Things To Do in Paris in December 2026:
Christmas & New Year Celebrations
Things To Do in Paris in December 2026: Christmas & New Year Celebrations
Roasted chestnuts are a traditional Christmas treat at Paris holiday markets
Paris in December is lit from one end of the city to the other. Department store windows become holiday displays, Christmas markets fill public squares, roasted chestnuts perfume the air, and café terraces stay busy beneath outdoor heaters. After dark, illuminated streets and monuments turn an evening walk into part of the season.
December is also one of the busiest months to visit Paris. Christmas concerts, seasonal exhibitions, holiday dinners, and New Year's celebrations fill the calendar, while many activities require advance reservations. Here are the experiences that deserve a place on your December itinerary.
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Top Experiences
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Top Experiences In Paris
Things to Do in Paris December 2026
Christmas In Paris
Noël in Paris fills the city with illuminated streets, decorated department stores, festive markets, seasonal concerts, and special holiday events. From late November through early January, neighborhoods across Paris take on a distinctly seasonal atmosphere, while many museums, attractions, and restaurants are open. Read our complete guide to Christmas in Paris to help plan your December visit.
A Seine Dinner Cruise
December evenings are ideal for dining on the Seine. Darkness falls early, so bridges, monuments, and riverbanks are already illuminated as your boat leaves the dock. Seasonal lights add another layer to the city's familiar landmarks while a multi-course French meal accompanies the cruise. Live music adds to the atmosphere on board. Read our guide to Seine dinner cruises.
Masterpieces OF The Louvre
Escape the December chill for a few hours inside the Louvre, where a guided tour introduces the museum's best-known masterpieces without the guesswork of navigating hundreds of galleries on your own. You'll see highlights including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo with expert commentary that brings each work to life. Read our guide to the Louvre Museum →.
Paris Christmas Lights From A Classic Citroën
Settle into a classic Citroën 2CV and watch Paris light up after dark. The route passes Place Vendôme, the Champs-Élysées, Avenue Montaigne, the Opéra district, and decorated department stores, with festive lighting illuminating some of the city's best-known streets and monuments. The open roof folds back when weather permits, giving you an uninterrupted view of Paris dressed for the holiday season.
More Experiences
Eiffel Tower Reserved Access
The Eiffel Tower takes on a different character in December, with early sunsets, crisp winter air, and sparkling lights after dark. During the day there are far-reaching views across Paris, while evening tours coincide with the tower's hourly light display. These are popular tours, so book early. Read our guide to the Eiffel Tower.
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Paris
Seine dinner cruises, cabarets, gourmet restaurants, concerts, and midnight celebrations fill New Year's Eve in Paris. The Champs-Élysées and Trocadéro draw large crowds before midnight for the fireworks. Restaurants and cruise boats welcome the New Year with champagne and special menus. Read our guide to New Year's Eve in Paris →.
Moulin Rouge Christmas Dinner & Show
Christmas decorations, candlelit tables, and champagne set the tone for a grand seasonal celebration. Dinner is accompanied by the Moulin Rouge orchestra before the curtain rises on the cabaret, with feathered costumes, elaborate sets, and the French Cancan on stage. Christmas performances are reserved well before December.
New Year's Eve Dinner Cruise
The Diamant Bleu serves a multi-course New Year's Eve dinner while cruising past illuminated bridges, monuments, and the Eiffel Tower. Live music, dancing, and champagne continue throughout the evening as Paris counts down to midnight. Reserve your New Year's Eve dinner cruise well in advance.
Paris Airport Transfers To Your Hotel
Land in Paris with a driver waiting at the terminal and a private car ready for the ride to your hotel. Leave the airport behind and head into the city.
Day Trips from Paris
An evening view across the Cour Royale at the Palace of Versailles
Christmas At Versailles
The State Apartments are decorated with Christmas trees, garlands, and seasonal displays during the holiday season. The Hall of Mirrors, the King's Grand Apartments, and the Royal Chapel follow in succession, while concerts and other holiday events are scheduled during the final weeks of December. Read our guide to visiting the Palace of Versailles →.
