How to Spend the Perfect Christmas in Paris

There are few things more magical than waking up on Christmas morning and exchanging gifts with loved ones under a tinsel-strewn tree, but rousing to a view of the Eiffel Tower and a basket of fresh croissants in Paris might do the trick. The City of Light dazzles more brilliantly than usual over the holidays, when cobbled streets and department stores sparkle with Christmas lights and there’s festive fun to be found in every arrondissement. 

While you may need to put dreams of a white Christmas on the back burner — Paris rarely gets more than a thin layer of snow —  there’s no shortage of romantic ways to spend winter days there, whether on a moonlit cruise along the Seine or in the toasty glow of a heated terrace with a glass of wine in hand. 

From the most majestic backdrops for holiday concerts to prime places to shop, stay, and be merry, here are the best things to do in Paris during Christmas.

Sip mulled wine at the Christmas markets.

Christmas markets in Paris are more like winter villages, with dozens — and in some cases, hundreds — of Swiss-style wooden chalets doling out vin chaud (mulled wine), raclette sandwiches oozing cheese, and made-in-France souvenirs to take home.

Markets begin popping up around the city in late November and run through the new year, ranging in size from a handful of stalls to upwards of 300. For a quaint, picturesque experience, head to the market at Notre Dame or across the river at the Hôtel de Ville, where you'll typically find an evening light show and gaggles of children gunning for the carousel.

For larger-scale productions, make your way to La Magie de Noël (The Magic of Christmas) at the Tuileries Garden, a Christmas market turned carnival. Further out, at the end of the metro line 1, is the most sprawling market in all of Paris: La Défense. It's set in the heart of the business district at the base of the Grande Arche. Head to the top of the modern monument for a bird’s-eye view of the whole spectacle. 

Window shop at the decked-out department stores.

A beloved Parisian pastime is the art of l​​èche-vitrine, or window shopping — although it translates literally as window licking, which is likely what you’ll be tempted to do when faced with the delicious displays at the city's grands magasins. 

There are four major department stores, each boasting its own over-the-top winter wonderlands that you can ogle from the windows or while warming up inside. Both Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann, located a stone’s throw from one another, famously feature lavish Christmas trees that are decked out beneath their art nouveau domes. Le BHV Marais and Le Bon Marché also go all out with their decor — the latter’s iconic crisscrossing escalator is typically dripping with white lights and snowflakes. 

Beyond the big four, Samaritaine is another must-see department store. The beautiful Belle Époque building is worth a look at any time of year, but like most of Paris, it gleams with extra charm around the holidays. 

Stroll under the twinkling lights on the Champs-Élysées. 

Lined with luxury boutiques, Paris’s famed avenue is hardly in need of a glow-up, but that’s exactly what it gets each winter, thanks to 400-odd trees strung up in vibrant red lights. The shimmering show — called La Flamboyance — runs from the Arc de Triomphe down to the Ferris wheel at the Place de la Concorde, where you can go for a spin before exploring the Tuileries Christmas market. 

If you’re eager to see more of how the City of Light lives up to its name over the holidays, consider an open-top Christmas lights bus tour, during which you'll cruise around the city to see the sparkling sights from new heights. 

Take in a classical Christmas concert at an awe-inspiring church.

Drinking Champagne in church may not be the holiest way to celebrate Christmas, but it’s certainly one of the more memorable. Paris's churches are worth a visit for their magnificent architecture alone, and in addition to religious services, some of the most picturesque in the city offer musical performances in their hallowed halls. Located on the Île de la Cité, the island where Paris was first founded, the striking Gothic Sainte-Chapelle hosts classical concerts during the holidays. The former royal chapel has some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in all of Europe, which set a dramatic mood for the music. For an additional fee, you can enjoy a Champagne and tapas pairing.

Cruise along the Seine on Christmas Eve.

While Paris is a city best seen on foot, a tour along the Seine provides a romantic new perspective. Tours run daily throughout the year, but a handful of vendors tout special Christmas offerings like Bateaux Mouches' Christmas lunch cruise. Some include five-course meals, Champagne, and more on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Just be sure to book sooner rather than later, as they’re likely to sell out. 

Dress up for the ballet at Opéra Bastille.

Throw on your Frenchest finery and head out for an elegant evening at Opéra Bastille, a modern building designed by the Canadian-Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott. But the venue has a longer history — it's located on the site of the 1789 Storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution. In the weeks leading up to Christmas and up until January 1, 2024, you can catch a performance of The Nutcracker.

Ice skate against iconic backdrops.

When visiting the Tuileries Christmas Market, you may want to take it easy on the mulled wine for a chance to lace up your skates and glide along the charming ice rink, encircled by wooden chalets and the smell of Nutella crepes. There are a few iconic places around the city known to set up ice rinks, such as the Hôtel de Ville and even the Eiffel Tower, where a small rink is set up on the first floor. Many also head to the rink beneath the glass dome of the Grand Palais.

Eat, drink, and be merry.

Plenty of places close for the week between Christmas and New Year’s, so if you’ve been bookmarking restaurants on Instagram for months, you’ll want to confirm that they're open on their website (or their Instagram page, as that's often more up to date). If so, be sure to book well in advance to nab a table. Note that many restaurants will offer prix fixe menus.

Treat yourself to a stay at one of the city's most luxurious hotels.

There is certainly no shortage of splurge-worthy hotels in Paris. In the historic heart of the city is Le Meurice, a hotel where you can wake up to a view of the Eiffel Tower and have your skin gently nudged toward perfection during a glow-inducing facial at La Maison Valmont pour Le Meurice Spa. In the lobby, you can cozy up with a martini for nightly jazz at Bar 228, the intimate Philippe Starck-designed wood-paneled bar with heavenly frescoed ceilings. 

Or, go for the timeless elegance of the Ritz Paris, which decks its halls in festive holiday fashion every year. Other sumptuous digs include Cour des Vosges, a unique pied-à-terre at once modern and classic, where you can get ready for the day while overlooking Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris.