A visit to a Paris Christmas Market gives you the fastest way to feel the holiday spirit when visiting the City of Light during the short days of November and December.
With sparkling lights, Christmas trees full of bright decorations, and even occasional visits from Saint Nicholas - or Père Noël, as Parisian children call him - these festive street markets filled with Swiss-style wooden chalets bring a tradition begun in the Middle Ages in Alsace and Germany to the French capital.
See the glowing lights of holiday markets and decorations on an open-top Christmas bus tour of Paris
To get the fullest enjoyment from these winter markets, copy the Parisians: sip hot mulled wine (vin chaud), munch on roasted chestnuts, and sample delicious sausages, cheese and chocolates while you shop.
The beautiful displays of arts and crafts, festive Christmas decorations, regional food specialties, fine wines, and other gifts will dazzle you until well into the night.
During a typical year, about 15-20 Paris Christmas Markets appear across the city, joined by additional "pop-up" markets lasting just a day, a weekend, or even a week or two.
And that's not counting the small neighborhood holiday markets with perhaps a dozen or fewer chalets offering specialty foods and small gifts that appear on a seemingly ad hoc basis - sometimes returning to the same location year after year, but sometimes shifting to new locations.
Traditionally, these picturesque markets span the Advent season beginning four Sundays before Christmas. This year, look for opening dates from mid-November to mid-December. For exact dates, check our December events article.
Although a few markets stay in place for only a week or two, most remain open through Christmas Eve and a couple continue through early January.
Here are Paris Discovery Guide's recommendations for 9 of the biggest, best, & most unique Paris Christmas Markets, plus locations where you can usually find smaller, specialty, and pop-up holiday market locations throughout the city.
Top photo: Paris Christmas Market across from Notre Dame Cathedral, (c) Paris Discovery Guide
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Guide to the 9 Biggest, Best, & Most Spectacular Paris Christmas Markets 2024
1. The Magic of Christmas: La Magie de Noël at Tuileries Garden Christmas Market
La Magie de Noël ("The Magic of Christmas") in Tuileries Garden next to the Louvre grew out of the former Champs-Élysées Christmas Market and is huge - by far the biggest Marché de Noël within Paris, stretching along the garden's entire north edge from Rue des Pyramides to Place de la Concord.
Half Christmas-themed carnival, half Christmas market, the Tuileries Christmas Market is also the most popular Christmas Market within Paris, attracting over 13 million visitors each holiday season.
What's the theme at Jardin des Tuileries Christmas carnival/market? Fun, entertainment, shopping, food, and beverages ranging from hot chocolate to Champagne.
In particular, the large number of Christmas-themed amusement rides and games here make this market stand out from other more sedate Paris Christmas markets with their emphasis on food and gifts (although the Tuileries market excels in those areas too).
Look for an enormous ferris wheel, more than a dozen other carnival rides such as bumper cars and "fun house" amusements, an ice skating rink including a separate section for young children, a Champagne bar, steaming copper vats of traditional onion soup, and hot mulled wine.
In addition the 100+ Swiss-style chalets offer French-produced specialty food products, artisan crafts and gifts from around the world, glittering lights, numerous larger-than-life-sized plastic Santas and reindeer - and much more!
La Magie de Noël truly is magic. Come experience it for yourself!
Find out more about La Magie de Noël Christmas Market at Tuileries Garden
Getting to Tuileries Christmas Market
- Admission: Free, plus whatever you spend on rides, food, and gift items; like all Paris Christmas markets, this one offers many tempting things to purchase
- Location: Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries)
- Métro: Concorde, Tuileries
- Open: Mid-November - early January
- More to Do Nearby: Need to do more holiday shopping? Exit Tuileries Garden, cross Rue de Rivoli, and walk up Rue de Castiglione to Place Vendome, or turn left or right on Rue Saint-Honoré and explore the chic designer boutiques.
Check out the brightly-lit stores in the underground shopping mall Carrousel du Louvre (enter near the Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre Metro station). Or walk across Place de la Concorde to explore all the stores lining both sides of Champs-Élysées, where sparkling lighted trees dazzle along the famous avenue. Turn onto nearby Avenue Montaigne and check out the designer showrooms. If you continue walking down Avenue Montaigne toward Place de l'Alma, you'll soon see the spectacularly lit Eiffel Tower framed by the avenue's ethereal white Christmas lights.
