So, are you ready to swap your sofa’s mulled wine for the sparkling lights of Paris? If you’re planning a Christmas in Paris, look no further for instructions. Between timeless classics and some gems even Santa would keep secret, here’s your ultimate guide to celebrating in true Parisian style, with all the chic and a touch of mischief!
⚡ In a rush? Here are my top picks:
- For children: Disneyland Paris
- Best dinner cruise on the Seine River: Paris Seine
- The most typical: Christmas markets
Watch the Christmas Lights
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Paris, the city of lights, never wears its name better than during the festive season.
From the Champs-Elysees to Montmartre through Place Vendome, you’ll be able to admire the sparkling magic offered by the capital city thanks to its illuminations and the great shop windows specially decorated for the occasion.
Each year, the Avenue des Champs-Elysées puts on a dazzling cloak unveiled during a great ceremony at the end of November.
The decorations and windows of the Galeries Lafayette or the Printemps Haussman are decorated around a set theme each year.
Bercy Village also lights up for your viewing pleasure.
So, you’ll have the opportunity to walk around the city’s streets and be taken away by the enchantment that the site offers.
Additionally, you can opt for an open-topped bus tour special “Christmas lights” (Illuminations de Noël in French) that will enable you to admire illuminated monuments and streets through a predetermined route.
Price: €35 for the bus tour
Shop at a Christmas Market
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Among the many Christmas markets in Paris, some are unmissable, such as the Christmas market of La Défense and the one at Les Tuileries (ex-Champs-Elysées).
The Christmas market of La Défense is located on the forecourt of the Défense and is the biggest market in Paris, with more than 200 exhibitors every year. All through the aisles of those markets, your senses will be more alert than ever.
Not only will your eyes be amazed by the wonderful decorations, but your taste buds will also be satisfied. Indeed, you will be able to taste and buy French and foreign specialties thanks to exhibitors coming from all around the world.
Whether it is thanks to the famous “vin chaud” (mulled wine), the popular onion soup, or a still unknown specialty, you will be enchanted to visit the Christmas villages.
There are also plenty of other smaller Christmas markets scattered all over Paris (Les Halles, Champs de Mars, Notre Dame, Abbesses, etc). Here is the list (link in French).
Visit Christmas Nativity Scenes and Masses
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For the festive season’s biggest fans, Christmas goes hand in hand with nativity scenes and masses.
Indeed, from a religious point of view, the Christmas celebration symbolizes Jesus’ birth. This explains the Christmas cribs in some religious places or even under the Christmas tree for some people.
You will be able to discover a whole universe in Paris through exhibitions of nativity scenes throughout the capital.
You will be able to see a unique nativity scene in the Saint Luc Chapel of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, where a new creation is presented each year. You can also see one representing Jesus’ birth in the Eglise de la Madeleine.
Many other beautiful nativity scenes are exhibited all over Paris. You can click this link (in French) to check the ranking of the most beautiful Christmas nativity scenes (link in French).
Numerous places of worship will also open their gates so you can attend Christmas masses on December 24th and 25th, among which is the famous Midnight Mass.
Go on a dinner cruise on the Seine River
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To spend a unique and exceptional Christmas, opt for a dinner cruise on the Seine to enjoy a trip along the river.
1️⃣ Paris Seine offers a Christmas dinner cruise leaving from the Musée d’Orsay. Board at 9:15 pm for a gastronomic meal with a panoramic view of the most beautiful Parisian monuments, such as the Louvre, the Grand Palais, or Notre Dame.
The illumination of the Eiffel Tower at 11 pm is the highlight of the night.
A refined and gourmet holiday meal is on the menu with typical Christmas dishes such as foie gras or yule log.
2️⃣ The Bateaux-Mouches of Paris welcomes you for a dinner cruise on the 25th of December. The boarding will start at noon on the Alma Bridge. The meal will last 1 hour and 45 minutes and go back to the pier around 2:15 pm.
You will be able to enjoy a Christmas meal with dishes such as chestnut goose steak and a traditional yule log for dessert. An accordion will accompany your meal.
3️⃣ The Bateaux Parisiens organize two dinner cruises on the 24th and 25th of December for a memorable Christmas. Thanks to its huge bay windows, the boats offer an exceptional panoramic view of Paris and floodlit monuments.
