Strasbourg may be France’s holiday capital, claiming the country’s oldest Marché de Noël, but there’s no denying Christmas in Paris is a showstopper. The city shines brighter each year with thousands of lights illuminating its famous squares and landmarks like the Champs-Elysées, dubbed the “world’s most beautiful avenue.” Holiday cheer seeps into each of the 20 arrondissements, decorated with larger-than-life garlands, forests of bauble-strewn fir trees, sculptural light displays, and wooden chalets doling out vin chaud (mulled wine) and holiday specialties like foie gras—best spread on subtly sweet pain d’épices (gingerbread).
Oyster stands have become a part of Paris’s holiday tradition. Christmas markets—which happen to be one of the best places to try them. Fête the season in true French fashion with a movable feast dining and drinking at some of the city’s most iconic institutions, from Left Bank cafés where famous writers and artists once gathered to the Palace hotels huddled around Place de la Concorde and Place Vendôme. When you’re ready for some retail therapy in Paris, visit one of the famous grand magasins. best in the world for their holiday window displays—New York City included—executed with the same style and precision as a couturier. The city may not be blanketed in snow, but the holiday spirit is as strong here as on the slopes in the French Alps—and even has the cuisine and chalets to prove it. You’ll have plenty of options to celebrate Christmas, but here are 10 of the most fun things you can do in the City of Light.
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All reviews on this page have been written by a Condé Nast Traveler A journalist who is familiar with the destination and has done that activity. When selecting things to do, editors look for landmarks or experiences that give an insider’s perspective of a location. They keep authenticity, location, customer service and sustainability in mind. The gallery has been updated since the original publication date. Lindsey Tramuta contributed additional reporting.