Special Christmas & New Year's Eve Cruises
2. Paris Notre-Dame Christmas Market at Square Viviani
Perhaps the most picturesque of the Paris Christmas Markets is the Marché de Noel Notre Dame, located across the Seine from the famous cathedral in Square Viviani on the Left Bank's Quai Montebello.
With Notre Dame's soaring medieval towers (plus cranes and scaffolding , due to the reconstruction efforts after the tragic 2018 fire) as a backdrop, this cheerful market offers the usual vin chaud (hot mulled wine) and roasted chestnuts.
Occasional appearances by musicians add to the festivities. The vibe here is always elegant, relaxed, and focused on the holiday spirit.
However, the Marché de Noel's specialties are high-quality arts and artisan crafts made in France.
You can usually find an especially nice selection of gift-worthy clothing and accessories here, as well as fancy gourmet foods including foie gras, many different kinds of sausages, and expansive arrays of fine cheeses.
In particular, look for cashmere and mohair scarves, sweaters, and gloves, jewelry made from silver and beautiful stones, handmade wooden toys, ceramics, candles, glass objects, and more.
For the little ones, Santa makes frequent appearances - sometimes with a glass of vin chaud in hand.
Getting to the Marché de Noel Notre Dame:
- Location: Square René-Viviani on Quai Montebello, at the edge of the Latin Quarter in the 5th Arrondissement
- Métro: Saint Michel, Maubert-Mutualité
- RER: B and C, Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame
- Open: Mid-December until (usually) Christmas Eve or later
- More to Do Nearby: Visit the lovely medieval church next door, Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, which dates back to 1160. Or cross the bridge and check out the renovations underway at Notre-Dame. For books, café fare, and perhaps some conversation, stop by Shakespeare & Company, an English-language haven adjacent to Square Viviani at 37 Rue de la Bûcherie
More places to see dazzling Paris holiday lights & decorations
3. Montmartre Christmas Market at Place des Abbesses (near Sacre Coeur)
Located next to the Place des Abbesses Metro station on one of the most photo-worthy areas in Montmartre, the Place des Abbesses market is small (about 15-20 chalets in total) but charming, and features local artisans, designers, and creators. A large decorated Christmas tree and occasional visits from Santa to welcome you.
Fortify yourself with a cup of warm spiced wine and a small packet of hot roasted chestnuts, straight off the grill - look for Vin Chaud and Marrons Chaud signs, or just follow your nose.
This market is also a good place to sample traditional fare, such as escargot, small plates of sauted mushrooms, and raclette. You'll also find specialties to take back to your apartment, such as foie gras from Périgord, tapenades from Provence, and speciality cheeses.
Alternately, you can also join the crowd at the Champagne bar!
The Montmartre Christmas market is a good place to stock up on hand-knit scarves, Christmas markets, honey from Paris, one-of-a-kind fashion and jewelry, and children's toys.
For kids, there's a brightly lighted carousel, and usually appearances by Père Noël on the weekends.
This is a fun market to visit if you want to get a taste of the Christmas markets but avoid the crowds filling the larger markets. With the friendly neighborhood vibe, it can't be beat!
Coming here is also a great excuse to explore the winding hills of Montmartre and make your way to Sacré-Coeur, just a few blocks away, to enjoy the sweeping city vistas.
- Location: Next to the Abbesses Butte Montmartre Métro station in Montmartre, 18th Arrondissement
- Métro: Abbesses Butte Montmartre
- Bus: 80, 95 (get off at Cimetière de Montmartre and walk a few blocks east on Rue Joseph de Maistre/Rue des Abbesses to the market)
- Open: Late November - end of December
- More to Do Nearby: Check out the "Wall of Love" (le mur des je t'aime) in Square Rictus next to the market while sipping a cup of hot mulled wine. Explore Montmartre. Go to dinner and a show at Moulin Rouge. And of course visit the boutiques along Rue des Abbesses, one of the great market streets in Paris.
If you're heading back into central Paris after your visit, walk down pedestrian-only Rue des Martyrs and enjoy the holiday lights stretching across the street and all the Christmas and New Year specialty foods offered in the dozens of gourmet shops lining this famous market street.
