Experience the Magic of Christmas in Paris 2025 – Festive Sights & Delights

The City of Light truly lives up to its name during the holiday season. Storefronts sparkle with colorful displays, patisseries overflow with festive treats, and restaurants craft special holiday menus brimming with traditional seasonal specialties like fresh oysters from Brittany, foie gras, truffles, chestnuts, and champagne.

The magic of Noël in Paris is everywhere, from the millions of twinkling lights that adorn the Champs-Elysées, the Eiffel Tower, and Hotel de Ville, to the bustling Christmas markets scattered throughout the city. In 2025 Christmas in Paris will be more enchanting than ever, but it's set to be a busy season. Be sure to plan ahead and book early.

The Best Paris Christmas Experiences 2025

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day on the River Seine

For a memorable Christmas experience in Paris, celebrate Christmas Eve or Christmas Day aboard a bateau cruising the Seine River. Imagine enjoying a VIP gourmet meal as you glide past the city's most iconic landmarks. Whether you choose a lunch cruise, an early evening cruise, or the late 9:15 PM option (our personal favorite), you are surrounded by the magic of Paris illuminated for the holidays.

With breathtaking views and an exquisite menu, this is a celebration you will cherish for years to come. Cruises are available on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but these sailings will sell out, so book right now… This cruise is also available on New Year's Eve!

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 4.4/5
📆 Availability: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve
🍽️ Options: Lunch cruise, early evening dinner cruise, late evening dinner cruise
🍷 Wine & Champagne: Of course!
👍 We Recommend: Christmas Day lunch Cruise, New Years Eve 9:15 cruise
✅ How to Book: Holiday Dinner Cruises in Paris...

A Christmas Day Dinner Cruise in Paris

Christmas dinner on the Seine River with the landmarks of Paris on display and lit up for the holiday season. Does it get any better? The Excellence Menu cruise on December 25, complete with champagne, is a rare chance to experience Paris on the biggest holiday of the year. You can bet that this activity is going to sell out, so book right now…

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
📆 Availability: Most days in December, including Christmas Day at 8pm
🍷 Wine or Champagne: Bien sur !
👍 We Recommend: Excellence Menu with Champagne
✅ How to Book: 4-Course Christmas Dinner Cruise...

New Years Eve Dinner Cruise & Party

On this night of nights, celebrate New Year's Eve in style aboard a glass-walled bateau for an unforgettable 5-hour dinner cruise along the Seine. Toast with champagne and enjoy a multi-course feast while Paris sparkles around you. After dinner, the celebration continues as you welcome 2026 with a festive Parisian party. With wine, stunning views, and a night to remember, this exclusive event is sure to sell out fast. Don't wait — book now!

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 4.8/5
📆 Availability: New Year's Eve, 9:45 PM
🍷 Wine or Champagne: Bien sur !
👍 We Recommend: Excellence Menu with Champagne
✅ How to Book: 5-Course Christmas Dinner Cruise...

Swan Lake Ballet at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Few works in ballet carry the same spell as Swan Lake. At the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Angelin Preljocaj brings Tchaikovsky's unforgettable score and the tale of enchanted swans to life with a production that honors tradition while brimming with visual beauty.

Love, fate, and transformation unfold in a performance that has captivated audiences for more than a century. If you're hankering for an evening steeped in grace and drama, this is a chance to witness one of the great legends of the stage.

Classical Christmas Concerts in Paris

Surround yourself with the magic of the holidays by attending a classical concert in some of Paris' most historic and inspiring churches. At Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, the Ensemble Royal de Paris performs masterworks by Vivaldi, Mozart, and Bach, filling the medieval stone walls with timeless sound.

Across the city, concerts in churches like Saint-Eustache and Saint-Germain-des-Prés add festive sparkle with programs ranging from Baroque to Romantic.

These performances bring together the spirit of the season and the grandeur of Paris' sacred spaces — a truly unforgettable way to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the City of Light.

