Don’t Miss the Cutest Christmas Market in Paris!
Notre Dame Christmas Market is a must-see during any trip to Paris at Christmas time. It is one of the best Christmas Markets in Paris and is also one of the locals’ favorites, who, year after year, vote it as the cutest Christmas Market.
Located in the Latin Quarter and with the silhouette of Notre Dame Cathedral in the background, don’t miss the small but charming Notre Dame Christmas Market for unique gifts and perhaps a glass of mulled wine.
Here’s a quick guide to Notre Dame Christmas Market 2025, which includes some fun things to do nearby.
Notre Dame Christmas Market 2025 Dates and Opening Times
The Notre Dame Christmas Market 2025 dates are from Friday, 28 November, to Thursday 25 December, which means almost one month to enjoy this beautiful market!
Notre Dame Christmas Market Hours
The Notre Dame Christmas Market opening times are 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends.
If possible, visit the Notre Dame Christmas Market during the week before 5 p.m. It’s definitely less crowded!
How to Get to Notre Dame Christmas Market
The best way to get to the Notre Dame Christmas Market is by metro. The closest metro stations are Cluny-La Sorbonne (line 10) and Saint-Michel Notre Dame (line 4). Saint-Michel Notre Dame is also an RER B and RER C station.
To use the Paris metro, you can buy individual metro tickets that you will charge on a plastic card (Navigo Easy) or your mobile. If you plan on using the metro often, check out the different Paris metro tickets for a cheaper option.
Notre Dame Christmas Market – Things to Do
1. Unique Christmas Shopping
Organized by L’Art et la Seine, the Notre Dame Christmas Market is all about French arts and crafts.
Compared to the Tuileries Christmas Market, the Notre Dame Christmas Market is tiny but worth a visit! It features 30 wooden chalets where artisans sell precious, hand-made items, including jewelry, handbags, house ornaments, and more.
The stalls sell items made in France. Some of them feature products “made in Paris” from workshops not far from the market.
There are a couple of stalls selling upcycled products. Upcycling is the same process of reusing old materials, but it creates something different from its former use, which is more valuable or of higher quality. For example, one of the stalls used buttons from old, high-couture dresses (which could not be used anymore) to create beautiful jewels, while the other stall (@atelierdetoree) used old ceramic cups to create beautiful candle holders.
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.
2. Food & Drinks
One of the fun things to do at the Notre Christmas Market is to sample local food specialties. Here, you will find sweet and salty specialties to eat on the spot (there are a few tables and chairs) or bring home.
Some of the foods you can find in the Notre Dame Christmas Market are homemade crêpes and gauffres, candied fruits from Provence, all kinds of sweets and chocolates, cold cuts from different regions of France (to take home), hot chestnuts, and raclette and jam sandwiches.
To wash down all this delicious food, you can choose from various drinks, such as hot chocolate, coffee, grog (a drink made from hot water, lemon, honey, and rum), and the famous vin chaud (mulled wine).
3. Meet Santa Claus
Santa Claus visits Notre Dame Christmas Market every day, so it’s a good chance to snap a photo, share your Christmas wishes, and soak up the festive spirit with the little ones.
Last year, I saw him around 3:30 p.m. (weekday), but he was on his mulled wine break. I’ll update this post once the visiting hours are confirmed.
Things to Do Near Notre Dame Christmas Market
The Notre Dame Christmas Market is fun but very small, so I thought it might be helpful to share a few things to do nearby. You are in the Latin Quarter here, and just across the Petit Pont lies the Ile de la Cité.
On the Same Square Viviani
On the same Square Viviani, don’t miss the oldest tree in Paris (a black locust that belongs to the Fabaceae family). This remarkable tree, native to the US, was introduced and planted by Jean Robin in 1601!
There’s also a medieval well and the 13th-century Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre Church – the oldest church in Paris – dedicated to the Melkite Greek Catholic cult.
You can also look for the perfect book to bring back home at Shakespeare & Company (37 Rue de la Bûcherie) or, depending on the time, find your way to the Caveau de la Huchette, “Paris’ famous temple of swing,” for some good jazz. This iconic place on 5 Rue de la Huchette has been open since 1946!
Before Crossing the Seine River
On the opposite side of the street, you’ll find the bouquinistes, where you can browse their charming selection of vintage books and prints.
If you have more time, hop on the Batobus, Paris’s hop-on, hop-off river cruise. The “Notre Dame” stop is at 21 Quai de Montebello, also on the opposite side of the street.
On the Parvis de Notre Dame
Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, which reopened last after five years of reconstruction work. You can now also climb the Towers for a magical view of the Christmas Market from above. Ideally, visit after dark (check out the sunset time in Paris for your dates), when the Notre Dame Christmas Market sparkles under the Christmas lights.
The Cathedral is free to visit, but access to the Towers requires an entry ticket (€16). Scam websites are already popping up (spoiler: you’ll pay more and get nothing!), so be sure to read my article about the reopening of Notre Dame to purchase the right tickets and avoid ticket scams!
On the same square, you’ll also find the Archaeological Crypt (entrance in front of Notre Dame), one of the key sites of Roman Paris. It’s a fascinating spot to explore the city’s origins, from the Gauls to the Romans.
With more time, you can take this free Ile de la Cité walking tour. The itinerary starts from the Pont Neuf, but it’s flexible and can easily begin from Notre Dame.