Find out about top Montmartre hotels & apartments
Popular Paris Christmas Experiences
Get into the holiday spirit with these special "only in Paris" activities:
- Christmas Gourmet Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Pres - Enjoy a special 3-course lunch, live music, and magical views of famous sights and landmarks along the Seine River as you cruise by in a comfy glass-covered boat. These holiday cruises always sell out - so book early to avoid disappointment! Book now
- Moulin Rouge Dinner & Show - Enjoy a magical cabaret show by a troupe of 100 costumed performers paired with a delicious tradtional French dinner and Champagne. Book now
- Paris Christmas Lights Tour - Snuggle under a warm blanket as an open-top bus takes you past the city's most brilliant Christmas lights as well as other famous illuminated Paris attractions - Arc de Triomphe, Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier), Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and more. It's an unforgettable way to see Paris! Book now
- Private Christmas Tour of Paris with a Ferris Wheel Ride - On this special tour, you'll see the most famous Paris holiday lights and decorations plus a few "insider's gems," enjoy a glass of mulled wine (or hot chocolate), and a ride on the giant Paris ferris wheel. Includes hotel pick-up/drop-off. Book now
4. Paris Christmas Market at Hôtel de Ville
The spectacular Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market wins the prize (if there were one) as "most beautiful" thanks to the gorgeous light show across the building's neo-Renaissance facade.
This year, the light show features golden "snowflakes" drifting from the building's peaks, while the rest of the building sports Olympics 2024 emblems and signs instead of the usual falling snowflakes dancing across a brilliant blue background.
The Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market offers an enchanting forest filled with evergreen trees decorated with silver ornaments and sparkling white lights, a few chalets offering "Made in France" gifts, and traditional market stalls offering offering hot mulled wine, raclette, freshly cooked crepes drizzled with Nutella, and the tantalizing smell of roasted chestnuts.
Although the assortment of free family-oriented activities varies a bit each year, you can always spot the brightly-lit traditional carousel on site.
Other activities might include a "luge" for tubing, a vertical climbing wall, and even visits with Santa.
Look for about a dozen chalets featuring gift items made by French craftsmen or offering mouth-watering food and beverage favorites - crepes filled with nutella, raclette, onion soup, and of course, large copper vats of vin chaud (hot mulled wine.)
The light show, traditional Christmas music playing softly in the background, numerous sparkling lights, and tranquil ambiance makes this Christmas market especially charming at night.
- Location: Rue de Rivoli, across from BHV Marais (52 Rue de Rivoli)
- Métros: Hotel de Ville
- Open: Late November - early January
- More to Do Nearby: Cross over Rue de Rivoli and shop at BHV Marais department store, or continue farther into the Marais neighborhood and explore the many fantastic boutiques - you'll find some wonderful options along Rue des Francs Bourgeois.
Find out more about the Hotel de Ville Christmas Market
5. Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market
Normally, this Christmas Market's 40 or so chalets line Boulevard St-Germain next to the famous St-Germain-des-Prés Church.
This year, the number is reduced to about 20 due to construction around the plaza in front of the church - just part of Paris's numerous renovation projects ahead of next summer's Olympics.
This is one of the city's most appealing mid-sized markets, and specializes in luxury items, such as fine leather pocketbooks, lovely jewelry, French gastronomy products, and handcrafted items.
This is a good place to buy scented candles, glass Christmas ornaments, leather-bound notebooks and bags made in France (or Italy, depending on the vendor), and exquisite gift-worthy chocolates filled with liquor.
Fortify yourself with the usual hot mulled wine and roasted chestnuts as you walk past mouth-watering displays of artisinal macarons, marrons glacés (candied chestnuts) from Southern France, caviar, smoked salmon, truffles, foie gras, and jewel-like jars of fruit jams.
Fortunately, despite the reduced number of chalets, the quality of products remains the same.
You can also find a few vendors selling inexpensive practical items such as warm hats, scarves, gloves, and even umbrellas - handy if you realize you should have dressed in warmer layers, or if you get caught in a surprise rain shower (which seem to be more common than usual this year).
Find Christmas Market tours & other favorite Paris Christmas activities
You'll also find specialty wines and liquors from other regions of France.
And of course, after you've had your fill of shopping and great food and drink at the Saint-Germain Christmas market, check out the boutiques in nearby neighborhood streets, where canopies of sparkling holiday lights create a festive ambiance.
