Christmas in Paris [2026]: Markets, Lights and Things to Do

Christmas in Paris is magical. I have been to Paris for many Decembers, and I can tell you it's one of the best places to spend the Christmas holidays. It is a wonderland of love and lights all year round, but the holidays in Paris have an extra dose of magic!

As the City of Light dons its festive attire, Paris transforms and captivates the heart and soul. The enchanting allure of Christmas in Paris is a testament to the city's timeless elegance and cultural richness. I say this as someone who isn't super into Christmas! And even I get into the spirit when I am there.

Streets are adorned with twinkling lights, iconic landmarks are draped in holiday cheer, and the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries wafts through the air (although that is ALL year round!) —Christmas in Paris is a celebration that transcends mere festivities.

The beautiful boulevards and department store displays become illuminated pathways and dazzling windows. Garlands decorate the classic Parisian buildings, and Christmas markets bring you all the goodies that this festive season has to offer and more. 

I've written about the holidays in Paris before, but in this post, I wanted to focus on celebrating Christmas in Paris specifically.

Join me on a journey through this magical city as we uncover the unique charm and timeless traditions that make Christmas in Paris an experience like no other.

What to Do in Paris for Christmas

Paris offers plenty of activities during Christmas. Whether you want to have a fancy meal with co-travelers, go ice skating in pop-up rinks, or visit the Christmas markets, you’re sure to find many options to keep you occupied the entire day!

Christmas Lights in Paris

Paris is the City of Light, but it becomes even more apparent during the Christmas season. The entire city is illuminated with hundreds of thousands of dazzling lights – whether lining the famous avenues and boulevards or sparkling Christmas markets filled with artisanal delicacies.

Avenue Champs-Élysées

Champs-Élysées (in the 8th arrondissement) is the most famous and most visited avenue in Paris, and as such, it is truly a sight to behold during Christmas. The festivities transform the entire road into a glittering wonderland with each tree lit up with hundreds of fairy lights.

Looking for a Christmas tree in Paris? This is the spot! About 400 trees line the avenue, and the light displays create a beautiful visual effect all the way to the Arc de Triomphe. Champs-Élysées also has several luxury boutique stores that go all out during this time, so you can enjoy the festive spirit with some shopping.

The illuminations switch on with a ceremony in the third week of November and stay lit until early January, so if you visit from late November onwards, you will catch them. The lights come on in the late afternoon, and because it is dark by around 5 pm in December, you do not have to wait up for them. Walk up from Place de la Concorde towards the Arc de Triomphe for the best view of the whole stretch at once, and go on a weekday evening if you can, because weekends here get very busy.

Best of all, it costs nothing. The illuminations are one of the great free things to do in Paris at Christmas.

Boulevard Haussmann

The Boulevard Haussmann is another well-known street in Paris. It is famous for its line of department stores, like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. These stores attract several million visitors throughout the year, and during Christmas, they put on spectacular displays of lights and decorations, both inside and outside; see more about that below. 

Christmas Lights Tour

To see all the Christmas lights, you can also book a Christmas Tour organized by Toot Bus. They take you across the city to see the most Instagrammable spots while you kick back and listen to festive songs.

Christmas Window Displays

One of the most anticipated things in Paris during Christmas is the unveiling of the department stores' window displays. Every year, the stores create fascinating festive concepts that become stunning window displays with animation, music, and a rainbow of colors. 

Galeries Lafayette

This luxury department store celebrates the Christmas season with so much pomp and fun! At Galeries Lafayette, you can see stunning light and decor exhibits both inside and outside. Their window displays feature animated images and scenes that come to life with music and movement, showcasing humans, animals, objects, and everything in between.

Each year, the museum features a different theme. Past themes have included “The Greatest Showman,” “The Little Prince,” and “The Beehive.”They also have a huge Christmas tree in the gallery's center that reaches high toward the glass-domed ceiling.

Address: 40 Bd Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement.

Printemps Paris Haussmann

Another big department store next to Galeries Lafayette is Printemps, which also sets up spectacular light and decoration displays like its neighbor. The window displays have a new theme each year, and luxury brands with classic French expertise bring it all together. The displays fascinate both children and adults.

Address: 46 Bd Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement.

Le BHV Marais

Le BHV Marais, a multi-specialized department store, becomes a winter wonderland of lights and decorations throughout the holiday season. The windows serve as backdrops for fascinating, animated scenes that thrill visitors.

Address: 52 Rue de Rivoli in the 4th arrondissement.

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche

During the holiday period, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, the world's first department store, transforms into a place of enchantment and wonder, with Christmas lights and decorations and a Christmas tree in the heart of the store.

