Christmas in Paris: 15 Magical Things to Do and See [2025]

Are you thinking about spending this Christmas in Paris? With Christmas lights filling the streets, trees decorated around every corner, and many Christmas markets to sip mulled wine in, I promise Paris will fulfill your European holiday dreams

In 2023, I spent two weeks in Europe in December, and Paris was my first stop.

I found myself wandering the streets of Paris, in awe of the architecture and the Christmas lights.

Spending the week before Christmas in the City of Light made the holiday that much more magical.

There is so much to do in this city and was the longest stretch of our vacation. When you’re planning your trip, make sure to plan for at least 4 full days minimum.

In this blog post, I’ll share my experience and guide you through the things you can’t miss in Paris during Christmas and help you plan your perfect Parisian holiday.

Let’s dive into the best of Christmas in Paris!

My Top 3 Experiences

15 Things to Do in Paris During Christmas

2. Sip Mulled Wine at the Christmas Markets

One of my favorite things to do at the Christmas markets in Paris was to sip on some delicious Vin Chaud, mulled wine.

We stopped at three different Christmas markets, and I had mulled wine at every single one, and in a few restaurants. You can pretty much find it anywhere.

It’s a Christmas staple in European markets and absolutely necessary to warm up!

There’s something so festive about holding a warm cup of spiced wine as you wander through the market stalls. It’s kinda like sangria, but hot, which makes it even better.

It’s definitely a must-try when you’re soaking up the Christmas spirit in Paris.

3. Take a Day Trip to Versailles

Visiting was a bucket list experience for me and was the best part of my trip. If you are a bit of a history nerd this experience is for you.

Even if you’re not, this palace is a site to behold. As you approach the castle you’ll see the gates and the palace exterior is wrapped in gold.

Versaille was originally the royal family’s hunting lodge that King Louis XIII began to rebuild in 1631. Each King Louis after King Louis XIII continued to expand on the massive castle and it became a symbol of power and authority in France. The monarchy officially ended in 1793 with Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria dying by guillotine at the hands of the Parisian people.

You’ll get to Versaille by either taking a taxi or taking the public train. There are also tours offered that will provide a transfer from Paris so you don’t need to worry about transportation at all.

I made a last minute decision to get the audio tour at the entrance for €5 and it was worth it. It gives a lot of context and history as you wander through each room of the palace.

Visiting the Palace of Versailles in December will mean the palace is less crowded. Versailles is a bit outside the city and we found it significantly less overwhelming and fewer people than some of the popular museums in Paris.

The palace itself doesn’t do anything special for Christmas but once you’re done touring the castle, there are Christmas markets in the city of Versaille you can spend some time at before heading back to Paris.

✨ Get your tickets! ✨

5. Visit the Galeries Lafayette

Make sure not to miss a visit to the famous department store, Galeries Lafayette.

If you want to feel like a kid again, in awe of the magic of Christmas, the iconic tree is a must-see.

I’ll be honest and say we didn’t spend a lot of time in here. It’s extremely crowded especially the week before Christmas.

You’ll be fighting people shopping for last-minute gifts and people trying to see the decorations.

It’s definitely worth a quick stop to see the tree and the Christmas window displays but you really don’t need more than an hour here unless you want to shop.

6. Take a Croissant Making Class

One of the most quintessentially French experiences you can have is learning to make the perfect croissant from scratch.

I love taking cooking classes in new countries and connecting with other travelers and locals over delicious local food we made ourselves.

If you’re in Paris at Christmas, check out Maison Fleuret pastry school for a croissant-making class.

You’ll get to learn from a professional chef, mastering creating flaky, buttery, delicious croissants.

This is also another great indoor activity if you’re looking to get out of the cold.

It was amazing!! I have always done croissants at home and making them in Paris was the best experience ever! Our teacher was very helpful and explained all the steps very well and we had a lot of joy together. In the end we had wonderful croissants and I asked some questions which she answered and gave me a contact to safe other doubts. I definitely would recommend this experience to everyone!

Amanda – Brazil, Get Your Guide

7. Eat Onion Soup

Another must-eat French cuisine is onion soup. I think we ate it 3 different times in our 5 days in Paris.

This French dish is made of caramelized onions, meat stock, and white wine topped with baguette pieces and cheese.

It is so delicious and so filling, mostly due to the bread inside the soup and the basket of bread you’ll likely receive for the table.

We ate onion soup at Les Philosophes twice and Le Bistrot Des Vosges because they were both within walking distance of our accommodations but you can find it at pretty much any French restaurant you walk into – especially at Christmas.

8. Visit the Hotel de Ville Christmas Market

Hotel De Ville is just one of the Christmas markets you need to visit during your Christmas visit to Paris.

I thought it was the most picturesque and best decorated one that we visited.

This market is truly a magical experience, offering all the holiday spirit you could hope for.

Because I visited in 2023, the market was decked out for Christmas and to promote the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As we strolled through this market, it was beautifully it was decorated and it never felt too crowded,

The market was surrounded by evergreen trees decorated in lights so it almost felt like you were walking through a forest.