- Location: Blvd Saint-Germain, next to Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6th Arrondissement
- Métro: Saint-Germain
- Bus: 39, 63, 70, 86, 96
- Open: Late November through early January
- More to Do Nearby: Walk a few blocks to the Cluny Christmas Market, (next to the Cluny Museum at the Saint-Germain/Boulevard de Saint-Michel intersection) where you'll find around a half-dozen stalls offering delicious prepared regional French food to eat on the spot, plus perhaps another 15 or so offering gift items. Spend an hour or two at the Cluny Museum (free entrance with a Paris Museum Pass) - also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages - and immerse yourself in medieval treasures including the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, as well as the 3rd century Roman baths.
- Where to Stay Nearby: Hotels & apartments near Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church in the 6th Arrondissement
More about things to see and do at Eglise Saint-Germain
More Fun Things to Do & See in Paris at Christmas
6. La Défense Marché de Noël - The Biggest Christmas Market in the Paris Area
The huge Christmas Market along the La Défense Esplanade boasts almost 180 chalets. Even though this number is down from 350 in previous years due to the number of people who still haven't returned to their offices in this mostly business district, the La Defense Christmas Market continues to be the largest in the Paris region.
The holiday decorations, lights, and displays next to it on the Esplanade are also fabulous. The market here dates back to 1995 and welcomes about 1.5 million visitors during the holiday season.
The market's spectacular setting in this glittering business district make the 7-8 minute metro ride from the Étoile/Charles de Gaulle station well worth your time - plus you'll find a vast selection of gifts ranging from trinkets to high-quality jewelry and leather goods, and well-equipped kitchens and restaurants turning out steaming plates of delicious Alsatian fare and Spanish-style paella.
Look for lots of specialty items not seen in smaller markets - Santa costumes, stuffed animals, huge bins brimming over with clementines and other seasonal fruits, candies from the South of France, freshly baked gingerbread, antique books and fine paintings, and large pop-up stores filled with Christmas decorations.
One stall features many different varieties of exquisite nativity figures at surprisingly affordable prices - you may be tempted to fill your suitcase!
Several stalls offer gorgeous finely-tooled leather goods from Morocco, while others have large selections of fashionable scarfs and coats, candies, and tins of herbal teas.
You'll also see special regional hams and sausages, foie gras, cheeses, and special brandies and other liquors.
Kids will also find lots to do and see here, including multiple Santas who happily pose for photos.
For the after-work crowd from the surrounding high-rise office towers, there's even a rotation of popular DJs on a number of evenings.
You can easily spend an entire evening at this market. And definitely plan to have a meal and glass or two of mulled wine or spiced eggnog here - this is one of the best Paris Christmas markets for dining.
- Location: Esplanade de la Défense
- Métro: Grande Arche de la Défense
- RER: A (from Étoile Metro Station)
- Open: About 5 weeks from late November - late December
- More to Do Nearby: Arrive in daylight hours and check out the 69 sculptures and monuments along the Esplanade. Ice skate around the rink (still to be confirmed for this year) on top of the Grande Arche, which along with the Arc de Triomphe at Étoile and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel near the Louvre, forms the Historical Axis of Paris. After you've explored the Christmas Market, check out the enormous Quatre Temps shopping mall next to the Esplanade. Sports fans won't want to miss the gigantic Décathlon store on the other side. During the evening, walk down the Esplanade toward Paris and enjoy the magical displays of Illuminations de Noel - Christmas lights.
Find out more about the La Defense Christmas Market
Check our December Events Calendar for exact Christmas Market dates, as they vary each year
7. Eiffel Tower Christmas Market on Quai Branly
With Christmas trees, fake snow, and close-up views of the famous "Iron Lady," the Eiffel Tour Christmas Village gives you a magical experience you'll remember long after your visit.
This market specializes in delicious gourmet foods and local cuisine ready to be served on the spot. Look for the Alsatian and Savoyard stands with their yummy regional specialties, and sip hot mulled wine as you shop.
With about 35 chalets and usually a few food trucks, this is one of Paris's best mid-sized Christmas markets, and perhaps the most photo-worthy.
