Paris at Christmas: A Local’s Holiday Guide to the City of Light

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Paris at Christmas | Neighborhoods & Areas | Tips | FAQ

Visiting Paris at Christmas can be a magical experience. From the festive shop windows to the lit-up street decorations, Paris loves the holidays! After more than 10 years here, I’m obsessed with the city’s Christmas markets, mulled wine, and ice skating rink. It really does feel charmed here around the holidays. (If you’re lucky, you’ll even see some rare snow!)

While visiting Paris over the holidays can be an incredible experience, it’s also a popular one. Though winter is usually off-season for Paris, the weeks between Christmas and New Year’s Eve see prices back in the peak range. 

If it’s your dream to visit Paris in late December, though, don’t let this stop you! The city’s full of luxury experiences, sure. Le Bristol, for example, offers special shopping experiences, holiday menus, and spa treatments. 

But if four figures a night is too much for your budget, there are still bargains to be had if you know where to look! The Hôtel Les Deux Girafes offers festive eccentricity at less than 300 euros a night (as of this writing).

No matter what your budget, no destination is better than the City of Light at the darkest time of the year. Here’s what you need to know to plan your trip!

Best Places to Stay in Paris at Christmas

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

• 💎 For a Luxury Stay: Le Bristol (8th arrondissement)
• 👪 For a Family Stay: Cheval Blanc Paris (1st arrondissement)
• 💗 For a Romantic Stay: J.K. Place Paris (7th arrondissement)
• 🎀 For a Charming Stay: Pavillon de la Reine (the Marais (the 3rd and 4th arrondissements))
• 🛏️ For a Budget Stay: Hôtel Les Deux Girafes (11th arrondissement)

With that in mind, keep reading for a deep dive into why each area is great at Christmas! 

5 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Paris at Christmas

This French capital is so full of wonderful accommodations that picking where to stay in Paris can be tricky any time of year. To help holiday travelers, I’ve narrowed down my favorite Christmas neighborhoods to just five. Here’s what you should know about them! 

8th Arrondissement: For a Luxury Holiday

👉 Best Area For a Luxurious Christmas | ✨ Best 8th Arrondissement Hotels for the Holidays: Le Bristol • Hotel de Crillon • Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

If your ideal holiday presents include white Chanel bags and red Cartier boxes, the 8th arrondissement is for you. This rich area of Paris is on the Right Bank and extends to the Arc de Triomphe. This includes streets like the Champs-Elysées – the perfect viewing location for Paris’s New Year’s Eve fireworks! 

The 8th is also home to the Rue Saint Honoré, where you’ll find everything from Hermès to Dior. But not everything needs to cost money! The charming Parc Monceau is a great place to take kids on a mild-weather day. A festive carousel and garden walks are set between streets full of private mansions.

Get your own taste of the Paris high life by staying at the crown jewel of the 8th. One of only 12 Palace hotels (exceptional 5-star hotels) in Paris, Le Bristol was the first to receive this distinction. [Source]

Their “Christmas Magic” package hints at why this is the case! This package includes a 10% discount, champagne and chocolate in your room, and children’s Christmas presents. You’ll also get a free room upgrade and breakfast included. Le Bristol is truly a luxury hotel. There’s a 3-star Michelin restaurant. An award-winning spa that includes specially designed treatments for children. For a splurge, there’s no place better to be!  

1st Arrondissement: For a Family Stay

👉 Best Area For a Family Christmas | ✨ Best 1st Arrondissement Hotels for the Holidays: Cheval Blanc Paris • Hôtel Meurice • Hotel Regina Louvre

Family travel during the holidays can be a hassle, with everyone wanting to do different things. Not so in Paris’s central 1st arrondissement! Here, there are plenty of incredible activities for all ages and tastes. 

Shoppers will love La Samaritaine’s enormous department store. Kids will have a blast at the Christmas fair in the Tuileries Gardens. The Seine is on the southern border, while the Louvre is at your doorstep. And the city’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are just around the corner!

The Cheval Blanc Paris knows how to do Christmas in style for the whole family. Its restaurants serve festive food, from chocolate Christmas trees to foie gras. Gift baskets with French holiday specialties are available. You can get anything from an edible Yule log cake to Dior spa treatments at this grand hotel in the city center!

For kids between 4 and 12, the Cheval Blanc offers an “enchanted forest” each afternoon. This includes creative workshops, movie screenings, and a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve.

