Christmas in Paris

What is Paris like at Christmas?

Christmas in Paris, at a glance: 

Bathed in sparkling decorations, the French capital glows with a warm and inviting atmosphere during the holiday season. Discover why Paris is such a magical place to celebrate Christmas. You'll find charming Christmas markets, iconic landmarks adorned with festive decorations and an abundance of food, drink and merriment.

Christmas markets in Paris, France

Get into the holiday spirit with a visit to one of Paris’ many Christmas markets. You could even head on a festive road trip to explore the best Christmas markets in Europe!

Jardin des Tuileries Christmas market

In the heart of Paris, the Jardin des Tuileries Christmas market is perfectly situated in the half-mile stretch between the Place des Pyramides and the Place de la Concorde. One of Paris’ biggest Christmas markets, the “La Magie de Noël” celebration invites visitors to make merry with a charming blend of traditional market stalls and fun fair attractions.

Start your visit with a ride on the bumper cars or spin around the ice rink. If you time your visit just right, you can catch the Eiffel Tower light show from the Ferris wheel. Then, follow the smell of hot chocolate, mulled wine, chestnuts and raclette (melted cheese) to sate your hunger before exploring the artisanal village for unique crafts and Christmas gifts. No visit to Paris is complete without a stop to sip champagne so don’t forget to make a toast in the igloo bar.

Paris’ Christmas market stalls brim with festive cheer

Notre Dame Christmas market

Framed by the stained-glass windows and intricate gargoyles of the Gothic Cathedral, the Notre Dame Christmas market is breathtakingly beautiful. In the pretty Parisian Park, Square René-Viviani, the market is known for its focus on high-quality and artisanal produce. Browse the twinkling, snow-white stalls for local delicacies like saucisson, hot chestnuts and of course, cheese! And don’t forget to treat your loved ones (or yourself!) to a luxury gift. You’ll be spoilt for choice with an array of candles, cashmere, silver, ceramics, wooden toys and more on offer.

While small, the event is unmissable for visitors looking for festive fun in a central location.  After indulging in the holiday cheer, why not take a stroll along the historic Latin Quarter to explore its charming bookshops and cosy cafes?

Notre Dame at Christmas 

Hôtel de Ville Christmas market

Step into an enchanted forest at the Hôtel de Ville Christmas market. Set against the backdrop of the grand city hall, the market is adorned with twinkling evergreens and charming Christmas dioramas. The festive lights that illuminate the ornate Renaissance building make this event especially magical in the evening.

With a variety of free activities available, the market has something for all the family. The traditional children's carousel is a firm favourite, and in previous years you could have tried your hand at rock climbing or even gone careering down a luge course! Most importantly, don’t forget to visit Père Noël to tell him what you want for Christmas! 

There are only around a dozen stalls, but with the theme ‘fabriqué à Paris’ - made in Paris – bringing them together, you’re sure to find something special.

The Hôtel de Ville Christmas market comes to life at night

La Défense Christmas market

It may seem a little incongruous, a Christmas market in a central business district, but it works! The skyscrapers of the La Défense area are the backdrop to one of Paris’s biggest seasonal markets, with around 200 chalets. It is more than worth the 20-minute RER or Métro ride from Gare du Nord. 

You’ll find chalets selling all kinds of items, from luxury goods to hand-made gifts from around the world, as well as tasty treats from freshly baked gingerbread to Spanish paella. The city crowd that drop in after work mean that there’s a more youthful feel here, with DJs playing on some evenings. It’s still very festive! 

Things to do in Paris at Christmas

You won’t be lost for things to do in Paris during the holiday season. With an abundance of Christmas markets, seasonal events, delicious food, shopping and festive landmarks – you might just want to plan a return visit next year!

Festive Parisian landmarks

Many of France’s iconic landmarks transform with festive displays at Christmas time. Visit the Champs-Élysées to see one of the city’s best lights displays or catch the sparkling Eiffel Tower light show which happens every hour from dusk to 11:45 pm.