- Location: Quai Branly, across from the foot of the Eiffel Tower (the exact location moves around a bit each year, so don't be surprised when it's not where you remember from previous years)
- Métro: Pont de l'Alma, Bir Hakeim
- RER C: Champs de Mars or Pont de l'Alma
- Open: Early December until just after New Year's Day
- More to Do Nearby: Get tickets to the top of the Eiffel Tower for spectacular views of Paris!
8. Alsatian Christmas Market at Gare de l'Est
Located in front of the Gare de l'Est train station in the 10th Arrondissement, this popular market - the oldest Alsatian Christmas Market outside of Alsace - takes place under a big tent during the first half of December (check December Events Calendar for exact dates). Stock up on tasty Alsatian traditional food, with daily free tastings.
What specialties should you look for? The Alsace region in northeastern France shares a border with Germany and Switzerland, so look for regional foods with a strong German or Swiss influence.
The 15-20 Alsatian artisans offer charcuterie, Munster, Gruyere, and other German and Swiss cheeses, regional wines and brandies, jams, goose and duck foie gras, kougelhopf, brioche Männele, potato galettes, gingerbreads, sweet and savory tortes, candy, smoked pork, and sauerkraut - all your favorite flavors of Alsace without leaving Paris.
This is the perfect market for shopping for food gifts, holiday foods, and even a tasty on-the-spot snack. Judging by the large numbers of shoppers filling up their shopping bags here, this is a favorite location for serious Parisian foodies.
- Location: Next to Gare de l'Est train station, 10th arr
- Métro: Gare de l'Est
- Open: Usually about 17 days, starting in late November or early December
- More to Do Nearby: Walk over to nearby Canal Saint-Martin and admire the holiday decorations along Quai de Valmy on the west side of the canal; pop into one of the many neighborhood cafes such as Chez Prune for a drink or meal.
Special Christmas & New Year's Eve Cruises
9. Bastille Christmas Market
The relatively new Bastille Christmas Market provides a bright spot of seasonal warmth at Place de la Bastille between the July Column commemorating the Revolution of 1830 and the Bastille Opera House.
Normally this rather barren swath of pavement gets used mostly for demonstrations, the occasional mountain of trash when sanitation workers go on strike, and random construction equipment in need of a place to park.
So the Christmas Market not only provides holiday cheer, but also an alternate vision for how this space might be better used.
The Bastille Chrismas market features an enchanting forest of decorated and lighted evergreen and white bare-branched trees to soften the space (and incidentally highlight the beauty of the surrounding architecture), a festive carousel offering free rides to children, and an assortment of vendor stalls offering hot chocolate, mulled wine, snacks, and gift items.
With holiday musical classics playing softly in the background and occasional visits from Père Noël, this is a lovely, low-keyed market where you'll want to get a warm drink and stroll through the trees for a moment of relaxation.
- Location: Place de la Bastille, 11th arr
- Métro: Bastille (plus numerous bus lines have stops here)
- Open: Early December until a day or two after Christmas
- Good to Know: The Plaza has free public toilets - look for them on the west side close to Canal Saint-Martin
- More to Do Nearby: Have lunch or dinner (make reservations in advance) at nearby Bofinger, one of Paris's beautiful classic brasseries; visit the adjacent Marché Bastille/Richard Lenoir, one of the city's best and biggest open-air markets (open Thursday and Sunday from 7am - early afternoon); enjoy an opera or ballet (you'll need to get tickets at least a week in advance) at the Bastille Opera House; go for a stroll along the elevated La Coulée Verte (Promenade Plantée) which you can access just beyond the Opera House where Rue de Lyon morphs into Avenue Daumesnil
10. Saint-Eustache Les Halles Market
Although the twice-weekly Saint-Eustache Les Halles Market located between Saint Eustache Church and the Chatelet-Les Halles metro station, it begins to feel like one starting around mid-November.
All of the sparkling Christmas lights and decorations along the nearby Rue Montorgueil market street and the enormous decorated Christmas tree in the Canopée des Halles shopping center add to the holiday ambiance.
Look for a couple of dozen chalets offering sausages, candy, Belgium waffles, and other seasonal specialties, plus vin chaud (hot mulled wine) and assortments of gift items.
Quite honestly, if you want to visit Paris's best Christmas Markets, you should skip this one. But if you're in the neighborhood, stop by - it's festive, fun, and filled with good things.