There were several chalets set up for vendors, selling everything from Nutella crepes to roasted chestnuts, and of course, mulled wine.

We grabbed a waffle and some mulled wine, found a table, and just enjoyed the festive environment.

Make sure not to miss the light show that’s projected onto the front of the Hotel de Ville!

9. Try Escargot

Ok, don’t knock it till you try it, you’ll have to try escargot while you’re in Paris.

Don’t know what escargot is? It’s snails.

We were served escargot in a broth. but they usually come cooked in the shell. I can be a picky person and I’ll say they were pretty delicious!

Escargot is a French delicacy that has been around for centuries.

At Christmas time, you can find them in the Christmas markets or any traditional French restaurant.

We at them on the dinner cruise!

10. Go Ice Skating

Another must-do activity during Christmas in Paris is ice skating at Tuileries Garden Christmas Market.

While you’re visit this market, hop on to the ice rink for a bit before settling in with a hot chocolate or a mulled wine.

While you make laps around the rink, you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful lights and decorations of the market.

After skating, warm up with a hot drink and explore the market’s stalls.

Now, if you’re hoping for a truly iconic ice skating experience, keep an eye on Galeries Lafayette.

They have a famous rooftop ice rink with views of the Eiffel Tower while you skate. It hasn’t been open since the pandemic, but it’s definitely worth checking to see if it will be available for your visit.

11. Visit the Tuileries Christmas market

Located by the Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Christmas Market market is one of the largest in the city spanning about half a mile.

The market is beautifully decorated, with lights twinkling everywhere you look.

There are over 100 vendors offering handmade gifts and delicious French treats.

One of the highlights is definitely the ice skating rink, fun rides, and attractions, which are all great activities if you’re visiting with kids.

Don’t miss out on the Champagne igloo!

13. Visit Museums

Perhaps not a Christmas activity but you really can’t go to Paris without visiting a couple of museums.

It’s also the perfect activity to get out of the cold for a while.

Louvre

Okay, I’ll be honest—the Louvre was not my favorite. It was shoulder-to-shoulder packed, and you had to push through a sea of people taking selfies just to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa.

I came out of there wishing I had skipped it altogether.

But, I realized I could have booked a private tour.

Normally, I wouldn’t consider booking a guided tour for a museum and opt for the audio headphones instead, but it’s a must for the Louvre if you want to navigate the crowds and have a true museum experience.

Book at least a month in advance for the 5:00 PM slot.

If I visited again, at Christmas, I’d try to book a private tour for the middle of the week at night. I’d go during dinner time in hopes that the crowd would begin to disperse.

The Louvre itself it a beautiful building that was built as a fortress in the 12th century. It has an incredible collection of artwork that you could spend days going through and of course, the Mona Lisa.

Musée Picasso Paris

A great spot for art lovers. Housed in this museum, you’ll find over 200 of Pablo Picasso’s paintings

It’s a smaller museum, so it’ll be less busy than some of the more popular ones.

After visiting the Picasso Museum, you’ll understand who he was and his life’s work.

Musée de l’Armée – Invalides

This museum was my favorite. The Musée de l’Armée, located at Les Invalides, was not crowded at all, especially for it being Christmas.

It was really cool to see Napoleon’s tomb, and it took us about an hour and a half to walk through the museum.

As you walk through the museum you’ll learn about Napoleon and the history of the French Army.

It’s a great spot if you’re into military history or just want to see something different.

14. Visit the Notre Dame Christmas Market

After visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, we walked through the Notre Dame Christmas Market thats right by it.

This market is much smaller than some of the others, but it’s very well located in the 5th Arrondissement. It’s an easy stop if you’re already in the area.

One thing to note is that many vendors here don’t accept card payments, so make sure to have some cash on hand when you visit.

We ended up buying some delicious honey from a local vendor, which made for a perfect souvenir.

While this market is charming and offers a traditional Christmas market experience, it’s definitely smaller and more low-key.

If you’re short on time, you could skip this one, but it’s still great for a quick walk-through if you happen to be nearby.

And, of course, there’s always mulled wine to warm you up as you walk around!

15. Go to a Classical Christmas Concert

One of the most enchanting experiences you can have in Paris during Christmas is attending a classical Christmas concert.

The city offers performances in some truly iconic venues that add a magical touch to the holiday season.

Although I didn’t attend one myself, I researched several amazing options to choose from. For example, the Saint-Germain-Des-Prés Church is one of the oldest churches in Paris and is renowned for its acoustics and historical ambiance.

Another breathtaking venue is the Sainte-Chapelle, known for its beautiful stained glass windows.

You can also check out a Christmas concert at the Saint-Séverin Church. The setting here is intimate if you’re looking for a smaller crowd.

Wrapping Up

Spending Christmas in Paris is an unforgettable experience filled with magic festivities. You are going to love wandering the Christmas markets and enjoying delicious French cuisine.

I hope this guide helps you plan your perfect Parisian holiday. Remember to pack some warm clothes, keep some cash on hand for the markets, and most importantly, take the time to soak in all the beautiful sights and sounds that Paris has to offer during Christmas. Bon voyage and Joyeux Noël!

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