Last updated on September 23rd, 2023 at 03:47 am
If you plan a vacation to Paris in December, you’ll experience the magic of celebrating Christmas in Paris and the hype of the new year.
Festive dinners, dazzling Christmas lights, amazing shows and traditional French foods are many things to do and see in Paris to celebrate Christmas.
Planning a trip can be overwhelming, even more so during such a popular holiday as Christmas, but don’t worry, with my guide, you’ll know all the best things to do and tips to celebrate Christmas in Paris.
A Guide To Celebrate Christmas In Paris by a Local
Table Of Contents
Also, those are the top things to do in Paris in December, as it is when all the Christmas events are happening in Paris and all over France.
Sadly, if you’re thinking about having a white Christmas in Paris, know it is infrequent to see Paris under the snow for Christmas. And if it snows during winter in Paris, it is very scarce.
While Paris is beautiful under the snow, it is not bad. It rarely snows as France can’t handle the snow, and the whole country stops working, but that’s another story.
Before starting my list of all the best things to do during Christmas in Paris, let me answer a few questions about that particular time of the year you might have, especially if you’re still in the early stages of planning your trip to Paris.
Also, check out those 17 things to know before visiting Paris for a smooth vacation.
Tips for visiting Paris during Christmas
- The 25th is a bank holiday; therefore, most places (shops and restaurants) are closed in Paris on Christmas Day.
- Christmas in Paris is a peak season; prices tend to go higher for accommodations and plane tickets; plan well in advance to get the best prices.
- If you’d like to eat at a restaurant on Christmas Eve (or New Year’s Eve), you have to book up, and most places will be complete if you show up last minute for a meal.
Is Christmas a good time to visit Paris?
Yes, Christmas is the perfect time for a vacation in Paris. Especially if you love Christmas, the city dresses up and sparkles, making it even more charming.
When do the Christmas lights go up?
Every year, the Christmas lights in Paris start to go up mid-November and stay until the first week of January. The same goes for most Christmas markets in Paris.
Best Things To Do In Paris During Christmas in 2023
Check out The Beautiful Christmas Lights
It wouldn’t be Christmas without all the dazzling lights that dress up the city; one of the best things to do in Paris at Christmas is, without a doubt, checking out all the beautiful Christmas lights scattered around the city.
Here is a list of places to see Christmas lights in Paris:
- Place Vendôme
- Avenue Montaigne
- Champs Elysée
- Boulevard Haussmann
- Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré
- Rue de La Paix
- Lumières en Seine (92)
- Covered Passages of Paris
Check out my guide if you’d like to see my complete list & detailed Paris guide about all the best spots to see the most beautiful Christmas lights in Paris.
Admire the Beautiful Christmas window displays
An activity that goes very well with seeing the beautiful Christmas lights is checking out all the beautiful window displays that the main shopping centre of Paris prepares every year.
It is a true Parisian Christmas tradition to admire the beautiful Christmas window display and discover the year’s theme.
The two main places you want to check out for Christmas window displays are Les Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and La Samaritaine.
Please note that the lights at Les Galleries LaFayette will only be on from 5 pm to 11 pm to save electricity.
Of course, there are many more beautiful Christmas window displays in Paris as most shops (especially designer ones) tend to go all out for Christmas to attract more customers, and it’s a pleasure for the eyes!
They are also very nice places to do Christmas shopping in Paris.
Enjoy Paris Christmas Markets
It wouldn’t be a Christmas vacation without all the beautiful Christmas markets you must visit!
Here are the best Christmas markets in Paris you need to check out:
- La Magie de Noël Aux Tuileries
- Marché de Noël des Abbesses
- Village de Noël de Saint-Germain-des-Pres
- Marché de Noël Alsacien (If you can’t visit Colmar for Christmas, Alsace is coming to Paris!)
- Marché de Noel de Paris Notre Dame
Those are some of the most famous Christmas Markets in Paris, where you can find beautiful craftsmanship and local French products. If you would like to buy some souvenirs from your Christmas in Paris vacation for your friends, family, or yourself, it’s always to treat yourself!