Under the Canopée, an enormous sparkling Christmas tree reminds you that more shopping and dining opportunies can be found among the shops inside the multi-storied complex.
- Location: On the plaza between Saint Eustache church, the Chatelet-Les Halles, and the starting points of Rue Montmartre and Rue Montorgueil, 1st arrondissement
- Nearest métro : Chatelet-Les Halles
- Open: Thursday (12:30pm-8:30pm) and Sunday (7am-3pm), year-round
- More to Do Nearby: Shop in Forum des Halles (the below-ground shopping complex surrounding the metro/train station), visit adjacent Église Saint-Eustache, or explore market street Rue Montorgueil to the right (as you face it) of the church. Hungry for more than just a snack? Stop by Alain Ducasse's Champeaux restaurant in the Forum, or any of the appealing cafes, creperies, bakaeries, and bistros along Rue Montorgueil.
Find Christmas Market tours & other favorite Paris Christmas activities
What Is the Best Christmas Market in Paris?
In a city such as Paris with a wealth of wonderful and diverse Marches de Noël that may change from one year to the next, "best" is a difficult call to make - but here are some choices that (so far) hold true every year:
Best Paris Christmas Market for Fun: The Magic of Christmas (La Magie de Noël) at Tuileries Garden
Because who can resist a Christmas-themed carnival with fantastic food offerings plus shopping opportunities for special gifts?
More about the Tuileries Christmas Market
Best Paris Christmas Market for Families: Notre-Dame Christmas Market at Square Viviani
Friendly Santas make this market special for children, and a relaxed vibe (perhaps thanks to the steaming copper vats of hot mulled wine) keeps everyone smiling.
Views of nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral are magical, despite the scaffolding and cranes as damage from the 2019 fire continues to be fixwd.
Best Paris Christmas Market for Upscale Gifts: Saint-Germain Christmas Market
This market features vendors with high-quality goods (check out the leather items) and regional specialty foods and wine to appeal to discerning residents and tourists in this upscale neighborhood.
Best (& Biggest) Christmas Market for 1-Stop Shopping (& Food): The La Défense Christmas Market
Located just a 7-8 minute metro ride outside of Paris, with its 150 stalls and the adjacent Quatre Temps shopping center and Décathlon sporting goods store offers just about everything you need for the holidays, including holiday decor and Christmas tree ornaments.
Food offerings of freshly made paella, couscous, raclette, tartiflette, crepes, and Bavarian sausage and peppers mean you can also dine very well here. In fact, if a "Best food at a Paris Christmas Market" award is ever given, the La Defense Market will win, hands down.
More about the La Defense Christmas Market
Most Beautiful Paris Christmas Market: Hotel de Ville Christmas Market
Sparkling lights, a forest of Christmas trees, and white snowflakes falling at night across the dark blue façade of the ornate Paris City Hall (thanks to a magical light show) give a festive ambiance that capture the spirit of the holidays.
This is usually the least-commercial of all the Paris markets - so come just for the pleasure of being there.
More about the Hotel de Ville Christmas Market
Best Paris Christmas Market for Experiencing its Friendly Neighborhood Vibe: Place des Abbesses Christmas Market in Montmartre
Look for the perfect combination of holiday foods and beverages, nice gifts, beautiful surroundings, and friendly neighborhood shoppers.
Frequent performances by local musicians make this market extra-special.
Best Paris Christmas Market for Its Iconic View: Eiffel Tower Christmas Village
With lots of Christmas trees, fake snow, and tasty cuisine and regional specialties, this market offers a lot - but the Eiffel Tower views make it memorable.
Paris Hotels for Your Christmas Market Visit
Planning a trip to Paris during the holiday season? Use this Paris hotel map to find hotels near your favorite Christmas markets:
Check out the newest Paris hotels
Also, check out our recommendations for the best places to stay in Paris in the winter.
Where to Find More Christmas Markets
Most of these are smaller markets. Most appear faithfully every year and attract hoards of loyal fans, although others are less reliable but worth looking for if you're already nearby.
Christmas Market at Fontaine Saint-Michel
Located in front of the Gare de l'Est train station in the 10th Arrondissement, this popular market - the oldest Alsatian Christmas Market outside of Alsace - takes place under a big tent during the first two or three weeks in December (check December Events Calendar for exact dates). Stock up on tasty Alsatian traditional food, with daily free tastings.
