Last Updated on December 29, 2025
Celebrating Christmas in Paris can be memorable and enchanting. From mid-November onward, the French capital transforms into a wintery landscape: streets are festooned with dazzling lights that twinkle nonstop, and department store windows come to life with fairy-tale-inspired window decorations. Traditional, heartwarming holiday markets, enormous Christmas trees, ice skating rinks, mulled wine and holiday-themed tours of the city round out the festive offering.
Whether you celebrate the holiday in formal and traditional ways or simply enjoy the seasonal festivities and rituals, there’s plenty to see and do in late November or December. If you’re planning to fete Christmas or other winter holidays in Paris, keep reading for our tips on how to enjoy it to the fullest.
Christmas Lights & Department Store Window Displays in Paris
At year-end, the city of lights lives up fully to its name and the streets are illuminated with sparkling colors and extravagant decorations. Dozens of major streets, squares and other landmarks get the festive treatment, strung with miles and miles of holiday lights.
{Why to Love Paris in December — & What to Do}
And for those who are willing to brave the inevitable crowds, heading to the city’s main department stores is in order, too. All the historic grands magasins one-up each other with grandiose, often-animated window displays, one more magical than the next.
These are just a few of our favorite places to head this year. For a complete list of areas featuring holiday illuminations in 2025, see this page at the Paris Tourist Office website (generally updated in October or November).
Avenue des Champs-Elysées
There’s something magical about walking down one of the most famous avenues in the world on a crisp December night. At year end, the Avenue gets flooded with lights all the way from the Place de l’Etoile and the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde.
In 2025, some 1,000 golden lights festoon trees lining the iconic Avenue des Champs-Elysées from 5:00 pm each evening, running through the beginning of January. The lights were “inaugurated” by French actress Léa Seydoux, and Canadian singer Charlotte Chardin, who performed to kick of the festivities on opening evening.
The lights will be left on all night long on Christmas Eve (December 25th) and New Year’s Eve (December 31st). This year, fireworks will likely be part of the New Year’s festivities in the area.
- Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt or Champs-Elysées Clémenceau
- When to see them: From November 16th 2025 through January 2026
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré & surrounding streets
Known for its high-fashion boutiques and Haussmanian buildings, the narrow and intimate Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré shines with festive decorations this season.
The street, which is located in the 8th arrondissement, is a staple of Parisian luxury and glamor. On any given day, it is populated with wealthy tourists and Parisians window-shopping in search of a bit of the celebrated French chic.
For the winter holidays, it shines even more brightly, and the urge to enter its luxurious shops gets all the harder to resist.
- Metro: Saint-Philippe du Roule or Miromesnil
- Dates: From November 26th, 2025 through December, starting at 6:30 pm each night
- Location: Corner of Rue Royale and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 8th arrondissement
Place Vendome
The quiet yet classically elegant Place Vendome and its iconic bronze column is a must-see when in Paris. Nothing is more glamorous nor feels more grandiosely Parisian than to take a stroll around the magical square. At year-end, the Place is beautifully lit and decorated. Adjoining streets, including Rue de Castiglione and Rue de la Paix, will also be festively lit (see below).
We recommend a stroll across the square in the evening, when all the lights shine in unison. In 2024, several large and smaller Christmas trees will turn the Place Vendome into a veritable wintery wonderland. Follow up with a walk in the nearby Tuileries Christmas Market (see more below).
- Metro: Tuileries, Concorde or Opéra
- Dates: From November 19th, 2025 through January 12th, 2026
Bercy Village
Although Bercy Village is quite a ways from the city center, it can make a worthwhile stop, especially if you’re looking for a family-friendly spot.
This off-the-beaten track outdoor shopping and entertainment strip in Paris’ 12th arrondissement is home to cozy restaurants, a movie theater complex, and a great museum dedicated to theme parks.
Every year, a lot of work is put into turning the strip into a convivial and magical destination for the holiday season. It features a giant Christmas tree, a holiday market, visits with “Père Noël” (Santa Claus) and festive lights strung throughout the complex. Plus, it’s a great spot for last-minute Christmas shopping.
And if you’re visiting in January and are looking for some continued holiday cheer, the decorations here stay open through late in the month.