7th Arrondissement: For a Romantic Stay

👉 Best Area For a Romantic Christmas | ✨ Best 7th Arrondissement Hotels for the Holidays: Le Narcisse Blanc • J.K. Place Paris • Académie Hôtel Saint-Germain

The beautifully austere 7th arrondissement is one I often recommend for first-time visitors to Paris. And there’s nowhere better to be in love at Christmas! From visiting tiny museums together to going on a Seine Cruise, the 7th has so many options for couples.

Top among these attractions? The Eiffel Tower, of course! Book a ticket at sunset to see the lights go on. And you can add a glass of champagne to your experience for an extra special touch.

Across from the Seine, J.K. Place Paris is the perfect location to base a romantic Parisian getaway. Walk hand-in-hand along the river. Cross the bridge to visit the Tuileries Christmas fair. Wander through the area for some great shopping and sightseeing. Even better, spend a day exploring the indoor pool, plunge pool, and spa services. And breakfast in bed is available!

J.K. Place is an especially good choice if you plan on staying through the New Year. Its restaurant’s New Year’s Eve menu is decadent. But save room for the midnight champagne toast!

The Marais (3rd and 4th Arrondissements): For a Charming Stay

👉 Best Area For a Charming Christmas | ✨ Best Marais Hotels for the Holidays: Pavillon de la Reine • Solly Hôtel Paris • Hotel du Petit Moulin

The Marais, in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, is always one of the most charming areas of Paris. Its cobblestoned streets, museums housed in former mansions, and hidden parks are a delight. 

At Christmastime, the Marais really shows off its stuff! Just wandering the streets looking at the decorations – put up by the city and individual stores – is a treat. 

But this is also a great place to visit one of Paris’s big holiday attractions: the city hall Christmas Fair and Village! At the Hôtel de Ville in the 4th, you’ll find local products, gorgeous lights, and Parisian artisans. There’s a wooden horse carousel for kids. Santa’s also available (in French) from Wednesday through Saturday, 3 pm to 9 pm. And the entire experience is 100% recyclable! 

The Hôtel de Ville’s fair runs from December 5 to January 4. And if you come between December 21 and January 7, you’ll find a skating rink available. For €5, you can glide around a rink in the heart of Paris.

In the Marais, I love the Pavillon de la Reine for its Christmas charm. Its light-filled courtyard and decor are subtly festive. Its location means it’s surrounded by Parisian institutions and cute boutiques for unique shopping. Meanwhile, its private courtyard and discreet staff make your stay peaceful and relaxing. 

The Michelin-starred restaurant, Anne, at the Pavillon de la Reine, is great for its prix-fixe lunch menus throughout the year. But over the holidays, you’ll want to stay for the sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner. Think warm oysters, chestnuts, foie gras, black truffles, and caviar. And don’t forget the champagne!

11th Arrondissement: For a Budget Stay

👉 Best Area For Christmas on a Budget | ✨ Best 11th Arrondissement Hotels for the Holidays: Maison Bréguet • La Maison Gobert Paris Hotel Particulier • Hôtel Les Deux Girafes

Just east of the Marais, the 11th arrondissement is one of my favorite places to wander during the holidays. But it’s often overlooked by visitors! That’s to their detriment, though. The area is full of one-of-a-kind boutiques, pop-ups, and gorgeous hotels that won’t break the bank. 

Well-connected by public transport, the 11th arrondissement is already fairly central. You may not want to leave the area, though! From performances at the Bastille Opera to the cozy cat café (Le Café des Chats), it’s perfect for the holidays. Plus, it’s more residential than a lot of the single-digit arrondissements, giving you a better sense of what it’s like to really live in Paris. 

The Maison Bréguet is one of my favorite hotels in the 11th. Their delightful holiday decorations are always charming. Meanwhile, their chef has designed a special “Christmas Splendor” yule log. This delicacy contains everything from chocolate mousse to an orange interior. Plan for it though – it has to be ordered 72 hours in advance! 

Meanwhile, the Hôtel Les Deux Girafes is decked out in its holiday splendor. With a great location down a narrow passage, this hotel is a Christmas bargain! Its highly rated rooms are currently priced at 275 euros on Christmas Eve.