Champagne Day Trip
The Champagne region celebrates the season with illuminated villages, festive markets, and cellar tours beneath historic wine houses. Guided day trips from Paris include visits to renowned Champagne producers, tastings, and time in Reims or Épernay, where streets and squares are decorated for the holidays. Read our guide to Champagne day trips →.
Noël at Vaux-le-Vicomte Christmas
Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century château an hour from Paris, is widely regarded as the inspiration for the Palace of Versailles. During Grand Noël, its grand salons are decorated with Christmas trees, garlands, candlelit tables, and seasonal displays. The gardens are illuminated after dark with light installations, projections across the château façade, and festive walks. Read our guide to Vaux-le-Vicomte →.
Champagne Christmas Market Day Trip
The Champagne region is home to one of France's largest Christmas markets, held each December in the historic city of Reims. More than 100 wooden chalets fill the streets around Place d'Erlon and Reims Cathedral with champagne, regional specialties, holiday food, gifts, and seasonal decorations. This full-day trip from Paris combines the Christmas market with the cathedral and the heart of Champagne's historic capital.
More Things to Do in Paris In December
A Paris baking class teaches the art of making croissants
Learn The Art Of Croissants With A Parisian Chef
Butter, flour, and time come together in one of France's most recognizable pastries. This hands-on baking class follows each stage of traditional croissant making, from laminating the dough to shaping, proofing, and baking. The class finishes with warm croissants fresh from the oven and recipes to take home.
Find Paris's Best Noël Markets
Wooden chalets decorate the squares and boulevards across Paris from late November through December, selling handmade gifts, regional foods, mulled wine, holiday decorations, and seasonal treats. Popular Christmas markets focus on artisan crafts, while others add ice skating, children's attractions, or evening entertainment.
Hear Christmas Music In Historic Paris Churches
Historic churches across Paris host Christmas concerts through December, with candlelit performances at Sainte-Chapelle, La Madeleine, and Saint-Sulpice joined by ballet and classical music at the Palais Garnier. The programs range from Baroque masterpieces and Vivaldi's Four Seasons to traditional Christmas music, with evening performances scheduled throughout the month. Reserve your tickets in advance →.
Paris Food & Wine Experiences
Marché d'Aligre is one of Paris's classic food markets - Mark Craft
Paris Market Visit & Cooking Class
The morning begins at a neighborhood market, where seasonal ingredients are selected for a four-course lunch. Back in the kitchen, a Paris chef demonstrates classic techniques before everyone prepares and shares the meal with French wine. Winter dishes change with the market and the season. Also see our guide to food & wine experiences in Paris →.
Wine Tasting Lunch
French cheeses, artisan bread, and wines from several regions are paired during a relaxed lunch led by a professional sommelier. The tasting explains regional styles, production methods, and classic pairings while introducing some of France's best-known wine regions in a single sitting.
Taste Montmartre's Food Traditions
Montmartre's steep streets are lined with boulangeries, fromageries, pâtisseries, chocolatiers, and neighborhood wine shops. Generous tastings accompany a walk between village squares, cafés, and some of the hill's best-known food addresses. See our guide to visiting Montmartre →.
Chocolate & Pastries In Saint-Germain
Saint-Germain's pâtisseries and chocolate shops create some of the finest pastries, macarons, éclairs, and handcrafted chocolates. Guided tastings include celebrated houses and independent artisans, while December specialities include bûches de Noël, spiced breads, chocolate bonbons, and other holiday specialties to the pastry counters. See our guide to Saint-Germain-des-Prés →.
Find Your Hotel In France
Sleep among the vineyards, beside the Mediterranean, or in the heart of a historic French city. Find highly-rated hotels for your travels beyond Paris.
