Best Christmas Markets in Paris

Best Christmas Markets in Paris

By Dom Bewley

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Those songs are playing on the radio again. An overabundance of red and white adorn every advert on TV. It can only mean one thing; Christmas. It's here. It's finally here! Time to dust off the box of decorations, and grit your teeth through another card to a long-hated neighbor.

If you're visiting the magical city of Paris over the holidays, you might wonder what the Christmas market situation looks like. Which are the best, and where are they in the city? Don't worry; we've got you. Read on, and discover our picks of the best Christmas markets in Paris!

Including:

  • Montmartre Christmas Market
  • Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market
  • La Magie de Noël
  • Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market
  • Marché de Noel Notre Dame
  • and more!

Are Paris Christmas markets good?

While Paris may not have the same Christmas market pedigree compared to other cities, they're quickly catching up. Nowadays, you'll find a number of brilliant Christmas markets in Paris, with some focusing on fun, and others offering hearty meals and warm drinks.

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La Magie de Noël

November - January

'The Magic of Christmas' was once the Champs-Élysées Christmas Market. But it has only grown from those humble beginnings, now stretching the length of Tuileries Garden, between the Rue des Pyramides and Place de la Concord. Arguably Paris' biggest and most visited Christmas market, it offers a one-two punch of carnival rides and your usual market offerings.

Visitors will find more than a dozen rides to enjoy, from merry Ferris wheels to bumper cars. So that's the kids taken care of. And you, if you're so inclined. For everything else, the market has a metric ton of food, mulled wine, Champagne, and stalls selling artisanal decorations, jewelry, and other Christmasy goods bound for a stocking or two.

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Marché de Noel Notre Dame

December - January

While the eponymous cathedral may still be under restoration following the 2019 fire, its Christmas market is still in full swing. While it may not boast the entertainment offerings you'll find on some of this list, it does provide plenty of upmarket gift-purchasing opportunities!

Walk its stalls, and you'll find plenty of pricey gifts to give to your loved ones, from ornate homeware to bedazzling jewelry. You could even pick up some top-draw meat for the Christmas cook-up, if you're spending the holidays in the city.

And, of course, you'll have plenty of opportunities to red the cheeks thanks to pots of steaming mulled wine. And if you're lucky, you might even catch a live performance to two.

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Montmartre Christmas Market

November - December

If you're looking for a smaller affair with fewer shoulders to brush past, head to stunning Montmartre, where you'll find a humbly delightful Christmas market where local artists, designers, and creators get to strut their stuff.

Visitors will find it easy to navigate around the twenty-off stalls that call the market home, all surrounding a massive Christmas tree replete with multicolored lights. Grab a mulled wine to warm up, and take a wander around the food stalls to pick up some traditionally Parisian snacks. Then, pick up some unique scarves, toys, and other items created by local masters.

Stocking fillers that sustain the local community? What could possibly be more Christmasy than that?

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Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market

December - January

If you like your Christmas tinged with a rustic theme, head to the Hôtel de Ville Christmas Market, which is encased in Christmas trees adorned with lights and decorations. And that rustic feel trickles down to the market's offerings, too, with plenty of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and other sweet treats to guzzle down as you wander about.

But really, the star of the show is Hôtel de Ville's light show, which bathes the surrounding buildings - and the market - with the warm glow of unmistakably Christmas colors. Under all that, kids can even get in on the fun, with carousels, and even Santa's workshop, where they can dream big. Inevitably, however, their dreams will be shattered when you fail to plant a unicorn under the tree. It's okay; they'll get over it. Eventually.

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Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market

December-January

And now, we look to the stomping grounds of soccer behemoth PSG, where you'll find the charming Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market. While oil may flow freely into the club's checkbook, the Christmas market is a more modest affair, with around 40 stalls offering plenty of stocking opportunities.

From candles to ornaments for the home, to jewelry, bags, and unique keepsakes for your loved ones, there's plenty to purchase. And that's without mentioning the food and drink. Cakes, wines, Christmas liquors, and even caviar make an appearance every year. So, if you want to upgrade your tasting time, this might just be the best Christmas market in Paris!

