Christmas and New Year Holidays in Paris: Q&A Reader Questions Answered

REVISE  Choosing where to stay in Paris can be challenging simply because you have so many wonderful options.  Each neighborhood offers its own vibe, attractions, things to do, places to shop, and of course, appealing cafes, bistros, and restaurants.  So naturally, you may have lots of questions.

In the Sunday edition of my free Paris Discoveries Newsletter, I answer reader questions about Paris travel.  Not surprisingly, where to stay and which hotel to book are among the most frequent inquiries. 

This article is part of the Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive and brings together my answers about neighborhoods, arrondissements, and choosing the right area and hotel for your stay.

Some questions focus on the best neighborhood for your first visit, the feel of different areas, and choosing the right hotel when online reviews vary.  I've lightly edited, expanded, and updated my original answers, and added photos to make this a more complete Paris travel resource. 

What Do You Recommend to Do to Enjoy Paris During the Holiday Season in December?

Janice's Question:

I am off to Paris in early December and will stay with friends near the Arc de Triomphe. I will have 18 days in France. For the most part I will be traveling solo.

I've already signed up for an Art Lovers tour of Montmartre and a tour at Notre Dame Cathedral as well as the Toot bus to see the Christmas lights.

If you were there at that time, what would you recommend?

Susan's Answer: 

That sounds like a fantastic trip during this festive time of the year.   I'm also often in Paris at that time, sometimes solo and sometimes with my husband or one of my daughters, and do the same types of things that you're doing.   On the night that I arrive, I love taking the Toot Bus Christmas Lights tour - always magical, plus the lights in various neighborhoods differ somewhat each year.   The pause to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle always feels like the perfect "welcome to Paris" moment.

I also usually sign up for at least one food tour - fun, good things to eat, and the guides are always informative about the neighborhood and places we visit, and now that Notre Dame has reopened, that's also one of my stops. During this season, whenever I have time, I go inside any church I happen to pass to see their Nativity scene, as almost every church as one that's unique and beautiful. I also typically book a ticket to at least one of the classical or Christmas concerts hosted by Paris churches in December (especially when I'm on solo trips, I squeeze several into my schedule), and also often attend one at the Eiffel Tower - they're not listed on the concert schedule yet, but a few usually take in late November and December, and occasionally on New Year's Day. The room where they take place is on the Tower's first floor and has lovely views - there's a photo in this article about Paris skyline views.

I also recommend visiting a few of the city's historical covered passages as most of them put up festive decorations - Galerie Vivienne's holiday lights are especially lovely - plus they're a good refuge on a rainy day. The city's big department stores also put up elaborate decorations, with the upside-down Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette being the most famous - you can see photos of it as well as Christmas windows in this article about Christmas in Paris.

Depending which side of the Arc your friends' apartment is, you're probably a reasonably close walk to Parc Monceau, which is always lovely at this time of the year, and a good place to enjoy a crepe from the stand near the carousel.

What Do You Recommend to Do to Enjoy Paris During the Holiday Season in December?

Georgette's Question:

My son and I are coming to Paris in December around the 12th.  Any suggestions for us?  I have read about the Champagne tours.

Susan's Answer: 

Hi Georgette,  I'm sure you and your son will have a fantastic time, as you'll see festive Christmas lights and decorations everywhere when you arrive in mid-December. 

For things to do, my article from the website about Christmas in Paris will be a good place to start discovering all the possibilities and see which ones especially appeal to you and your son.  The decorations and gigantic upside-down Christmas tree in the Galeries Lafayette big department store are lots of fun to see, and I highly recommend taking a Christmas Lights Tour on a double-decker bus for the wonderful views from the top - a special highlight is seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle. 

December in France is a month that's almost synonymous with Champagne, and you can order a glass of it in almost any brasserie (bar) or restaurant.  "Happy Hour" (yes, they adopted the English term for the traditional 5pm apéro hour for drinks and snacks awhile back) provides the perfect time to find a sidewalk table at a café or brasserie near where you're staying and order glasses of bubbly to toast your arrival in Paris.

Some Paris Christmas markets also offer Champagne as a holiday treat.  The biggest of the Paris Christmas markets, the Tuileries Garden Féte de Noël, even has a Champagne bar shaped like an igloo.

For a different type of experience, consider booking the 1-hour Champagne Tasting Cruise on the Seine River offered by a Paris wine bar.  In addition to seeing many of Paris's most historical attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame along the way, you'll also try 3 different Champagnes in the company of a wine guide/sommelier, who will talk about what makes each one distinctive - and good!

Finally, you might check out the Champagne day trips described in this article.  All of those listed are offered during December.

Wishing you and your son a fantastic time in Paris at this special time of the year!

When Do Christmas Lights & Decorations Appear in Paris?

Shanee's Question:

Good morning! Would love to know the date when the shops will be decorated for the holiday. Coming to Paris mid-November for 10 days and hope to see the city ablaze with decorations and lights!!

Susan's Answer: 

Hi Shanee, The timing of your trip is perfect for enjoying Paris's holiday lights and decorations, which typically start their brilliant seasonal display around mid-November or even a little sooner, with the big department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marché unveiling their famous decorated windows even earlier in the month.

Check out the Christmas in Paris article for more information (including dates, as soon as they're available) about Paris's dazzling displays of holiday lights, Christmas Markets, and other festive activities, celebrations, and events. Although some of the most famous lights cluster along Champs-Elysees and around Place Vendome on the Right Bank, you can see sparkling lights in every Paris neighborhood at this wonderful time of the year.

Enjoy your visit to Paris at this magical time of the year!

 

See Questions & Answers on Similar Topics

Should You Split Your Paris Stay between 2 or More Neighborhoods & Hotels? - Find out when and why to consider doing this, plus practical tips

Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive - See Q&As on all topics

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