cozy one and a bigger one for groups.
