The Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Paris 2024: 21 Magical Experiences You Can't Miss

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11/21/20246 min read

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The Magic of Christmas in Paris 2024: 21 Unforgettable Holiday Experiences

Experience the Enchantment of Paris at Christmas

Last Updated: November 2024

The City of Light transforms into a winter wonderland during the festive season, offering an enchanting array of holiday experiences that captivate visitors from around the world. From the Place Vendôme to the Champs-Élysées, Paris sparkles with millions of twinkling lights, creating a magical atmosphere you won't find anywhere else.

Holiday Highlights:

Seasonal Delicacies

Featured Experiences

  1. Christmas Mass & Church Services

    • Historic churches

    • Special holiday services

    • Traditional nativity scenes

  2. Holiday Tours & Cruises

  3. Christmas Dining

Plan Your Visit

Christmas lights & shoppers along Champs Elysees in Paris

To see the most lavish display of Christmas lights and decorations in Paris, head straight to Champs Élysées, where over a million (yes, literally!) sparkling lights blanket the 400 street trees between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

As you walk along the sidewalk, you'll also see festive decorations and even more lights in most of the stores lining this famous avenue.

Although the Christmas lights usually stay on from 5pm to midnight, they will shine all night for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Stay nearby: Hotels near Arc de Triomphe

More fantastic places to see Christmas lights in Paris

Go on a Christmas lights tour


Popular Paris Christmas Experiences

Get into the holiday spirit with these special "only in Paris" activities:

  • Christmas Gourmet Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Pres - Enjoy a special 3-course lunch, live music, and magical views of famous sights and landmarks along the Seine River as you cruise by in a comfy glass-covered boat. These holiday cruises always sell out - so book early to avoid disappointment! Book now

  • Moulin Rouge - Enjoy a spectacular holiday show and champagne in this famous Paris cabaret - or choose the gourmet dinner option

  • Paris Christmas Lights Tour - Snuggle under a warm blanket as an open-top bus takes you past the city's most brilliant Christmas lights as well as other famous illuminated Paris attractions - Arc de Triomphe, Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier), Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and more. It's an unforgettable way to see Paris! Book now

  • Private Christmas Tour of Paris with a Ferris Wheel Ride - On this special tour, you'll see the most famous Paris holiday lights and decorations plus a few "insider's gems," enjoy a glass of mulled wine (or hot chocolate), and a ride on the giant Paris ferris wheel. Includes hotel pick-up/drop-off. Book now


2. Sip Hot Mulled Wine As You Shop at Paris Christmas Markets

Notre Dame Christmas Market, with the famous cathedral in the background

Starting in November, Christmas Markets pop up all over Paris, offering a wide variety of arts and crafts, regional food specialties, and other gifts.

Each market has its own special ambiance, activities, and seasonal foods and beverages to enjoy. Here are just a few to consider:

  • Tuileries Garden "Magic of Christmas" Christmas Market - amusement rides, fantastic food and beverages, artisan gifts, and even a Champagne "hut"

  • Alsatian Christmas Market at Gare de l'Est train station - Fantastic regional specialties from Alsace

  • Montmartre Christmas Market at Place des Abbesses - Small and charming, with hot roasted chestnuts, a Champagne kiosk, and a friendly neighborhood vibe

  • Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market - Lovely assortment of artisan products (look for the kiosk with high-quality leather items), specialty foods and wines, and tempting snacks

  • La Defense "Marche de Noel" Christmas Market- The Paris area's biggest holiday market, less than 10 minutes on the Metro's Line 1 from Etoile/Charles de Gaulle and not to be missed, with 350 vendors, gift selections you won't see anywhere else, and fantastic food choices. Their tartiflette (cheesy potatoes in a creamy sauce plus optional smoked ham) is the best! Bonus: Festive lights and decorations along the La Defense Esplanade - and spectacular views from on top of the Grande Arche!

