things to do in Paris –
December 2012

• Get a Paris City Pass
  Free entrance to sixty of the city's best museums and monuments plus unlimited rides on the Metro.
  Read Our Complete Guide to Paris City Passes »
• Arrange Your Paris Airport Transfer
  By private car, shuttle van, taxi, train or bus.
  Read Our Complete Guide to Paris Airport Transfers »
• Book Your Activities in Advance
  Don't wait until the last minute, many activities and events fill up quickly.
  Read Our Guide to Food & Wine Activities in Paris »

Things to Do in Paris – Activities

Spend A Day In the Legendary Champagne Region

A day spent in the magical Champagne region will highlight your holiday visit to Paris. You are met at your hotel by your driver/guide and whisked off through rolling hills and world-class vineyards to Reims, capital of the Champagne region. After touring this historic city, including a visit to its famous cathedral, the champagne houses beckon and your sampling begins!
• A Day in Champage – Complete Information & Booking »

• VIPs: Read Our Guide to Private Day Trips to Champagne »

Christmas at Moulin Rouge

Take in a festive Christmas dinner and show at this icon of Montmartre. This special Christmas dinner includes traditional French cuisine served in many courses with the best French champagne. This popular event sells out early for most dates, but even faster so during the holidays. So, be sure to book early!
• Christmas Dinner at the Moulin Rouge – Book Right Now! »
(Don't forget New Years Eve at Moulin Rouge!)

• Read Our Guide to Dinners & Shows at Moulin Rouge »

Champs Elysées Christmas Lights & Seine River Cruise

Set aside one evening for a magical Christmas night taking in the stunning seasonal lights along the Avenue Champs Elysées. Start with a Seine River Cruise, seeing more of the sparkling Christmas lights of Paris. After your Christmas illuminations tour, you're taken to your reserved table at a restaurant on the Champs Elysées for a wonderful dinner with wine.
• Christmas Lights, Dinner & Seine River Cruise – Book Now! »

• Our Complete Guide to the Seine River Cruises »

Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge & Seine River Cruise

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

Experience the best of Paris by night. The evening starts at Restaurant 58 on the Eiffel Tower. Then take a tour to see the lights of Paris on the Seine River Cruise. The evening culminates at the number-one rated cabaret show in Europe, Moulin Rouge's show Feerie, complete with champagne. All the details have been arranged for you.
• Book A Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge & Seine River Cruise »

Gourmet Christmas Tour of Paris

You begin the tour at the Saint-Sulpice Christmas Market, sampling regional specialties, vin chaud, and Christmas delicacies. Then visit Paris food shops to learn about the Thirteen Desserts of Christmas. Your tour ends in a stylish Parisian tearoom, where your guide will tell you more about festive French traditions.
• Every day in December, except Sundays
• More Information& Booking – Gourmet Christmas Tour »

• Complete Guide to Paris Food & Wine Activities »

Skip-the-Lines Eiffel Tower Tours

Don't be left out in the cold! The wait to get up the Eiffel Tower is often two hours long, even in December. But don't worry, we have a solution for you. Book a Skip-the-Lines Eiffel Tower Tour and your guide will walk you past the ticket lines and into the elevator for the tower. You've got better things to do in Paris than to stand in line! The Eiffel Tower is open every day.
• Eiffel Tower Tours – Booking & Information »

• Read Our Complete Guide to The Eiffel Tower »

December 2012 Paris Updates

Paris is magical in December, and the magic continues beyond the city gates. There are so many wonderful experiences to be had on day trips from Paris.

Visit the birthplace of Impressionism, taste Loire Valley wines, explore famous châteaux, or sip bubbly in Champagne and return to Paris the same night. Everything is taken care of on the day trips we review and recommended. You just need to sit back and enjoy!

