Paris in December [2026]

While everyone can agree that Paris is magical year-round, there is something special about visiting the French capital in December. The streets brighten up just a little bit more, and there is a poetic beauty around every corner. Chilly winds and the occasional sloshy rain might put a damper on a plan or two, but December still transforms Paris into a living, breathing fairyland.

I have spent so many Decembers in Paris. Having worked for tech companies that usually shut down over the holidays, I have had plenty of chances to be in the City of Light during the Christmas season, and I go back every time I can.

So what should you actually do in Paris in December?

The short answer: wander the Christmas markets with a cup of vin chaud, admire the illuminated boulevards and the famous department store windows, go ice skating, visit the newly reopened Notre Dame, catch a concert in a candlelit church, and eat your way through the season. Here is my full local’s guide to help you make the most of it.

The Best Things to Do in Paris in December

Short on time? Here is a quick look at the highlights, each covered in detail below:

• Stroll the Christmas markets and sip a cup of vin chaud
• See the illuminations on the Champs-Élysées and Avenue Montaigne
• Admire the animated window displays at Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and Le Bon Marché
• Go ice skating at the Grand Palais des Glaces
• Visit the newly reopened Notre Dame and hear a concert at Sainte-Chapelle
• Warm up with a chocolat chaud and a slice of Bûche de Noël
• Plan a festive day trip to Disneyland Paris

Christmas Markets in Paris (Marchés de Noël)

The Christmas markets, or marchés de Noël, are the beating heart of December in Paris. Wooden chalets pop up across the city from mid-November through late December and into early January, filled with the smell of roasting chestnuts, handcrafted gifts, regional treats (like Tartiflette and Aligot), and mugs of steaming vin chaud. These are the ones I send everyone to. Dates shift a little each year and are usually confirmed in the fall, so do check before you go.

Tuileries Christmas Market (Magie de Noël)

Address: Jardin des Tuileries, 1st arrondissement

Set right in the Jardin des Tuileries between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, this is the big, festive, gourmet one, part Christmas market and part funfair with rides and a Ferris wheel. It usually runs from mid-November into early January, which makes it one of the safest bets for the whole month.

La Défense Christmas Village

Address: Parvis de La Défense

The largest Christmas village in the Paris region, with more than 300 chalets spread across the esplanade. It is a Metro ride from the center and well worth it if you want the full market experience with the most stalls to browse.

La Défense is technically “outside” Paris, so here is information on getting to the area.

How do you get to La Défense?

• The easiest way is to take the Paris metro. RER A takes you from the city center (Châtelet-Les-Halles) to La Défense Grande Arche with two stops in between (Aubervilliers and Charles de Gaulle Étoile).
• Metro line 1, running east to west, also serves La Défense. There are many popular attractions on metro line 1, such as the Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Garden, and the Jardin d’Acclimatation, which contains the Fondation Louis Vuitton. 
• SNCF lines L and J also join La Défense with Saint-Lazare.
• The Jules Verne Bus Terminal, adjoining the metro stations, accommodates different types of buses, from coaches and shuttles to public transport buses.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Market

Address: Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on Boulevard Saint-Germain, right next to the Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Square Félix Desruelles.

Smaller and very central on the Left Bank, this one is my pick for a cozy afternoon of window shopping and people watching in one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Paris.

Gare de l’Est Alsatian Market

Address: Parvis de la Gare de l’Est

Alsace is the spiritual home of the French Christmas market, and this traditional Alsatian market brings that authenticity to Paris with regional food and mulled wine. It is a lovely warm-up if you are arriving or departing by train.

Champ de Mars Market

Address: Champ de Mars

Right beside the Eiffel Tower, this market pairs festive stalls with one of the world's best backdrops. You will also find charming markets near Notre Dame and around Les Halles in the very center of the city, both of which are easy to fold into a day of sightseeing.

My tip: bring a little cash, wear warm gloves, and pace yourself on the vin chaud so you can visit more than one!

Christmas Lights and Department Store Windows

The City of Light truly earns its name in December, and my favorite free thing to do is simply to walk and look up. The Champs-Élysées is lined with more than 200 illuminated trees leading to the Arc de Triomphe, and Avenue Montaigne glitters with its luxury boutiques all dressed up for the season.

Then there are the windows. The animated holiday displays at Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and Le Bon Marché on and around Boulevard Haussmann are a true Parisian institution. Children press their noses to the glass while the grown-ups quietly do the same. Step inside Galeries Lafayette too, for the giant tree beneath the stunning glass dome.

