Paris in December: Christmas Markets, Weather, and What to See

Visiting Paris in December has a charm that’s completely its own. The city leans fully into the holiday season, Christmas markets, illuminated storefronts, ice rinks, and a genuinely magical version of streets you may already know well. It’s cold and often damp, but that’s part of what makes a hot vin chaud and a warm café feel so good.

15. Reasons to Visit Paris in December

1. Christmas markets: vin chaud, crêpes with Nutella, and the smell of roasted chestnuts on every corner.
2. La Magie de Noël at the Jardin des Tuileries: the city’s biggest Christmas market, with around 100 wooden chalets, a full fairground with rides and a giant wheel, and an ice rink, right between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. It typically runs from mid-November through the first days of January, it moved here permanently some years ago after outgrowing its old home on the Champs-Élysées.
3. Neighborhood markets: smaller and more local than the Tuileries, worth a stop if you’re already nearby: Notre-Dame (Square René Viviani, generally late November through late December), Abbesses in Montmartre, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
4. Christmas lights across the city: every neighborhood gets its own display, and a nighttime open-top bus tour is a genuinely good way to see several at once.
5. The Champs-Élysées illuminations: switched on with a small celebrity-hosted ceremony each year, running the length of the avenue from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.
6. The Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Christmas tree: a new design every year, often over 15 meters tall, suspended under the store’s famous glass dome.
7. The rooftop terrace at Galeries Lafayette: views over the city plus a seasonal ice rink.
8. Window displays at Printemps: worth a wander even if you’re not shopping, especially for kids.
9. Place Vendôme’s Christmas trees: one of the most photographed spots in the city this time of year.
10. Traditional Parisian cafés: a café crème in the morning, an espresso in the afternoon, both better with a view of the holiday crowds outside.
11. Heated café terraces along streets like Rue Montorgueil, sit outside comfortably even in the cold.
12. The Louvre: the Mona Lisa by day, the illuminated glass pyramid outside by night.
13. Ice skating at Hôtel de Ville or near the Eiffel Tower.
14. Christmas concerts in churches and concert halls, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle both host seasonal music.
15. A Seine river cruise at night, when the bridges and quays are strung with lights.

And if you’re traveling with kids (or just love Disney), Disneyland Paris runs its Christmas season through early January, see our November guide for exact dates.

A 4-Day December Itinerary

Day 1: Getting to Know the City

• Take an open-top bus tour for an overview of the city
• Visit the Louvre Museum
• Shop for souvenirs on Rue de Rivoli, browse Shakespeare & Co.
• Admire Sainte-Chapelle
• End the evening at La Magie de Noël in the Tuileries

Day 2: Iconic Sites and Shopping

• Eiffel Tower views from Trocadéro
• Stroll the Champs-Élysées and see the Arc de Triomphe
• Musée d’Orsay or another museum along the Seine
• Shopping at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
• Eiffel Tower illuminations from Trocadéro after dark

Day 3: Art, Culture, and History

• Explore the Marais
• Note: Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation until 2030, if modern and contemporary art is what you’re after, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (free permanent collection) or the Fondation Louis Vuitton are good alternatives in the meantime
• Wander Montmartre’s Abbesses Christmas market
• Admire the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and take in the winter view over the city
• Pass by the Moulin Rouge

Day 4: More Shopping and Festive Fun

• Continue shopping at Printemps or Galeries Lafayette
• Christmas market at Les Halles
• Food, drinks, and people-watching on Rue Montorgueil
• Round off the evening with the Notre-Dame or Saint-Germain Christmas market, or a nighttime bus tour

Alternative Day 4: Swap the city day for a trip to Disneyland Paris and its own festive version of the park.

What Is the Weather Like in Paris in December?

Expect a mix of rainy and dry days, with highs around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), occasionally dipping below freezing. Days are short, with sunset around 17:00–17:30. Snow is rare in December itself (more common in January and February), though it does happen occasionally, pack for the possibility, but don’t count on it.

What to Wear in Paris in December

Layers are essential: a warm sweater or cardigan, tights under pants or skirts for extra warmth, a genuinely waterproof coat or padded jacket, hat, gloves, and scarf. Waterproof shoes or boots (without air holes, which let cold in) and warm socks will save you on the wetter days.

Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in Paris

December 25 and January 1 are official holidays, the Metro, RER, and buses run on a reduced schedule, and major attractions like the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Arc de Triomphe close for the day.

Some things stay open: hotel restaurants (book ahead), non-Christmas-celebrating ethnic restaurants and convenience stores, and a handful of major sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Moulin Rouge. If you’re staying in an apartment, do your grocery shopping before the 25th, and enjoy the rare experience of a genuinely quiet Paris that day.

New Year’s Eve in Paris

The main celebration happens on the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe, and it’s free and open to everyone, several hundred thousand people typically turn out. The avenue opens to the public from around 7:00 PM, with a video-mapping light show projected onto the Arc de Triomphe starting around 11:50 PM, followed by fireworks at midnight.

Arrive early: security checks take time, and shops and terraces along the avenue start closing in the afternoon.

We went twice, once in 2016, when we had dinner at a restaurant very close to the Arc de Triomphe was a great experience, and the last time was December 31, 2024. Honestly, I wouldn’t go back, the crowds were overwhelming.

But I do think it’s an experience worth having once, especially if you’re near the Arc de Triomphe. That last time we were at Concorde, and it was really overwhelming.

If you’d rather celebrate somewhere warmer, book a restaurant well in advance, many run special (and pricier) New Year’s menus, or head up to Montmartre, where the view over the fireworks from near Sacré-Cœur is one of the best in the city.

Where to Stay in Paris in December

• Hotels in Montparnasse, a solid, well-connected base with good value for the area.
• Hotels in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, central and atmospheric, close to one of the neighborhood Christmas markets.
• Hostels in Le Marais or Montmartre, good budget options for a festive, walkable stay.

Getting to and Around Paris

By air: Charles de Gaulle connects to central Paris via the RER B in 30–40 minutes for under €11; Orly connects via OrlyVal to the RER at Antony in around 40 minutes. Beauvais is a budget option for those flying in from elsewhere in Europe.

Getting around: The Metro, RER, trams, and buses cover the city well; taxis and rideshare apps fill in the gaps. A Passlib pass is worth considering if you want public transport, a Seine cruise, and museum entry bundled together, choose the duration that fits your trip.

Plan Your Trip to Paris

• Everything you need to know about Paris
• Best Airports to Arrive in Paris
• Top Attractions in Paris

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