Selected Holiday Performances in Paris

• 🎻 VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS ON THE SEINE →
• 🎻 CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ÉGLISE DE LA MADELEINE →
• 🎻 CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AT LA SAINTE CHAPELLE →

Holiday Season VIP Dinner Cruises

Set sail on a luxurious dinner cruise to experience the enchanting winter beauty of Paris from the Seine. Dine on a festive holiday meal created on board by expert French chefs, all the while sipping champagne and listening to live music. As you sail past the city's most iconic landmarks, the glass-walled boat offers stunning panoramic views.

For the ultimate experience opt for the Service Premier package, which includes the best menu and premium seating for a memorable night on the river.

Moulin Rouge Dinner & Show – Holiday Edition

Celebrate the season in true Parisian style at the world-famous Moulin Rouge. Begin your evening with a gourmet three-course dinner crafted by the cabaret’s own chef, accompanied by champagne to set the tone. The theatre glows with holiday sparkle as the curtain rises on the legendary Féerie revue.

Dancers in shimmering costumes, dazzling stage sets, and the high-energy French cancan create an atmosphere that’s equal parts festive and glamorous. With fine dining, champagne, and spectacle under one red windmill roof, this is Paris nightlife at its most celebratory.

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 4.7/5
⏰ Duration: 6:45 pm start, 4.5h duration
🍽️ Dining: 3-course "Belle Epoque" menu
📆 Availability: Every day in December, except New Year's Eve
🥂 Champagne: It's the Moulin Rouge!
❗️ Entertainment: Féerie, the Moulin Rouge cabaret
✅ How to Book: Moulin RougeDinner + Show...

The Marriage of Figaro at Palais Garnier

Step into the gilded splendour of Palais Garnier, where marble, velvet, and glittering chandeliers form the magical frame for one of opera's greatest treasures. From November through December 2025, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro returns to Paris in a new production directed by Netia Jones, performed in Italian with French and English surtitles.

As Figaro and Susanna navigate love, intrigue, and class tensions, the Palace itself feels woven into the drama — the production sets much of the action backstage at the opera house, echoing the palace's very walls.

Let the emotional depth of Mozart's score wash over you in a venue as legendary as the work itself — a Parisian evening of beauty, wit, and timeless enchantment. December 9, 16, 19, 22, and 27 only.

The Best Christmas Activities – Paris 2025

Paris Christmas Lights & Markets Tour

See Paris shine at its most festive on this family-friendly Christmas tour. Starting at the Arc de Triomphe, you stroll along the Champs-Élysées beneath thousands of twinkling lights before reaching Place de la Concorde. The walk continues into the Jardin des Tuileries, where a bustling holiday market awaits with tempting stalls and warm seasonal treats.

Along the way, your guide shares stories that blend Parisian history with holiday traditions. It's an evening Noel stroll that's as fun for children as it is magical for adults.

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
📆 Availability: Every day in December, except New Year's Eve
🍷 Refreshments: Hot chocolate or mulled wine with crêpe or waffle
👍 Our Recommendation: Upgrade to the private tour + Seine River cruise
✅ How to Book: Paris Christmas Lights & Markets Tour →

Louvre Masterpieces Tour

So far this Christmas, we've taken you on a river cruise, treated you to gourmet meals, and dazzled you at the Moulin Rouge. What's missing? A visit to the world's most iconic art museum — the Louvre. Skip the lines and dive straight into the masterpieces on this semi-private, guided tour.

You see world-renowned works like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, all while learning fascinating insights from an expert guide. Book now to make your holiday in Paris complete!

Paris Holiday Lights from a Citroën 2CV

Climb aboard a vintage Citroën 2CV for a cozy 2-hour night ride through a Paris dressed in holiday lights. Wrapped in blankets along the bench seat, you glide past iconic landmarks — Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées,, Place de la Concorde — while your driver regales you with fun facts and festive stories.

The tour includes flexible stops for photos, a locally made French scarf gift, and hotel pickup/drop-off. It's a magical and effortless way to see Paris aglow at Christmas.

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 4.8/5
📆 Availability: Most days in December
🏩 Includes: Hotel pickup, French scarf
🚗 The ride: An iconic Citroën 2CV
👍 Our Recommendation: Try to book the weekend before Christmas for the most excitement
✅ How to Book: Holiday Lights from a Citroën 2CV →

Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is very popular, and there are always very long lineups. We don't like to stand out in the cold in a Paris December… for that matter, we don't like to wait in line, period! So we always book a skip-the-line tour.

