12 Best Things to Do on Christmas in Paris

If normally there are a lot of activities and places to see in Paris, during Christmas its charm is multiplied. The French capital dresses up for the holidays with its elegant lighting and offers its inhabitants and visitors a wide range of entertainment for both adults and children.

During these dates, the Christmas spirit is embodied in the streets of Paris, to the point that it is difficult to choose what to visit first. For that reason I have prepared this small list of ideas and key points so you can organize your visit and choose according to what you like the most.

Possibly, Christmas may be the best time to visit the nearby Disneyland Paris to put the finishing touch to your trip to the French capital. No matter your age, the park offers illusion, magic and a unique experience to all its visitors during this season.

Besides sharing its streets with all the Disney characters and riding the Disneyland Paris attractions, at Christmas the whole park shows its best face with its garlands, Christmas balls and lights.

It is worth mentioning the huge Christmas tree that is placed in these dates, adorned with a fantastic set of lights that wraps it with color and brightness. You cannot miss the special parades that several times a day go along the main street and show different Christmas allegories. The Christmas season at Disneyland Paris usually begins in November and lasts until after Epiphany.

There is possibly only one activity more romantic than taking a cruise on the Seine River during Christmas or, better, during New Year's Eve.

Although throughout the year you can hire various types of cruises (day cruises, night cruises, dinner cruises including ....), on the night that says goodbye to the year there are some companies that organize a small party on board their boats.

This celebration includes New Year's Eve dinner, cotillion and a dance that lasts well into the night. All this, in addition, with such spectacular views as those of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower or the Notre Dame Cathedral, all of them adorned with special Christmas lighting.

Christmas in Paris is not only experienced in the streets, but all kinds of establishments offer special activities. The best known is possibly the one organized by the most famous cabaret in the city: the Moulin Rouge.

On these dates, tickets for the Moulin Rouge with dinner and transportation offer the opportunity to attend a special show that reflects the best of its essence. In addition, it also includes a dinner that has nothing to envy to the best restaurants in town.

To spend a Christmas night in this legendary place you must be proactive, as tickets are usually sold out quickly. In case you have been left without the possibility of going, you can always try to go to see another popular show that is celebrated those days. It is offered at the Lido Paris Merveilles and you have the option to buy the normal ticket or the special one that includes dinner.

An essential plan for Christmas is to take a trip to Versailles with a guided tour. The most convenient option is to look for one that includes a bus ride so you don't have to worry about how to get there.

In addition, you will be accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you all the stories of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which served as the residence of royalty between 1682 and 1789, when the French Revolution took place.

On this tour you will pass through emblematic rooms such as the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, which marked the end of the First World War. You will also stroll through the 800-hectare gardens, with a myriad of plants, flowers, fountains and ponds.

Christmas is a great time to take a trip to the Loire Chateaux. My recommendation is to visit the castles of Chenonceau, Chambord and Amboise.

This 12.5 hour tour is an excellent option because it includes transfers from Paris. In addition, you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will tell you all the details about the history and architecture of these three castles.

You will be able to visit the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci and his residence during the last years of his life. And to round off a spectacular day: a tasting of 3 wines of the region.

Parisians live Christmas with great intensity and this is reflected in the effort they put into decorating the whole city, both public and private environments. In recent years, the decoration of stores and shopping centers has become one of the great attractions of the city at this time of the year. Walking through the streets and looking in the shop windows is an experience that makes everyone feel like a child again, as lights, colors and illusion are everywhere.

One place you should definitely go to is the Galeries Lafayette. This department store not only has a fantastic Christmas tree, but its shop windows have one of the most spectacular decorations in the city. Thus, those in charge of that window have achieved a decoration that includes movement and music to achieve a hypnotic result.

On the other hand, some of the Parisian boutiques have in their windows automatons and fantastic artifices that tell stories and fairy tales for all audiences. Among the most prominent are Printemps Haussmann, Le Bon Marché and BHV. In the latter, children can also have their picture taken with Santa Claus.

If there is one time of the year when the City of Light lives up to its nickname, it is Christmas. Strolling through its streets to contemplate the lighting is a must if you travel to the French capital during that time. Each of its avenues is filled with multicolored bulbs formed the most diverse forms, projections and luminous arches. Likewise, all its historic buildings and monuments are also filled with these lights and show their best side.

Although all over the city you will find unforgettable Christmas lights, there are some areas that you can not miss: the Champs Elysees, the Place Vendôme, the entire neighborhood of Montmartre or Bercy Village are some of these areas.

