Paris feels like a fairytale at any time of the year with its medieval architecture and winding cobblestone streets that seem frozen in time. Visitors arriving around the holiday season will feel this even more so, as the City of Lights feels more magical than ever! As the city’s sang froid gives way to friendly holiday cheer, you can head to Paris for the holidays and enjoy the best the city has to offer.
Go holiday shopping
As one of the world’s fashion capitals, Paris has no shortage of high-class department stores for your holiday shopping needs. But beyond just retail, the city’s grands magasins offer window displays for the holidays that are works of art in their own right! Perhaps the most spectacular is at Galeries Lafayette, a palatial store famous for the enormous Christmas tree that it hosts annually under its stained-glass dome.
Other imaginative displays include the ones at Le Bon Marché, the world’s first department store, and Printemps Haussmann, a landmark work of architecture housing great shopping. A final option for your last-minute holiday needs is Bazaar de l’Hôtel de Ville (BHV), located on the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville at the edge of Le Marais. You can do some shopping while the kids enjoy the ice skating outside.
If your loved ones are less interested in name-brand fashion and more curious about the old-world charm of Paris, there are plenty of options for gifts with more cachet. Deyrolle in the Saint-Germain district is perhaps the world’s best-known taxidermy shop and offers all kinds of unique animal-related gifts. More squeamish visitors can turn to L’objet qui parle, which brings the best of French savoir-faire to the Paris streets in the form of a craft store at 86 Rue des Martyrs. Authentic French antiques can be found at the Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen just north of Paris, while vintage books are sold at the bouquinistes (book stalls) that line the Seine River on both sides.
Paris’s holiday markets appear from November to January and are less gift-oriented but full of Christmas cheer. Here are some of the best, with hours and dates:
- Marché de Noël des Champs-Élysées, 8th Arrondissement– November 15 – January 4 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Sunday-Thursday) and 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Friday and Saturday)
- L’Arche de Noël, La Défense– November 19 – December 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Le Village de Père Noël, Place Saint-Sulpice– December 1-24 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Le Village de Père Noël, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés– November 28 – January 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Village de Noël de Montmartre, in front of Sacré Cœur Basilica– December 5 – January 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday) and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
- Marché de Noël Parvis de Notre-Dame, Square Viviani– December 12-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Saturday-Sunday)
Spend the holidays in a New York Habitat vacation rental
Enjoy the holidays in a home away from home and you’ll have a unique vacation rental experience instead of the sterility of a hotel room! There are many benefits to our fully-furnished apartments, as you can see for yourself! You can take your pick of the city’s homes, from the coziest sloped-ceiling chambres de bonne to expansive townhouses hidden in Parisian courtyards.
Bring the whole family along and you won’t struggle to find top-notch accommodations like this 4-bedroom vacation rental in Trocadéro. Our apartments offer flexible sleeping arrangements in the form of sofa beds, convenient cots, or air mattresses available on request. You’ll also have more flexibility with checking in and out, so you can arrange your personal welcome at a time that works for you.
Another personal touch is our network of real estate professionals who have years of experience in the Paris market and can answer all of your questions! Planning to bring along the family pet? Looking for the unbeatable convenience of in-unit laundry? Hoping for a romantic apartment for you and your significant other? Our agents will help you at every step and ensure that you find your dream rental, even if it’s only for a few nights.
Last but not least, our furnished vacation rentals offer the incomparable charm of staying in a real home. Many of our listings are full-time residences for most of the year, so you can enjoy a lived-in space with character. Whether it’s the human dimension added by family photos on the walls, or the necessity of a fully-equipped kitchen for your Christmas feast, a real furnished home offers benefits you simply can’t find elsewhere.
Take part in holiday celebrations
In France, along with most cultures, the holidays are a time for families and friends to come together. They’re also a time for unique public events that maintain historic traditions and show the love of art that’s ingrained in French culture.
Leading up to the holiday season is the Festival d’Automne, an arts festival that runs through December 31. Displays include visual art, installations, performance pieces, multimedia exhibitions, and more located all across the city.
France’s love of food also lends to some interesting holiday events. The Carousel du Louvre beneath the famed Louvre museum (one of our favorite rainy day activities) serves up culinary delights at its Noël Gourmand festival from December 11-14. There are also the unique creations of the pastry chefs at the Café de la Paix in the Hôtel Intercontinental, located near the iconic Opéra Garnier. You can enjoy a unique spin on the French bûche de noël holiday cake, available for tasting from December 21-January 1.
Some more conventional holiday celebrations can be experienced at Paris’s churches. The crèche (nativity scene) at the Madeleine is a must-see, while its counterpart at Notre Dame has a special addition for the Fête des Rois (Epiphany) celebrations on January 6. Both of these churches, as well as iconic Sacré-Coeur, offer Christmas mass for religious folks. There’s no better time to experience the city’s churches!
One last way to mark the holidays is with Paris’s second official New Year’s Eve celebration. There is a special program planned in addition to the light shows on the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, so show up early to get a good spot!
Winter sports
Even if holiday cheer isn’t your cup of tea, there are lots of ways to enjoy the arrival of winter in Paris. For one, there are Paris’s public squares, many of which are adapted into skating rinks for family fun in winter. Perhaps the best known is the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, which offers a large rink and a separate kid’s section. Access is free, but you’ll have to rent skates for 6€ if you don’t bring your own. Another dramatic skating locale is the Place de la Concorde at the base of Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Rates are 10€ for adults and 7€ for children. Finally, there’s the rink at the Eiffel Tower, which is 57m above the street on the 1st floor. Skating is free, but you’ll need a 4€ ticket to take the stairs up or a 9€ ticket for the elevator.
Parisians have to get creative to enjoy winter sports without any impressive mountains nearby. One way is by adapting the Stade Charléty in the southern 13th Arrondissement into a free sledding hill for 3-16 year olds. Another is Berges sur Neige, a city recreation initiative that transforms the Seine’s riverbanks into a “rollerski” rink. Finally, ski or snowboard fans can hop on an RER A train to the Winter Sports Village in Vaires-Torcy. Miniature skiing hills and more are available there to sate Parisians’ recreational needs.
With all of these options to choose from, you might find yourself craving a longer stay in Paris. Take a look at our fully-furnished apartments to find a home that lets you live like a local while studying abroad, staying for a sabbatical, or enjoying an extended trip.
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