Christmas in Paris: Best Markets, Lights, and Decorations
Paris is magical any time of year, but it transforms into a winter wonderland at Christmas, with twinkling lights, festive markets, and elegant holiday displays filling the city.
Grand illuminations line the Champs-Élysées, and charming wooden chalets fill traditional Christmas markets that dot the city. Department stores unveil elaborate window displays, and the scent of hot crepes and mulled wine drifts through the air, adding to the cozy atmosphere.
It almost feels like every corner of Paris embraces the festive season.
So, whether you’re drawn to bustling markets or charming decorations, let’s discuss the best places to visit in Paris at Christmastime.
Best Christmas Markets in Paris
Paris has many Christmas markets scattered throughout the city, generally next to a major landmark (which makes the setting even more magical!). Below I’ve listed the main markets that are up all throughout the Christmas season.
Another dozen or so markets are essentially pop-ups – open for just a few days in December. We won’t be listing them in this post, but be aware you just may find a small surprise as you explore the city.
1. Magie de Noel at the Jardin de Tuileries
The Tuileries Garden hosts the most incredible Christmas market in Paris. Known as the Magie de Noel, it’s the #1 market you can’t miss in the city.
This market is massive, stretching all the way along the north end of the Tuileries Garden, and includes over 100 beautifully decorated, often quite large stalls.
Part of the market is known as the “Marché Gourmand,” with tons of options of delicious foods to eat. Pro tip: Peruse all your options before deciding what yummy foods to buy – there are so many great options!
The Tuileries Garden is also well-known for it’s fair-like atmosphere, as there are well over a dozen rides or carnival games to participate in. I really loved this very unique aspect of the market – it created a really happy and lively atmosphere.
For example, there was a swing ride, an enormous Ferris wheel, a carousel, a kiddie train, and several “obstacle courses.” One perk of doing the swing or Ferris wheel is that it gives you a bird’s eye view back over the market!
We visited this market on a Tuesday and had very manageable crowds – it wasn’t bad at all. Weekends, though, are packed – I’d recommend avoiding the weekends at the Tuileries market like the plague.
Dates: 16 Nov 2024 to 5 Jan 2025
2. La Défense Christmas Market
La Défense is the second biggest Christmas market in Paris. Situated outside of the 20 central Parisian arrondissements, La Défense is the financial district, where the big cluster of skyscrapers are located.
The market is situated right at the foot of the Grande Arche de la Défense, the enormous, rectangle “arch” that’s an iconic part of this area.
Approximately 150 wooden chalets, decked out in garland, fill the pavilion in front of the arch, with garland and lights strung over the walkways. Despite its size, this market had much more of a homey feel.
In addition to chalets selling food, drink, and gifts, you can also find numerous photo ops, as well as smaller rides, like a carousel. There is also a small ice skating rink at the end of the market closest to the arch.
Dates: 14 Nov 2024 to 29 Dec 2024
3. Eiffel Tower/Quai Branley Christmas Market
Undoubtedly one of the most picturesque backdrops to a Christmas market ever, the Quai Branley Christmas market sits right along the Seine River at the foot of the Eiffel Tower (right next to the Pont d’Iena bridge).
This market is fairly medium-sized, with around 40-50 chalets. The stalls are decked out in red and white – a distinct and unique aesthetic for the Paris markets.
Dates: 22 Nov to 10 Jan 2025
4. Notre Dame Christmas Market
Notre Dame saw the picturesque setting of the Quai Branley market and said “hold my vin chaud.”
While this market isn’t set up directly in front of Notre Dame, you’ll find it in Square René Viviani, a quiet spot just across the Seine. However, the towers of Notre Dame are visible throughout the market and so perfectly framed in by this forested arch.
The Notre Dame market is known as the French arts, crafts, and local foods markets (with mostly gifts and shopping opportunities and very few foods to eat at the market). The ~25 white nautical-themed stalls really do have some great French products.
For example, there’s a booth selling lavender products from Provence, another with handcrafted sausages and dried meats, another with cheese, and another with candied fruit or locally produced soaps.
My favorite spot, though, was a booth selling handmade, plaster models of church facades and rosary windows—such a unique yet easily identifiable European gift.
We also loved that the middle of the square was filled with Christmas trees and decorations to create a woodland scene.
Dates: 29 Nov to 25 Dec 2024
5. Hotel de Ville Market
The Christmas market at Hôtel de Ville is one of the most stunning in Paris, set in front of the city’s stunning town hall (Hotel de Ville means town hall in French).
At night, the entire facade glows with blue lights, and the “enchanted forest” of hundreds of fir trees set up around the square sparkle with decorations. To truly appreciate the impeccable ambience, I’d highly recommend timing your visit to the Hotel de Ville market for after sunset.
The market is filled with cozy stalls selling hot drinks and food, as well as many locally made gifts. This is a medium-sized market for Paris – certainly not as big as Tuileries or La Défenses, but not as small as Abbesses.
Hotel de Ville also has quite a few fun activities for kids, including a carousel, toboggan slide, climbing wall, and visits from Santa. This is definitely a top market for families.
In 2024, the square in front of Hotel de Ville is under construction, so the market will be set up at Place de la Concorde. Hopefully, it will be back in its original location in 2025.
