What to do in Paris during Christmas

Paris is undoubtedly one of the most magical places to be around during the holidays. With its magnificent decor, the city of lights fully lives up to its name! Check out this list of ideas to dive straight into the Christmas Spirit!

1) Visit a Christmas market

From November 24, 2018 to January 6, 2019, the Jardin des Tuileries turns into a magical place filled with 120 little wooden cabins offering different types of arts, crafts, foods and other gift ideas, all of high quality and most of them made locally. As for the entertainment, the market has everything from the flying chairs to the ghost train and the 50-meter (55 yards) Ferris wheel to enjoy a breathtaking view over Paris. This is Paris’ biggest Christmas market so don’t miss out!

2) Attend a Christmas Bal

Between December 28th and 30th, a giant tent (about 1500 sq. ft) takes over the Place de la Concorde for 3 days to welcome all aspiring dancers from 7pm until midnight. Food trucks will be coming too to please your taste buds in between your frenzied dancing!

3) Indulge in a delicious hot chocolate

When spending Christmas in Paris, it can be very chilly so you definitely need something nice and warm to keep you going during the day. What about a fabulous hot chocolate served with homemade pastries? Don’t worry about the calories: walking in the cold makes you loose them very quickly!

Our favorite places for the best hot chocolate in the capital include Soul Kitchen in Montmartre (33 rue Lamarck), Angélina in front of the Tuileries (226 rue de Rivoli) and Jean-Paul Hévin at the Madeleine (108 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré).

4) Enjoy the fairy lights and magical Christmas decor

After your hot chocolate, make sure you visit the following areas, trimmed with thousands of lights: Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Place Vendôme, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides, the Palais Garnier Opera House and Notre-Dame Cathedral are amongst the most beautiful! For some wonders, come by the famous Galeries Lafayette Store and enjoy the beautiful windows created especially for the holidays by talented visual merchandising artists.

5) Shop some local Fashion

While in Paris, experience the real french fashion - made by up & coming french designers working in small ateliers. The neighborhood of Le Marais is one of the best to find incredible fashion treasures. Some of our favorite include Matières à réflexion, a adorable little concept-store curating many cool and local french fashion designers for all tastes and budgets. 

6) Take a French Pastry baking class

Croissants, baguettes, macarons, éclairs...If you love French pastries as much as we do, then this is the perfect activity for you while visiting Paris. No experience needed on these hands-on workshops led by famous Parisian pastry chefs who will guide you through the process during a 2-hour or a 3-hour course! To do so, we highly recommend “La Cuisine Paris” cooking classes and “Le Cordon Bleu”.

7) Attend a performance

From November 24, 2018 to January 20, 2019, enchanting show The Monkey King will be in Paris for the delight of all ages. Other options include the famous Jungle Book Show, Peter Pan Show, as well as the Cinderella Ballet at the Palais Garnier Opera House.

8) For Families: take a Christmas ornament making class

During Christmas, many places organize some DIY workshops for the youngest such as the André Malraux Library and the Marguerite Yourcenar Mediatheque. No need to speak french during those classes that are all about creativity and manual experience.