New Year’s Eve, Paris 2022
Paris is a great place to finish the year in style and, according to some travel blogs, also one of the most popular places in the world to spend ‘Le Reveillon’ (New Year’s Eve in French).
Many Parisians have dinner at home or at friends’ houses but then go afterward to walk around, and there is a general atmosphere of partying and fun. Indeed, on New Year’s Eve, Paris is a moveable feast!
Generally speaking, winter in Paris is considered the low season. Still, if you are visiting Paris during the Christmas holidays, you will find the city really busy, and you can expect long lines everywhere. With the exception of New Years’ Day, everything is open and beautifully lit up with Christmas decorations.
What to do in Paris for New Year’s? Whether you’re looking for a big party, a fancy dinner, or a change of scenery, there are many ways to start the New Year in Paris. Check out below some cool ideas for your Paris New Year’s Eve celebration.
Getting Ready for the New Year in Paris
1. Get the Right Outfit
Looking for something fancy to wear for your Paris New Year’s Eve 2022? Or perhaps you want to renew your wardrobe for 2023?
Paris is a synonym for fashion and an excellent place for a shopping day. Shopping in Paris is very easy, and the city really has something for everyone, with world-renowned brands and labels on every corner, small insider boutiques hidden in up-and-coming neighborhoods, and big outlet malls located just outside the city.
People looking for a luxury shopping experience will head to the Golden Triangle (Avenue Georges V – Avenue Montaigne – Champs Elysées) in Paris 8, while the best place for vintage clothing is Le Marais, without forgetting the grand shopping malls along the Grands Boulevards.
If you are dying for a little shopping in Paris, but fashion is not your forte, or you don’t want to struggle with language barriers, consider this Paris shopping tour – half day, led by an English-speaking fashion expert. He or she will adapt the itinerary to your unique needs and style, introducing you to the best shops and fashion brands.
2. Craft your Own Perfume for 2023
We are sure you are unique, so why not have your own, personal perfume for 2023? In Maison Molinard (est. 1849), you can learn the basics of perfume-making – the raw materials, the extraction methods, and the structure of the perfume – before creating your own perfume. Then, it will be time to practice: you will select your essences, create your top note, the heart note, and the base note, to concentrate all this in your own perfume.
This top-rated perfume workshop lasts 1 hour, and you will get a 50ml bottle of your very special perfume at the end of it. Also, you can take the time to visit the boutique and get a 10% discount on all the perfumes that you like.
3. Indulge Yourself with a Spa Day
A spa bath can offer the ultimate relaxation therapy at the end of a fulfilled year. Whether you have chronic aches and pains that need soothing or just like the idea of indulging yourself, a spa bath is a wonderful retreat, even if it is only for the last day of the year.
In Paris, the most beautiful spas are installed in equally beautiful hotels, so if you are visiting Paris for a mix of fun -sightseeing-relax, we recommend booking the full-pack hotel + spa – Click here for the best spa-hotels in Paris
How to Spend New Year’s Eve in Paris 2022 (Paris NYE Events & More)
Here’s a list of some fun ways to spend New Year’s Eve in Paris 2022. From a good dinner in a fancy place to something special afterward, there are many activities for a great Paris NYE 2022, and it really depends on what you want to do, your age, your budget, and the number of people that are celebrating with you.
1. Paris New Year’s Eve 2022 in a Parisian Cabaret
If you are looking for a fun, and cheeky New Year celebration in Paris, a Parisian cabaret is THE place to go.
Parisian cabarets are one of the most popular things to do in Paris at night. Indeed, bars and nightclubs exist everywhere in the world, but where else than in Paris can you find such a choice of quality cabaret shows?
Most of the best cabarets in Paris offer special shows for Christmas and New Year’s in Paris, so you will be guaranteed a glamorous and unforgettable Paris New Year event out on the town. The Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Horse are the most popular cabarets in Paris. On the Seine’s Left bank, the Paradis Latin is our favorite. They all offer cancan dance, great food, and lots of bubbles.
Book your Cabaret Show for a fun New Year celebration in Paris
2. New Year’s Eve in Paris 2022 on a Seine River Cruise
The Seine River is the most beautiful avenue in Paris, and a festive dinner cruise along the Seine can be a great way to welcome the New Year in Paris 2023 in style.
Enjoy the most beautiful monuments of Paris illuminated and from a different point of view and welcome the New Year in Paris while savoring a gourmet dinner followed by live music on board.
