December in Paris is pure enchantment. The City of Light transforms into a winter wonderland, with dazzling holiday lights, festive markets, and cozy cafés perfect for warming up with a chocolat chaud. Explore the famous Christmas markets at the Hôtel de Ville and Notre-Dame, where you can sip mulled wine and shop for handcrafted gifts. Don't miss the spectacular holiday window displays at iconic department stores like Galeries Lafayette. From ice skating rinks to festive concerts, December offers countless ways to experience the magic of Paris during the holiday season.
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For an unforgettable night in Paris, indulge in a Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise along the Seine. Dine on a gourmet French meal while gliding past the city's most iconic landmarks, all beautifully illuminated in the crisp December air. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre-Dame provide a stunning backdrop as you enjoy fine dining and live music. It's the perfect way to experience the magic of Paris during the holiday season.
Choose between a Christmas Day or Christmas Eve gourmet meal along the magical river Seine. You can opt for a lunch cruise, an early dinner cruise, or a late cruise at 9:15 on either day. This is something you will remember forever, but these sailings WILL sell out, so book right now…
Ring in the New Year with style aboard the Bateaux Mouches New Years Eve Dinner Cruise. Glide along the Seine, past Paris' most iconic landmarks, while enjoying a multi-course gourmet French meal paired with fine wines. With live music and champagne to toast the night, this luxurious cruise offers the perfect way to celebrate under the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower. Experience the magic of Paris as you welcome 2024 in unforgettable fashion. Check the link to confirm availability
Reserve a table for one of the best holiday celebrations in Paris — a dinner cruise along the most magical river in the world. Set sail for a memorable multi-course dinner with all the French touches, starting with a glass of champagne. This special sailing will sell out soon, so book right now.
Reserve a table for one of the best Christmas celebrations in Paris — a dinner cruise along the most magical river in the world. Set sail on Christmas evening for a memorable multi-course dinner with all the French touches, starting with a glass of champagne. This special sailing will sell out soon, so book right now.
The Louvre is very, very popular, and rightly so, but that means long lineups. Luckily, though, you can skip those line by booking this small-group guided tour, especially designed to feature the most famous works, the ones you must see when in Paris. Don't waste your time or get lost in the mammoth 5,600 sq.m. museum — see it like a Paris VIP.
The Eiffel Tower is, of course, one of the most popular attractions in Paris. Hence, there is always a long line. The only sure way to avoid waiting out in the December cold is to book a skip-the-line tour. On these tours you meet up with your guide at the base of the tower and get escorted past the massive lineup to the priority entrance. After the tour, spend as much extra time as you want on top of Gustave Eiffel's Iron lady.
Here's another way to indulge your inner romantic on a magical evening cruise along the Seine, viewing the City of Lights at its most magical. You dine on a decadent 4-course classic French dinner, accompanied by live music on-board, as you float past illuminated landmarks like the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eiffel Tower. Choose the Excellence option for premier seating and a few extras — like more champagne!
Experience the festive magic of Paris on a private Christmas tour. Visit the top landmarks at their most merry, including Galeries Lafayette's famed Christmas window display & decorations. There's a ride on the historic Grande Roue de Paris (Ferris Wheel) and a trip to a holiday market with your private guide. You travel by foot and by private vehicle. Hotel pick-up and transportation are included. Did we mention the snacks and the mulled wine?
Here's an easy & fun way to enjoy all the seasonal goodness that Paris has to offer. Follow your guide to explore Christmas in Paris in its many forms — the decorations & displays at Galeries Lafayette, window displays in the city's Art Nouveau shops & boutiques, in and out of quaint food and tableware shops, and finishing up at a traditional Parisian wine bar for champagne and foie gras. Bonnes Fêtes !
The oldest cabaret in the Paris doesn't have a red windmill, but is located on the other side of the river, in the Latin Quarter. Some of the best nighttime entertainment in Paris is to be found in a splendorous and slightly risqué revue. Combine the show with a dinner menu from Michelin-starred Guy Savoy and you'll delight all your senses during a memorable evening.
Explore the world-renowned Musée d'Orsay with an expert guide on an immersive tour. Skip the long lines and dive straight into the stunning collection of Impressionist masterpieces by artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas. Set in a former Beaux-Arts railway station, the museum itself is a work of art. Perfect for art lovers looking to experience the magic of Paris in December, a guided tour offers an enriching journey through one of the city's most iconic cultural gems.
