Visiting Paris in December? Winter is a great time to visit Paris, especially if you’re catching Paris during the holiday season. Ornately decorated storefronts and lights line the streets of Paris during this time, and you will likely run into one of the many Christmas markets that are set up throughout the city.
During December, Paris has a little extra magic due to the holiday season. There are tons of things to do in Paris in December and lucky for me, living in Paris for the past few years has allowed me to experience almost everything. I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best things to do in Paris in December to help you figure out what’s worth it for your itinerary.
Paris in December Weather
Paris in December is quite cold, though it rarely ever snows in Paris. You will still want to bring a coat and all the winter accessories to protect yourself from the brittle weather. Below is the general weather for the winter months in Paris:
- December: High of 47ºF/8ºC and low of 39ºF/4ºC
- January: High of 46ºF/7ºC and low of 37ºF/3ºC
- February: High of 48ºF/9ºC and low of 37ºF/3ºC
Additionally, prepare for potential rain during your trip in the winter. It doesn’t necessarily get rainy in Paris, but we have our days. Some boots and an umbrella should be more than enough to keep you dry.
And with that said, let’s dive into the best things to do in Paris this time of year!
10 Best Things To Do in Paris in December
#1 See the Christmas Tree at Galleries Lafayette
Addresss: 40, Boulevard Haussmann 75009 PARIS
Galeries Lafayette is a renowned Parisian department store, known for luxury shopping and iconic displays. It features upscale fashion and a famous Christmas tree during the holidays. If you are looking to pick up some chic French brands, going to Galeries Lafayette can be a great addition to a winter Paris itinerary. When you stroll into the department store, you’ll find the Christmas tree right in the center. Every year, the tree is decorated differently, and thousands of tourists flock to see the tree and take photos. The Christmas tree there is a showstopper—covered in lights and cool decorations.
Another thing to do at Galeries Lafayette is to venture up to the top of the building and snap a photo of the Parisian skyline. It is completely free to do and takes about 5 minutes, making it an easy add to your Paris in December itinerary.
#2 Stop For a Hot Chocolate
As you probably already know, café culture in Paris is a big deal, extending past just coffee. Hot chocolate, or chocolat chaud, is no exception. First brought to France by Spanish Conquistadors, it was originally reserved for the nobility and upper classes. Hot chocolate was thought to be Louis XV’s favorite beverage, and he even made hot chocolate for himself in his private apartments — the very apartments you can tour in Versailles today.
You’ll find that French hot chocolate, or hot chocolate in Europe in general, is much thicker than American hot chocolate. This is mainly because they opt for real chocolate bars and whole milk/cream, instead of powdered cocoa, creating a richer texture.
You can stop in pretty much any café and grab a hot chocolate. However, the best places to get hot chocolate are:
- Angelina
- Carette
- Jacques Genin
- La Chocolaterie Cyril Lignac
- Café de Flore
A trip to Paris in December is not complete without a hot chocolate stop, but if you’re not into hot chocolate, here is my list of artisinal Parisian coffeeshops that you can visit instead.
#3 Dior Museum – La Galerie Dior
La Galerie Dior is such a well-done museum, even for those who aren’t super into fashion. I highly recommend peppering in a few museums during your trip to Paris, as Paris not only has some amazing museums to choose from, but it can offer a nice break from walking in the cold.
The museum takes you through the life of Christian Dior before he was Dior, and highlights his work from the various seasons of Dior throughout time. Opened in 2022, La Galerie Dior features room after room of stunning gowns, many never before seen by the general public.
You’ll find La Galerie Dior is relatively small and only takes about 2 hours to visit. Booking online is highly recommended as tickets usually do sell out, especially if you are visiting during the weekend. Paris in December is a busy time, so you’ll want to book tickets at least a month in advance. You can book tickets directly on their site.
#4 Visit a Christmas Market
The Marchés de Noël, or Christmas Markets, pop up all over Paris around the end of November until the end of December. Parks, streets, and squares suddenly fill with Swiss-style wooden chalets that offer mulled wine, cheese, sausages, and all kinds of other treats. By just wandering the city, its likely that you’ll run into a Christmas market, but if you want to pick and choose which ones to visit, there is a map of all the markets in Paris on the Paris Je T’aime Tourism site.
The largest and most famous one is the market in Tuileries Garden. There is a large variety of food offered at this one, and there are even rides and a small ice skating rink in the middle of the park. If you don’t care to see the market light up, I recommend coming early mid week as this market gets extremely crowded. However, seeing all the market lights and the bustle of people only adds to the magic of this market, so I do recommend experiencing it at night. You can’t leave a Christmas market without trying raclette and a vin chaud, so make sure to come hungry.
#5 Visit a Cozy Cocktail Bar
People often go directly to wine bars in Paris, and understandably so because France is undisputed wine country. So why am I recommending cocktails in Paris? Paris has a small but mighy cocktail scene that is worth making time for. Drinking culture in Paris often centers around terraces with friends and ordering beer or wine, so if you want a good cocktail, you’ll have to seek out a specialty cocktail bar. I’ve outlined a few of my personal favorites below.
