The City of Lights truly lives up to its name in winter, when Christmas markets and festive lights take over Paris. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about the best Christmas markets in Paris and the most beautiful holiday lights around the city.
Table of Contents
Top 6 Christmas Markets in Paris
1) Tuileries Garden Christmas Market
Pl. de la Concorde, 75001 Paris
November 15, 2025, until January 4, 2026
What better way to celebrate Christmas than a magical party at the heart of Paris?
Head to the verdant Tuileries Garden and stroll among the wooden chalets of its Christmas market.
Take time to savor a delicious fairy floss or a crispy waffle and enjoy the many attractions of the fairground.
The ghost train will give the whole family shivers of delight, and you’ll have a splendid view of Paris from the top of the Ferris wheel.
And who knows, you might get to slide on the ice rink from the last edition.
And guess what: Santa Claus is sure to attend the festivities!
2) Notre-Dame Christmas Market
Square René Viviani, 2 Rue du Fouarre, 75005 Paris
November 28, 2025, until December 25, 2025
If you’re fond of French cuisine and craftsmanship, you’ll be happy to discover this market on the René Viviani Square, quai Montebello.
A stone’s throw from Notre Dame Cathedral, you’ll find at least thirty stalls brimming with original and varied creations suited to all budgets, ranging from knitted scarves made of silk or mohair, candles, and costume jewelry to hand-cut precious stones.
If you feel peckish, the market is full of local and seasonal products such as foie gras, roasted chestnuts, and warm wine.
Best of all, Santa Claus will visit the market!
3) Alsatian Christmas Market of Gare de l’Est
Rue du 8 Mai 1945, 75010 Paris
November 282025, until December 14, 2025
Slip under the market’s tent to discover the best Alsatian artisans and get a sip of their delicious wines and liqueurs. There are also soft and crispy pretzels aplenty if you prefer.
Not only will kids be delighted to see Santa Claus, but other surprises await them. Like storytelling sessions or, perhaps, the 4.50-meter-high gingerbread Saint-Nicolas featured last year.
4) La Defense Christmas Market
November 13, 2025, until December 28, 2025
The largest Christmas market in Paris brings together nearly 200 wooden chalets filled with treasures to discover while strolling among its many alleys.
If you’re feeling hungry, you will find something tasty in one of the stalls loaded with gingerbread and other seasonal treats or in one of the many catering points.
This market is open to the whole world on the culinary front, and you’ll find plenty of various things to eat, ranging from tartiflette to traditional Creole dishes.
If you want to cross items off your gift shopping list or find decorations to spice up your home for Christmas Eve, you’ll find everything you can wish for here.
Santa Claus welcomes children and grown-ups in his shining house on the Parvis de la Défense.
5) Eiffel Tower Christmas Market
Quai Jacques Chirac, 75015 Paris
December 6, 2025, until December 4, 2026
A Christmas market has been set up not far from the Eiffel Tower, offering the chance to enjoy a cup of mulled wine and sample dishes from a few food trucks on site.
You’ll also find wooden chalets displaying holiday-themed creations, though the offerings remain fairly simple.
Located away from the base of the Eiffel Tower and slightly off the main area of the Champ de Mars, the atmosphere can feel a bit mixed, especially with the presence of numerous street vendors nearby.
6) Swiss Christmas Market at La Villette (New!)
View this post on Instagram
November 20, 2025, until December 28, 2025
Pour la première fois hors de Suisse, ce village féérique propose plus de 100 chalets d’artisanat, de créations locales et de délices de saison.
L’accès est gratuit, mais certaines attractions comme la patinoire, la grande roue et le carrousel sont payantes.
On y trouve aussi un chalet à fondue, des ateliers créatifs, des spectacles et des animations pour toute la famille.
C’est une expérience conviviale et chaleureuse, parfaite pour découvrir la magie des fêtes à la suisse au cœur du 19e arrondissement.
Top 5 Christmas Lights in Paris
1) Avenue des Champs Elysées
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Paris is known as the City of Lights. Few streets in the capital illustrate this idea so well as the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, especially in the end-of-year festivities.
At Christmas, the most beautiful avenue in the world sparkles with a thousand lights and buzzes with celebratory sounds all night long.
It is a unique experience to head toward the Arc of Triumph among a verdant cortege of fir trees. You don’t want to miss it.
2) Avenue Montaigne
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A haven of French high fashion, this street is also famous for the spectacle it offers each year in December.
Take the time to stroll among the fir trees in the garland-filled street and admire the illuminated windows of its luxurious shops.
All the great fashion houses and upscale hotels gathered here are upstaging each other in their bid to amaze passers-by.
3) Boulevard Haussmann
View this post on Instagram
A fashionista’s paradise, the Boulevard Haussmann and its department stores put out their finest clothes for the end-of-year festivities.
At Christmas, the most famous stores like Galeries Lafayette (here in the photo) or Printemps deploy treasures of imagination to decorate their windows.
A perpetual uproar of sounds and lights awaits you here from late November to early January.
4) Place Vendôme
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
With its historical central column, luxurious boutiques, and prestigious hotels, Place Vendome has the understated elegance of one of Paris’s refined enclaves. But it also knows how to dress up when the circumstances require it.
Come Christmastime, from November to December, multicolored garlands and giant fir trees bathed in light fill the street and joyfully intermingle with the premises’ classic architecture.
5) Bus tour of Paris’ lights
If you want to see every inch of Paris in Christmas colors, there is no need for a sleigh and magical reindeer. For 35 €, you can hop on a bus and embark on a road trip throughout the shining streets of the City of Lights.
During the tour, you will discover or reacquaint yourself with iconic monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvres Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Check details & availabilities
With a passion for travel and having visited over 50 countries, Dorian is eager to share his favorite spots and expert tips to help you explore Paris and France like a local.