Come enjoy a 6 course Christmas meal accompanied by an orchestra and a singer to enliven your trip.
Board in Rive Gauche, in front of the Eiffel Tower, starting at 7:30 pm.
Price:
- €190 for Paris Seine
- €115 for the Bateaux-Mouches
- From €165 for Bateaux Parisiens
⚠️ Beware: tickets sell out quickly. You need to book early (weeks, or even months, in advance).
Related article: Our comparison of the best dinner cruises in Paris
Celebrate Christmas Eve at a restaurant
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To celebrate Christmas with your family or friends without having to cook, Parisian restaurants welcome you for a memorable Christmas Eve.
Whatever you fancy, you will find the perfect restaurant, from the most original to the most luxurious.
The Ciel de Paris restaurant, on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse, offers a special menu for Christmas Eve with champagne included. You will be able to enjoy a gastronomic meal and a stunning view of the illumination of Paris. Remember to book weeks in advance.
The Mère Catherine restaurant offers a Christmas menu in a beautiful and historical Parisian setting with charming, exposed beams and wooden furniture.
You will be able to enjoy gastronomic dishes, such as supreme chicken. Your meal will be accompanied by music with a piano-vocals duo.
La Crémaillère 1900 welcomes you in a typically Parisian Belle Epoque-style restaurant for a timeless Christmas meal at the heart of Montmartre.
You will be able to enjoy a Christmas menu with holiday dishes such as stir-fried scallops and a breast of duck with honey. A singer will accompany your meal.
Price:
- €190 for Le Ciel de Paris
- €90 for La Mère Catherine
- €89 for La Crémaillère 1900
Go to a cabaret
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If you feel like it, the greatest cabarets of Paris open their doors and welcome you to attend shows; each more astounding than the one before.
You can go to the very well-known Moulin Rouge and enjoy an evening full of elegance and glamour. The program includes a menu prepared for the occasion, a show, and a DJ spinning records to make you dance. Remember to book weeks or even months in advance; tickets go quickly.
If you want to have a crazy night out, dancers from the Crazy Horse will be thrilled to welcome you for Christmas.
Finally, the famous Paradis Latin, rebuilt by Gustave Eiffel, will welcome you with its world-famous French Cancan and will allow you to savor a dinner specially cooked for the nighttime. So, you can enjoy this show for Christmas. Put on your best shoes and join the marvelous dancers on the dance floor.
Again, remember to book (a long time) in advance; tickets go quickly.
Price:
- From €280 for Moulin Rouge
- €250 for Paradis Latin
- From €139 for Crazy Horse
Attend a Christmas concert
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Come celebrate Christmas by attending a Christmas concert. The Helios orchestra (link in French) will play traditional Christmas songs in the beautiful setting of the three most beautiful Parisian churches; Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Eustache, and La Madeleine churches.
The audience is encouraged to participate in this concert for a dynamic and friendly experience. The repertoire is varied, combining baroque and contemporary music.
Go to Disneyland Paris
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Disney’s universe is never more magical than when Disneyland puts on its Christmas clothes and opens its doors to celebrate Christmas.
For the enjoyment of young and old alike, Disney characters let Santa Claus invade the park every year from the middle of November to the start of January.
You can come with your family, a group of friends, or even as a couple to enjoy the attractions, shows, and other performances given by the magical characters.
Whether it is for Christmas or New Year’s Eve, you can admire the Christmas decorations, meet Mickey, Minnie, and Santa, attend shows specially organized for the occasion, and watch the famous Christmas parade.
Numerous restaurants are also open (link in French), which will allow you to have dinner on Christmas Eve. Each restaurant has its own menu and Christmas party. You can stay in the hotels of the park to fully enjoy the experience.
Go shopping
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For your last Christmas purchases, here is a list of shops that are open on Sunday, December 24th in Paris:
- Le Printemps Haussmann (from 10 am to 18 pm)
- Les Galeries Lafayette (from 10 am to 18 pm)
- La Samaritaine (from 11 am to 18 pm)
- Le BHV Marais (from 10 am to 18.30pm)
- Le Bon Marché (from 10 am to 18 pm)
- Le Carrousel du Louvre (from 10 am to 19pm)
- Le Forum des Halles (from 10 am to 20:30pm)
- Italie 2 (from 10 am to 20 pm)
If most department stores are closed on Monday, December 25th, some of them welcome you for Christmas.