Tips for Staying in Paris over the Holidays

Tip #1: Book Everything Early

Each Christmas trip to Paris will be unique – but you won’t be the only travelers coming here to celebrate! Book everything, from lodging to restaurants, early. Mid-October is a great deadline for the best prices and availability. For very popular Paris attractions like the Eiffel Tower, book as soon as you can.

Tip #2: Expect to Pay a Premium

Paris luxuriates in Christmas – and the price tags reflect that! While traveling in Paris on a budget is still possible, expect everything to cost a bit more than it did earlier in December. Adding 25-30% to your budget is a good idea. An itemized budget is an even better one.

Tip #3: Save Some Shopping for Paris

Let’s face it: you’ll have a long enough Paris packing list without bringing Christmas gifts along with you. Shopping in Paris is a delightful experience, so save the majority of your gift list for your time in the city. Plus, you’ll save tons of money on buying local French brands without import mark-ups!

Tip #4: Try French Holiday Foods

One of the best things about France during the Christmas season is the food. While you can certainly find roast chicken or turkey, this is a great opportunity to branch out. Chestnuts, oysters, foie gras, mulled wine, yule logs, and smoked salmon are all common French foods to try this time of year. 

Tip #5: Check Attraction Times Carefully

Although secular, France is a historically majority Catholic country. So, many attractions shut down for Catholic holidays. You should expect attractions to be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Eve/Day. But also look carefully at any posted exceptions to normal hours on attractions’ websites or call their front desk to check.

Tip #6: Don’t Limit Yourself to Your Quarter

The Paris neighborhoods in this guide are absolutely my favorites for holiday stays. But you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by limiting yourself to the area around your hotel! Check out more residential areas like the 11th and 12th arrondissements. Or, cross the river and explore the historic 5th and 6th arrondissements. 

Tip #7: Choose Terrace Seating with Care

Yes, Paris’s sidewalk cafés are a huge selling point. And yes, they’re (mostly) open year-round. But if you haven’t been here in a few years – or have never visited before – you may find the cold shocking. While the terraces used to have heaters, they were outlawed for environmental reasons several years ago. 

Some cafés have started sneakily re-integrating them, while others offer blankets. Just don’t assume that you’ll be comfortable until you actually check the heating situation!

Tip #8: Avoid Interrupting Religious Services

There are tons of religious services for multiple faiths around this time of year in Paris. But if you’re not actively worshipping, it’s respectful to wait until a service has finished to visit a house of worship. 

If you do decide to sit in on a service given by another faith, make sure to learn rules and expectations before going. For example, the Catholic faith considers it inappropriate for those not baptized in their faith to take communion. Attending services is alright, though.

Tip #9: Layers Are Your Friend!

I’m writing this during a December week in Paris. This week, I’ve worn everything from my huge winter coat with scarf, hat, and gloves to just a sweater and loafers. Rain boots and an umbrella were sometimes involved, too! 

Check the weather forecast before you come to Paris in winter. And plan for the unexpected!

FAQs

Is Paris worth visiting at Christmas?

Christmas is absolutely worth visiting at Christmas. It has incredible shopping, food, and a generally festive air. The street decorations and shop windows add an extra layer of excitement.

Which part of Paris is best for Christmas?

The best part of Paris for Christmas is the Marais, where you’ll find a ton of holiday charm. And, you’ll still be centrally located. For budget travelers, look at the 11th, just on the other side of the Marais, to benefit from the charm at a lower price!

What religious services are available in Paris on Christmas?

Almost every operating church in Paris will have at least one Christmas Day service. You’ll also find plenty with Christmas Eve services. Keep in mind that the vast majority of services will be in French and at Catholic churches. 

English-speaking and Protestant services are absolutely available, though. For an Episcopal service, check out the American Cathedral in the 8th arrondissement. And there are interdenominational services at the American Church in the 7th arrondissement.

What to do in Paris on Christmas Day?

Christmas Day is a great time to walk around the city. But if you’re looking for activities, they’re available! The Eiffel Tower is open – but book as far in advance as you can. Some Seine Cruises will be running. And many restaurants offer Christmas dinner (another thing to reserve well ahead of time!)

Where can I find more info on these areas? 

Easy! Check out my guides to the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th arrondissements for a more detailed breakdown of these neighborhoods.  

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While Christmas is an incredible time of year to visit Paris, the city has its advantages for visitors year-round. Check out my guide to when to visit Paris for more info!