The windows here are adorned with poetic scenes that always put childhood at the center of attention. You can also attend several events and courses, from book signings and chocolate tastings to yoga sessions and more.

Address: 24 Rue de Sèvres in the 7th arrondissement.

Le Samatariane

Not to be outdone by the grand dames, the new Le Samaritaine (or renew if you visited before their closure in 2005) also gets into the Christmas spirit for the unveiling of its Christmas displays!

La Samaritaine reopened in 2021 after sixteen years behind scaffolding, and it has thrown itself into Christmas ever since. The Art Nouveau facade gets its own light show, the windows go up alongside the Haussmann stores in mid-November, and the central atrium under the glass roof is worth walking into even if you have no intention of buying anything. It is also much calmer than Galeries Lafayette, which at Christmas is nothing.

Address: 9 Rue de la Monnaie in the 1st arrondissement.

Christmas Markets in Paris

The Christmas markets (Marché de Noël) in Paris enchant visitors with their festive charm and vibrant atmosphere, changing the city into a winter wonderland. The markets come alive with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the scent of delicious food and drinks.

Strolling through the quaint wooden chalets, visitors can discover artisanal crafts, holiday decorations, and delectable French treats. The markets showcase the city's rich cultural heritage, featuring local artisans and traditional craftsmanship alongside international influences.

From handcrafted ornaments to regional delicacies, Paris's Christmas markets offer a magical blend of holiday spirit and Parisian elegance, creating an unforgettable experience for locals and tourists alike.

Paris Christmas Markets at a Glance

Paris has more Christmas markets than most people realize, and they are not all the same. Here is the quick version so you can pick the ones worth your time.

Market	Where	Roughly when	Size	Best for
La Magie de Noël	Jardin des Tuileries, 1st	Mid November to early January	80+ chalets	The all rounder, with rides and skating
La Défense	Esplanade de la Défense	Mid November to end of December	300+ chalets	The biggest, serious gift shopping
Abbesses	Place des Abbesses, 18th	Mid November to early January	Small	Montmartre atmosphere
Eiffel Tower	Quai Branly, 7th	December to early January	Medium	The view
Saint-Germain-des-Prés	Bd Saint-Germain, 6th	Late November to early January	40 chalets	Browsing crafts and gourmet food
Notre Dame	Square René-Viviani, 5th	Late November to 25 December	Small	Handmade gifts
Gare de l’Est	In front of the station, 10th	Late November to mid December	30 stalls	Alsatian food and drink
Hôtel de Ville	1st, currently relocated	December to early January	Medium	Central and easy to fit in
Bastille	Place de la Bastille, 11th	Most of December	Small	A more local feel
Les Halles and Montorgueil	1st	Mid-November to late December	Small	Combining with food shopping
Versailles	Versailles, RER C	Season varies	Medium	A day trip out of the city

La Magie de Noël at the Jardin des Tuileries

The Christmas market at Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens) is one of the most magical markets in Paris. It is the perfect mix of gift shopping, thrilling rides, ice skating, and feasting on the many gourmet stalls. It replaced the large market that used to be in the Champs-Élysées area, which the mayor of Paris shut down a few years ago.

Over 80 wooden chalets sell a variety of things, including arts and crafts, meals, refreshments, and handmade presents. When it comes to enjoying some rides, you can find a giant Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, a skating rink, and other attractions perfect for both children and adults. The market is open throughout the day and into the evening from late November to early January.

The market usually opens in mid-November and runs to the first days of January. Entry is free, and it is open daily from late morning until close to midnight, with earlier closing on 24 and 31 December. You pay only for what you buy, though the rides and the skating rink are charged separately.

Check out my full guide to the Garden of Tuileries.

Alsacien Christmas Market at the Gare de l’Est

The Alsacien Christmas Market/Alsatian Christmas Market is held outside the Gare de l’Est and is a one-of-a-kind market that honors the traditions and cuisines of the Alsace region of eastern France.

Because Alsace is close to Germany and Switzerland, its products and meals are heavily influenced by both countries. Among the 30-odd stalls, you can find pretzels and sausages, cheese, wine, beer, and even gingerbread.

The market is a great place to learn more about Alsatian crafts, folklore, and history. It is one of the shortest-running markets in the city, open for only two or three weeks from late November to mid-December, so check the dates before you build a trip around it.

Address for Gare de l’Est: Rue du 8 Mai 1945, 10th arrondissement.

Notre Dame Christmas Market

A cozy little Christmas market is held near the Notre-Dame Cathedral and features some of the best handmade and local treats, from jewelry and toys to wines, liqueurs, and cheese. The market is small but offers great deals on French crafts and gastronomy.