The Champs-Élysées sparkles at Christmas

Seasonal events and entertainment

As well as visiting the Christmas markets and Parisian landmarks, you won’t want to miss out on the city’s seasonal events and entertainment. Catch a Christmas concert at the Eiffel Tower, enjoy a cabaret performance, take a scenic cruise along the Seine or skate in the Grand Palais des Glaces - the largest pop-up ice rink in the world. And don’t forget to take a stroll through the Festival of Lights, which showcases a dazzling array of glowing sculptures.  

If you’re staying for the whole season, why not ring in the New Year in true Parisian style?

Nothing’s more festive than going ice skating in Paris – or just watching! 

Winter bites and beverages

While visiting Paris, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to indulge in roasted chestnuts, crepes, mulled wine and hot chocolate. After a day of exploring the city, warm up with some traditional French comfort foods like onion soup, coq au vin, and cassoulet. Don’t forget to save space for seasonal pastries and treats, such as galette des rois and Bûche de Noël. Or enjoy a savoury selection of cheese and charcuterie.

Christmas shopping

For luxury fashion brands, home décor and beauty products, big department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann offer the best shopping experience in Paris. If you are looking for more artisanal finds, the Marais district, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and Le Halles offer a mix of independent boutiques, speciality shops and galleries.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Paris

Christmas Eve is celebrated almost as much in France as Christmas Day. It’s when the big Christmas meal, the réveillon, takes place. Families get together and eat many courses and different types of food, from oysters and snails to roast turkey. It lasts most of Christmas Eve, and sometimes even into the early hours of Christmas morning! 

People go to Midnight Mass church services more than they do in the UK, and carols are often sung at home around the réveillon table. On Christmas Day, families may continue the celebrations with a second festive meal or enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.

In France the big family meal is on Christmas Eve

French Christmas traditions

Generally speaking, here in the UK Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December, and that’s when we all sit together and swap gifts. But Christmas traditions are different in France. In north and north-eastern France, especially regions like Alsace, Champagne and Lorraine, children receive their presents much earlier, on December 6th, which is St Nicholas’ Day.

Some families in France even wait until the 6th of January, which is Epiphany or ‘Three Kings Day’, to give their gifts to each other. In Paris, however, presents are usually exchanged and opened on the more traditional Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Children in France leave shoes or boots out for St Nicholas to fill with gifts.

Why a shoe and not a stocking?

According to the Christian story, St Nicholas threw gold coins or gold balls through the window or down the chimney (depending on the version of the story) of a needy family. They landed in the family’s shoes or stockings, and this is now represented by chocolate coins in gold foil and oranges, respectively, which are traditional shoe (or stocking) fillers.

Disneyland® Paris at Christmas

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than to spend it with your favourite Disney® characters? Enjoy your family favourites dressed in their festive best, meet Santa and treat your loved ones to some magical gifts at Disneyland® Paris.

You can save on your next visit to Disneyland® Paris thanks to our partnership with MagicBreaks.

Sometimes it does snow in Paris at Christmas!

Plan your visit to Paris at Christmas

Start planning your visit to make the most of your Christmas in Paris.

Getting to Paris

Driving to Paris from the UK is easy with LeShuttle. The crossing takes only 35 minutes which makes it one of the quickest ways to visit France. From our Calais terminal, the drive is a speedy 3 hours 30 minutes so you can be sipping on hot chocolate and slipping on ice rinks before lunchtime.

Getting around Paris

Driving in Paris can be challenging if you are not familiar with French roads and traffic rules. Before you visit, it’s important to research key details like speed limits, fuel prices and right-of-way guidelines. Your vehicle will also need a Crit’ air sticker to travel in Paris at certain times.

If driving feels overwhelming, you could always explore the city on foot, hop onto the Metro or use the bike-sharing service, Vélib.

Parking in Paris

Parking in the city is limited and can be expensive. Underground car parks and on-street parking spots may charge anything between 4.00 € & 10.00 € euros per hour depending on where in the city you are.

If you have parking at your accommodation, it might make sense to make use of this. The city also has several excellent park-and-ride options, making it easier to park outside the centre and travel around Paris without the hassle of city driving.

Where to stay

Whether you are looking for a budget-friendly stay or a luxury hotel, Paris has something for everyone. For a lavish experience in the heart of the city, Hôtel Napoleon Paris is just steps away from the Champs-Elysées. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not explore one of the lesser-known spots just outside the city?