As Christmas approaches, Paris and its surroundings are getting ready to turn into magical winter wonderlands. The fabulous light festivals in Paris are back to enlighten the French capital and the Île-de-France region during the autumn and winter evenings.
But what exactly is a festival of lights? It’s a magical event taking place at nightfall, an enchanted stroll in the middle of bright and colorful installations, which are often accompanied by music for an even more beautifully immersive experience! The Christmas light festivals in Paris are ideal for those visiting Paris with kids.
Are you curious about these winter festivals in Paris for the 2024-2025 edition? Then keep reading!
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our must-guides, top tours, hotels, and more:
» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists
» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio
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» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris
- Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
- Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
- Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)
» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:
- Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
- Seine River Night Cruise
- Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas
Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
» Don’t leave without travel insurance! SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
Read more:
Paris Light Festivals This Year
TIP: Check out the sunset times in Paris in the winter (hint: it’s very early!).
1. Jardin des Plantes’ Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights at the Jardin des Plantes is hitting its 6th season! From 20 November 2024 to 19 January 2025, Paris’s main botanical garden will be transformed into deep oceans and verdant valleys with the theme “Jurassique en Voie d’Illumination.”
Get ready to enter the Jardin des Plantes, built in the 17th century under the orders of King Louis XIII’s physician, for an enchanting walk to discover the extraordinary diversity of rainforests and how the amazing ecosystems of our planet work.
One of the best immersive experiences in Paris, this Paris light festival is one of the top winter activities in Paris. Illuminated sculptures of dinosaurs and other Jurassic creatures create an immersive exhibition you will hardly forget.
The Jardin des Plantes is located in the Latin Quarter, in Paris’ 5th arrondissement – Click here for more information and tickets
2. Christmas Illuminations in Paris’s Parc Floral
From 30 November 2024 to 19 January 2025, as night falls, the Parc Floral of Paris becomes the venue of “L’Odyssée Lumineuse,” a showcase of China’s ancient art in a profusion of colorful lights that take the forms of mythical animals, gigantic sculptures, and sumptuous decors.
To bring this dreamlike world to life, 40 Chinese craftsmen created 1,000 magical lanterns and the most beautiful sculptures that are loved by children and adults alike.
Also, the Northern Lights will light up the sky of the exhibition, creating a magical and unforgettable atmosphere.
The Parc Floral is inside the Bois de Vincennes, Paris’ largest public park. The Bois de Vincennes is located in Paris’ 12th arrondissement – Click here for more information and tickets
More seasonal activities in Paris:
3. Lanterns Festival in Thoiry
The Thoiry Safari Park is just one hour east of Paris and hosts a not-to-be-missed winter event again this year. The “Thoiry Lumières Sauvages” returns for its 7th edition from 27 October 2024 to 2 March 2025 to delight the whole family.
Get lost in France’s largest labyrinth, completely illuminated for the occasion with 2,500 lanterns, the longest light trail in Ile-de-France! For the 2024-2025 edition, the Park is inspired by Jules Verne’s extraordinary adventures, from underground worlds to space exploration. Don’t miss this magical stroll through wonderful worlds in the heart of nature.
If you are interested in visiting the Lantern Festival in Thoiry, you can either purchase a ticket to the festival only or a combo ticket that gives you access to the festival and the entire Zoo-safari. The best way to reach Thoiry is by car, but you can also take a TER train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Mantes-la-Jolie and then a 78 Express bus to the venue (1 hr 40 min one way) – Click here for more information and tickets
4. The Dinosaur Ball at Jardin d’Acclimatation Paris
The Jardin d’Acclimatation, the only funfair inside Paris, has something special in store for this year. From 29 November 2024 to 2 March 2025, it will host the Dinosaur Ball, with dozens of terrible titans that have been extinct for millions of years reappearing in the Park’s alleys.
Along a 6-hectare winter walk, set against a fantastic backdrop of more than 2,000 lanterns, discover tyrannosaurs and brontosaurs, velociraptors and triceratops, allosaurs, and diplodocus, each more impressive than the last!
To make the evening even more special, jump on the Giant Ferris Wheel to see the light festival from the sky!
You will find the Jardin d’Acclimatation in the 16th arrondissement – Click here for more information and tickets
Don’t miss the best exhibitions in Paris at this time of the year:
5. Lumières en Seine at Parc Saint Cloud
From 15 November 2024 to 12 January 2025, the Parc Saint Cloud, located east of Paris in the Hauts-de-Seine department, will host the “Lumières en Seine” for the fourth year in a row.
Close 2024 and welcome 2025 with a beautiful 2-kilometer-long nocturnal walk dotted by illuminated paintings and sculptures. One of the best light routes in Paris this year, the sensory experience couldn’t be complete without tasting the warm and soul-comforting delicious local cuisine served in food stalls along the river bank.
You will enjoy the Lumières en Seine, even more, knowing that the event is environmentally friendly as it is made up of 100% reusable LED lighting, which helps to limit energy consumption – Click here for more information and tickets
6. Grand Noël at Vaux-le-Vicomte
The stunning Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, one of the best castles near Paris, will be the venue for the “Grand Noël” event. From 16 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, Vaux-le-Vicomte will become the most fairytale castle near Paris, thanks to the countless Christmas lights, festive decorations, and wintery activities.
Get ready to become Nicolas Fouquet’s guests for a day and participate in family-friendly activities for a wonderful experience!
Vaux-le-Vicomte is located in Maincy, 55 kilometers southeast of Paris. Upon your arrival at the estate, you will be dressed in a red velvet cape, and then you will be free to stroll inside the Château and outside in its gardens to soak up the winter and Christmas atmosphere.
TIP: Enjoy a Christmas fairytale with this Vaux-le-Vicomte private tour from Paris.
7. Paris’ Christmas Illuminations and Christmas Shop Windows
There’s no need to attend a special event to live the magic that winter and Christmas are in Paris. The whole city gets festive illuminations, and you can spend hours strolling around the city and admiring the Christmas lights.
Famous department stores like Galeries Lafayette (Paris 9), Printemps Haussmann (Paris 9), Le BHV Marais (Paris 4), La Samaritaine (Paris 1), and Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche (Paris 7) will be adorned with stunning festive decorations. Their window displays, created by gifted artists and designers in true Parisian fashion, are always surprising works of art.
The covered passages of Paris will also be beautifully illuminated.
A good way to explore the Christmas lights in Paris is with a local guide who knows where to go to see the most beautiful places. You can opt for a Christmas lights walking tour or a Christmas guided bike tour if you want to cover more ground. Some of the hop-on, hop-off buses in Paris also have special Christmas illumination tours – Check out this fun open-top Christmas bus tour by Tootbus
Then, head to one of the Christmas Markets in Paris for a more than deserved vin chaud (mulled wine).
Get ready to be amazed by the 2024 light festivals in Paris! Which Paris light festivals would you like to enjoy right now?