Here you can find a lot of handmade creations – decorative objects, cashmere, mohair, and silks, hand-painted trinkets and baubles, precious stone jewelry, and wooden toys. You’ll also be able to taste local delights like foie gras, saucisson, hot chestnuts, and mulled wine.  The market runs from late November to Christmas Day in Square René-Viviani, in the 5th arrondissement, just across the river from the cathedral.

It's also worth pairing with a look at Notre Dame itself, which reopened in December 2024 after the fire and restoration. Seeing the cathedral lit up again at Christmas is something a lot of us waited a long time for.

Saint Germain des Prés Christmas Market

For that festive feeling in the heart of the Latin Quarter, head to the Saint Germain des Prés Christmas Market. Located along the Boulevard Saint-Germain, the market is lined with bookstores, art galleries, and cafes, making it one of the most picturesque and charming events.

It is a small market with around 40 chalets, but you can find a bunch of things – from fine jewelry, leather goods, and ceramics to chocolate bars, gourmet honey, and local treats. The market runs from late November into the first week of January, and it's open throughout the day.

Address: right next to the St-Germain-des-Prés Church, 3 Pl. Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement.

Holiday Bazaar by the American Church

Not the same as a Paris Christmas market, but Christmas celebrations are a great time to visit the American Church in Paris. Here, the AAWE (Association of American Wives of Europeans) celebrates a festive event called the Holiday Bazaar where you can enjoy handcrafted creations, products, and services offered by their member and non-member women business owners.

While entry is free, be sure to RSVP, as spots can fill up quickly. Check their events page for info.

Abbesses Christmas Market in Montmartre

Tucked into the square by the Abbesses metro station, this is one of the smaller markets, and it is all the better for it. The chalets sell handmade gifts, ceramics, knitwear and jewelry, and there is plenty of hot food and vin chaud to keep you going. You are a few minutes’ walk from Sacré-Cœur and the rest of Montmartre, so it is easy to fold into a morning up the hill. It usually runs from mid-November into early January.

Address: Place des Abbesses in the 18th arrondissement.

The Christmas Village at the Eiffel Tower

This market runs along the quai on the Left Bank with the Eiffel Tower directly above you, which makes it comfortably the most photogenic of the lot. Expect the usual chalets selling mulled wine, crepes, cheese and gifts, plus a few rides for children. It usually opens at the start of December and stays open into early January. Go at dusk so you catch the tower lighting up while you are there.

Address: Quai Branly in the 7th arrondissement.

Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market

The market by the city hall is a reliable central option and easy to drop into between other things. It has moved location in recent years because of works around the Hôtel de Ville, so it is worth a quick check on where it has landed before you set off. It typically runs through December and into the first days of January.

Address: normally in front of the Hôtel de Ville in the 4th arrondissement, recently relocated to Place de la Concorde.

Bastille Christmas Market

Smaller and more local in feel than the big names, the Bastille market is a good one if you want to shop without elbowing your way through crowds. The stalls lean towards food, wine and regional produce rather than gifts, which suits me fine. It usually runs for most of December.

Address: Place de la Bastille in the 11th arrondissement.

Les Halles and Rue Montorgueil

This one is less a formal market and more a row of chalets and beautifully dressed shopfronts, but Rue Montorgueil is one of the best food streets in Paris, and it is lovely at Christmas. This is where you buy your bûche de Noël from one of the pâtisseries and eat it walking down the street, which I can confirm is a perfectly acceptable way to spend an afternoon.

Address: between Saint-Eustache church and Châtelet Les Halles in the 1st arrondissement.

La Défense Christmas Market (Le Village de Noël sur le Parvis de la Défense)

Located on the Esplanade of La Défense (technically outside of Paris but often referred to as the 21st arrondissement!), The Christmas Village in Paris's business district is surrounded by splendid views of towering glass skyscrapers.

It is one of the biggest and finest markets in France, with around 300 chalets offering a wide range of gourmet treats, handmade gifts, and delicious wheels of cheese. The market is located on the open esplanade, which can get quite windy and chilly, but you can always rush to grab flavorful warm mulled wine and piping-hot snacks and meals to keep the chill at bay.

The market opens in mid-November and runs to the end of December, with a festive zone that sometimes stays open into the first days of January.

Versailles Christmas Market

If you fancy getting out of the city for a day, the Christmas market at Versailles pairs beautifully with a visit to the château. It is a proper market with chalets, food stalls and often an ice rink, and the town itself dresses up for the season. Going in December also means far shorter queues at the château than you would face in summer.

