Paris is a world-famous centre of culture, commerce and fashion. The French capital is especially beautiful in the run-up to the main Catholic holiday. Preparations for Christmas begin in Paris at the end of November: Christmas trees go up in the squares and festive lights are switched on everywhere.
Paris in its Christmas finery
The largest Christmas tree in Paris, 30 metres tall, adorns the Tuileries Garden. The Champs-Élysées, sparkling with millions of string lights, invites visitors to enjoy the fairground rides and listen to live music.
The Christmas markets open, with stalls styled as village chalets. The largest market, with 350 chalets, awaits shoppers at La Défense. Here you can buy farm produce from different regions of France, try home baking, and drink mulled wine or apple juice. The markets traditionally sell Christmas souvenirs, soap, jewellery, ceramics and toys.
The highlights of Paris at Christmas
Paris is famous for its luxury, beauty and chic. And while its world-famous sights can be seen at any time of year, only in December can visitors attend events held specially for Christmas:
- The "Mon beau sapin" (My beautiful tree) exhibition and sale of designer Christmas trees at Le Meurice hotel. The exhibition features Christmas trees dressed for the holidays by designers from all over the world. The decorations include Swarovski crystals, fresh flowers, figurines of the symbols of the year and much more. Here you can buy a couture Christmas tree.
- Christmas shopping, for example at Galeries Lafayette, the most famous department store in Paris. Before Christmas, every shop expands its range.
- The annual "Sweet Life" festival, held at the Louvre throughout December. Confectioners from different countries offer cakes, sweets, chocolate and truffles. You can buy chocolate figures shaped like famous Paris landmarks.
- The "Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants" (independent winegrowers' wine fair), held from late November to early December. Winemakers talk about the traditions and history of winemaking and about grape varieties, and offer their wines for tasting.
- Christmas menus in Paris restaurants. Tables must be booked well in advance. Those who have done so will be able to try the traditional festive dishes served in France: foie gras, oysters, cheese and wine. The festive dessert served in every restaurant and baked by home cooks across the country is the Bûche de Noël (Yule log). It is a sponge cake with a chocolate filling, rolled up into a log. It is topped with cream, marked with stripes resembling tree bark.
- Viewing the city ablaze with lights from one of its viewpoints: the Eiffel Tower or the Ferris wheel on the Place de la Concorde.
- Holiday ice rinks. A free rink is set up in front of the Hôtel de Ville, and the most famous one is on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower.
- An organ concert at the Christmas service in Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Fairy-tale shows at Disneyland Paris
Christmas is a family holiday, and Paris offers plenty of entertainment for visitors with children. Disneyland Paris gives its young guests a real Christmas fairy tale. The park's festive programme runs from early November until almost mid-January.
What can you see here?
- Christmas lights throughout the park
- Fairy-tale shops where you can buy princess dresses, clothes, blankets and Christmas tree decorations featuring Disney characters, as well as chocolate and sweets
- Santa Claus's village (Père Noël in French). It is in the centre of the park, and any visitor can chat with the star of Christmas, take a photo with him and hand him a letter with their gift wishes in person
- Spectacular parades of Disney characters
- Evening laser shows accompanied by fairy-tale characters
- Music and dance shows
- Fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle on New Year's Eve.