Go Ice Skating

From late November through January, temporary ice rinks appear around the city, and skate rentals are always available, so there is no need to pack your own.

The star is the Grand Palais des Glaces, the world's largest indoor ice rink, at around 2,700 square meters beneath the magnificent glass roof of the Grand Palais. Recent editions have added a scale replica of the Eiffel Tower over the rink, plus DJ sets and light shows in the evening and a gourmet village serving crepes, raclette, and hot chocolate. It usually runs from mid-December into early January.

A quick note, since older guides still mention it: the rink that once sat on the first level of the Eiffel Tower has not operated since 2017, so head to the Grand Palais instead. Here are the spots I would look for:

• Grand Palais des Glaces: the world’s largest indoor rink, under the glass dome, roughly mid-December to early January.
• Galeries Lafayette rooftop: seasonal sessions with a view toward the Eiffel Tower.
• Hôtel de Ville: the city sometimes sets up a free rink in front of City Hall, so check whether it is running during your visit.

Notre Dame, Christmas Concerts, and Sainte-Chapelle

Here is wonderful news for December visitors: Notre Dame reopened to the public in December 2024 after its long restoration, and it is more breathtaking than ever. Entry is free, though I highly recommend booking a timed reservation online to skip the longest lines. Attending a Christmas service or simply hearing the choir inside is an unforgettable way to spend a December evening.

For music, few things beat a candlelit classical concert at Sainte-Chapelle, where the sound rises through those soaring walls of thirteenth-century stained glass. The holiday concerts usually run in the second half of December, and they sell out fast, so book ahead. Churches all across the city also program Christmas concerts throughout the month, from Bach and Handel to traditional French carols, in some of the most beautiful settings imaginable.

More December Events, Shows, and Festivals

Although it might seem like Christmas festivities take over the city for the entire month, December does bring other magical experiences. The Parisian Opera season peaks in winter, which means you now have a reason to get all dressed up and enjoy a classy night out. From rooftops and indoor rinks to skating on the Eiffel Tower, the options are endless. All you need is your warmest scarf and the cheerful spirit of the holidays (and maybe some patience for the long queues!).

• New Year’s Eve on the Champs-Élysées: the city rings in the new year with a fireworks and light show over the Arc de Triomphe.
• Festival du Merveilleux at the Musée des Arts Forains: for about ten days over the holidays, this magical museum of vintage fairground rides opens in Bercy for shows and rides. It is one of the most enchanting things to do in Paris, with or without kids.
• Féérie des Eaux at Le Grand Rex: a charming laser, light, and water fountain show before a film screening. Book ahead and arrive early, because it fills up fast.
• Les Enchanteurs de Noël at the Château de Vincennes: a festive show with a parade of performers, beautiful sets, and a storybook feel.
• Disneyland Paris at Christmas: a giant tree, parades, holiday shows, and a New Year’s Eve party with fireworks.
• Festive dinner cruises on the Seine: a warm and romantic way to see the illuminated city, especially around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
• Also on the calendar: the Salon Nautique boat show, the Salon du Cheval horse show, and Africolor, a festival celebrating African music across Paris and its suburbs. Dates shift each year, so confirm before you plan around them.

What to Eat and Drink in Paris in December

December might be my favorite month to eat in Paris. The cold weather is the perfect excuse for long, rich, indulgent meals, and the whole city leans right into it.

Restaurants roll out special holiday menus built around seasonal stars. Keep an eye out for oysters and scallops (Coquilles Saint-Jacques), both classics on the French Christmas table, alongside slow-cooked comfort food like boeuf bourguignon and pot au feu, duck confit, and guinea fowl (pintade), of which France is the largest producer in Europe. Foie gras and smoked salmon appear on festive spreads, and chestnut stuffing turns up next to the roast.

Then come the sweets, and this is where Paris shows off. The Bûche de Noël, the traditional Yule log cake, fills every patisserie window in every imaginable flavor and design. I love wandering past bakeries like Pierre Hermé and Lenôtre just to admire them. Look for pain d’épices (spice bread) and pâtes de fruits (fruit pastes) too. And if you are still in town at the very end of the month, the Galette des Rois starts appearing ahead of Epiphany in early January.

Do not forget the drinks. December is peak season for chocolat chaud, the thick and decadent Parisian hot chocolate, and for vin chaud, the spiced mulled wine you will find at every Christmas market. Wrapping your cold hands around a warm cup at a market stall is one of the simplest pleasures of the whole season. (Here is where to find the best hot chocolate in Paris.)