What specialties should you look for? The 15-20 Alsation artisans offer charcuterie, Munster and other cheeses, regional wines and brandies, jams, goose and duck foie gras, gugelhupf, brioche Männele, potato galettes, gingerbreads, smoked pork, and sauerkraut - all your favorite flavors of Alsace without leaving Paris.
Parc de la Villette
The Parc de la Villette Marché de Noel at La Grande Halle across from the Philharmonie concert hall (221 Avenue Jean-Jaurès) pops up in early December and remains open until Christmas Eve. The market is small (although it seems to grow a bit larger each year), but you'll find all the essentials: hot mulled wine, crepes filled with Nutella, and gifts.
Unfortunately, the photo above was taken in pouring rain - but normally, the market is filled with shoppers from the nearby area who stop by to enjoy a cup of vin chaud or steaming hot onion soup and to chat with their neighbors.
Gare Saint-Lazare Christmas Market
Gare Saint-Lazare Marché de Noël, in front of the Saint Lazare train station in the 8th arrondissement, sports a modern look and feel - in fact, purists might not even consider it a Christmas market. But it's fun and all in good cheer, especially if you like Disney and Legos, plus who can resist the Champagne bar?
Saint-Sulpice Christmas Market
Saint-Sulpice, near the St-Sulpice Métro station, Luxembourg neighborhood in the 6th Arrondissement, usually early December through Christmas Eve; a pop-up Alpine ski rink sometimes also appears here.
Christmas Chalets near Cluny Museum
The Cluny Museum Christmas Market consists of only about a dozen chalets located along in a double row along Boulevard Saint-Germain next to the Cluny Museum in the Latin Quarter, with a few more around the corner on Boulevard Saint Michel. Like many of Paris's other small hyper-local Christmas markets, you probably wouldn't go out of your way to visit it but if you happen to pass by, it's definitely worth a lingering look. As you can see in the above photo, the special cheeses alone gives you a solid reason to stop and make a few purchases.
Most of the chalets offer mouth-watering regional food specialties such as sausages, cheeses, patés, jams, fancy nuts and fruits, and wine, although a couple feature arrays of artisinal chocolates in gift boxes. On chilly December nights, steaming containers of hot mulled wine and hot chocolates are a welcome sight to Parisians on their way home from work or school at the end of the day.
Trocadéro Christmas Village
Trocadéro Christmas Village takes place at or near (location varies) Palace of Chaillot in the 16th Arrondissement next to the Trocadéro Métro station, typically mid-December through early January - although not every year.
Christmas Market at the Feeries d'Anteuil - To Be Confirmed
This small market is located at 40 rue Jean de la Fontaine in the 16th arr, and runs for about 9 days in early December (see our December Events Calendar for exact dates). In addition to crafts, leather goods, jewelry, and even an oyster bar, you can enjoy magic shows, puppets, concerts, and other family entertainment. The market is run by a charity that supports disadvantaged Parisian children, and profits go to this cause. Find the event schedule here: https://www.apprentis-auteuil.org
Montparnasse Christmas Market
Look for a small number of chalets next to the train station offering nice gift items and a few tasty things to eat and drink such as roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, and spicy hot mulled wine.
Although you probably wouldn't go out of your way to visit this market, like the Christmas market at Gare Saint-Lazare, it's popular with the numerous commuters who pass through the train and metro station each day.
Bercy Village Christmas Market & Holiday Lights
Bercy Village, a charming cobblestone passage lined with 19th century wine warehouses now transformed into cute boutiques, amusements, bistros, and bars in Paris's 12th arrondissement, stages a spectacular light display created each year by a different artist or designer, along with at least one large brightly lit tree and other decorations. (The adjacent 18-screen UGC Cité-Cine Bercy movie theater is another big attraction.)
A few popup stalls join the permanent shops for an experience that's slightly different from the more typical Christmas markets, but always worth a visit.
Look for the light display from mid-November through mid-January.
Location: 28 Rue François Truffaut, Paris 12
Christmas Market at Pompidou Center
The Marché de Noël Paris Beaubourg across from Centre Pompidou in the 4th arrondissement is usually open for the month of December until just after the New Year.
