Christmas in Paris
When it comes to things to do in Paris at Christmas time, we Parisians are spoilt for choice. The City of Light is lit up even brighter, and each Arrondissement of Paris has something festive going on.
From glittering Christmas lights to traditional markets and Christmas shows, Paris is a Christmas wonderland, and there’s simply no better place to be!
Are you planning a trip to Paris for Christmas? This article gives information and many ideas of things to do in Paris – Christmas 2024.
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- Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
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Table of Contents:
What’s Paris’ Winter Weather Like?
On the days around Christmas, Paris can be chilly, but the temperature rarely goes below 0ºC. The weather is cold and wet, so I always recommend adding warm clothes and shoes to your packing list. Below are some ideas on what to wear during your Paris Christmas holidays:
Also, the chances of rain are high (15 days on average), so don’t forget your foldable travel umbrella for those rainy days in Paris!
Winter days in Paris are very short, so the sun sets very early. Check out the sunset times in December in Paris.
Best Things to Do in Paris at Christmas Time
Paris is a wonderful city to visit at any time of year. At Christmas, Paris is even more magical, with the streets, squares, and shop fronts lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Come to Paris to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve in one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe.
Below, I list what to do in Paris at Christmas and the days before and after it. For more activities and seasonal tips, check out the articles about December and Winter in Paris.
Visit Paris’ Christmas Markets
Take some time out from sightseeing to visit one or two Christmas Markets in Paris. Hundreds of wooden chalets will tempt you with unique gifts, traditional Christmas decorations, and culinary delights. Here’s the list of the best Christmas Markets in Paris:
- Tuileries Garden Christmas Market (Paris 1)
- Marché de Noël de la canopée des Halles (Paris 1)
- Saint-Germain Christmas Market (Paris 6)
- Marché de Noël Notre Dame de Paris (Paris 5)
- Eiffel Tower Christmas Market (Paris 7)
- La Défense Christmas Market (at La Défense business district)
Enjoy Paris’ Christmas Food
Food festivals and food tours are great for sampling holiday treats and learning about France’s Christmas food traditions.
Salon Saveurs des Plaisirs Gourmands (from 6 to 9 December 2024, at Espace Champerret in Paris 17) is dedicated to seasonal local products, and most of them are linked to Christmas and New Year celebrations: traditional French food, French pastries, and of course, wine and champagne. Visit the different stands, talk to the exhibitors, and taste some samples!
You can also join this Christmas Gourmet Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Près. This Paris neighborhood on the Seine’s Left Bank is well known for its chocolate and pastry shops and has a small Christmas market.
Admire Paris’ Christmas Decorations and Lights
At Christmas, Paris’ most beautiful avenues and squares are lit with multi-colored bulbs and have beautiful decorations.
If you visit Paris at Christmas time, don’t miss the Christmas decorations and lights of Champs-Élysées, Avenue Montaigne, Place Vendôme, or Montmartre. More than ever, Paris is a moveable feast!
The Open-top Christmas Lights Bus Tour is a great way to enjoy Paris’ Christmas lights and decorations. This 1.5-hour bus tour includes a hot drink, an audio guide, and personal earphones playing traditional Christmas songs.
You can also discover the best decorations with this Christmas lights walking tour with a local or, if you want to cover more ground, follow your guide on two wheels with this Christmas guided bike tour. Take in the illuminated Paris landmarks as you pedal along on your bike after dark.
Go Window-Shopping
One of the most celebrated Christmas traditions in Paris is the decorated shop windows. These decorations are especially spectacular at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann department stores (both on Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9). The shop windows at BHV Marais, facing the Hotel de Ville in Paris 4, are beautiful, too.
These Christmas shop windows are usually sponsored by luxury brands and show dreamlike worlds with animated figures. If possible, visit these Christmas shop windows during the week; the area gets crazy on weekends!
Galeries Lafayette is also famous for hosting one of the most beautiful Christmas Trees in Paris. It is located under its magnificent glass cupola and usually has a short Christmas show every hour.
Explore the Covered Passages of Paris
If you are still missing some Christmas gifts but prefer shopping in a more intimate atmosphere, head to the covered passages of Paris. These Paris walkways are a world apart from the busy Grands Boulevards, and during the Christmas holidays, their beautiful 18th-century architecture is usually decorated with festive ornaments.
Don’t miss their elegant cafés and vintage shops; the covered passages are among the top hidden gems in Paris!
Vintage Funfair at Musée des Arts Forains
Are you looking for unique things to do in Paris during Christmas with kids? Usually open for cocktail parties and private events, the Musée des Arts Forains (53, Avenue des Terroirs de France, Paris) is exceptionally open to the public during Christmas in Paris.