What is in Season in December

• Fruits: clementines, lemons, limes, guava, kiwi, pomelos, lychee, passion fruit, pears, pineapple, apples, chestnuts, and hazelnuts.
• Vegetables: carrots, watercress, lentils, endive, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celery, cabbages, beets, squash, pumpkin, salsifis, mâche, cèpe and chanterelle mushrooms, turnips, and parsnips.
• Seafood: scallops (a French Christmas essential), sea bream (dorade), bass (bar), and oysters (another holiday staple).
• Cheeses: yes, cheese has a season! Try Beaufort, Cantal (young, mid, or aged), and Pélardon, a goat cheese from the south.

Save on Food by Visiting the Local Markets

Paris restaurants can be expensive, and while it is worth splurging on one wonderful meal, you do not want to blow your whole budget on food. You will find plenty of treats at the local markets, and you can ask your hotel staff or a friendly local to point you to the small cafes and bistros they actually frequent. That is the surest way to eat well and skip the tourist prices.

Weather in Paris in December

Paris in December is cold and often damp, with average daytime highs around 45 to 49 degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 9 Celsius) and nighttime lows near 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 Celsius). Expect gray skies and frequent light rain, with only a rare dusting of snow that usually melts on contact. Days are short, with sunrise around 8:40 and sunset around 5, so plan your sightseeing to make the most of daylight.

Weather patterns over the past few years have been very unpredictable, so I want to share the averages and what we have seen. (I used World Weather Info as my source of information.)

Bottom line: pack for real winter weather. You may catch a milder afternoon, but mornings and evenings are cold, and it is far more likely to rain than to snow.

What to Pack for Paris in December

Packing for Paris in December is not as daunting as it seems. The golden rule is layers, because you will move constantly between chilly streets and warm, overheated cafes. Here is what I would not leave home without.

• Thermal layers: a good base layer keeps you warm without bulk.
• A heavy coat: a down coat or a stylish wool coat is essential.
• Warm trousers and thicker jeans: choose heavier fabrics for extra warmth.
• A festive outfit or two: for holiday dinners and celebrations.
• Warm accessories: a scarf, gloves, and a hat are must-haves, and a scarf also refreshes an outfit you have already worn.
• Waterproof, insulated boots: for damp or rainy days, with thick socks.
• Comfortable walking shoes: you will be on your feet exploring markets and streets.
• A compact umbrella: December is the rainiest month, so keep one in your bag.
• You'll have to think about the types of bags you'll want in Paris, too.

Important Tips to Remember

• Make the most of the short daylight. Have a loose plan for where you want to be each day, and use my arrondissement guides to group things by area.
• Golden hour is a gift in December. The sun rises late and sets early, so those glowing morning and evening photos are easy to catch without a brutal alarm or a late night.
• The Eiffel Tower is generally open from 9:30 in the morning to 11:45 at night, with extended hours on holidays. Do not miss the sparkle on the hour after dark.
• The French traditionally have their big Christmas meal on Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day, so plan restaurant reservations accordingly.
• Notre Dame is open again after its restoration, and many churches hold Christmas masses, choral performances, and special events, so plan to build one into an evening.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Paris?

Paris is popular year-round, which is exactly why I write this month-by-month series to share the best and the trickiest parts of each one. December is genuinely one of the most enchanting times to be here. The markets, the lights, the food, and that French joie de vivre all come together, and hotel prices outside the Christmas and New Year peak are often a real bargain.

The tradeoffs are real too: it is cold, it is frequently wet, and the days are short. But bundle up, plan around the daylight, and December in Paris will win you over. I think it is absolutely worth it.

Paris in December FAQ

Final Thoughts on December in Paris

Is December the best time to visit Paris?

Yes! December in Paris has a way of staying with you long after you have gone home: the glow of the markets, the smell of chestnuts and vin chaud, those magical windows, the music drifting out of a candlelit church. It is cold and short on daylight, but it is pure magic, and it just might become your favorite time to visit, too.

That French joie de vivre shines bright during the holiday season, and you should consider planning a trip during this month! Whether you’re interested in traditional Christmas festivities or want to have a magical night out, here are some of the unmissable experiences of Paris in December.

If this guide helped you plan your trip, I would love for you to share it with a fellow Francophile or pin it for later. And if you have already been to Paris in December, tell me in the comments what you loved most about it. Have you ever visited Paris in December? What was your experience? Do share!

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