Christmas markets, hot wine and magically-illuminated landmarks – there’s loads of reasons to visit Europe’s most romantic city in winter. You can tuck into Parisian Christmas treats, pirouette across the city’s many ice rinks and hop between the famous museums.
Here are our top picks for things to do in Paris over winter…
Browse the Christmas markets
Tour Paris’ magical Marchés de Noël and pick up delicious Parisian snacks, mugs of chocolat chaud and homemade Christmas ornaments. The Quai Branly market is the perfect one to visit if you’re touring the Eiffel Tower, as it’s right next door. Here you’ll find stalls selling Christmas gifts and an ice rink too. You’ve also got a market next to the Notre Dame which sells unique local handicrafts, sculptures and homemade decorations.
If you’re heading to Paris in January or February, take advantage of the city’s huge winter sales. Paris’ biggest department stores, like Galeries Lafayette, offer reductions of up to 75% on their luxury designer goods, so you can stock up on those expensive gifts (even if you’re just gifting yourself).
For the Quai Branly Market:
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Tour Eiffel
See the city of Christmas lights
Paris lives up to its nickname, the ‘City of Lights’, over the festive season. Not only are there around 300 illuminated sights across the city, including the glowing beacon that is the Eiffel Tower, in the run up to Christmas, the Champs-Elysées gets a sparkling makeover too. Wander down this illuminated avenue and you’ll see colourful light displays and light projections to get you into that Christmas spirit. You’ll also find impressive light displays and decorations on Avenue Montaigne, Place Vendôme and Bercy Village.
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Champs-Elysées
Visit world-famous museums
Paris boasts around 130 museums, and there’s no better time than winter to hop between them. The must-do is, of course, The Louvre, which is officially the world’s largest museum. It boasts an iconic exterior and some of the most famous artworks in the world including the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and paintings by Michelangelo and Da Vinci. You’ve also got the Musée d’Orsay which is housed in an old train station, and The Centre Pompidou, a modern art museum designed to look like an inside-out boiler house.
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Louvre-Pont des Arts
Take your skates for a spin
There are loads of rinks across the city to take your pick from. And the best part is, they’re usually free, you just have to bring along your skates or hire a pair. There are open-air rinks at the Christmas market next to the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysées and Hotel de Ville opposite the city hall.
Classic Route – Red, Stop: Grand Palais
Start planning your winter escape to this cosmopolitan capital city today. You can soak up the festive atmosphere, whizz across the ice rinks and take your pick from 130 museums when you want to get your culture fix.
