Strasbourg may be France’s holiday capital, claiming the country’s oldest Marché de Noël, but there’s no denying Christmas in Paris is a showstopper. The city shines brighter each year with thousands of lights illuminating its famous squares and landmarks like the Champs-Elysées, dubbed the “world’s most beautiful avenue.” Holiday cheer seeps into each of the 20 arrondissements, decorated with larger-than-life garlands, forests of bauble-strewn fir trees, sculptural light displays, and wooden chalets doling out vin chaud (mulled wine) and holiday specialties like foie gras—best spread on subtly sweet pain d’épices (gingerbread).
Oyster stands are as much a fixture of the holidays in Paris as Christmas markets—which happen to be one of the best places to try them. Fête the season in true French fashion with a movable feast dining and drinking at some of the city’s most iconic institutions, from Left Bank cafés where famous writers and artists once gathered to the Palace hotels huddled around Place de la Concorde and Place Vendôme. And when you’re ready to indulge in Paris’s renowned retail therapy, swing by one of the grand magasins (department stores), which rank among the best in the world for their holiday window displays—New York City included—executed with the same style and precision as a couturier. The city may not be blanketed in snow, but the holiday spirit is as strong here as on the slopes in the French Alps—and even has the cuisine and chalets to prove it. If you’re planning to spend Christmas in Paris, you’ll find plenty of ways to celebrate, but these 10 are some of the best things to do and see during the holidays in the City of Light.
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Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Lindsey Tramuta.