There are different Seine River Cruises offering an NYE dinner cruise with live music. Here are our favorites:
3. A Gourmet Restaurant with a View
For the last dinner of the year, go for a gourmet meal with a view. The meals in these restaurants may be pricey, but the combination of exceptional views of Paris and award-winning food is incredible, especially for a Paris New Year’s Eve. Book your table well in advance.
» Kong, in Paris 1: located on the 5th floor of a Haussmann building, every window boasts a different view, with the Pont Neuf, the Samaritaine shopping mall, Art Nouveau architecture, the Seine River, and more.
» Georges, in Paris 4: situated on top of the National Museum of Modern Art, soak up a full view of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.
» La Tour d’Argent, in Paris 5: this restaurant is on the pricier end of the market, but with such an enchanting setting, and spectacular views of the Seine and Cathédrale Notre Dame, La Tour d’Argent is the perfect place to celebrate that special occasion in style.
» Le Jules Verne, in Paris 7: this restaurant is inside the Eiffel Tower. This classically French restaurant is a great place to dine and look across Paris.
» Les Ombres, in Paris 7: the rooftop of Les Ombres is directly in front of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll be hard-pressed to say which is better: the amazing food you’re eating, or the majestic Eiffel Tower.
4. Clubbing in Paris
Paris has a handful of legit clubs and bars for dancing and partying the night away. Here’s the list of our favorite places to go clubbing in Paris:
» Les Bains, in Paris 3: this place was Paris’ answer to NYC’s Studio 54 and welcomed everyone from David and Bowie to Princess Grace on its dancefloor, and in its (adjacent) swimming pool.
» L’Heritage, in Paris 8: a night at this venue, located just a few minutes away from Champs-Élysėes, promises a unique clubbing experience at once sophisticated and classy.
» Le Baron, in Paris 8: this tiny (there is limited room inside), and exclusive club hosts both some of the city’s best DJs as well as featuring live music acts, and stars like Bjork and Sofia Coppola have frequented this hot spot.
» Le Carmen, in Paris 9: set in a former private mansion, which once housed the apartment of French composer Bizet (and, according to rumor, a high-end ‘maison close’), this trendy all-night bar is worth visiting for the exquisite surroundings alone.
» Le Bus Palladium, in Paris 9: located in the heart of Pigalle, it stands apart from other clubs in the city as a resolute rock venue: with DJ sets, live music, and improvisations of all kinds. There are occasional forays into hip-hop and electro on the ground floor.
» La Java, in Paris 10: La Java is a historic place dedicated to alternative, underground, and emerging new music talent. Its eclectic programming offers the opportunity to discover unique musical talent before they go live to the world. La Java also hosts LGBT evenings regularly that are incredibly popular.
» Wanderlust, in Paris 13: le Wanderlust has been a favorite on the nightlife scene since it opened in 2012. The club has a 1,600 square-meter terrace where you can dance under the stars when the weather is good in summer and a 386 square-meter space with a club area and restaurant.
» La Machine du Moulin Rouge, in Paris 18: the former boiler room of the iconic cabaret has been transformed into, an underground dance floor, which links with Le Centre one floor up, a club night and concert space accommodating up to 1,000 revelers
» La Bellevilloise, in Paris 20: enjoy a trendy indie clubbing experience, with two levels, a terrace, and sofas to snuggle into with friends.
Outdoor Celebrations in Paris, New Year’s Eve 2022
WILL THE EIFFEL TOWER HOLD A FIREWORK SHOW FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE?
Many visitors are often disappointed when they wait around the Eiffel Tower or Trocadéro for fireworks that never come. Indeed, the Eiffel Tower only holds fireworks for the 14th of July – National Day.
1. New Year’s in Paris, Champs Elysées 2022
In Paris, New Year’s Eve 2022 will be celebrated with fireworks. The City of Paris organizes offers, as part of its “Enchanted Paris” program, a great fireworks display on the Champs-Élysées, preceded by musical entertainment. The festivities will start at 10 pm, and the fireworks will start at 11 pm.
The Paris New Year’s Eve fireworks will be followed by a concert by a French DJ.
This is a popular event, and you should expect to see crowds. But if you want to live a Paris NYE 2022 celebration like a local, the Champs Elysées is one of the places to go.
2. NYE in Paris Champs de Mars – Eiffel Tower
Despite the absence of an official celebration and fireworks around the Iron Lady, Champs de Mars is always a gathering point for people who want to spend New Year’s Eve in Paris, waiting to shout ‘Bonne Année!’ (=Happy New Year) to friends and family.