December Festivals, Events & Exhibitions
Wooden chalets line the Trocadéro Christmas Market in December
Christmas markets, temporary museum exhibitions, concerts, and seasonal events take place across Paris throughout December. Some are annual traditions, while others are only on the calendar for a few weeks. Here are a few highlights worth adding to your itinerary.
Notre-Dame Christmas Market
More than fifty wooden chalets fill Square René Viviani opposite Notre-Dame Cathedral with regional food producers, artisan crafts, Christmas decorations, and seasonal specialties. Stop for roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, hot chocolate, mulled wine, and one of Paris's oldest trees beside the market.
- Square René Viviani
- 5th Arrondissement
- Information →
Mika Ninagawa
Japanese artist Mika Ninagawa transforms the Grand Palais with large-scale installations, vivid photography, and immersive digital projections. Flowers, color, mirrors, and light fill the galleries in one of the season's largest contemporary art exhibitions.
- Grand Palais
- 8th Arrondissement
- Information →
More museum exhibitions in Paris →
Christmas Lights On The Champs-Élysées
Thousands of illuminated trees stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde as the Champs-Élysées celebrates the holiday season. Arrive after dark to see Paris's best-known Christmas lights, then continue into nearby avenues decorated for December.
Salon du Cheval de Paris
Show jumping, dressage, vaulting, and Western riding bring thousands of horses and riders to Porte de Versailles for France's largest equestrian show. Demonstrations, competitions, exhibitions, and family activities fill three days celebrating every aspect of the horse world.
- Porte de Versailles
- December 4 to 6, 2026
- Information…
More December events in Paris →
Dinner Cruises on the Seine
Dinner cruises pass the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre while dinner is served on board. This guide compares the main cruise options and how they differ.
Day Trips From Paris
Beyond Paris are royal palaces, gardens, vineyards, and historic towns. See which day trips are easiest from the city and how long each visit takes.
Versailles Palace Tours
Just outside Paris stands one of Europe’s great royal palaces. We outline the palace highlights and the tour options that make visiting Versailles easier.
The Louvre's Most Rewarding Tours
The Louvre is vast, and a thoughtful tour helps you focus on the museum’s highlights. This guide compares the main Louvre tours and how they differ.
How To Visit the Eiffel Tower
From the Eiffel Tower’s platforms you see the Seine and the city’s grand boulevards. See how tickets, summit access, and tours differ.
Paris Food Tours
Markets and specialty shops reveal another side of Paris cooking. See which food tours combine tastings, neighborhood walks, and market visits.
Find Your Paris Hotel: Choosing The Right Area
Wake up near the cafés of Saint-Germain, the streets of the Marais, or the village lanes of Montmartre. Find a Paris hotel in the neighborhood you want to call home.
FAQs About Visiting Paris in December
WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN PARIS IN DECEMBER?
December is the season for Christmas markets, holiday lights, Seine dinner cruises, festive cabaret shows, classical concerts in historic churches, and seasonal food experiences. Museums, guided tours, and major attractions remain open throughout the month, making December one of the busiest times to visit Paris.
WHERE ARE THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN PARIS IN DECEMBER?
The best-known Paris Christmas markets are at Notre-Dame (Square René Viviani), the Hôtel de Ville, the Jardin des Tuileries, and La Défense. Most open in mid-November and continue into early January, with wooden chalets selling regional food, holiday treats, handcrafted gifts, and Christmas decorations.
IS DECEMBER A GOOD TIME TO VISIT PARIS?
December is an excellent time to visit Paris if you enjoy festive decorations, holiday events, and shorter winter days. Christmas lights brighten streets across the city, museums and restaurants remain open, and seasonal concerts, exhibitions, and markets add activities that are only available at this time of year.
HOW COLD IS PARIS IN DECEMBER?
Daytime temperatures in December are usually between 43°F and 50°F (6°C–10°C), with colder mornings and evenings. Rain is common, so bring a warm coat, comfortable walking shoes, and an umbrella. Snow is uncommon but occasionally falls during the winter.