Christmas Eve in Paris

We all know that Christmas is a family holiday, usually spent at home, but if you decide to make Paris your home for this Christmas, you’ll add even more joy to the holiday.

You might think that there is not much to do in Paris on Christmas Eve, but you’ll be wrong. Streets do get quiet after midnight, but Christmas Eve start when the sun sets and that is way earlier. People still go shopping for presents. Some finish last job duties, to enjoy holiday. And some are already set and going to some nice Christmas dinner in Paris.

On Christmas Eve in Paris, people gather in front of Notre Dame. Some of them come for the Christmas mass, some to wait for the midnight and Christmas to arrive, and some people come just to enjoy the crowd and feel the spirit of the holiday.

If you get cold during your Christmas Eve in Paris, warm up yourself by ice skating in front of the Town Hall.
Each year from December to March, around 140.000 people skate here. Ring in on open air and has special part for beginners and kids, and much bigger part (around 1000m2) for others. Entry is free, and renting skates costs 5€.

Nearby you can buy some hot beverage, and listen to cool music, while watching others as they skate in front of stunning 19th-century building.

Christmas concerts are performed all over Paris at very popular places such as churches La Madeleine, Saint Germain des Prés, La Sainte Chapelle and St. Julien le Pauvr.

You should use opportunity to go to Eifel Tower and view Christmas lights from above.
It is a magical experience.

To avoid the crowd, use early booking for small groups, available also on Christmas Eve.

If you’re not sure whether to spend your Christmas Eve in or out, try dinner cruise on the river Seine. It is more expensive than regular dinner, but it offers opportunity to have a traditional Christmas Dinner and at the same time enjoy lights of Paris. Booking in advance is the only way to get your table.

If you come with family, there is no better gift for your kids than Christmas Eve in Disneyland. It is open whole year, and has special magical packages for Christmas.

Christmas in Paris Disneyland

Usually people tend to stay home for Christmas Eve, but no worries, if you visit Paris on this event there are several options where you can have a holiday meal.

• Lucas Carton – very classy restaurant with crystal chandeliers and sycamore woodwork. For 299€ you can have Christmas Dinner Menu with wine included. They offer incredible meals, such as lobster prepared in carpaccio, lemon and bergamot or roast capon, risotto with celery root and truffle, followed by fine wine.

Restaurant Lucas Carton: Dining Room

• L’Auberge du 15 – less expensive restaurant, where for price of 100€ you can have multi-course meal including very special chestnut soup with truffles and toasted almonds. Wine is not included, but young chef knows how to win you over with tasty French cuisine.

Restaurant L’Auberge du 15: Dining Room

Restaurant L’Auberge du 15: Chef

• Chamarré Montmartre – this is very warm and modern restaurant with specialty of preparing oyster amuse-bouche. If you want to avoid seafood, try duck. It has plenty of room so it’s good for large groups. For Christmas Eve you’ll have to spend around 85€ (without drinks).

Restaurant Chamarré Montmartre: Dining Room

• Au Clocher de Montmartre – another modern restaurant. Inside décor is very colorful, with different chairs and plenty of lanterns. It gives feeling of home kitchen, where you can feel comfortable. Christmas Dinner Menu costs around 65€ with drinks.

Restaurant Au Clocher de Montmartre: Detail

• Chez Jenny - French brasserie opened whole year. If you end up here for Christmas Eve, be sure to try special - sauerkraut “Chez Jenny”.

Restaurant Chez Jenny: Entrance

With Christmas upon doorstep Paris, city of lights, shows that there is always room for more lights.

Traditionally Avenue des Champs-Elysees is decorated with over 150.000 Christmas lights from 20th November until January.

Nothing less beautiful is avenue Montaigne and Place Vendôme. Almost every store in the city has some kind of Christmas decoration displayed in their window.
Big department stores use animated characters and objects, magical scenes, interactive worlds to get attention from kids and grown ups too. Some of them are real live shows, such as Galeries Lafayette, that invites you to experience a Monster Christmas, puts Christmas tree upside down and dress workers in monster costumes. Bring your kid or awake the kid inside of you.
Annual tradition of seeing holiday scenes in the department stores windows brings holiday spirit and the best show is at Printemps Haussmann in Paris.

Beautiful traditions of Paris are Christmas markets. Opening is at the beginning of the November and locations are all around the city - Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Place Saint-Sulpice, Place de la Nation, and others.

Little wooden cabins are essential part of every Christmas market, decorated in the spirit of the holiday, selling Christmas gifts, regional and handmade products. You can find almost everything, from food and small gifts, to decorations for Christmas tree. Usually in the center of Christmas market there is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Christmas Wreath

• Almost all attractions in the city are opened for Christmas Eve, so don’t worry, you’ll be able to use your day in full. Stores do close earlier that night, so finish shopping before 7 PM.
• Carols are not sung, so don’t expect any. Most of the Parisians don’t even practice religion.
• Snow is extremely rare, due to oceanic climate.
• Don’t let the fact that people usually stay home for Christmas fools you to think that fewer tourists will visit Paris and its sights. There will be crowd, so book your visit in advance.