• Insiders Guide to Day Trips From Paris – The Essentials »
• Insiders Guide to Day Trips From Paris – Explore More! »
• Review — French Wine Country Day Trips »
• Review — Château de Versailles VIP Day Tour »
• Review — D-Day Tours From Paris »

Things to Do in Paris – Events

Christmas & New Year at Disneyland Paris

A million lights will twinkle on Main Street USA. Disneyland Paris is transformed into a winter wonderland with garlands, decorations and wandering carollers bringing the spirit of Christmas to the Magical Kingdom. Every evening, just as the sun is setting, expect to see a glimpse of Père Noël at Sleeping Beauty's Castle. New Year's Eve will be an all-out celebration with a fireworks extravaganza.
• Disneyland Paris
• November to January
• Book Your Disneyland Tickets »

Le Grand Tasting – Great Wine Fair

When they say Grand they mean grand! Taste wines from around France along with the other 20,000 vistors, all under the glass pyramid of the Carrousel du Louvre. Say "cheers" with the finest wines from Château Lafite, Rothschild, Moët et Chandon and hundreds of others.
• Carrousel du Louvre
• November 30 to December 1, 2012

Things to Do in Paris – Palais garnier

Cinderella – Opera at Palais Garnier

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

Marvel in the classic La Cenerentola (Cinderella) story set to music by Rossini. If you're in Paris at Christmas this is a must-see. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's staging of this much-loved work is dazzling and elegant, as performed by the Paris National Opera Company. In Italian.
• Palais Garnier
• December 10, 13, 16, 19, 26, 27
• Book Your Tickets Online – La Cenerentola »

• Complete List of Classical Music Concerts at Palais Garnier

Things to Do in Paris – Classical Music

The Four Seasons at Sainte-Chapelle

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

One of the most popular musical events in Paris is a performance of Vivaldi's glorious masterpiece, The Four Seasons, at the magnificent Gothic church La Sainte-Chapelle. There are seven dates to choose from in December. • La Sainte-Chapelle • December 1, 2, 15, 16, 29, 30 • The Four Seasons at Sainte-Chapelle » • The Four Seasons at Sainte-Chapelle, December 8 & 9 »

• Complete List of Concerts at La Sainte-Chapelle in December »

Mozart Requiem: New Year's Eve in Paris

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

Not to be missed. Spend the last day of the year in the fabulous Saint Sulpice while listening to Mozart's final masterpiece, The Requiem Mass. The Euromusic Symphonic Orchestra will also perform The New World from Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9.
• Book early!
• Eglise Sainte Sulpice, December 31
• Book Your Tickets Now »

Vivaldi's Four Seasons at St. Germain des Prés

Enrich your trip to Paris with a performance by the Orchestre Paris Classik at the church of St Germain des Prés. They will delight you with one of the most loved classical works — Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
• Eglise St. Germain des Prés
• December 14
• Book Your Tickets Online »

• Complete List of Vivaldi's Music in Paris, December 2012 »

Tchaikovsky with the Orchestre de Paris

Revel in the music of Tchaikovsky with the Orchestre de Paris and Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin as he interprets Tchaikovsky's joyous Symphony No. 2.
• Salle Pleyel
• December 5, 6
• Get Tickets Online »

• Complete List of Classical Music at Salle Pleyel December 2012 »

Mater Salvatoris – Notre-Dame de Paris

Medieval vocal music in the amazing and historic venue of Notre-Dame de Paris. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and one you'll never forget. This is the only place to buy your tickets in advance, online, guaranteeing you a seat reservation.
• Notre-Dame de Paris
• December 14
• Guarantee Your Seat Online – Notre-Dame de Paris »

• Complete List of Concerts at Notre Dame in Paris, December 2012 »

• Complete List of Classical Music Events in Paris, December 2012 »

Christmas Concerts in Paris 2012

Christmas Concerts at Historic La Sainte-Chapelle

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

Celebrate the Paris holiday season with a concert in the beautiful La Saint-Chapelle. It's a great place to kick off your Christmas visit to the City of Noël.

Although this magnificent Gothic church was built in 1240 it was badly damaged during the French Revolution and restored in the mid-19th century. It is one of the most wonderful music venues in Paris, where you can marvel at the gilding and stained glass while enjoying classical pieces in a perfect acoustical environment.

