It’s that time of the year when Paris transforms into a holiday wonderland with bright lights, dazzling decorations, festive windows at department stores and special concerts and performances.
Here’s our list of the best things to do and see for the Christmas holidays in 2025.
Champs Elysees Illuminations
- The most famous boulevard in the world, the Champs Elysees, is having a stunning illumination show that you must see to believe. Designed by Thierry Reboul, who was the creative director for the Paris Olympics in 2024, the gorgeous light show goes from 5pm until midnight, every night until January 4.
Department Stores
- Galeries Lafayette: The starting point for the holiday festivities at Galeries Lafayette begins with the massive Christmas tree rising over 10 stories in the center of the store and festooned with red ribbons. Graphic designer Jeanne Detallante, put her personal stamp on the decorations inside and outside, with the windows displaying Santa’s workshop and his elves fervently working to get the job done. The cherry on the holiday cake is the outdoor ice-skating rink on the roof of the store with amazing views of the city.
- Printemps: It’s a woof-woof Christmas in the windows at Printemps, as a pack of fun-loving dogs celebrate the Made in New York City theme. The pooches encounter a Times Square flash mob, New York traffic jams and a basketball game.
Holiday Markets
- The magical market La Magie de Noel (“The Magic of Christmas”) stretches the length of the Tuileries Gardens in between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. Dozens of artisanal stalls have decorations and gifts made in France or from French colonies, along with food stalls serving crepes, sausages, hot mulled wine, Champagne, quiches, Belgian waffles and roasted chestnuts. Amusement park rides including a giant Ferris wheel, a fun house and rollercoaster are also included along with an ice-skating rink.
- Over 200 stalls makeup the largest Christmas market in Paris, at Esplanade de La Defense, set in an office park on the edge of the city. Specialty foods such as foie gras, fresh oysters, cheeses, and fondue, are featured and hand-crafted clothing, ornaments, candles, leather goods from Morocco, and scarfs are just a smattering of the enormous selection.
Dance, Concerts and Theater
- Victor Hugo’s classic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame has been made into a ballet. It is being performed at the Opera Bastille, with music by Maurice Jarre and costumes by Yves Saint Laurent.
- Two beloved classics, Rudolf Nuryev’s version The Nutcracker at the Opera Bastille, and Swan Lake by Matthew Bourne, at Seine Musicale, will be performed throughout Christmas and New Years. The Orchestre Classik Ensemble will play Antonio Vivaldi-The Four Seasons, and Franz Schubert – Ave Maria, at the Salle Gustave Eiffel at the Eiffel Tower.
- Listen to Mozart, Chopin, and Liszt at the romantic, candle lit church Eglise Saint‐Ephrem.
- The beloved French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort from 1967, starring Catherine Deneuve and Gene Kelly, has been turned into a delightful stage production at the Lido Theater.
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