Arriving in Paris feels even better when everything is pre-arranged. That's why we always book private transportation from the airport to central Paris. While shuttles and taxis are options, nothing compares to having a luxury vehicle and personal driver waiting to whisk you directly to your hotel. It's the perfect way to kick off your Parisian adventure with a touch of elegance and comfort, setting the tone for a memorable trip.
The Left Bank is pretty much everyone's favorite part of Paris. It turns out that this historic and charming quartier is also home to some of our favorite hotels in the city. And it's right in the center of things, with so much in easy walking distance. Discover the very best hotels on the Left Bank, including our #1 top hotel pick in all of Paris.
Skip the lines and step into the wonder of the Palace of Versailles with this expert-guided tour from Paris. Explore the lavish palace rooms, including the iconic Hall of Mirrors, and wander through the stunning gardens. Your guide shares captivating stories of French royalty, bringing history to life. Opt for the extended tour to visit Marie-Antoinette's charming hamlet and farm, for a deeper dive into the royal lifestyle.
If you don't have a full day to devote to Versailles, we also recommend this half-day tour that includes priority access. You'll breeze by the long lines to experience the grandeur of Louis XIV, The Sun King. This small-group activity is led by an expert guide and includes transportation from central Paris. If you prefer (as we do) you can opt for a private tour, for just you and your group.
Under the guidance of a master affineur (an expert in the art of cheese aging) you descend into the cheese cellar of a fromagerie in the Marais. Here you learn all about this culinary art while you sample seven classic French cheeses, along with wines — discovering how cheese became one of the most revered foods of France. The small group is limited to 10 to ensure there's more cheese for you.
It's an Insiders secret that the best place to see the dazzling landmarks of Paris is on a boat, cruising along the Seine, sipping champagne while enjoying a leisurely classic 3-course French meal. The menu is a la carte, with wine & champagne compris (included). We highly recommend the Premier Service option, if available, to guarantee you a private window seat and a better menu.
Montmartre, the Paris hilltop neighborhood that once was a village, retains some of that village feel. On this fun walking tour a food-expert guide takes you to the best of the quartier's food shops where you sample crusty baguettes, tender crepes, cured speciality sausages and a glass or two of wine at the many charming wine bars along the route. As you taste your way around the neighborhood you'll also learn about hidden & artistic landmarks of Montmartre.
In Paris, chocolate is a major food group. At least that how it seems, what with over 200 speciality (and amazing) chocolatiers. On this tour (our readers' fave food activity) you walk from chocolate shop to pastry shop to chocolate shop in an historic district of Paris and sample all along the route. On a small group tour like this you get hands-on attention at a relaxed pace.
Sign up for a 2-hour in-depth tasting — that allows enough time to explore all the best wine regions of France, including Champagne. In this informal & informative wine tasting a professional French sommelier pours wine from the regions while giving an in-depth explanation of each. It takes place in a charming, centrally-located wine cellar. Available Christmas Eve & New Years Eve.
It's difficult to imagine a better place to celebrate Christmas in Paris than on the Eiffel Tower. Rise 200 feet above the city lights to restaurant Madame Brasserie for a seasonal meal with all of Paris visible beneath you. Select the Menu Grande Dame – Paris View option for the best views.
What could be better than a relaxed, champagne-fueled boat ride down the most beautiful river in the world? Well, what about having priority seating at the front of the boat? How about a French sommelier to guide you through a flight of three different types of champagne? Glide past the sights while sipping bubbly and discovering that the best way to see the City of Lights is on a bateau.
Everyone loves this food tour through one of the oldest quartiers of Paris. Start at the oldest food market in the city, and then follow your food-expert guide through the historic Marais neighborhood to visit the top food & wine shops, tasting the best of French foods — cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and wine. Highly recommended.
You start your culinary afternoon on the historic Left Bank, a gourmet haven. At a traditional fromagerie you learn about French cheeses while you sample, sample, sample. Next up are freshly baked baguettes followed by French wine. Don't forget the foie gras! And, don't worry, any calories you consume are going to be burned off by the walk! The Christmas version of this popular tour is not to be missed.