  • Square René Viviani Christmas Market - Small and tranquil, with vendors offering handmade artisan gifts, specialty foods, and mulled wine, plus visits from Santa and tranquil views of Notre Dame Cathedral across the Seine River

  • Hotel de Ville Christmas Market, with "forests" of evergreen trees, a light show of "snowflakes" falling across the front of the building, an old-fashioned carousel, and fun free kids' activities - NOT this year (2024), as the large plaza in front of Hotel de Ville is closed for construction while being transformed into an urban forest to help improve air quality - but stay tuned for next year!

Find details for all the Paris Christmas Markets

With sparkling lights, brightly decorated Christmas trees, and visits from Saint Nicolas - or Père Noël, as Parisian children call him - these festive street markets attract crowds of shoppers until well into the night.

So copy the Parisians - sip hot mulled wine, munch on roasted chestnuts, and sample delicious sausages and cheese while exploring all these markets have to offer (and getting your Christmas shopping done) - a tradition that's been around since the Middle Ages.

3. Treat Yourself to a Christmas-Time Dinner & Show at Moulin Rouge Cabaret

Moulin Rouge in Paris - Photo credit: iStock/sonny2962

Celebrate the best of the holiday season while savoring a traditional French dinner and Champagne at Moulin Rouge as you experience their spectacular Féerie show performed by 100 artists, 80 musicians, and 60 choral singers.

Get ready to be dazzled by the gorgeous costumes, set designs, and music at this famous cabaret!

For a special treat, book a show with champagne only, or a show and dinner for Christmas Day (but do it early, because they always sell out far in advance).

Book the Moulin Rouge Caberet Show with Champagne

Book Dinner with Champage, Transportation, &and Show at Moulin Rouge

More Ways to Enjoy Moulin Rouge

4. See the Best Christmas Windows & Displays in Paris Department Stores

Christmas tree suspended from the stained glass dome in Galeries Lafayette

Starting in late October, the five biggest Paris department stores - the grands magasins - dazzle children and adults alike with imaginative Christmas window displays featuring elaborate animated scenes complete with sparkling lights, holiday music, and plenty of jolly Santas, festive Christmas trees, teddy bears, and beautifully wrapped gifts.

This year, Bon Marché windows celebrate French cuisine, including a mesmerizing display of animated baguettes "dancing" to music.

Galeries Lafayette usually boasts the most elaborate - and most anticipated - windows, showing a holiday adventure along with lots of animations and music.

Don't miss the biggest showstopper of all: Galeries Lafayette's gigantic flamboyant Christmas tree suspended from the glass dome.

BHV Marais features a journey to a different country each year, while Printemps's windows are fanciful and whimsical.

Samaritaine (so far) embraces elegant minimalism, with no animations, music, or other effects.

Find out more about the Paris department stores' holiday windows, including locations & map

Find dates for when each store reveals its holiday windows

5. Hear Fabulous Christmas Music in Historic Churches

Soaring stained glass windows in Sainte-Chapelle

Each year, special holiday concerts featuring Christmas and classical music take place in several of Paris's spectacular historical churches and other venues - Sainte-Chapelle, Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Eglise de la Madeleine, Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Eustache, and even the Eiffel Tower.

Christmas & Christmas Eve Concerts in Paris

Christmas and New Year's concerts make December a blockbuster month in Paris for holiday music of all sorts.

Tickets for the most popular shows and concerts including those at Sainte-Chapelle and the Eiffel Tower sell out quickly, so don't wait too long to book yours!

Christmas & Christmas Eve Concerts in Paris

New Year's Eve Shows in Paris

Looking for non-holiday music? See all concerts for December

More Paris classical concerts, opera, & dance performances during December

More rock, pop, jazz, rap, indie, & other concerts during December

Find Paris concerts for other months

people walking beside red string lights
people walking beside red string lights
vehicle and people passing on road
vehicle and people passing on road
woman seeing string lights
woman seeing string lights