Address: Versailles, a short ride from central Paris on the RER C.

Classic French Christmas Desserts and Sweets

Christmas is synonymous with feasting and being merry, so it would be a grave error not to mention classic traditional French meals! While being a time for celebration, it is also a time for indulgence – from rich chocolates and truffles to spiced bread and cookies. 

Bûche de Noël

A Yule Log, known as Bûche de Noël in France, is a classic Christmas dessert that symbolizes burning a large log in the fireplace during Christmas to bring good luck. This custom dates back to the Middle Ages and is represented in the form of a log, a popular sweet treat in pâtisseries everywhere.

The traditional pastry is made with a sponge cake rolled with a cream filling and covered with chocolate frosting. It is decorated with meringue, marzipan, and sugar to look like an actual log and to show different Christmas elements like mushrooms, holly, or snowflakes.

Like anything else in this culinary capital, many wonderful and more modern versions of the Bûche de Noël can be found all over Paris!

Mulled Wine (Vin Chaud)

Mulled wine, known as vin chaud in France, is a staple drink during the holidays. This warm beverage is perfect for keeping the chilly winds at bay while strolling the Christmas markets and admiring the glittering lights. You make it by simmering red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg.

It is sweetened with honey, sugar, or even orange juice. For an extra kick, some recipes also suggest adding stronger liquors like brandy or cognac. You can get the drink at Christmas markets in paper cups or in decorative reusable glasses, making them a great souvenir for your trip!

Pain d’Epices

Pain d’épices, or spice bread, is a Christmas market favorite in France. A traditional dessert from the Alsace region, pain d’épices is a fragrant cake made with honey, rye flour, and various spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.

You can buy it plain or decorated with candied fruits, nuts, or chocolate chips. 

Chocolates and Candies

Christmas is incomplete without a heap of chocolates, and France is no different. While you can find specialty chocolates throughout the year, the end-of-year festivities take chocolate shopping to a new level.

You can find almost anything you can dream of, and more, during this time. Chocolatiers like Alain Ducasse, La Mère de Famille, Patrick Roger, Jacques Genin, La Maison du Chocolat, and Jean-Paul Hévin go out of their way to craft beautiful boxes of these indulgent treats. 

Don't forget the amazing hot chocolate in Paris too!

13 Desserts of Provence

As the name suggests, the 13 desserts of Provence are a delicacy of the Provence region. This collection of sweets is served towards the end of the Christmas Eve meal (Le Gros Souper) in southern France. The number 13 symbolizes the Last Supper, representing Jesus and the 12 apostles.

Every family serves a different dessert, but the most common ones include fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts, nougat, calissons (candied fruit and almond paste), and pompe à l’huile (olive oil and orange blossom bread). They display them on the tablecloth toward the end of the meal and eat them in small portions throughout the night.

Look for popular Provençal restaurants in Paris like Le Basilic and Chez Janou to get a taste of this experience!

Ice Skating Rinks in Paris

In Paris, the end-of-year celebrations include pop-up ice rinks all across town, giving you a chance to glide on ice while being surrounded by glittering lights and trees and all things Christmas.

Christmas Skating Rink at Jardin des Tuileries

The most popular ice skating rink is in the Jardin des Tuileries Christmas market. Known as La Patinoire de Noël du Jardin des Tuileries, the rink is surrounded by market stalls selling Christmas baubles and trinkets, gourmet delicacies, and other ornaments.

Skating on this rink is a magical experience, filled with festive vibes and the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year. The rink is perfect for kids because it offers skate helpers to assist them and prevent frequent falls.  

Pailleron Skating Rink

The Pailleron Skating Rink is another option if you prefer to glide on the ice all year round. Part of the Espace Sportif Pailleron, a sports complex with a swimming pool and a gym, the rink is open to the public and offers a refreshing respite from the summer heat, as well as a place to practice and have fun during the colder months.

It suits skaters of all levels, from beginners to advanced. They also host events like ice hockey games, disco nights on ice, and figure skating. The prices can vary according to the high and low seasons, but it is just as fun whether you’re skating on Halloween or in the spring.

The Eiffel Tower at Christmas

The Eiffel Tower does not get a Christmas tree on top or a giant red bow, and it does not need one. It is lit every evening from nightfall, and on the hour it sparkles for five minutes with thousands of flashing lights. In December, when it is properly dark by around 5pm, you get the whole show hours earlier than you would in June, which is one of the quiet pleasures of coming to Paris in winter.

Where to Watch the Eiffel Tower Lights

The classic view is from the Trocadéro on the Right Bank, where the tower sits framed at the end of the esplanade. Get there for the first sparkle after dark, and you will be back in the warm long before dinner. The Pont de Bir-Hakeim gives you the tower through the ironwork of the bridge, the Champ de Mars puts you right underneath it, and the Passerelle Debilly is quieter than all of them. Rue de l’Université is the spot everyone photographs, and in December it is dark enough to shoot by late afternoon.

Going Up the Eiffel Tower in December

Winter is one of the better times to go up. The queues are a fraction of what they are in summer, and on a clear cold day the view goes a very long way. Book a timed ticket online in advance anyway, because it saves you standing outside in the cold. Wrap up more than you think you need to, because the top is exposed and Paris in December is damp in a way that gets into you.

The Market Underneath the Eiffel Tower

The Christmas village along the Quai Branly puts a market at the foot of the tower, so you can combine the two easily. Do the market first, then walk over to the Trocadéro for the sparkle. Coming from the market side, cross at the Pont d’Iéna.

When Paris Puts Up Its Christmas Decorations

Paris starts to look like Christmas in mid-November, which is earlier than many people expect.

The department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann are usually unveiled in the second week of November, and the unveilings are events in themselves, with crowds and sometimes acrobats. The Champs-Élysées illuminations are switched on with a ceremony in the third week of November. Most of the Christmas markets open across the same fortnight, with the Tuileries usually first out of the gate around the middle of the month.

Everything stays up into early January. The markets mostly wind down in the first week of the new year, though a few close on Christmas Day itself, and the lights come down shortly after. If you want the full effect without the worst of the crowds, the last week of November and the first week of December are the sweet spot. By the third week of December, the markets and the department stores are extremely busy.

One last thing worth knowing. The season does not really end on Christmas Day here. The galette des rois appears in bakery windows from the first days of January and sticks around all month, so if you arrive after Christmas, you haven't missed everything.

Christmas Day and Christmas Eve in Paris

If you are used to Christmas Day being the main event, France works the other way round. Christmas Eve is the big one.

Le Réveillon de Noël

The réveillon is the long late dinner on 24 December, and it is the meal of the year. Oysters, foie gras, smoked salmon, scallops, then capon or goose, then the bûche. It goes on for hours, and it often ends with people heading out to midnight mass afterward. Restaurants that open on Christmas Eve run special set menus and fill up weeks ahead, so if you want to eat out on the 24th, book well before you fly. The same goes for Christmas Day lunch.

What Is Open on Christmas Day

Less than you might hope, so it is worth planning. Most shops close, many restaurants close, and the metro runs a reduced Sunday service. The big national museums, including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, are closed on 25 December.

Still, plenty stays open for a good day. The Eiffel Tower opens on Christmas Day. Seine cruises run, and a Christmas Day cruise is a genuinely nice way to spend a couple of hours. Some of the Christmas markets are open, hotel dining rooms and a decent number of brasseries serve Christmas lunch, and the city itself is beautiful and unusually quiet. A long walk along the river with almost nobody about is not the worst way to spend the 25th.

Midnight Mass and Christmas Services

Notre Dame reopened in December 2024, so the cathedral is once again holding Christmas services, and after everything it took to get there it is a moving thing to be part of. It is also extremely popular, so arrive very early and check the cathedral’s own site beforehand, because access at busy times can require a free timed booking.

If Notre Dame is full, and it will be, there are beautiful alternatives. Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Eustache, La Madeleine and Sacré-Cœur all hold Christmas services, and several of them have superb organs and choirs. You do not need to be religious to sit at the back of a Paris church on Christmas Eve and find it worth doing.

Nativity Scenes

Churches across Paris set up a crèche, or nativity scene, through Advent, and some of them are substantial. Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Saint-Eustache are all worth a look, and they are free to visit. It is a quiet, unhurried thing to do on an afternoon when the markets feel like too much.

Christmas in Paris FAQ

Final Thoughts on Christmas in Paris

Christmas is the one time of year when Paris stops trying to look effortless and simply goes all in, and I love it for that. The lights, the markets, the smell of vin chaud and roasting chestnuts, the windows that people queue around the block to see. And the best of it costs nothing at all. You can walk the Champs-Élysées, look at every window on Boulevard Haussmann, wander three markets, and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle without spending a euro.

If you want more, I have written about the season from a few different angles: Paris for the Holidays for the cozier indoor side, Paris in December for planning the whole month, and What to Wear in Paris in the Winter because you will need it. For the traditions themselves, there is Christmas in France and French Holidays & Celebrations You Need to Know About if You Are Traveling to France.

How about you? Have you been to Paris at Christmas? Do share! Are you interested in visiting in December? Do tell!