Christmas In Paris: 10 Ways To Spend Your Festive Season 

Spending Christmas in Paris? Our list of the 10 best ways to spend Christmas in the French capital is guaranteed to bring magic to your festive season.

Christmas in Paris is a magical time of year – maybe our favourite – when the streets of the French capital come alive with sparkling lights, towering Christmas trees, tastebud tingling aromas, charming festive markets and pop-up ice skating rinks. And that’s just the beginning! 

If you’re spending Christmas in Paris, or are lucky enough to call the “City of Lights” home, you’ll be spellbound by the magic of the city – and in the snow, if you’re lucky! 

As we speed towards the holidays, now is the time to truly immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas, like a Parisian. 

Without further ado, here are 10 of our favourite ways to spend Christmas in Paris. 

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1. Find a bargain at the Paris Christmas Markets 

The Paris Christmas Markets are one of the premier events of the year, and bring Parisians and tourists alike out in droves to drink “vin chaud” and “chocolat chaud” while browsing the endless Christmas market stalls that pop up across the city from November through until New Year. You can pick up handcrafted gifts, Christmas ornaments, artisan foods and so much more, with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Montmartre as special backdrops. We have an entire blog dedicated to the best Christmas markets in Paris, ready and waiting for you to read (and updated for this year!)

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2. Enjoy ice skating with a world famous backdrop

Christmas time calls for lacing up those skates and hitting the ice, and Paris during winter hosts a smorgasbord of exciting ice skating opportunities that are family friendly. Glide across the ice with the Hôtel de Ville and other city monuments in the background. Last year we posted a guide to the best Paris ice skating locations on our social media platforms, which included standout rinks at the Trocadero, Tuileries Gardens, Galeries Lafayette and La Défense. Check it out! 

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3. Christmas shop at famous department stores 

At Christmas, the warm interiors of our grand department stores beckon with Christmas music, trees and decorations, and the city pulls out all stops to ensure they leave a lasting impression. The iconic Galeries Lafayette is the department store you have to see to believe, with Le Printemps Haussmann and BHV Le Marais following closely behind. In addition to being simply beautiful at Christmas in Paris, they are also a one-stop shop to get some essential Christmas shopping done. 

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4. Be awed by the most festive Christmas trees 

It’s the time of the year when fir and pine trees begin popping up across the city, festive and adorned with glistening decorations. There’s no shortage of places to take in some decadent trees at Christmas in Paris. The aforementioned department stores are renowned for theirs, as is Châtelet Les Halles, The Paris Opera House, the Place du Panthéon and the Place Vendôme, not to mention in the many high-end hotels across the city. 

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5. Take in a joyful Christmas concert 

Nothing gets you into the festive spirit quite like seasonal songs, and at Christmas in Paris, the city comes alive with the sound of music. There’s a host of Christmas concerts to choose from all across the city, including at our many theatres, opera houses, churches and landmarks, and even at the Palace of Versailles! Attending a candlelit Christmas concert is a memorable way to see in the season of good cheer, and to share it with others. 

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6. Eat, drink and be merry! 

If you’re a foodie, there’s no better time of year than Christmas in Paris! French Christmas food is hearty, delicious and warming, and in the lead-up to the holiday, the aromas emanating from our many cafes and restaurants, markets and homes are irresistible. Dig into escargot (of course!), terrine, foie gras, gratin dauphinoise, roast chestnuts, baked Camembert, roast goose and beef bourguignon. Sip on warming vin chaud (mulled wine) and decadent chocolat chaud (hot chocolate), or whip up a round of the most popular French Christmas cocktail, Kir Royale. These are just a few French Christmas foods and drinks that are steeped in traditional and widely beloved today.

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7. Delight at sparkling Christmas lights 

Like many other European cities at Christmas, Paris lights up from November with the installation of glittering Christmas lights. Our nickname “The City of Lights” suits us particularly well at Christmas! Our streets are emblazoned festive lights, most notably on the Champs-Élysées, where one million lights glow along the iconic Parisian street throughout the festive season.

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8. Marvel at Christmas windows across the city 

If lights, concerts, trees, markets and shopping sprees aren’t enough for you this Christmas, you’ll be pleased to know that Paris is a veritable treasure trove of Christmas windows over the silly season too! From large department stores to small family-owned shops, retailers and businesses across Paris love decorating their windows with wonderful Christmas displays. Of course, the most outstanding and show-stopping Christmas windows in Paris can be found at our major department stores, including Printemps Haussmann, BHV Marais, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche and Galeries Lafayette. However, you’ll be delighted by how many other smaller stores also partake in the festive tradition! 

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9. Attend a special church service

You don’t have to be a regular churchgoer to enjoy the spirit of Christmas that our many churches exude. During December, until Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, on Christmas Day and right up to New Years Eve, Paris churches host special Christmas services that include good tidings, Nativity scenes and Christmas choral music. Churches that are of particular note include Notre Dame de Paris, Sacré Cœur, Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church, Saint Sulpice Church, Madeleine Church, Saint-Pierre du Gros Caillou Church, Saint Eustache Church, plus many others. While most Paris church services are in French, you can still find meaning and comfort in attending one. If you subscribe to a set denomination, you’ll be pleased to see just how many different Christmas services are on offer across Paris!   

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10. Embrace your inner child on a carousel 

There’s something about riding a carousel at Christmas that feels particularly magical, and thankfully for those fond of reliving their childhoods – or those who have children of their own – Paris is packed with whimsical carousels, many of which date back over a century! Paris is home to over 20 carousels, and the best ones to enjoy a winter ride on are in the Trocadero, Jardin des Plantes, Tuileries Gardens, below the Eiffel Tower, at the base of Sacré Coeur, in Parc Monceau and at the Hôtel de Ville. Many of these carousels have Paris Christmas markets right nearby, so enjoy a spin this Christmas after trawling for festive finds!  

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What is your favourite way to spend Christmas in Paris?

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