Take A Day Trip To Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris Park is a must-visit during Christmas if you’re into magical atmospheres. With the parades, the beautiful Christmas decorations and the treats, it makes a magical day trip for both kids and adults.
Disneyland Paris is decorated for Christmas from the 12th of November to the 8th of January, 2023. You can buy tickets on the official website.
Check out my Disneyland Paris day trip guide to plan you’re perfect day there!
Ice Skate in Paris
Ice skating is always a fun activity in winter, and ice skating rinks pop ups around Paris during winter. Whether you are a pro at ice skating or have never ice skated before, it is a great winter activity to try out and a lot of fun!
Here are ice skating rinks in Paris:
- Patinoire au Noël du Jardin des Tuileries – great for kids & adults
- Patinoire Pailleron
- Patinoire de l’Accor Arena De Bercy
- Patinoire du Marché de Noel du Parc des Princes (92)
Attend a Show For Christmas
For a unique experience, you can attend one of the many shows specially put on over Christmas. Those are fancy activities to do in Paris solo or a couple.
The most famous Christmas show in Paris:
- The Famous Moulin Rouge
- Paris Latin Cabaret
Those Christmas activities are pricey but worth a magical one-time experience if you want to splurge on Christmas.
Try A Traditonal Christmas Cake: La Bûche
One of the French traditions for Christmas is to eat a dessert called “La bûche” after the Christmas meal, so if you plan to celebrate Christmas in Paris (or anywhere in France), you have to try this delicious dessert!
La Bûche was invented in . The original recipe is baked with chocolate. The recipe has many variations and an iced version (I highly recommend trying an iced bûche). You can find them in most supermarkets and bakeries.
Attend a Christmas Mass or A Concert In A Church
You can also attend a Christmas mass; Paris has many beautiful churches. Special Christmas masses are held on the night of Christmas Eve and the day of Christmas in Paris. While everything is in French, I believe it’d still be a beautiful Christmas experience if you’re religious.
That’s a wrap on this guide on spending time in the city if you are in Paris for Christmas. I hope this post gave you insight into how the French celebrate Christmas, as the celebration tends to be similar in Paris and all over France.
If you want more Christmas Events in France, check out those magical French Christmas markets!
Also, follow me on Instagram to check out my travel adventures around Europe and more lifestyle content @cpt_lyne!
Did you enjoy this festive post? Then make sure to share it on Pinterest!
A Guide To Celebrate Christmas In Paris From A Local // Paris Christmas 2023!
✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
If you need help planning your next trip, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered! Here are my favourite websites and apps to plan a trip!
✈ How To Find Flights?
My favourite website to book flights is Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
Google Flight is also a good help when it comes to comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
The best sites to book accommodations are Booking.com or Expedia. They both allow you to collect points for a discount; it’s worth comparing the two as they often have different pricing for the same hotels.
Another perk about Booking.com and Expedia is that you can get bundle deals for flights and accommodations, which can sometimes help you save a lot of money. And don’t worry; you can also select to add accommodation for only a specific part of the trip if you’re not only staying in one place.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
My go-to website when I need to book an activity is GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
I always check if the price is the same, though, as the whole point is for it to be easier but not more expensive.
If I don’t find the activity I want on GetYourGuide, I like to check Viator for more options!
You can also check out Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them. It was a great help when we needed a place to keep our luggage safely while we left the city for a few days.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe. It is very reliant and easy to use.
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Disclaimer: this resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a little commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. They help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
Lisa | Waves and Cobblestones says
Ah, Christmas in Paris one of my bucket list items! (Of course, I love Paris at any time of the year.) I once tried to make a buche de Noel at home, and I’m afraid it did not turn out very pretty– although it still tasted great.
Terri says
Where was Bouche Noel invented? I think the city is missing from your article. Was it invented in a monastery?
ANUKRATI DOSI says
Minnie Christmas icecream looks so tempting. The best of traveling around the world is actually this.
Kathryn says
How beautiful! Christmas is the only season I haven’t visited Paris and I am long overdue!! Thanks for sharing all these suggestions!