Flaky, crusty, tender croissants are an emblem of Paris boulangeries. In this small-group pastry class you'll learn from a trained French chef how to mix, roll, and prepare croissants and pains au chocolat from scratch. Imagine how impressed your friends back home will be when you whip up your batch of French pastries!
A day spent in the Champagne region is certain to be a highlight of your holiday. Starting from your Paris address your driver/guide whisks you off through rolling hills and world-class vineyards to Reims, capital of the Champagne region. After touring this historic area the champagne houses beckon and your sampling of bubbly begins! A classic French 3-course lunch is included on this full-day trip.
Although it took the Allied Forces 70 days to get from the Atlantic shore to Paris, it will only take you a few hours to get from Paris to the historic D-Day beaches of Normandy. Perhaps the most important battle site of World War II, the landing beaches still evoke powerful memories and emotions. Visit the important sites on a small-group trip from Paris in a comfortable Eurovan.
One of the things you don't want to miss when you visit France is the Loire Valley with its magnificent castles. It's an easy day trip from Paris and this particular tour is our favorite. Not only do you visit 3 or 4 of the most spectacular chateaux, you also taste the wines of the best producers in the Loire Valley. The semi-private activity includes transportation from central Paris in a luxurious Eurovan.
Yes, you can! You'll cover a lot of art history in a few short hours — the only thing you have to do is relax and enjoy the masterpieces. No need to worry about buying tickets or standing in line. This combination museum tour takes you to the best at the Louvre and the d'Orsay museum with a knowledgeable guide. Group size is limited to 8.
This is the first retrospective of Harriet Backer's(1845-1932) work in France. Although little is known about her outside her native Norway, Backer was the most renowned woman artist of the late 19th century. You will fall in love with her tender portraits of rural Norwegian life.
• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends January 12, 2025
• Information…
In 2014 Pablo Picasso's most important public collection was permanently installed in the lavish setting of the Hôtel Salé, a mansion in the Marais. A decade later, the museum pays homage with a three-year retrospective starting with a tribute to Françoise Gilot. Beyond her famous book — Living with Picasso, published in 1965 — Gilot's own artistic career spanned from Réalités Nouvelles to her large compositions of the "emblematic paintings" of the 1980s.
This ambitious exhibition focuses on the medieval figure of the fool through 300 works of art — from ivories, boxes, small bronzes, medals, drawings, prints to paintings and tapestries.
Formerly known as Gilles, Watteau's Pierrot is one of the most famous masterpieces in the Louvre's collection. Discovered by the Director of the Louvre during the time of Napoleon, it garnered praise from writers and art historians for its mischievous and melancholy mood. It will be seen for first time since undergoing extensive restoration.
Retracing 40 years of the wacky world of Surrealism, this touring exhibition celebrating the global spread of this 20th-century art movement opens Paris before moving on to Madrid, Hamburg and Philadelphia.
From the middle of November to early January bundle up warm and set out on the streets of Paris to learn how the French celebrate Christmas. Seasonal markets are set up up in many quartiers of the city. These temporary cabin villages are where tout les Parisiens shop for seasonal specialties, decorations, and Christmas crafts. During this festive time of year you will find Noël markets throughout the city.
It's a Christmas miracle! Paris' favorite Marché a Noël at Notre Dame Cathedral is back, but just across the river in Square Viviani. Marvel at oldest tree in Paris (at 400 years) and sample regional specialties like macarons, gingerbread, foie gras, hot pretzels, sausages, local cheese, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and chocolat chaud.
• Square René Viviani, 5th Arrondissement
• Information…
Paris lights up for the holidays, but the most famous light show is on Champs Elysées. If you're lucky enough to be in Paris in mid November you can watch the Christmas lights be turned on by celebrities and French dignitaries. (We're still waiting to be invited to throw the switch!)
• Avenue des Champs Elysées
• November 15 to January 6
• Information…
You may have heard Helene Segara in duet with Andrea Bocelli or as Esméralda in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris but now it's your chance to see the star of the French television show, France Has Incredible Talent at this classic Parisian concert hall.
• Salle Pleyel
• December 21, 2024
• Information…
Glorious Dinner Cruises | Skip the Museum Lines | Latin Quarter Hotels | Historic D-Day Tours |
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