Image of Lighting,

La Défense Marché de Noël

November - December

Throwing their hat in the ring for the 'biggest Christmas market in Paris' is La Défense Marché de Noël, which expands some prior proceedings with over 200 stalls along La Défense Esplanade. Over a million people visit every year, and that many people can't be wrong.

Along with the usual market affair of great food and piping-hot drinks, as well as plenty of stocking shopping opportunities, what makes La Défense Marché de Noël unique is the many stalls selling specialty items. One moment you could be looking at bespoke stuffed Santas, the next filing through antique artwork. It's a melting pot of oddities and absolutely deserves a visit at least once.

All of this goodness is backed up by DJs spinning sweet Christmas songs all through the night. So, if you're in the area, why not give it a go?

And that rounds out our list of the best Christmas markets in Paris! If you're in town for the holidays, why not make the most of your visit and see what else the city has to offer? Go City's got you covered. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can see all of Paris' best bits for one low price!

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A couple embrace in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
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Romantic Things to do in Paris

Wander the streets of the City of Love and you’ll soon discover how Paris earned this most romantic of nicknames. Charming tree-lined squares, couples holding hands at pavement cafés, secret flower gardens and swoonsome Art Deco architecture are just a handful of reasons among many. Read on to discover our pick of the most romantic things to do in Paris, from sunset cruises on the Seine to dining in the Eiffel Tower. Romantic Walks and Cruises in Paris Is there anything more romantic than bobbing along gently in a rowboat, basking in sunshine and gazing lovingly into the eyes of your favorite human? Bois de Boulogne is one of Paris’s biggest parks (over twice the size of Central Park!) and contains a chateau, a botanical garden and several ponds and lakes. It’s on the largest of these – the Lac Inferieur, or Lower Lake – that you can rent old-fashioned wooden boats and row out onto the tranquil waters. Impress your partner by whipping out a Parisian picnic of wine, cheese and fresh baguette when you return to the bank, before taking a post-lunch stroll through the forest to the rose-filled Parc de Bagatelle botanical garden. Keep your eyes peeled for resident peacocks and cute native red squirrels along the way. Paris is chock-full of opportunities for loved-up walks. Stroll hand-in-hand along the Canal Saint-Martin with its shaded quays, cute boho cafés and craft beer bars. Or head to – hear me out – Père Lachaise Cemetery, where sweeping tree-lined avenues are flanked by beautifully decorative sculptures and mausoleums. It’s here you’ll find the tomb of star-crossed lovers Heloise and Abelard, a favorite illicit meeting spot for young sweethearts in the 19th Century. Tradition dictates that visitors to Oscar Wilde’s final resting place should plant a lipsticky kiss on the celebrated author’s grave, though you might be advised to give your relatively germ-free significant other a smooch here instead. A sunset Seine cruise is a great way to see the sights of Paris from the water. Go all gooey-eyed at landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Louvre Museum as dusk falls and thousands of lights start to twinkle across the city. Grab a glass of champagne to enhance this perfect moment, as your bateau sails gently beneath the soaring arch of Pont Alexandre III, with its gorgeously ornate Art Deco lanterns. I Heart Montmartre Of all the places in Paris that can legitimately lay claim to being the city’s most romantic, Montmartre is arguably the one true holder