Winter in Paris gives you the chance to go for walks through sculpture gardens and tree-lined avenues, enjoying the warmth of cafés and viewing the shops dressed up for the festive season. Crisp winter air carries the aroma of warm drinks, and iconic structures shimmer beneath a delicate layer of frost on colder days, casting a dreamlike ambience. Friends can share moments outdoors, meandering through the winter streets, or find warmth in historic cafes.
The cityscape, transformed by winter's touch, offers a unique blend of elegance and coziness. Embrace the season by exploring the wonderful winter things to do in Paris, like strolling in the cool night air and seeing the City of Light glowing with illuminations.
What are the best things to do in Paris this winter?
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Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Twinkling winter decorations
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In winter, the Champs-Élysées transforms into a dazzling wonderland as the iconic boulevard is adorned with sparkling lights and festive decorations, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere. The trees are laced with twinkling lights, and the avenue appears to be blanketed in stars.
Wrap up for an early-evening stroll along the avenue to the floodlit Arc de Triomphe, then step into the warmth of the Ladurée tearooms for raspberry macaroons and a piping-hot cup of hot chocolate. There are many other cafés along Champs-Élysées which offer a cozy retreat, allowing you to savour the seasonal charm while sipping on warm beverages and indulging in the delightful ambience of winter in the City of Light.
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Christmas markets
Festive stalls and delights
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Christmas markets in Paris, adorned with twinkling lights and festive stalls, enchant visitors with their aromas, sights and sounds, creating a magical atmosphere. You know it’s Christmas in Paris when “snow”-covered chalets and stalls selling regional favorites like sausages and gingerbread line the streets, and the aroma of roast chestnuts and mulled wine (vin chaud) fills the air.
Visit 1 or more of the Paris Christmas markets at Place Saint-Germain- des-Prés and Place Saint- Sulpice on the Left Bank, Place des Abbesses in Montmartre and along the Champs- Élysées. Enjoy some refreshments as you shop, and absorb the festive cheer.
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Christmas shopping in Paris
Colourful decorations and a wide choice of gifts
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Christmas shopping in Paris is full of joy, as the city's elegant boutiques and stores offer a festive array of gifts, captivating shoppers with a blend of Parisian chic and seasonal charm. Department stores turn on their party lights for Christmas as the winter holidays approach.
Wander through the avenues and boulevards to enjoy window shopping in wintertime Paris. Flashing lights in patterns of arabesques and sparkling stars decorate Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, and Christmas trees soar under their Art Nouveau stained-glass domes. Children and adults alike are enchanted by the animated window displays at BHV and Bon Marché, depicting the story of Christmas.
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Notre-Dame Cathedral
Joyous seasonal services
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Read moreEmotions soar to the rousing soundtrack of organ and choral music at Notre Dame Cathedral, as images from art and history are projected on to its medieval walls during the Christmas Mystery light show. Children’s choirs ring out throughout the festive season, and a nativity scene fills a chapel on the cathedral’s nave.
If you’re in Paris for Christmas, you could attend midnight Mass at the cathedral before returning to the warmth of your hotel. It’s an unforgettable experience.
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Carousels and ice rinks
Enchanting and festive winter fun
Carousels and ice rinks in Paris provide wintertime fun for adults and children alike. Illuminated carousels are a magical winter tradition in Paris, their brightly painted horses, flashing lights and music enticing all visitors to take a ride. The 2 carousels on the Right Bank that light up the winter night sky and the fairy-tale turrets of the Hotel de Ville contribute to a whimsical ambience, creating a magical world during the festive season in Paris.
If you’d like to enjoy ice skating, pop-up ice rinks can be found on the Left Bank of the Seine. You can rent skates for yourself and bobsleigh rides for young children for a few euros. Whiz around the ice and absorb the beauty of a Paris winter.
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Christmas menu
An array of delicious dishes
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Winter brings the Christmas menu to many Paris restaurants. Though some city centre eateries close from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, others introduce delicious festive specials.
The Art Deco La Rotonde brasserie in Montparnasse is open for business. Settle into a red velvet banquette and celebrate Christmas with a seafood platter laden with oysters, prawns, lobster and mussels, in the lamp-lit splendor of Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso’s former haunt. Or try the carte des fêtes (festive menu) in Bouillon Julien, located near Strasbourg-Saint Denis. Here, you’ll be encouraged to sample hearty French dishes that are warming and authentic.
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New Year’s Eve in Paris
Party atmosphere in festive Paris
There’s a heady air of excitement on New Year’s Eve in Paris. Enjoy the countdown in one of the most festive cities on the planet, and be a part of the crowd that gathers in the Champs-Élysées to watch the Arc de Triomphe’s colourful pyrotechnics or light shows when midnight strikes. The Champs de Mars, under the glittering Eiffel Tower, is also a great place to gather for a cheerful party atmosphere on this special night.
You could also consider spending New Year’s Eve in one of the many Paris restaurants that prepare special festive menus for the evening. New Year’s Eve can be a busy night, so it's a good idea to book quite far in advance.
Start planning your trip
Where to stay in Paris
Aparthotel Quartier Libre Marais
Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel
Villa Beaumarchais
hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon
Hotel Antin Saint-Georges
L’Hôtel du Collectionneur Paris
hotelF1 Paris Saint-Ouen - Marché aux Puces
