Festive things to do in Paris for Christmas and New Year’s 2024

  • November 29, 2024
  • All things Paris
  • Aoife Murphy, Grace Gordon, Christophe Duranstanti

FESTIVE THINGS TO DO IN PARIS FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S 2024

If you find yourself in Paris this winter, you certainly made it onto the good list! This city is truly the gift that keeps on giving, and when Christmas comes, it can only get better! We’ve compiled the perfect guide to send you on your merry way around Paris, from magical Christmas markets and luminous light displays to our favourite spots for to warm up with some chocolat chaud. And how could we forget the Christmas star on top: shows and champagne!

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Stellar shows on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s

Feast your eyes (and ears) on the incredible line-up of music, theatre and dance in store just in time for Christmas!

We have a heavenly host of classical concerts across a stunning array of venues in Paris. Where better to enjoy your favourite carols, hymns and classical pieces than under the glittering stained-glass of Sainte Chapelle or even inside the Eiffel Tower itself! Plus, don’t miss the chance to start the year on a high with exclusive holiday specials at Saint Severin and Saint-Eustache. Ding-dong!

If a not-so-silent night is more your thing, why not head over to one of our cabarets and marvel at the dazzlingly talented dancers of Crazy Horse or Paradis Latin. Maybe even do some dancing of your own at the Baiser Salé Jazz Club!

For some family-friendly fun, you can do no better than the show-stopping tunes of Hello, Dolly! or the rip-roaring action of Lion King the Musical. Make sure to treat yourself to a real spectacle with the ballet of the season Paquita at Opéra Bastille, or the dizzying arias of Mozart with La Flûte enchantée.

Concert or cabaret? Opera or Jazz? Here’s our complete list of shows playing each day!

 

 

 

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Wine, dine and take your seats… our Premium Options!

It’s time to celebrate, and we’ve got just the thing to make your Christmas sparkle. Our Premium Options offer a vast range of Parisian perks to make any performance a truly exceptional experience. We heard that champagne pairs well with classical music … and comedy … and opera … luckily we have a show for all tastes, so you can enjoy a drink and be dazzled no matter your musical preferences!

For a little more French flair, why not, add a fine-dining experience at a Parisian restaurant to your night at the cabaret, as well as champagne, VIP seating and even a backstage tour!

Treat your loved ones (or maybe just yourself!) to a bit of Christmas magic with one of our Premium tickets — it will be the best present by far!

★ See the links below for more! ★

PREMIUM PACKAGES


CRAZY HORSE
Our friends at the Crazy Horse Cabaret Show certainly know how to have a good time. Go behind the curtains with a Backstage Tour, or head next door to the renowned restaurant Ginger for an exquisite meal. Enjoy the performance with added champagne, appetizers, caviar or exclusively for New Year’s dates … macarons!
★ Go crazy with our Premium Options here ★

CABARET BURLESQUE
All aboard for laughs and luxury with Cabaret Burlesque at La Nouvelle Seine! For select dates in December, you can enjoy a 2-course dinner and champagne with your show at this extraordinary venue. This gorgeous riverboat floating in the heart of Paris is home to both a restaurant and a theatre — we’re not sure which deck is more delightful! Be sure to make the most of this special offer this Christmas as it is only available for 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th December 2024.
★ Click here to sail away! ★

PARADIS LATIN
Any evening at Paradis Latin is sure to be full of glamour, since it was designed by Gustav Eiffel himself and has been wowing audiences ever since. But you can add an extra bit of glitz with champagne, VIP seating and a dinner crafted by 3-star Michelin chef Guy Savoy throughout December. Don’t miss the exclusive Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve offers with specially choreographed shows and a menu unique to the evening!
★ Enter paradise right here! ★
 

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Iconic Holiday Decorations Around Paris

The City of Lights really knows how to put on a show… why not check out some of these gorgeous displays and decorations all across the city for a glimpse of Christmas magic?

★ Decorated Christmas Tree at Galeries Lafayette
Location: Les Galeries Lafayette, 75018 Paris

★ Place de Vendôme
Location: 356, rue Saint-Honoré, 1 rue des Capucines, 75001 Paris

★ Avenue Montaigne
Location: Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris

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Skating in central Paris

If you’re looking for a bit of outdoor fun this Christmas, why not check out the amazing ice rinks in iconic locations on offer across the city! Our top picks this winter include:

★ Ice skating at Jardin des Tuileries
A stunning rink at the heart of a beautiful Christmas market. Get stuck into some shopping before pirouetting into Christmas in style!
Where: Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 75001 Paris
When: 18 November 2024–7 January 2025