of the title. Its narrow cobbled alleys, adorable Parisian cafés and, of course, the sumptuous Sacré-Cœur basilica all seem designed with the express intention of making you swoon. Take a walking tour with a local guide to get your bearings then cut loose with your bae to make the kind of romantic memories money just can’t buy. Start by taking in the flamboyant byzantine-style confection that is the Sacré-Cœur and enjoy the sweeping views it affords from its vantage point at the very top of the city. If you’re planning to pop the question, you’d struggle to find a more romantic spot than this. Although, apparently, Paris’s most popular location for proposing marriage isn’t the Sacré-Cœur. Nor even the Eiffel Tower. Or the Palace of Versailles. Nope, it’s... Disneyland. Your guess is as good as ours. Hidden away in Montmartre’s tiny Jehan-Rictus garden square is the wildly romantic-sounding Le Mur Des Je t’aime. This permanent art installation – a love-themed wall made from enameled lava tiles – features the phrase ‘I love you’ in 250 languages, so you can learn to whisper your sweet nothings in Italian, Indonesian, Inuit and more. Like many places in Paris, Montmartre becomes even more beautiful and atmospheric as the sun sets. There’s not much to beat sitting on the basilica steps on a sultry summer evening at sundown, watching the sky change color as the old-fashioned double-decker carousel below wheels into motion, all colorful horses, ornate carriages, carnival lights and the sound of laughter drifting up on the warm evening air. La Belle Vie One of the most extravagant former royal residences on the planet, the Palace of Versailles lies a short distance west of Paris and is easy (and cheap) to reach by direct train. You could easily spend a day here, wandering the palace’s vast interior and experiencing the multitude of impossibly opulent rooms that include the Hall of Mirrors and the King’s private apartments. Don’t miss Marie Antoinette’s quaint Hamlet, a ‘rustic’ retreat with a working mill, and of course the palace’s perfectly manicured formal gardens. Wander among the endless paths, ponds, sculptures and fountains with your own king or queen, admiring this landscaping masterwork that has remained largely unchanged since Louis XIV’s reign in the 17th Century. Not without merit, the Palace of Versailles is one of the world’s most popular attractions. So, if you prefer your chateau sightseeing a little more intimate, Fontainebleau and Vincennes also come highly recommended as alternative options. Both are just as captivating, and equally accessible from central Paris. Paris boasts plenty of romantic restaurants and hotels that will make you feel like royalty yourself. Splash out on a lavish dinner inside the Eiffel Tower at Le Jules Verne, where views of the city sparkling far below like thousands of tiny diamonds are matched only by the immaculate tasting menu and finest French wines. You may have to mortgage a kidney or two to get a room at the Shangri-La Paris. But what price love, eh? This grand and oh-so-Parisian hotel, once the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, has vintage-feel rooms and suites in golds and duck-egg blues, many with views of the Eiffel Tower. There’s also a chic spa and lovely sun terrace for summer dining. But be prepared to dig deep: prices for rooms without a view start well into four figures. Ooh la la indeed. But maybe, just maybe, all you need for that unforgettable romantic Paris moment is a bottle of chilled champagne and a paper bag brimming with sugary-sweet chouquettes fresh from the boulangerie. Head to the banks of the Seine with your sweetheart at sundown and watch the City of Love light up. Perfect. Save on romantic things to do in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Moulin Rouge
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Things to do in Paris For Adults