To enjoy these decorations you just have to stroll quietly or hire an organized tour of Paris. Another way to see the illumination is with one of the tourist buses that travel around the city.

During the Christmas season, several neighborhoods of Paris install the Marchés de Nöel, Christmas markets that are one of the great attractions of the city when you visit it in December. Strolling through them, with their smells and colors, you will feel transported to a magical world.

The tradition of Christmas markets in Paris comes from Alsace. These markets, which I talk more in depth in the article on Christmas markets in Paris, are made up of small huts offering products such as crepes, roasted chestnuts (marrons), waffles and mulled wine. In addition, they are also ideal places to buy decorative items, gifts and many other things.

Christmas markets begin to open in mid-November. Among the most popular are the ones located on the Champs Elysées, in the Tuileries Garden, at Notre Dame or on the Champs de Mars, although there are also some smaller ones in other neighborhoods of Paris. If you can, you should not miss the one in the Montmartre district, where you will find stalls selling handicrafts and products from all regions of the country.

Music lovers will have plenty of options to enjoy their visit to Paris during the Christmas season. In several halls of the city, as well as in some churches, different concerts of great quality are held.

The ones organized in the Maison de la Radio, a building built in the 60's, are very well known. During several nights you will be able to enjoy the performance of several of the most important orchestras in the country, including the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestre National de France. On the other hand, another concert that traditionally takes place at this time is the one offered by Radio Classique, held at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées.

The concert held every year at the Notre Dame Cathedral was one of the highlights of the Christmas musical program. While it remains under repair, they have moved to the Church of the Madeleine, the most famous neoclassical temple of the capital, and the Church of Saint Germain de Pres. After the concert, I recommend you go to the Latin Quarter (or hire a tour there) to taste the cheeses offered there.

If you travel with children to Paris, it is almost impossible for them not to want to enjoy the many carousels that are installed in some districts of the capital. These merry-go-rounds are also totally free and riding them is an experience that the little ones (and many adults) will not forget.

Although there are quite a few that you will find in the streets of the capital, I advise you not to miss the one installed in the Place du Trocadéro, with great views of the Eiffel Tower. In addition, you can take the opportunity to visit the Christmas market that is installed in the tower itself.

On the other hand, it is also very interesting to approach the Place de la Concorde. Here you will not find a carousel or merry-go-round, but a big Ferris wheel from which you will be able to see part of the city. If it is at night, you will enjoy the Parisian illumination in all its splendor.

If you're a bit of a skater or if you're just in the mood for a good time, one of the most popular Parisian Christmas entertainments is ice skating. The ice rinks are generally free to enter, but keep in mind that you will have to pay to rent skates and equipment if you don't bring them with you. Some of them also have a special area for children. In recent times, however, some skating rinks have been appearing that do require a fee to use them.

The fun of these rinks lies not only in skating with greater or lesser skill, but the location of some of them is certainly spectacular. Among these is the one installed in the Grand Palais, under its impressive glass dome, which is the largest non-permanent rink in the world. If you can and are enjoying Paris at night, I recommend you go to this rink when night falls, as it turns into a kind of disco with DJ and strobe balls where you can dance with your skates.

On the other hand, the Galeries Lafayette also has its own ice rink on its terrace, so you will have a nice view of the Opera and the Eiffel Tower. And finally, I can only recommend the rink located in the Eiffel Tower itself, more specifically on the second floor. The experience of skating on it enjoying the views from the Eiffel Tower is something unrepeatable.

Joaquin's Traveller Tip:

Be prepared to share the main streets with a large crowd of people doing their Christmas shopping or simply strolling. On the other hand, remember to bring warm clothes, as temperatures can be very low...

The big days of Christmas are undoubtedly New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve. For the past few years, Paris has been celebrating the new year with several activities that are worthwhile, both for the spectacle organized and for the atmosphere in the streets.

On the night of December 31, the Champs Elysées in Paris dresses up for the party. Thousands of Parisians and tourists gather there to welcome the good year with a great spectacle of light and sound in which a video is projected on the Arc de Triomphe. To finish, you will be able to enjoy fireworks.

The next day, a big New Year's parade is held on the same avenue. Floats, musicians, clowns, dancers and acrobats parade through a street full of people. And if you are looking for more plans, be sure to visit our post activities and places to see in Paris.

Joaquin's Traveller Tip:

New Year's Eve is to enjoy, but be careful with drinking too much. According to the laws of the country, if the police find you in the street drunk they can fine you more than 100 €. It is also forbidden to throw firecrackers.