★ Ice skating at the Grand Palais
The World’s largest indoor ice rink is back at the Grand Palais ! This 3000 square-metre rink will be open every day until 2 am, and would be the most enchanting way to start or finish your festive season!
Where: Grand Palais, 75008 Paris
When: 14 December 2024–8 January 2025

★ Ice skating at Hôtel de Ville
The glorious rink at Hôtel de Ville is a winter wonderland of joy waiting for you! With carousels and other fairground attractions, this is the place to be this Christmas for a festive get-together with family and friends.
Where: Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris
When: TBC

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Shop around at the Christmas Markets in Paris

Paris is famous for its world-renowned markets: here’s just a few of our absolute favourites for picking up some last minute Christmas goodies!

★ Jardin des Tuileries Christmas Market
Where: Jardin des Tuileries 75001 Paris
When: 16th November - 1st January

★ Notre Dame Christmas Market
Where: Square Viviani -75005 Paris
When: 29th November - 25th December

★ Champ de Mars Christmas Market
Where: Champs de Mars, 75007 Paris
When: 7th December - 5th January

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Go where the lights are brightly shining…

For a truly spectacular festive season, check out our top picks for the best Christmas lights displays in the city! Most of the illuminations will take place in November, but the lights stay up until early January. Sparkle and shine!

★ Decorated Christmas Tree in Galeries Lafayette
Where: 40 Bd Haussman, 75009 Paris
When: November 2024 - Mid January 2025

★ Christmas Lights on Avenue Champs-Élysées
Where: Avenue Champs-Élysées, 75006 Paris
When: 24th November 2024 - Beginning of January 2025

★ Christmas Lights in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Where: Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 Paris
When: From the beginning of December 2024

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Go out with a bang!

In France, New Year's Eve is often capped—or kicked off (depending on your preference)—with a fireworks display. Here are our favourite spots to watch the sky light up.

★ Champs-Élysées
This year, the place to be for an unforgettable New Year's Eve in 2024 is the Champs-Élysées! From 10 PM, enjoy a festive sound and light show on the world’s most beautiful avenue, complete with musical and light animations beneath and around the Arc de Triomphe.

★ Reserve a table at the Montparnasse Tower!
Looking for a festive dinner with the best view of the fireworks? Book a table at Ciel de Paris, which offers special champagne menus for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Ciel de Paris is a semi-gastronomic bar-restaurant located on the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower. The view is simply breathtaking!

★ Disneyland Paris
Another unique spot to watch the sky light up is Disneyland Paris. Celebrate the most magical season of the year with the Disney Electrical Sky Parade, running until January 9, 2025. This spectacular show combines fountains, lights, projections, and drone choreography! It will dazzle both the young and the young at heart!

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Hot chocolate better than the Polar Express!

Did someone say Chocolat chaud? After a busy day of festivities, warm up like a true Parisian with a silky smooth cup of hot chocolate. The French typically make theirs without cream or marshmallows on top, preferring a rich and chocolatey beverage. Here’s our top picks for the must-try hot chocolates this Christmas!

★ Angelina
Where: 224 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Angelina is a veritable institution, serving one of the best hot chocolates in the city for over 120 years. In locations all across Paris (and now, even the world), this chic café is the perfect spot for an afternoon winter warmer. Their chocolat chaud à l’ancienne combines 3 types of cocoa and is served with sumptuous chantilly cream. Why not grab a tasty dessert while you’re there …

★ Carette
Where: 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris
Carette is another viral café taking Paris by storm! This instagram famous salon with its stunning terasses will give you a hot chocolate with a view, perfect for people watching or admiring the Christmas lights in the Place du Trocadéro.

★ Café de Flore
Where: 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
Café de Flore’s Chocolat spécial is a drink fit for a snow queen! In a quaint corner of the 6th arrondissement, just beyond the banks of the Seine, this delightful establishment will warm your heart with its indulgent selection of drinks, meals, and pâtisserie.

★ Les Deux Magots
Where: 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris
Just a stone’s throw from some of Paris’ most stunning churches is the fabled Les Deux Magots, a restaurant with a mind-bogglingly good hot chocolate on offer. They even offer a chocolat frappé, an iced version of the timeless classic that would put Starbucks to shame! If you’ve booked one of our Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church Concerts, why not pop down early for a pre-show chocolat chaud…

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A Gift They’ll Never Forget!

Everyone has that loved one who is impossible to buy presents for, so why not give them a day to remember instead? With our gift card, they can choose to see one of our amazing shows, concerts, cabarets and more! And you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ve given them the best present of all — an extra-special memory to last a lifetime.

Offer the gift of culture!

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