From TBD December 2024 to TBD January 2025, this museum of fairground rides and stalls hosts the Festival du Merveilleux (Wonder Festival), with storytellers, magicians, musicians, dancers, and beautiful rides!
Considered one of the most beautiful museums in Paris, the magical atmosphere of Musée des Arts Forains will delight kids and adults alike!
Best exhibitions going on during Christmas in Paris:
Visit Disneyland Paris at Christmas Time
In Disneyland Paris, Christmas is a big time. Disneyland Paris is always a world apart, a magical world that becomes even more special during Christmas time (this year from 9 November 2024 to 6 January 2025), with light shows and streets dripping in Christmas decorations.
Check out my quick guide to Christmas in Disneyland Paris and this Disneyland Paris crowd calendar to enjoy Disneyland Paris’ Christmas celebrations without the longest lines. If possible, book your Disneyland tickets well in advance (Christmas is the high season in Disneyland Paris!).
A day trip to Disneyland Paris is very easy to organize. To save money and the hassle of taking public transportation, consider the bundle Disneyland Paris tickets + Disneyland Paris Express. The Disneyland Paris Express bus has three departure points in Paris, takes you to the park before it opens, and returns to Paris at 9 p.m.
TIP: do you want to extend your Disneyland experience? Spend one night at one of the Disneyland hotels.
Take an Enchanted Stroll at one of the Light Festivals in Paris
The Paris Festival of Lights is one of the best Paris Christmas events. It is an enchanting experience for kids and adults, with monumental light structures set in the alleys and pitches of the Jardin des Plantes in the Latin Quarter of Paris.
From 20 November 2024 to 19 January 2025, Paris’ main botanical garden will be populated by creatures from the Jurassic period thanks to the exhibition event “Jurassique en Voie d’Illumination.”
But this is not the only light festival in the city! There are other enchanting light festivals in Paris and nearby, usually hosted in beautiful parks and gardens. From arty strolls to dragons and lanterns festivals, there’s something for everyone!
Listen to a Christmas Concert
Some of Paris’ most atmospheric religious buildings hold festive concerts around Christmas. There are classical concerts in the churches at Saint-Sulpice (Paris 6), Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Paris 6), Saint Eustache (Paris 1), and La Madeleine (Paris 8), usually in the days around Christmas.
Concerts at the Sainte-Chapelle (Paris 4) are the most spectacular because of its unique atmosphere: the walls of this Gothic royal chapel are made up of 16 huge stained glass windows that cover over 600 square meters! When the musicians are playing, and the light hits the windows and makes them glow, it is just magical. The Sainte-Chapelle hosts Christmas-themed concerts from 21–29 December 2024 (excluding Christmas Day).
Enjoy a Fairy Tale Day Trip at Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte
From 16 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, it’s the “Grand Noël” (Great Christmas) in Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. Spend an unforgettable day at this stunning 17th-century residence, which is one of the most beautiful castles near Paris.
Visit the different rooms and halls, all in a festive Christmas atmosphere. Admire the beautiful, twinkling Christmas lights adorning the castle facades and the impressive gardens.
Children can dress in period costumes and play the Kings and Queens for the day! You can visit the Château alone or with this Grand Noël guided tour from Paris, which visits Châteaeu de Fontainebleau and Château Vaux-le-Vicomte during the Christmas period.
Take a Day Trip to Strasbourg or Colmar for a Unique Christmas Experience
If you have one spare day in Paris, hop on a train to Alsace for more Christmas fun. Set in some of the region’s most picturesque cities, towns, and villages, a visit to the Christmas markets in Alsace is both a shopping experience and a destination discovery.
The Strasbourg Christmas Market is France’s most famous, and this year, it will take place from 27 November (evening) to 27 December 2024. Expect over 300 wooden chalets spread around different squares in the city, offering unique gifts, Christmas decorations, and delicious food in a fairytale atmosphere.
The journey from Paris to Strasbourg takes less than 2 hours by train. Book your train tickets well in advance for the best seats and prices.
Colmar is another beautiful city in Alsace that is revered for its annual Christmas market. Actually, the Colmar Christmas Market is voted year after year as one of the best Christmas markets in Europe! A sublime “light path” takes the visitors to discover Colmar’s six Christmas markets, each nestled in an idyllic setting and with its own identity and theme.
The journey from Paris to Colmar takes 2,5 to 3 hours by train, depending on whether it is a direct train or with one transfer. There are few direct trains to Colmar, so book your train tickets as soon as possible before they sell out!