This holiday season hear works by the greatest composers performed by La Maitrise des Hauts de Seine, the Barok Ensemble, and the Children's Chorus of l'Opéra National de Paris. It's important to book your tickets online, in advance, to ensure your place.
• La Sainte-Chapelle
• December 8, 9, 15, 16, and 21 to 31
• Book Your Tickets for Christmas Concerts at La Sainte-Chapelle »

Christmas Concerts at Saint Ephrem

Hear Schubert's Ave Maria; Bach's Aria, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire; Albinoni's Adagio; and Pachelbel's Canon in this 1733 historic building — a popular venue for numerous classical concerts throughout the year.
• Eglise Saint Ephrem
• December 16, 23, 24, 25
• Book Your Tickets for Christmas Concerts at Saint Ephrem »

Chopin, Liszt & Mozart at Saint Ephrem

During this holiday season you can also hear powerful works by Chopin, Liszt & Mozart performed by Camille Benbaruk on piano. All at historic Saint Ephrem.
• Eglise Saint Ephrem
• December 25, 28, 31
• Book Your Tickets Online »

Gala Christmas Concert at Saint Sulpice

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

Attend the choral gala Christmas concert and hear a choir of 400 singers perform works by Handel, Mozart, Bach, Verdi and Fauré.
• Saint Sulpice
• December 17
• Book Your Tickets for the Saint Sulpice Christmas Gala »

Christmas Concerts at La Madeleine

The Orchestre Les Violons de France performs Christmas music as well as Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. Soprano Cécile Besnard will dazzle with Ave Maria.
• Eglise de la Madeleine
• December 22, 26, 28, January 1
• Book Your Tickets Online »

And, on December 27, the Orchestre de Chambre Français will perform Vivaldi, Schubert and Albinoni's best works.
• Eglise de la Madeleine
• December 27
• Book Your Tickets Online »

• Complete List of Christmas Concerts in Paris December 2012 »

Things To Do In Paris – Opera de Paris

Cinderella

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

Join the Paris National Opera Company at Palais Garnier for Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's dazzling staging of La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Music by Rossini, performed in Italian.
• Palais Garnier
• November 25
• December 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 19, 23, 26
• Book Your Tickets Online – La Cenerentola »

Christmas Day Performance of Carmen

Experience Georges Bizet's popular opera in one of the world's great opera venues. Make your way to Opera de la Bastille, on the place of the same name, on Christmas Day for the experience of a lifetime. Carmen also plays on December 16.
• Opéra de la Bastille
• December 16, 25
• Book Your Tickets Now »

Things to Do in Paris – Museums & Exhibitions

Art in Wartime, 1938-1947

A Paris Insiders Guide favourite

This exhibit showscases French art from just before World War II to the years following the time of shortages, war, and liberation. Nearly 300 works are on exhibit by 80 artists including masterpieces from Picasso's: the Têtes de Mort et Livre (Head of Death with Book), and his Le Désir Attrapé par la Queue (Desire Caught by the Tail).
• Modern Art Museum of the City of Paris
• Ends February 7, 2013

Victor Baltard – Iron & Paintbrush

Architect Victor Baltard may not be a name you recognize but he was the mastermind behind Les Halles, the legendary Parisian landmark. Although Les Halles was destroyed years ago, the glass and metal structure was the inspiration for Gustave Eiffel to create his Iron Lady. See models, engravings, photographs, architectural drawings, paintings, and stained glass from Baltard's collections.
• Musée d'Orsay »
• Ends January 13, 2013
• Entrance to Musée d'Orsay is free with the Paris Museum Pass »
Extra cost for some special exhibits

Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art of Fine Jewelry

See the first exhibition to trace the jeweler's designs in chronological order from 1906. The exhibit also brings together archival drawings, and 400 pieces of valuable jewelery, including a rare 1924 Egyptian-style bracelet set with rubies, and emeralds.
• Les Arts Décoratifs (The Museum of Decorative Arts)
• Ends February 10, 2013
• Free Entrance with the Paris Museum Pass or 9.50€ at the door.

Dali

Things to Do in Paris in December. See masterpieces by Salvador Dali, prolific painter, sculptor, writer and pioneer of the art of attitude. This exhibit presents 150 famous pieces as well as his unknown works gathered from Madrid's Reina Sofia Museum and New York's MoMA.
• Pompidou Center »
• Ends March 25, 2013

• Read Our Complete Guide to the Paris Museum Pass »