- Metro: Bercy
- Dates: November 20th, 2025 through January 4th, 2026
Avenue Montaigne
Not far from the Champs-Elysées, the elegant Avenue Montaigne (lined with opulent residences and high-end boutiques) gets decked out with holiday lights and decorations. The decorations stretch from the Avenue southwest to the equally elegant Place de l’Alma.
- Metro: Alma-Marceau or Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Dates: From late November through January (more details to come)
Galeries Lafayette
The famous department store near the Opera Garnier always has some of the most elaborate and imaginative window displays– as well as an annual, enormous Christmas tree that changes every year.
In 2025, a 16-meter “tree” composed of 560 kg of ribbon and strands of light that stretch for 8 km stands under the Belle-Epoque glass cupola in the grand hall of the main department store, according to the website Sortir a Paris. The tree is further decorated by illustrations from Jeanne Detallante, an artist who also designed this year’s magical window displays at the Galeries.
Take a look at the short video below to get a better sense of what this year’s tree display is like:
Meanwhile, the enchanting windows display at “Les Galeries” in 2025 bring to life fairy-tale-like scenes such as Santa’s workshop, where elves and other enchanted creatures busily prepare gifts and toys. This is a great outing for families with young children.
{How to Enjoy Paris With a Baby or Toddler?}
- Metro: Chaussée D’Antin-Lafayette or Auber
- Dates in 2025: November 12th, 2025 through December 31st, 2025
Other department stores worth checking out this season include nearby Printemps (also on Boulevard Haussmann), BHV Marais in the city center, La Samaritaine, which saw a dramatic rebirth a few years ago, and Le Bon Marché on the left bank, at the edge of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district.
All four of these emblematic Parisian stores have their own painstakingly designed, inspired holiday window displays to enjoy. This is a genuine treat for kids.
At Printemps Haussmann, festivities kick off on November 6th, 2025 with a “New York City” theme taking over the large window displays, all paying nostalgic tribute to the big Apple and its own Christmas traditions. And from November 5 to January 6 at the Samaritaine, the recently-restored Art nouveau building featuring a grand staircase is festooned with garlands, ribbons and lights.
“Light Trails” in Parisian Parks & Gardens
Also in 2025-2026, several Parisian parks and gardens are decorating their premises with enchanted “light trails” that are certain to captivate the attention of the whole family, and offer the perfect occasion for a wintery walk through some of the capital’s loveliest green spaces.
From November 12th, 2025 to to January 18th, 2026, a display at the Jardin des Plantes called “Lights of Nature” beckons adults and kids alike for a magical stroll through the paths of the city’s largest botanic gardens, placing an emphasis on the lights emitted by nature, from animals to plants and minerals.
- Location: Jardin des Plantes, Place Valhubert, 75005 Paris (Metro Gare d’Austerlitz or Jussieu)
- See more info here (including how to buy tickets)
Meanwhile, at Paris’ Parc Floral (a garden within the Parc de Vincennes), a light trail called Luminous Odyssey takes over the long winter evenings from November 19th, 2025 through January 11th, 2026.
This year, the event will feature 1,000 enormous lanterns, a drone show, and a display mimicking the mesmerizing colors and patterns of the Northern Lights.
- Location: Parc Floral, Bois de Vincennes (Metro Porte de Vincennes)
- Daily from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm (last entry at 9:30 pm)
- See more info here (including how to buy tickets)
Traditional Christmas Markets in Paris: 2025 Locations
There’s nothing like steaming cups of spiced mulled wine and roasted chestnuts to awaken the holiday spirit while fending off the December cold. Traditional French Christmas markets are an integral part of the winter holiday season in Paris; they’re the perfect place to sample some amazing food and get a sense of both local and regional Christmas traditions.
{Related: French Christmas Traditions to Enjoy at Home or Abroad}
Here’s a list of the main markets springing up around the capital in 2025.
Marché de Noël at the Jardin des Tuileries (“The Magic of Christmas”)
In the heart of the Jardins des Tuileries, this Christmas market and funfair offers great products from all over the country. It’s a convivial space where visitors can get a taste of French gastronomy, including sausages and cheeses, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. Santa Claus will be present for visits with kids. There’s also a funfair for kids, complete with carousels, log ride, ferris wheel and more.