Come take a stroll in these stores to look at the decorated shop windows or go shopping.
Among the malls open on December 25th, you’ll find:
- La Samaritaine (open from 11 am to 18 pm)
- Le Carrousel du Louvre (open from 10 am to 19 pm)
- Bercy Village (open from 10 am to 2am)
Go ice skating
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For the holiday season, pop-up outdoor skating rinks (in French) are set all over the city. This is a perfect activity for skating lovers. It is also great for families as there is child-friendly equipment to rent.
You will be able to spend a memorable moment; from the unique panoramic view of the Défense’s Grande Arche rink to the more traditional but nonetheless interesting rink of the Tuilerie market.
Here is the complete list:
- The largest indoor ice rink in the world, at the Grand Palais des Glaces
- The rink of the Tuilerie Christmas market
- The rink of the Forum des Halles
- The rink of the Champs de Mars Christmas market
- The rink of the Défense’s Grande Arche rooftop
- The rink of the Montparnasse Tower
Price: from €10 to €20 for an adult entry and from €7 to €13 for children.
Enjoy a temporary exhibition
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Christmas is the perfect opportunity to go and enjoy Paris’ rich cultural life.
For the Christmas season, you will be able to see many varied exhibitions for all tastes and likings.
The Atelier des Lumières offers the Egypt of the Pharaohs exhibition, a journey through Ancient Egypt with multimedia projections, exhibitions on the pharaohs, temples and daily life.
The Bourse du Commerce is hosting the Arte Povera exhibition, where you can discover the emblematic works of this Italian movement, celebrating the simplicity of the materials used but also the intersection between nature and culture.
In a completely different atmosphere, the Cinémathèque de Paris is putting the spotlight on the exhibition The Art of James Cameron, where you can trace the director’s creative evolution, from conceptual drawings to props, from early sketches to the groundbreaking films he made.
Price:
- From €17 for the Atelier des Lumières
- From €18 for the Bourse du Commerce
- From €14 for the Cinémathèque de Paris
A guided tour of Paris
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Take advantage of the Christmas holidays to do a guided tour of Paris.
You will be able to visit the Eiffel Tower with a tour guide who will present you with the secrets of this Parisian monument. At the top, you will enjoy a stunning view of the city decorated for the holidays.
You can also do a guided tour of Montmartre to discover the gastronomic, cultural, and artistic heritage of this emblematic Parisian district. This visit will last 1 hour and 30 minutes starting from the Moulin Rouge.
If you already know the city or want to discover a monument in particular, you can also personalize your own guided tour of Paris. The tour guide will adapt to your requests and will prepare a customized route to enjoy your visit as much as possible.
Price:
- From €38 for the Eiffel Tower visit
- From €36 for the Montmartre visit
- From €206 for the personalized visit
Help the ones in need
The charity les petits frères des pauvres (in French) allows you to keep company with elderly people who are on their own during the festive season. You can propose activities, share a meal, or even offer them presents if you feel like it.
If you’re more into helping people in need, you can help the Secours Populaire (in French) to collect toys for children that Santa might have forgotten. You will also get the chance to help the Armée du Salut (Salvation Army) which calls for volunteering every year for the holiday season in order to increase their activity.
Help cook dinner with the Mie de Pain (in French) and offer homeless people a worthy meal.
If you want to do a good deed, it is a perfect time. Make Christmas and New Year’s Eve as magical for others as it is for you.
Santa Claus surprise visit
Get Santa Claus to come to your place for a magical and unforgettable Christmas experience for your children, be it for one child or more.
Whether it is in your home or your hotel, an entertainer dressed up as Santa Claus will come for a 20 minute activity. You can even make him come for the gift opening.
Price: €200
Information and booking (in French)
Christmas Eve at the Oh! Happy
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Come and celebrate Christmas Eve in the Oh! Happy with a 60s, 70s, and 80s themed concert.
From 8 pm, enjoy a delicious Christmas meal while participating in an interactive quiz. After dinner, the concert can start and the room becomes a dancefloor. Then, once the concert is over, a DJ will take over to finish the night.
Price: from €145
If you’re in Paris until the 31st of December, go take a look at our guide of the best things to do for New Year in Paris.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