Paris is a veritable playground for grown-ups. There are literally hundreds of museums and art galleries to explore, plus superb shopping – from high-end brands on the magnificent Champs Élysées to haggling for antiques and knick-knacks in the world’s biggest flea market. There’s top-flight entertainment too (spot of Paris burlesque, anyone?), not to mention some of the best gourmet dining on the planet. Dive in to discover our pick of the 10 best things to do in Paris for adults. Dine in the Eiffel Tower There are surely few things in life more decadent – or romantic – than having dinner halfway up the Eiffel Tower, as the sun sets and lights begin to twinkle in the city streets far below. Eating out at Le Jules Verne doesn’t come cheap, with the five-course tasting menu starting at north of €200. But what price delicious French cuisine from a Michelin-star-awarded chef? Pair your dishes with wines hand-picked by the restaurant’s master sommeliers for a meal you’ll never forget... unless of course you accidentally finish the bottle. See Some Great Art A short stroll through the leafy Jardin des Tuileries from its more famous (and much bigger) neighbor the Louvre, the Musée de l'Orangerie is a relatively diminutive but no less enticing treasure trove for art lovers, perhaps best known for its collection of eight of Monet’s Water Lilies paintings. Here on the banks of the Seine, fans of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism will find much to admire, with many fine masterpieces from Picasso, Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani and more. Shop til You Drop Love to shop? You’ve come to the right place! Head to the Champs-Élysées if you want to give your wallet a real workout. Here, brands including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Apple and Chanel all but guarantee you’ll get a panicked call from your credit card company before the day’s out. Paris’s historic covered passages invite you to browse antique stores, independent boutiques, artisan jewelers and much more beneath amazing glass canopies. Or, if it’s knick-knacks, vintage fashions and old vinyl records that float your boat, put on your haggling hat and make for the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, only the biggest flea market on the entire planet. Go Wine-Tasting Back in the 18th Century, France’s King Louis XV was reviled by his subjects for his flamboyant overspending, which included the establishment of a discrete network of caves and tunnels beneath the streets of Paris, in which to store his wine. Today, you can reap the benefits in these atmospheric royal cellars at Les Caves du Louvre, where a fascinating tour concludes with a tasting experience of three different French wines. Santé! Take to the Skies Soar high above the city on a ride aboard the Ballon de Paris Generali, a huge tethered helium balloon that rises 150 meters above the Parc André-Citroën, affording panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sacré-Cœur Basilica and more. Or make a day of it on an amazing hot-air balloon experience just outside of Paris. This flight takes you high above the undulating French countryside for a bird’s eye view of its lush woodlands, picturesque villages and grand chateaux. You can even upgrade to include dinner and champagne if you’re feeling particularly decadent. Unwind at the Spa Do as the Parisiens do and make for the Latin Quarter’s exquisite Mosquée de Paris, where the beautiful byzantine-style hammam with its gurgling fountain and inviting steam room provides an idyllic setting for an vigorous exfoliation treatment or massage. Pro-tip: sip a mint tea afterwards in the leafy courtyard to complete your journey to the state of pure zen. Big spenders can also pamper to within an inch of their lives at luxury spa facilities in the likes of chic Maison Sisley, just off the Champs-Élysées, and the spa at La Réserve Paris, one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. Buy Macarons at Ladurée The modern ‘Paris macaron’, a super-sweet confection comprised of two small meringue discs around a ganache, jam or buttercream filling, is widely credited to upmarket French pâtisserie Ladurée. Head to their highly Instagrammable flagship store on the Champs-Elysées to stock up on these dainty treats, which come in a rainbow of colors and flavors, including chocolate, pistachio, cardamom and dozens more. Better still, pause for an indulgent afternoon tea in the opulent salon. Visit a Château Paris is practically encircled by amazing chateaux and palaces, regal homes of the great and the good (and the not-so-good) over many centuries. Hop on a train to the insanely grandiose Palace of Versailles, a favorite dwelling of French Kings and Queens in the 17th and 18th centuries, later used by Napoleon as a summer residence following the French Revolution. Fairytale Fontainebleau has been around since medieval times: another favorite of our old pal Napoleon, it contains the only Napoleonic throne room still in existence, plus miles and miles of ridiculously sumptuous galleries, corridors, halls and boudoirs to explore. Take in a Show Since time immemorial the great philosophers have pondered the question: if you went to Paris but didn’t see a cabaret show, did you even go to Paris? Have no doubt: this is one of the most fun activities for adults on a night out in Paris. There’s a sparkling roster of shows available across dozens of venues, the most famous of course being the Moulin Rouge with its neon-lit red windmill. Which you choose will really depend on how you like your cabaret and burlesque, from the très risqué to the positively demure and from traditional high-kicking can-can dancers to death-defying acrobatics and dazzling light shows. Watch a Sunset Experience a sunset just once in Paris, and you’ll soon understand why it has so inspired artists like Monet down the centuries. Watch the sun go down from a bateaux on the Seine, as the city’s great iconic monuments begin to light up. Or head for the hills – specifically Montmartre – where a chocolate crêpe on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, as the sky blazes in various shades of orange, pink and purple, and lights begin to flicker on across the city, really might feel like a life-changing experience. Save on things to do in Paris for adults Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak

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