{Related: Where to Find Authentic, Inspiring Gifts in Paris?}
This is currently the most-visited Christmas market in Paris and with its wide array of fresh gourmet treats and gift ideas, not to mention the impregnable views over the formerly royal gardens, and a large ice rink, it’s easy to see why.
- Metro: Tuileries
- Dates: November 15th, 2025 through January 4th, 2026. This market is typically open between 11am-11:45 pm on weekdays; until 12:45 am on weekends.
Marche de Noël Alsacien at the Gare de L’Est
There are a few distinctive aromas wafting around the Alsatian Christmas market in Paris. It’s the smell of potato galettes, munster cheese, choucroute (a traditional Alsatian sauerkraut recipe), gingerbread, fresh pretzels and Kougelhopf , a yeasted bundt cake native to the region.
Located in front of Gare de l’Est, this is the ideal place to discover new flavors native to the Franco-German region– and get to meet some of the producers and artisans behind them. You’ll also find a variety of traditional toys, gifts and crafts at this beloved annual marché.
{Related: Traditional French Desserts to Taste & Bake for Christmas}
This one stays open for a shorter time than many of the other Parisian markets in 2024, so make sure to enjoy it while you can.
- Metro: Gare de l’Est
- Dates: From November 28th, 2025 through December 11th, 2025
Christmas Market at Notre-Dame Cathedral
After a tough few years for the beloved Parisan Cathedral, it’s survived the terrible fire that destroyed part of it in 2019 and underwent major renovations and restorations, re-opening in December 2024.
To the delight of all, the Cathedral is offering a warm and festive way to celebrate Christmas in 2025. A traditional market and giant tree is taking over the Parvis (square) outside the entrance from November 28th, 2025.
At the market, enjoy regional treats and gastronomic specialities from around France, enjoy performances from live musicians dressed in traditional garb, meet and greet Le Père Noël (Santa Claus) and take in the warm ambience from the Cathedral just beyond.
{Related: See Inside the Reborn Notre-Dame}
- Metro: Cité (or RER Notre Dame-Saint-Michel)
- Dates: November 28th, 2025 through Christmas Day (December 25th).
Eiffel Tower Christmas Village
At this festive market at the foot of the “Iron Lady”, you can enjoy a large variety of festive stands, food trucks selling hearty seasonal fare, gifts and more. There’s often a regional focus on the gourmet dishes and treats of the French regions Alsace and Savoie, and a large mulled wine stand.
- Place: Champs de Mars lawns (pelouse)
- Metro: Bir Hakeim or Trocadero
- Dates: December 15th, 2025 through December 31st, 2026
La Défense Christmas Market
Located just west of the city center, the sprawling La Défense business district hosts a large Christmas market most years, with some 350 festive stands and chalets, food trucks and seasonal decor lending a warm yet modern atmosphere.
{Related: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Unique Parisian Gifts}
This is an ideal place to look for gifts, since there’s a large shopping center here as well. Christmas carolers, visits with Santa Claus, and other events round out this much-awaited event, which opens earlier than most markets in the capital this year.
- Place: Parvis de la Défense
- Metro/RER: La Défense
- Dates: November 13th through December 28th, 2024
Marché de Noël de la Canopée des Halles (NOT HELD IN 2024)
One of the newest but also largest Christmas markets in Paris, the Marché de Noël de la Canopée des Halles has a little bit of everything, from local products to international crafts; from traditional mulled wine (vin chaud in French) to raclette cheese with potatoes and roasted chestnuts.
With its 75 wooden cabins nestled around the monstrous, mostly underground shopping center, this market has a more modern feel, but it’s also vibrant and packed with delicious treats and festive gifts.
- Metro: Les Halles or Chatelet
- Dates: NOT HELD IN 2024
Full List of Paris Christmas Markets in 2025
Looking for a more complete list of Parisian marchés de Noël this year? From vegan and African markets to ones focused on regional crafts and eco-friendly gifts, there are more choices than ever this year. See this full list at the Paris Tourist Office to find the right one/s. Sortir à Paris also has a useful and frequently-updated list here.