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
A steaming cup of vin-chaud (mulled wine) is Parisians’ favorite winter warmer, especially during Christmas time. This is one of the many Christmas traditions in Paris, and we locals enjoy drinking vin-chaud, especially with friends.
This festive drink is made of hot red wine mixed with sugar, orange, and spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. You can find vin-chaud in the Paris Christmas markets and most of the bars and cafés across the city.
Another favorite of Christmas time in Paris is the Bûche de Noël. These sponge cakes are covered with chocolate buttercream to look like festive yule logs. You can buy them in pastry shops and bakeries, and there are mini bûches for one person.
Chocolate is always a classic treat during Christmas in Paris! Top-class chocolates can be found at chocolate shops and pastry shops all across Paris. For the best experience, however, avoid the bigger (and more commercial) brands and look for local chocolate makers. For some guidance, you can take this free, self-guided chocolate tour around Le Marais.
What to Do on Christmas Eve in Paris
The night before Christmas in Paris (24th December) is usually spent with family and friends. Expect shops and businesses to close earlier than usual to let people prepare for the Christmas Eve dinner.
Are you looking for a nice restaurant for Christmas Eve in Paris? This list of romantic restaurants in Paris is a good start. However, not all Paris restaurants are open during Christmas Eve, so if you have a specific restaurant in mind, check its website to see if it is open and book well in advance. You can also sail the Seine River while enjoying your Christmas Dinner or combine it with a cabaret show for a fun night out!
Take a Seine River Cruise
Take a Seine River Cruise with a Christmas dinner and sail the Seine River with the city lit up for the holidays; this can be a memorable experience! At the time of updating this post, all the options below are available for 24 December.
Paris Cabaret Dinner and Show
If you are looking for a more festive way to spend Christmas Eve in Paris, head to a cabaret for a special cabaret show and dinner. This is the list of Parisian Cabarets open on Christmas Eve in Paris:
TIP: Don’t know what cabaret to choose? Check out this quick guide to the best cabarets in Paris.
Join a Christmas Church Service
To celebrate Christmas more traditionally, go to the church for Christmas Mass. Most of the churches in Paris organize vigils and masses.
For such a special occasion, I recommend the Sacré-Cœur Basilica (Montmartre) or the Madeleine Church (Place de la Madelaine, Paris 8), organizing prestigious celebrations on 24 and 25 December with exceptional choirs and concerts. If you are staying on the Seine’s Left Bank, Saint-Sulpice Church (2 Rue Palatine, Paris 6) hosts a vigil and midnight mass, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés (3 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris 6) is noted for its wonderful acoustics.
Americans visiting Paris will find celebrations similar to those in the US at the American Cathedral in Paris (23 Avenue George V, Paris 8) and the American Church in Paris (65 Quai d’Orsay, Paris 7). There are also English-language services held at the Scots Kirk (17 Rue Bayard, Paris 8) and St Michael’s Church (5 Rue d’Aguessau, Paris 8).
Church services in Paris at Christmas do get busy, though, so arrive early, as numbers may be limited. It’s also worth calling into the churches before Christmas, as many have ornately carved nativity scenes on display.
What to Do in Paris on Christmas Day
Christmas Day in Paris is a bit like the 15th of August: not much happens in the city. Apart from the church services (information above) and long strolls in the parks to digest the Christmas lunch, don’t expect much going on in Paris.
However, the Eiffel Tower is open on Christmas Day! You can climb up the Eiffel Tower every day of the year, sun or rain – Click here to book your Eiffel Tower tickets
Two fun things to do on Christmas Day in Paris are World in Paris’ (self-guided) treasure hunts – Queen Marie’s Treasures in the Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries Garden Quest. Both hunts are ideal for families and groups of friends and are a great way to learn the history of Paris while having fun.
You will also find many free self-guided walking tours in this blog that you can do on Christmas Day in Paris. Some tours explore a particular neighborhood in Paris, while others are themed walking tours.
Best Places to Stay in Paris for Christmas
If you want to spend Christmas in Paris, I recommend staying central. In general, the central districts of Paris have the best Christmas decorations and atmosphere.
There are many good hotels near the Louvre Museum for all budgets. Hotels in the Le Marais (Paris 3 and 4) and the hotels in the Latin Quarter are good options, too.
For a unique Christmas holiday in Paris, book a hotel with an Eiffel Tower view. Because there is nothing like a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower to say you’re in the City of Light…
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer – it depends on what you like and the kind of trip you are planning (budget vs. luxury, solo vs. couple, family trip…). In the posts below, you will find more suggestions and a quick guide to the best Paris neighborhoods.
And there you have it, the list of the best things to do in Paris at Christmas time. Christmas is a wonderful time to be in the French capital, and I am sure you will love it!
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