A new day on the Seine, with Notre-Dame above the river

New Year's Day keeps Paris in celebration mode. Drift along the Seine with a glass of champagne, ascend the Eiffel Tower, or listen to classical music beneath the vaulted ceiling of a historic church. Museums including Musée d'Orsay are open on January 1, and dinner cruises and cabarets carry the celebration into the evening.

Think long lunches, dinner cruises, a museum in the afternoon, oysters and Sancerre at a Paris brasserie, or an evening of music and cabaret. The holiday lights are still glowing, Christmas decorations haven't yet come down, and New Year's Day stretches the festive season through one last day in Paris.

New Year's Day Dinner Cruises

Dinner and champagne aboard a Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise

Glide along the Seine on the first day of 2027, with a French lunch or dinner being served as Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Pont Alexandre III, and the Eiffel Tower pass beyond the windows. Choose a daytime cruise for winter views along the river or settle in after dark, when the bridges and monuments are illuminated.

Our Recommended New Year's Day Dinner Cruises

Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise →
Settle in for a multi-course French dinner with wine and champagne as illuminated monuments pass along the Seine. Choose a window-table option for the closest views of the river and its bridges.

Bateaux Mouches Dinner Cruise →
Dinner, champagne, and live music accompany the cruise through central Paris, with the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and illuminated bridges beyond the windows.

New Year's Day Lunch Cruise →
A three-course French lunch is served as the boat follows the Seine past Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower. Glass walls keep the river and winter skyline in view throughout the meal.

The Eiffel Tower against the evening sky from the Trocadéro

Rise above Paris on the first day of the year, with the Seine curving below, the Champ de Mars stretching toward École Militaire, and Sacre-Coeur visible across the rooftops on a clear January day. The Eiffel Tower is open on New Year's Day, but January 1 is a holiday, so advance planning is important.

To skip the long lines we always choose a guided, reserved-access tour that takes you straight to the summit. It's the easiest way to rise above the crowds — literally — and toast the new year in true Parisian style.

See Our Recommended Eiffel Tower Tours →

New Years Day Classical Music Concerts

Classical music at Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Listen to Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart beneath the vaulted ceilings of historic churches in Paris. New Year's Day concerts pair classical music with some of the city's remarkable interiors, from medieval stone churches to grand 19th-century sanctuaries. Programs range from Baroque favorites and chamber music to sacred music and gospel, with performances scheduled from afternoon into evening.

It's a moment of serenity and grandeur all at once — the perfect Paris tradition to welcome a new year in harmony and beauty.

See New Year's Day Concerts In Paris →

A Paris Cabaret On New Year's Day

Feathers, sequins, and spectacle at the Moulin Rouge

Keep the champagne flowing into the first night of 2027 with feathers, sequins, dancers, acrobats, and the elaborate stage productions of a Paris cabaret. Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse, and Paradis Latin each put a different spin on the tradition, with performances running into the evening and dinner options.

It's indulgent, glamorous, and unmistakably Paris — the perfect way to mark New Year's Day with a dash of spectacle and a touch of old-world charm.

See Our Recommended Paris Cabaret Shows →

Paris Museums Open On New Year's Day

The grand staircase at Musée Jacquemart-André

The Louvre may be taking the day off, but January 1 doesn't have to be a museum-free day in Paris. At Musée d'Orsay, the Impressionists are the main draw, displayed in the former Gare d'Orsay beneath its vast glass roof and monumental clocks. The collection extends into the early 20th century, with Van Gogh, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Art Nouveau.

At Musée Jacquemart-André, Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart filled their grand 19th-century mansion with paintings by Rembrandt, Botticelli, and Fragonard, along with furniture and decorative arts collected during their travels. Visitors also see the couple's private apartments, the winter garden, and the sweeping double staircase.

Up in Montmartre, Renoir once worked in a studio at 12 rue Cortot. Today, visitors to Musée de Montmartre see paintings, posters, and photographs connected to the neighborhood, along with the Renoir Gardens overlooking the Clos Montmartre vineyard.

See Our Recommended Musée d'Orsay Tours →

Oysters! Oysters! Oysters!

Oysters, a French New Year's tradition - Mark Craft

Order a dozen oysters and a cold glass of white wine for a distinctly French start to the new year. Oysters are part of the holiday table in France, when platters of huîtres and other shellfish appear throughout the Christmas and New Year season. January is also prime oyster season, with varieties arriving in Paris from Brittany, Normandy, Marennes-Oléron, and the Atlantic coast.

In Paris, the pleasure is in choosing a few varieties and tasting them side by side, from briny fines de claire to plumper, richer oysters served simply with lemon, shallot vinegar, bread, and salted butter. Add a glass of Sancerre or champagne and let lunch stretch a little longer than planned. On the first day of a new year, that feels entirely appropriate.

Wander Through Pere-Lachaise Cemetery

Jim Morrison's grave at Père-Lachaise - Mark Craft

Bundle up and wander through this haunting and beautiful cemetery searching for the final resting spots of Frederic Chopin, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde and of course, Jim Morrison of The Doors. Located in the 20th Arrondissement, the cemetery is free of charge and it's open on New Year's Day. There's also a guided tour we highly recommend that's available on January 1.

Continue Planning Your Paris Visit

Where To Stay In Paris →
Paris Neighborhoods →
How Many Days In Paris →
Paris For First-Time Visitors →
City of Paris: Events & News →

FAQs – New Year's Day In Paris

WHAT IS OPEN IN PARIS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?
The Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Jacquemart-André, Musée de Montmartre, Seine cruises, cabarets, and some restaurants are open on January 1. Many museums, shops, and businesses are closed for the public holiday, so check opening hours and book activities and restaurants in advance.

IS THE EIFFEL TOWER OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?
Yes. The Eiffel Tower is open on January 1. Tickets are released in advance, and guided reserved-access tours are another way to visit on New Year's Day.

IS THE LOUVRE OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?
No. The Louvre is closed on January 1. Musée d'Orsay, Musée Jacquemart-André, and Musée de Montmartre are good alternatives for New Year's Day.

DO SEINE CRUISES RUN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?
Yes. Lunch, sightseeing, and dinner cruises operate on January 1, although schedules vary by company. New Year's Day is a popular date for lunch and dinner cruises, so reserve ahead.

ARE RESTAURANTS OPEN IN PARIS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?
Some restaurants are open on January 1, but many close for the public holiday or operate reduced hours. Hotel restaurants, brasseries, cabarets, and Seine dinner cruises give you additional choices. Reserve lunch or dinner before New Year's Day.

DOES THE PARIS METRO RUN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?
Yes. The Paris Metro and other public transportation operate on January 1, generally on a public-holiday schedule. Check the current RATP schedule before setting out, particularly early in the morning or late at night.

DO I NEED TO BOOK NEW YEAR'S DAY ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE?
Yes, particularly for the Eiffel Tower, Seine lunch and dinner cruises, cabarets, concerts, and restaurants. January 1 has fewer choices than an ordinary day in Paris, and the most popular activities can fill well in advance.