Of course, the Eiffel Tower will be specially lit up for the occasion 🙂
GOOD TO KNOW: In order to ensure that NYE in Paris goes as smoothly as possible, glass bottles are prohibited from 8 pm to 5 am on the Champs-Elysées, Trocadéro, and Champ de Mars. Also, the takeaway sale of any alcoholic drink or drink in a glass container is prohibited between 8 pm and 5 am in these sectors.
3. New Year’s Eve Paris 2022 at Montmartre
The square just in front of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, in Montmartre, is another popular place to bid farewell to the current year. If the weather is good, you can also enjoy one of the most beautiful Paris views.
Like the Champs Elysées or Trocadéro, Montmartre is another place that sees the crowds in Paris on New Year’s Eve, but there are plenty of bars, cabarets, and clubs where you can get lost afterward.
4. Paris NYE 2022 at Disneyland Paris
Get ready for the most magical party of all! On 31 December 2022, from 8 pm to 2 am, Disneyland Paris will be bedazzled by exciting New Year’s Eve delights, with all the Disneyland Paris rides open until just after midnight! Meet Mickey, Minnie, Cinderella, Donald, and the rest of the Disney gang and soak up the enchanting atmosphere of these festive days in Disneyland Paris.
This is one of the many special events of Christmas at Disneyland Paris! It may only be for one night, but the Disneyland Paris New Year’s Eve Party will give you magical memories that’ll last forever and ever! – Click here to buy your tickets to Disneyland Paris
If you are traveling with kids, book at one of the Disneyland Paris hotels on-site and extend the magic until the first day of the year.
Best Place to Stay in Paris for New Year’s Eve
We recommend staying not far from the Arc de Triomphe. Like this, you can walk to /from the main celebration in Paris on New Year’s eve and avoid the busy metro lines at the end of the fireworks.
How to Get Around Paris on New Year’s Eve 2022
By Metro
There are so many things to do in Paris on New Year’s Eve that you will probably want to try more than one! If you need to move around Paris, the metro is always a good choice, also during New Year in Paris.
The metro of Paris (and public transportation in Paris and Ile de France in general) is free from Saturday, 31 December 2022, at 5 pm until Sunday, 1 January 2023, at 12 pm. All the Ile-de-France networks are operating normally with the exception of certain lines, which will be closed between approximately 2:15 am. and 5:30 am (check out the detail on RATP’s website).
Private Transportation
If your Paris holiday is finishing on 1 January and you need to head to the airport or any railway station early in the morning, we recommend using private transportation.
Taxis in Paris are scarce, and they may raise their fees for special days like New Year’s Eve. Free, non-stop Metro and RER service may sound wonderful, but perhaps you want to avoid the crowds – and (let’s face it) the people who drank too much – for your last journey to the train station or airport, with all your luggage.
Same for arrivals to Paris in the afternoon-evening of 31 December 31. You want to be sure to have the time for a quick shower before the party starts!
We like (and we recommend) Welcome ‘s transfer services, with good cars and the best English-speaking drivers in Paris. Their flight monitoring means their drivers are always on time. You may have a terrible hangover, but Welcome’s hotel pick-up service and patient drivers will ensure that you will take your train or flight back home 😉 – Click here to book your Paris Airport or Railway Transfer with Welcome
French New Year’s Eve Traditions
There are many Christmas traditions in France, but only a few specific to New Year’s Eve, apart from kissing under the mistletoe (le gui), counting down to midnight, and celebrating the arrival of the New Year with champagne and the best French wines.
Today, it is traditional to prepare French onion soup on New Year’s Eve mainly because of the soup’s “bad reputation”. Indeed, the onion soup was also known as “the soup of drunks” because it was reputed to be very effective in veiling the smell of drinking in those who consumed it.
New Year’s Eve is most often spent with friends, and there may be dancing involved. At the stroke of midnight, people kiss one another on the cheek, and some may also throw des cotillons (confetti and streamers), blow into un serpentin (a streamer attached to a whistle), and generally make a lot of noise.
Of course, French people also like to dance, and you will find many dancing options in Paris and France for that night.
How to wish Happy New Year in Paris?
» Bonne Année (Happy New Year)
» Bonne Année, Meilleurs Voeux (Happy New Year and best wishes)
It is possible to use these New Year’s greetings until the end of January.
And there you have it, what to do in Paris on New Year’s Eve. What proposals tempt you most for New Year’s Eve Paris 2022?