To our way of thinking, the best aerial views of Paris are from Level 2 (the middle level) of the Eiffel Tower. It's like seeing a human-scale model of Paris. But, it you want the full experience of seeing Paris like a bird, book a tour that takes you to the very top, the summit, Level 3. Whichever your choice, these tours will sell out quickly, so book as soon as possible. It's important to know that Eiffel Tower tours can be booked only 90 days in advance.

Christmas in Paris 2025 – Food & Wine Activities

Paris Christmas Food Tour – Taste the Season

Celebrate the food of the season with a guided stroll that combines Paris's dazzling holiday lights with its irresistible winter flavors. Along the way you pause to sample festive specialties — from buttery pastries and foie gras to mulled wine and steaming hot chocolate.

The walk takes you past Christmas markets, charming cafés, and landmarks like Notre-Dame, with your guide sharing stories of holiday traditions and food culture. It's an indulgent yet intimate way to savor the city's seasonal magic.

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 5/5
📆 Availability: Every day in December except Noel
🍽️ Includes: 6 food tastings + Mulled wine or Hot chocolate
👍 Our Recommendation: Try to book in the 3 days leading up to Christmas
✅ How to Book: Paris Christmas Food Tour with Local Guide →

Cheese Tasting in a Paris Cheese Cellar

Step into French culinary heritage with this cheese and wine tasting experience in an authentic Paris cheese cellar. Located beneath the streets of the city, this atmospheric cellar is the perfect setting to discover the secrets of French cheesemaking. Guided by a master fromager, you sample a selection of France's finest cheeses, paired with the perfect French wines.

Learn the art of cheese aging and savor flavors that capture the essence of France. A truly immersive experience for food lovers seeking an authentic taste of Paris.

Private Paris Pâtisserie Tour

This private 2½-hour walk introduces you to Paris through its most refined art form: pâtisserie. With your guide leading the way, you step inside celebrated pastry boutiques and under-the-radar gems, tasting creations like éclairs, canelés, and the airy Paris-Brest. Each stop comes with stories of tradition, innovation, and the chefs who make Paris the world's pastry capital.

Moving at your own pace, you enjoy an intimate, personalized journey that blends indulgence with cultural insight — an experience made for true patisserie connoisseurs.

At A Glance

⭐ Rating: 5/5
📆 Availability: Most days in December
🍽️ Includes: 9 tastings including French patisseries
👍 Our Recommendation: Available Christams Eve, so grab it!
✅ How to Book: Private Paris Pâtisserie Tour →

Chocolate & Pastry Tour – The Holiday Edition

During the holiday season you can hook up with the special Christmas edition of this very popular chocolate and pastry walking tour. As we said, Christmas in Paris is all about food, and chocolate is perhaps the best example. Everyone's in the holiday mood as they pass out plenty of samples! This is one of the most popular food activities and, hence, likely to sell out.

More Reasons to Spend Christmas in Paris!

Christmas at Hotel de Ville, photo Ville de Paris

1. Hotel de Ville Christmas Decorations - Enchanted Paris

You won't want to miss the place in front of the Hôtel de Ville. This year it will be decked out in festive attire with a forest of fir trees and winter chalets. Top Paris florists will add their expertise to this year's theme, Enchanted Paris. As always, there'll be plenty of free activities for everyone including the old-fashioned carousel, a climbing wall, a toboggan run, and a chance to meet Pêre Noël. December 2 to January 1, 2025

2. Hotel de Ville Christmas Market

While you're admiring the Christmas decorations at Hotel de Ville, visit the Christmas chalets displaying seasonal foods and beverages, as well as gifts featuring the Made in Paris stamp of quality approval. December 2 to January 1, 2025. Open until 11:45, with the exception of New Year's Eve with a 7 pm closing.

3. Jardin des Plantes Christmas Lights Spectacle

In the middle of Paris is the spectacular Natural History Museum, found in the Jardin des Plantes. This holiday season the gardens will be decorated for Noël in a theme of Tropical Wonders. Come to see the lighting magic where fearsome felines, astonishing frogs, giant flowers and other wonders will dazzle you in a maze of intricate lighting displays. November 22 to January 21, 2025.