Stock Up on Classic French Desserts & Sweets
Spiced breads, fluffy yeasted cakes dusted with almonds and sugar, rich chocolate logs decorated with marzipan mushrooms and berries? These are all typical French desserts served on and around Christmas.
Stock up on some at one of the aforementioned holiday markets, at bakeries around town (see some of my favorites patisseries in Paris here), or at specialty food shops such as Galeries Lafayette, Fauchon, and the Grande Epicerie.
Ice Skating in Paris: Rinks Open in 2025
Going ice skating in Paris during the holidays is something of a cherished tradition. In 2024, several alluring outdoor rinks open their doors to the public, and put on some enchanting light displays. They’re fun for pros and amateurs and make for a memorable family outing.
Ice Rink (Patinoire) at the Palais des Glaces (Grand Palais)
From December 14th, 2025 through January 7th, 2026, you can skate under the beautiful glass rooftop of the Grand Palais, open in 1900 and a stunning example of Belle-Epoque Parisian architecture. The “Palais des Glaces” (Palace of Ice) event is ideal for both kids and adults, with nighttime sessions particularly suited to the latter.
- Location: Grand Palais
- Address: 3 avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
- Metro: Champs Elysées-Clemenceau
- Dates: December 14th, 2025 through January 7th, 2026
Ice-Skating at the Tuileries Christmas Market
In 2025, an enormous ice rink is scheduled to run at the Tuileries Christmas market, open from late November through early January (see more on the market above). Entrance to the rink is free for all, but there’s a small charge for skate rentals.
Christmas decorations festoon the rink, there are separate skating zones for younger visitors, and there are several “sleigh” areas for kids to enjoy.
Metro: Tuileries or Concorde
Ice Skating Rink at the St-Denis Basilica Christmas Market (NOT RUNNING IN 2025)
This ice rink’s just outside of Paris, but it’s easy to access via metro– and it offers the opportunity to go see the sublime St-Denis Basilica, one of the country’s most important historic pilgrimage sites and the burial place of dozens of French monarchs.
- Metro: Parvis de la Basilique de Saint-Denis (line 13) (the square outside the Basilica)
- Dates: Not running in 2025
Ice Skating Rink on the Rooftop at Printemps Haussmann Department Store
In line with its “New York” theme this year, Printemps Haussmann has opened an ice rink on its rooftop terrace, modeled after the famous rink at Rockefeller Center. Skating here affords spectacular views of the city and of the decoration lining Boulevard Haussmann, and is a treat for adults and kids alike.
- Metro: Le Havre-Caumartin or Opera
- Dates: November 8th, 2025 through January 4th, 2026
Other Festive Activities for the Winter Holidays
Looking for other interesting things to do this season? Here are just a couple of ideas. You can also see our guide to cozy, quiet things to do in Paris during the winter for a more laid-back holiday season in the capital.
Holiday Tables & Dinner Cruises in Paris
Finally, if you’re interested in booking a table for a special, festive holiday dinner in the capital, you’ll have plenty of choices– but also quite a bit of competition for tables. See this guide for ideas on where to book.
You can also consider booking a dinner cruise on the Seine for a special year-end lunch or dinner.
See this page at GetYourGuide to browse a wide variety of Seine River dinner cruise packages. You can also look for a holiday-themed guided tour, cruise or dinner package in Paris (here (via Viator).
If it’s just the two of you and you want a romantic and purely adult evening out on the town, you might consider an evening of holiday-themed dinner and dancing at traditional cabarets like the Crazy Horse (book here via Viator). Just make sure to reserve sooner than later to ensure you get a table.
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Courtney Traub is the Founder and Editor of Paris Unlocked. She’s a longtime Paris resident who now divides her time (as well as she can manage) between the French capital and Norwich, UK. Co-author of the 2012 Michelin Green Guide to Northern France & the Paris Region, she has been interviewed as an expert on Paris and France by the BBC, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Le Figaro, Matador Network and other publications. Courtney has also written and reported stories for media outlets including Radio France Internationale, The Christian Science Monitor, Women’s Wear Daily and The Associated Press. In addition to going down various rabbit holes of curiosity when it comes to French culture, history, food and art, Courtney is a scholar of literature and cultural history whose essays and reviews have appeared in various forums.