Best Cocktails in Paris – Where To Go
- Little Red Door (3rd arr.) — is on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars at #6. This cocktail spot is a little pricey but has an amazing array of cocktails.
- Bar Bisou (3rd arr.) — there is no menu, you tell them what type of flavors/alcohol you like and their bartenders make it for you. Great concept and I’ve yet to have a drink there I didn’t like!
- Bar Nouveau (3rd arr.) — this is a relatively new bar that has popped up in Le Marais, and their drinks are fantastic. Even better, they are one of the few bars in Paris that does a proper dirty martini if that’s what you’re looking for.
- Sherry Butt (4th arr.) — a practically hidden spot in Le Marais, I’ve brought many friends here over the years and it is a perfect spot for conversation vs. a rowdy bar. Their prices are also quite reasonable for the quality cocktail you get!
- Andy Wahloo (3rd arr.) — an Instagram-esque atmosphere, you’re guaranteed to have a great time with good drinks. Teeters the line between going out and just getting a drink, this is a good spot as a precursor to a longer night.
- The Cambridge Public House (3rd arr.) — a cozy little spot in Le Marais with great drinks
- Prescription Cocktail Club (6th arr.) — this celestial-themed cocktail on the left bank offers seasonal cocktails in a Prohibition-era atmosphere. Great for couples or date nights.
- Dirty Lemon Bar (11th arr.) — female-owned bar aiming to disrupt the predominantly male cocktail culture in Paris. Perfect spot for the girls, gays and theys with cheekily named drinks to top it off.
#6 Watch a Cabaret
I haven’t experienced this yet, but this is on my absolute must-do list before I leave Paris. I have plenty of friends who have gone and loved it, and if you happen to be doing a girl’s trip — cocktails followed up by a cabaret (or vice versa!) make for an amazing night.
Many people go to the famous Moulin Rouge, but Crazy Horse has started to become a more hip place to experience a cabaret. Moulin Rouge is more for the classic, dinner + show, as any tourist has imagined it, cabaret. Crazy Horse has a much sexier and unique approach, and the show itself is based on the art of nudity. If you’re a fan of Blackpink, you’ve likely heard of Crazy Horse because one of the kpop group’s members, Lisa, made a drop in performance at this unique cabaret. She isn’t the first, though, and many other celebrities, such as Beyoncé, Pamela Anderson and Dita Von Teese have all dropped in for a performance before her.
#7 Visit Opera Garnier
The Opera Garnier, also known as Palais Garnier, is an architectural masterpiece in the heart of Paris. The building is designed by Charles Garnier and showcases the opulent Beaux-Arts style, with a stunning façade adorned with sculptures, marble columns, and intricate details. The Opera Garnier has been a hub for world-class ballet and opera performances, offering a cultural experience that marries architectural splendor with artistic excellence.
The Opera Garnier is open every day from 9am-5pm, and tickets are 15 euro. You can also book a show to see if you’re more interested in experiencing the opera for its original purpose. Everything regarding tickets and shows can be found their official website, or if you’re interested in a private tour, I recommend this 2 hour private tour on Viator.
#8 Check Out the Christmas Decorations Around Paris
I’ve mentioned already that Paris during the holidays has a little extra magic. Some of that magic seems to be gathered in specific spots around the city. I’d argue that you didn’t really visit Paris in December unless you’ve seen some stellar Christmas decorations, since they are peppered in so many areas in the city. Below I’ve listed a few spots that really have that wow factor when looking for Christmas decorations.
- Place Vendome
- Tuileries Christmas Market
- Avenue Montaigne
- Place Marice Barrès
- Hotel Plaza Athénée
#9 Enjoy a Hearty French Meal
L’Auberge Aveyronnaise serves up a traditional southwestern dish called aligot. This dish is made from cheese blended into mashed potatoes and originates in L’Aubrac region in France. These types of melted cheese dishes for traditionally eaten during the colder months of the year, so what better time to eat this but in Paris in December? In the photos above, I ordered le traditionnel aligot saucisse (traditional aligot sausage) and for dessert, a milles feuilles to share. If you have your sights set on trying this dish, I recommend making reservations ahead of time.
#10 Day Trip to Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte
If you have a longer stay in Paris, or maybe you’ve already visited Paris plenty of times and are looking for something new to do, I recommend visiting le Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. Vaux-le-Vicomte is one of the largest châteaux in France and was a source of inspiration for the Château de Versailles. The chateau is beautiful any time of the year, but I recommend it particularly for December because the privately owned castle goes all out for the Christmas season. This visit is more of a day trip, which is why I recommend it for those who have maybe already seen Paris or for those who have extended amounts of time in Paris.
Upon arrival, you are given red capes to wear, which gives such a charming effect seeing everyone in their red capes against all the Christmas decor and castle gardens. The castle is adorned with all kinds of Christmas decorations, both inside and out. Inside the castle you’ll find each room has been ornately decorated with all kinds of different themes, with some installations even moving. In the evening, you can enjoy a holiday-themed 7-minute light show to top off your visit.
You can read more about visiting the chateau here, where I’ve written in detail about my visit during December.