4. Champs-Elysées New Year's Fireworks

Celebrate the start of 2025 with thousand of revelers on the Champs-Elysées. Music, mulled wine, merriment, and spectacular fireworks will bring in the new year with a flourish. The fireworks show commences at midnight following a two-hour "pre-game" party event.

• 10:00 PM to 11:59 PM. An outdoor party includes music with laser light shows at the Arc de Triomphe.
• Midnight. The countdown begins, culminating with pyrotechnic wonders on the Arc de Triomphe.
• Midnight to 12:09 AM. The fireworks show lasts for exactly nine minutes that may turn out to be the most memorable moments of 2025.

5. Dragons and Lanterns Festival

Head to the pretty Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne for the first Dragons and Lanterns Festival. Take an incredible journey with fantastical creatures from the classic of Chinese literature, The Book of Mountains and Seas. Admire the traditional lanterns adorning the pathways, designed and made by artisans from the Shanghai Yuyuan Garden.

6. Christmas Markets

What would Christmas in Paris be without its traditional Noël markets? The classic chalets will start to display their artisanal products in mid November. Every corner of Paris has its own Christmas market — from Notre-Dame to Les Halles, La Défense to the Jardin des Tuileries. Paris will be decked out with seasonal markets for the best of holiday crafts, jewelry, fashion, food, and fun.

Christmas in Paris 2025 – Seasonal Events

Christmas Markets – Marchés de Noël

Bundle up warm and go out exploring to see how the French celebrate Christmas. Every year seasonal Christmas markets spring up in many quartiers of Paris. It's where Parisians shop for crafts, decorations, and other seasonal specialties. From the middle of November to early January you can find Christmas Markets throughout the city. (Exact locations of some markets may change as the season progresses. We'll do our best to keep the list up to date!)

• Saint-Sulpice (and Père Noël Village), 6th Arrondissement
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés (and Père Noël Village), 6th Arrondissement
• Place de la Nation, 11th Arrondissement
• Place des Abbesses in Montmartre, 18th Arrondissement
• Gare de l'Est, 10th Arrondissement
• Trocadero, 16th Arrondissement
• Place de la Concorde, Norwegian Christmas Market, 1st Arrondissement

• Notre Dame, Square Viviani, 5th Arrondissement
• Saint-Sulpice (and Père Noël Village), 6th Arrondissement
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés (and Père Noël Village), 6th Arrondissement
• Eiffel Tower, Quai Branly, 7th Arrondissement
• Eiffel Tower, Port de Suffren, near the Vedettes de Paris, 7th Arrondissement
• Jardin des Tuileries, just off Place de la Concorde, 1st Arrondissement
• Gare de l'Est, Alsatian Christmas, 10th Arrondissement

• Place de la Nation, 11th Arrondissement
• Place d'Italie, 13th Arrondissement
• Tour Montparnasse, 15th Arrondissement
• Made in France Market, Place Charles-Michels, 15th Arrondissement
• Trocadero, 16th Arrondissement
• Place des Abbesses in Montmartre, 18th Arrondissement
• La Defense, at Line 1

Notre Dame Christmas Market

Across the river from the cathedral, in Square René Viviani, the Notre Dame Christmas market continues a tradition that feels as timeless as the church itself. Wooden chalets line the square, their windows glowing with ornaments, handmade toys, and festive treats. The air carries the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, mingling with the sound of carols and laughter.

With the towering 400-year-old Christmas tree standing nearby, this market is Paris holiday magic at its most atmospheric. Rising above it all is the cathedral, restored after the 2019 fire and gleaming more beautifully than ever.

Notre Dame Christmas Market Guided Tour & Tasting

Step into the market with a guide who brings the square alive with stories of Parisian Christmas traditions and the cathedral's rebirth. Along the way, tastings of seasonal specialties turn a festive stroll into a sensory celebration.

