Christmas in Paris – Christmas Lights, Christmas Markets, Romantic Seine Cruise and More:
It would take a lifetime to see all the attractions that Paris has to offer and if you are wondering what to do in Paris at Christmas time, there are some additional festive events that should not be missed.
Christmas Illuminations
Paris already holds the title of “City of Lights” and its Christmas Illuminations seals the Paris’s reputation as the most romantic city in the world! More than 125 of Paris’ streets, squares and avenues are decked out in festive decorations and fairy lights to celebrate Christmas and usher in the New Year.
Go to the Champs-Elysées and you’ll be dazzled by the Christmas lights here. From the Arc de Triomphe all the way down to the Place de la Concorde, 2.4 km of lights cover the trees along this famous boulevard giving it a fairyland appearance. This is topped off by the big ferris wheel at the Place de la Concorde spinning colourful lights into the skyline.
And it’s not just the capital’s streets that are decorated, the Eiffel Tower, public monuments and the big department stores like the Galeries Laffayete and Printemps are also decorated in Christmas lights and decorations. If you don’t have time to explore all the streets on your own, you can see the Christmas Illuminations on a Paris Christmas Lights Tour.
Marchés de Noël
Then, there are the traditional Christmas markets or Marchés de Noël which add another dimension to the Paris Christmas atmosphere. At the Marchés de Noël you can mingle with the locals and can get into the festive mood by doing some of your Christmas shopping at the wooden chalets which sell Christmas gifts, crafts and decorations. This is the opportunity to also try some of the traditional regional festive foods. Christmas markets can be found in most arrondissements and the Marché de Noël sur les Champs-Elysées is one of the bigger ones.
Ice-skating at the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville
For those who love ice-skating, Paris City Council has set up two open-air ice rinks on the square in front of the Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall), one large rink and a smaller rink for novices and younger visitors. Skates can be hired on site. The ice rinks operate from December 16, 2012 to March 4, 2013.
Christmas Concerts in Magnificent Paris Churches
Paris’s beautiful churches are regular venues for classical music performances and many of these hold special Christmas concerts – see here for the locations and dates.
Paris Food Walking Tour
With all the food stores stacked with Christmas goodies, this is a good time to do a Food Walking Tour of Paris. You will be taken through a number of Paris neighbourhoods to visit a French bakery, pastry shop, French caterer, wine shop, cheese shop, fruit and vegetable shop and market. Your expert foodie guide will give an overview of French culinary habits and being Christmas you will no doubt get an introduction to selected Christmas specialties in the shops. There is also a specialized Small Group Gourmet Christmas Tour where the focus is on Christmas specialties.
Paris Dinner Shows
Since its beginning, the Moulin Rouge and its Cancan dancers have been thrilling customers who come to experience this famous Parisian cabaret. You can enjoy a lively Moulin Rouge Christmas Dinner and Show or the the glamorous Lido de Paris Christmas Dinner and Show.
Disneyland Paris at Christmas
For children and the young at hear, a stay at Disneyland Paris would be one of the best Christmas gifts ever. Disneyland Paris has many special offers to make this Christmas dream come true.
For the complete list of things to do in Paris at Christmas and New Year see Here.
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