6. Saint-Germain-des-Pres Market
This market is along Boulevard Saint-Germain-des-Près right next to the Café de Flore and the Saint-Germain-des-Près church.
The market is set up right along the sidewalk of the boulevard and features about 15 white wooden stalls selling gifts, with 1-2 stalls selling some drinks and food to eat.
Dates: 27 Nov to 7 Jan 2025
7. Place des Abbesses Christmas Market
The Place des Abbesses is located in the Montmartre neighborhood, just a 5-minute walk from Sacré Coeur. Approximately 30 stalls fill the square, which has a laidback, relaxed vibe, away from the heaviest crowds.
Dates: 22 Nov to 6 Jan 2025
8. La Villette Christmas Market
La Villette is fairly different than other Christmas markets in Paris. To start, its not right next to a famous monument or landmark, instead its out almost on the edge of the periphery, in the 19th arrondissement.
La Villette is a multi-use, incredibly large greenspace in Paris, hosting a wide range of cultural, musical, and sporting activities and events in the indoor and outdoor spaces. For example, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, La Villette hosted the Park of Nations.
La Villette is a newer and rather underrated market in Paris – it has about 20 chalets, plus a variety of sporty activities (a nod to its roots).
You can do ice skating, rock climbing, a ski simulator, and curling track. Various unique activities and performances are also scheduled throughout the Christmas season.
This is a market where I’d actually recommend coming on a weekend, as there are more activities and the weekday crowds can be a little low.
Dates: 23 Nov to 29 Dec 2024
Best Light and Decoration Displays
Besides Christmas markets, Paris also has numerous decorated streets that are oh-so-very-charming. Here are our favorites:
9. Village Royale
The Village Royale is a small, tiny square on a side passageway near Place de la Concorde. The actual decoration can change from year to year, but there’s always a large, beautifully lit “centerpiece” on display on the sidewalk. When we visited, there was this adorable hot air balloon!
10. Place Maurice Barrès
Place Maurice Barrès is a hidden square close to Place Vendome that has another “centerpiece” style decoration in the middle of the square – this year it was a charming snowglobe.
There are also 2 great decorations on the buildings surrounding the square. The first is a ribbon and bow on the Chanel building, and the other is this beautiful ocean-inspired piece on the Dior building.
11. Champs Elysées
The Champs Elysées—always an iconic spot in Paris, with wide, tree-lined sidewalks paralleling the grand boulevard leading to the Arc de Triomphe—becomes even more stunning at Christmas when the trees along the entire avenue are brilliantly strung with lights.
For the best picture, head about halfway down the Champs and take a slightly zoomed in picture for the best blend of the Arc and the lights.
12. Place Vendome
Place Vendome is one of the most upscale squares in Paris, filled with luxury hotels and boutiques and the Vendome Column at the center.
Depending on the year, some of the stores around the square may decorate their facades, but there are always Christmas trees in the square’s four corners, as well as a carousel set up.
Definitely don’t miss the Louis Vuitton store on Place Vendome – lights are hung down the side of the building to resemble the LV’s branded stars, and their window displays are just delightful. The year we were there, they had these cute Christmas carousel animals set up!
Best Department Store Displays
Paris has 3 large shopping centers in the city center that, in addition to being really beautiful and upscale places to shop, are decked out in Christmas decorations and intricate and adorable window displays.
Stopping in at a few of these department stores is a great way to enjoy some nice Christmas decorations.
13. Galeries Lafayette Tree + Windows
Galeries Lafayette is easily the most famous department store in Paris, thanks to its Art Nouveau dome and well-known brand, and its enormous Christmas tree is legendary. The design changes every year, but it’s always a unique and beautiful crowd-pleaser.
You can admire the tree from the ground floor or from the banisters along each level surrounding the rotunda.
For a unique perspective, you can also go out on the Glasswalk, a supended overhang on the top level. The Glasswalk is free, but you do have to reserve your 5-minute time slot online in advance.
On the exterior of Galeries Lafayette, you can admire the Christmas windows, some of the most intricate in Paris. Nearly a dozen windows are filled with beautiful scenes and moving pieces.
There are several different buildings in Galeries Lafayette, make sure you visit the flagship “Femmes” building here.
14. Printemps
Printemps is right next to Galeries Lafayette and also has an amazing window display (possibly my favorite of the 2024 season in Paris). Multiple windows told the story of a Christmas journey home and the celebration with family and friends. The attention to detail was astounding.
15. BHV
BHV is literally right across the street from Hotel de Ville, and is an easy stop to make when you’re visiting the Hotel de Ville market.
16. Grand Palais Ice Skating Rink
The final spot on this list doesn’t fit neatly into any other categories, but its a must-do during the Christmas season. The Grand Palais, which has been closed for renovations for several years, just re-opened in 2024. During December, it hosts the largest indoor ice skating rink in Europe.
This ice rink is absolutely breathtaking, with the iconic glass dome of the Grand Palais right overhead. In the evening, music and a disco ball are playing, turning the ice rink into one big party.
Unfortunately, the rink doesn’t open up until mid-December, so if you’re visiting in the first half of the month you’ll miss the fun, but it stays open through mid-January.
The Wrap Up
Paris is sometimes called the City of Light, and it really lives up to that name during the Christmas season. If you’re looking for a unique vibe to your Paris visit, the Christmas markets and decorations will hit the spot!