Christmas Lights on Champs Elysées

Christmas lights along the Champs-Elysées in 2019, photo by France24

Paris lights up for the holidays and you find light displays in shop windows and on streets throughout the city. But the most famous light show, and perhaps the most spectacular, is on Champs Elysées. In late November each year a celebrity has the honor of turning on the lights, kicking off the holiday season at the ceremony alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. The lights will be turned on between 5:00 PM and 2:00 AM and will stay on all night on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Paris Museums Open During Christmas 2025

The Louvre

• Open: Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve
• Closed: Christmas Day & New Year's Day
• Closed Tuesdays

Musee d'Orsay

• Open: New Year's Day
• Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve
• Closed Mondays

Pompidou Centre

• Open: New Year's Eve
• Closed: Christmas Day & New Year's Day
• Closed Tuesdays

What to Do on Christmas Day in Paris

"What's open on Christmas Day in Paris?" readers ask us. So, for the lucky visitors who will be here on December 25, we've compiled the best things to do on that day.

Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve Schedule

Most shops, museums and many restaurants will be open. Although Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are not official holidays in France, the train stations will be packed as Parisians head out for their Christmas getaway.

But be warned — chocolatiers, fromageries and anywhere food and wine are sold will be jam-packed with locals stocking up for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Make sure to stock up yourself as most everything will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If you plan to dine out, make reservations well in advance around the holidays.

The good news is that the Eiffel Tower is open 365 days a year.

Christmas in Paris 2025 – Churches & Cathedrals

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

As you'd expect, at the historic churches and cathedrals of Paris there are many religious services during the Christmas season in Paris. Traditional Midnight Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral will probably not be held this year, but keep your eyes open for special outdoor service. But here we've collected some other options. Tip: the only way to secure a seat for mass is to to arrive early.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The most famous gothic church in the world has been restored and reopened following the near-fatal April 2019 fire. If you want VIP access, we recommend booking a small group tour that takes you inside the cathedral and gives you the full details about the renovation.

Église Saint Germain des Prés

Founded back in 542 AD (remember those years?),this Left Bank Paris church has history. Noted for its wonderful acoustics, it's an ideal destination for Christmas mass. Check their website for more details. (In French only).
• Information …

Saint Eustache

Although a church has been on this site since 1213, the first stone of the current church was laid in 1532 by Francis I. Fun fact — Saint Eustache's floor-plan and structure will remind you of Notre Dame, with a nave flanked by double aisles and chapels.
• Information …

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Nestled in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower the immense Russian mega-spiritual center with no less than five gleaming onion domes opened in 2016 and has become a popular religions destination.
• Information …

Sacre Coeur Basilica, Montmartre

Celebrate Christmas at the famous snow-white basilica set on the highest point of Paris. There is a Christmas Eve organ concert at 10:00 PM and an 11:00 PM vigil and Midnight Mass. On Christmas Day there is Mass at 7:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM & 10:00 PM. It's recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes before the service.
• Sacre Coeur Christmas Schedule …

Sainte-Etienne-du-Mont

Just kitty-corner from the Pantheon, Sainte-Etienne features stained-glass windows that date from the 16th and 17th centuries. By the way, the steps on the northwest side of the church were used as a location for Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris ! Place Sainte-Genevieve, 5th Arrondissement
• Website…

Saint Alexandre Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Set in the 8th Arrondissement close, to Parc Monceau this was the first Orthodox church in France, (established in 1861). Pablo Picasso and Olga Khokhlova were married here in 1918. 12 Rue Daru
• Website…

The American Cathedral in Paris

This historic monument is a a center for English-speakers in Paris. 23, avenue George V, 8th. • Website…

American Church in Paris

This was the first American church established in Paris, in 1814. It's located on the left bank of the Seine between Pont d'Alma and Pont des Invalides. 65 Quai d'Orsay, 7th.
• Website…

FAQs – Christmas in Paris

WHEN DO THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TURN ON IN PARIS?
The famous Christmas lights on the Champs-Élysées are turned on in late November each year. The lights are on between 5:00 PM and 2:00 AM and stay on all night on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

WHERE ARE THE BEST CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN PARIS?
The best Christmas markets in Paris include the Notre Dame Christmas market, the Hôtel de Ville market, the Jardin des Tuileries market, and markets throughout neighborhoods from Les Halles to La Défense.