The Christmas Market here is very close to the jazz clubs along Rue des Lombards, in case you need to reward yourself with music and a drink after shopping
15th Arrondissement Town Hall Christmas Market
In the courtyard at the 15th district's Hotel de Ville (31 rue Péclet, near Vaugirard Metro Station), you'll see about 20 chalets offering regional specialities, crafts, jewelry, and Christmas decorations, plus plenty of free fun activities including pony rides, sleigh rides, and even a merry-go-round.
The market is usually there for about 10 days leading up to Christmas.
Sacre Coeur Christmas Market
This is a small, occasional market, with just a handful of chalets. Look for them next to the carousel in the small park at the foot of the hill leading up to Sacre Coeur. If you don't see it, head over the the market at Place de l'Abbesses instead.
Place d'Italie Marché de Noel
About 20 chalets offer gifts and mouth-watering specialty food items at the Italie 2 shopping center at Place d'Italie (30 Avenue d'Italie, 13th arrondissement). The market is usually in place from early December through Christmas Eve.
Champ de Mars / Quai Branly / Eiffel Tower Christmas Market
The location of this market varies - sometimes it's on Champ de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower, and sometimes it's on Quai Branly next to the Seine.
The number of chalets varies as well, but here's the important thing to know: food offerings here are usually outstanding, with prepared-on-the-spot treats such as raclette and even paella almost stealing the show.
But of course the real show-stopper here is the Iron Lady, especially when she sparkles during the nightly light show.
See the glowing lights of holiday markets and decorations on an open-top Christmas bus tour of Paris
During some years, an ice skating rink pops up next to the market, which usually takes place during the last 2 weeks in December/early January.
Closest Metro: Bir Hakeim, Alma Marceau (across the Seine) or La Tour-Maubourg, 7th Arrondissement
Pop-Up Stalls Selling Holiday Fare
What's a pop-up Christmas market?
Usually these are smaller markets, sometimes devoted to a specific theme such as the Japanese Holiday Market and the Swedish Christmas Market.
These markets typically open from one to several days each season. Sometimes they take place in the same location from year to year, but not always.
Neighborhood pop-up stalls also come and go in some areas, so you will most likely happen upon them.
One area where this frequently occurs is near Galeries Lafayette, across from the main building on Blvd Haussmann. Look for luxury goods, such as perfume, designer scarves, and fine leather gloves.
Even the regularly-held Paris street markets expand their offerings at this time of the year.
For example, Marché Saint-Honoré (Wednesday afternoon/evening and Saturday until 3pm) in the 1st Arrondissement expands with stalls offering gift items such as lovely knit baby garments, fancy confits, and jewelry.
Where to (Maybe) Find a Pop-Up Market
Pop-up Christmas markets, by their nature, are ephemeral and hard to find if you don't know where to look for them.
A place always worth checking is the spacious Halle des Blancs Manteau (48 Rue Vielle du Temple, 4th Arrondissement), an old covered market dating back to the early 1800s in the heart of the Marais.
If you don't find a pop-up market underway, you'll find plenty of other shopping opportunities in this part of the Marais - or cross the Seine to Ile Saint-Louis, where appealing gift boutiques and galleries line both sides of the main street down the island's center.
Another excellent and reliable option (it has taken place in the same location for almost two decades is Salon Idées Japon, the Japanese Christmas Market that pops up for three days in late November-early December in Passage Choiseul in Paris's 2nd arrondissement.
More than 40 Franco-Japanese creators and artists present a variety of beautiful creations such as jewelry, calligraphy, decorative objects, clothing, dolls, teas, and books that make wonderful Christmas gifts.
Check our December Events Calendar for more pop-up markets
Dates for Les Marchés de Noël
Opening dates vary - but the larger markets usually open during the middle or end of November, or early December.
Closing dates vary from just before or after Christmas to New Year's Eve or even early January. Those that do continue into early January often close right before the big January sales begin.
A few smaller markets wait until mid-December to open. Pop-up markets are ephemeral by definition and typically take place for only 1-3 days.
Check our December Events Calendar for exact dates, as they vary each year
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- Which Paris department stores have the biggest & best Christmas window decorations?
- Hanukkah often overlaps the Christmas season - find out about Hanukkah celebrations in Paris
- How to score the best deals at the famous after-Christmas Paris sales in January
