Being one of the most touristic cities in the world and which has been the birthplace of great artistic legends in different sectors, Paris is a magical city throughout the year.
However, during the holidays, the city of lights and love is filled with even more color and light thanks to the decorations that take over the different parts of the city. Therefore, December is a great time of year to visit this magnificent city. In this sense, below, we are going to tell you about everything you can enjoy by choosing to spend Christmas in Paris.
Walking through the city under the Christmas lights
Already from the middle of November, Paris begins to turn on the Christmas lights throughout the city. From trees with twinkling lights and colorful decorations to Christmas displays such as the one on the Champs-Élysées.
It is estimated that on the Champs-Élysées, more than a million light bulbs are placed in 400 trees along this place, which are illuminated every night from 5:00 p.m. But, in addition, this part combines beautiful Christmas windows. It is also possible to find beautiful Christmas lights along the famous Boulevard Hausmann and among the city’s luxury boutiques.
Take a Christmas cruise on the Seine
One of the favorite activities to enjoy Christmas in Paris, especially for those doing it for the first time, is the Christmas cruise on the Seine, enjoying seeing the Eiffel Tower reflected in its waters along with the colorful Christmas lights.
Plus, you can book your lunch or dinner cruise on December 24 or 25, letting you to enjoy a magnificent five-course Parisian feast for Christmas.
One of the accommodations that you can choose to experience Christmas in Paris is NolinskiParis. It is a hotel that is characterized by its soft lighting and its decoration full of subtleties, including an indoor lap pool, a beautiful spa area and a magnificent restaurant.
Attend a Christmas concert
During the festive season, some of the most renowned cultural venues in Paris organize Christmas concerts. Among these, we can highlight the churches of Saint-Eustache, Saint-Germain des Prés and La Madeleine that offer classical music concerts. The most famous is that of the Sainte-Chapelle between its Gothic walls made up of 16 huge stained-glass windows that occupy more than 600 square meters.
Walking through the Christmas markets
One of the favorite activities to enjoy Christmas in Paris has to do with visiting the Christmas markets that take place throughout the city. These appear in the different neighborhoods of the city and are places par excellence to buy food, decorations and special handicrafts for this time of year.
Christmas markets in Paris are generally open from mid-November to early January and in many cases also incorporate beautiful decorations and entertainment activities.
Dine in a cabaret
The historic cabarets of Paris are part of the history and identity of the city. For this reason, for those looking to enjoy Christmas in Paris, the cabarets open their doors with impressive shows on Christmas Eve.
One of the most popular for this is the renowned Moulin Rouge, which allows you to enjoy a glamorous and elegant evening. What is recommended to do is book in advance, because it is something that is usually in high demand.
Ice skating
Both for those who have done it at some point and for those who have always wanted to experience it, Christmas is an excellent time to enjoy ice skating. In the case of Paris, this can be done around the Christmas Market in the Jardin des Tuileries, near the Louvre Museum. There we find an ice rink that opens from the end of November to the beginning of January.
Another of the hotels that we want to recommend enjoying your stay in Paris during the holidays is the Artus Hotel. It is located in the center of Saint Germain des Pres, just a few minutes’ walk from the commercial center of the city and the main museums. In addition, it is only 10 minutes from the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Go to Disneyland Paris
Finally, for those looking for an extra dose of magic this Christmas, it may be the perfect time to visit the famous Disneyland Paris.
It is located on the outskirts of the city and is a park that, for these dates, offers impressive Christmas shows that include streets full of lights and decorations, the presence of all the favorite Disney characters and beautiful and complete Christmas markets.
Finally, we can also recommend the 1st stage hotel. It is a hotel located in one of the most fashionable streets of the Le Marais district in the 4th district of Paris. It is a new concept in the city that combines the comfort of a refined hotel with the charm of an authentic Parisian apartment.
