With the Christmas season fast approaching why not do something different this year? Take a short trip to the French capital and immerse yourself in the festive spirit of the romantic city of Paris. When you’re there it’s easy to hire a car and take a short road trip once you’ve visited the magical Christmas markets.
Paris is a beautiful city all year round, but in the festive period, it offers something a little different. With its Marchés de Noël (French for Christmas markets) that are usually open from late November to the beginning of January, there is no better time of year to visit the French capital.
These traditional markets are the essence of winter in Europe. They were originally set up in Germany during the Middle Ages and were later introduced in Paris by the Alsatians (the poor people of Alsace) who settled there but have since adopted their own French style influenced by the Parisians.
Composed mostly of charmingly decorated wooden chalets offering festive shoppers all types of goods, such as Christmas decorations, regional products, delicacies and much more the Marchés de Noël is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys Christmas.
Notre Dame – Marché de Noël Notre Dame
Notre Dame has its very own Christmas market set across the river Seine in the iconic Square René-Viviani on Quai Montebello. This is arguably the most picturesque Parisian Christmas market thanks to the spectacular background image of Notre Dame that brings the location to life.
The market is fun-filled during the build-up to Christmas with all types of delicacies on offer such as vin chaud (hot mulled wine) and tasty roasted chestnuts that fill the streets with a wonderful aroma. To add to the relaxed atmosphere of the market you’ll also hear regular performances from musicians to get you into the Christmas spirit.
However, the main attraction of this medieval market is the wide variety of quality art and artisan crafts made in France. These include high-quality clothing and accessories which make the perfect Christmas gifts.
The beauty of the Notre Dame market is its central location meaning once you have indulged in the festivities you can check out other things to do. Viewing the Notre Dame renovations that are taking place after the tragic fire of 2018 will make you realise the importance of this classic monument.
The Magic of Christmas – Le Magie de Noël at Tuileries Garden
It’s in the name! This Christmas market provides a magical experience to all who visit it. Located right next to the Louvre it stretches from the Rue des Pyramides to Place de la Concorde. A mesmerising attraction, this market attracts well over 13 million visitors each year, thanks to its wide variety of stalls and activities to take part in.
The intriguing thing about this market is that it is half Christmas market and half Christmas carnival. The theme is a lively fun-filled market with an ice rink, a champagne igloo and lots of Christmas trees.
The carnival area is great for families to enjoy the fairground attractions, and the amusements are sure to promise fun not found in other Christmas markets.
The enormous Ferris wheel adorned with colourful lights takes you on a ride high above the Parisian skyline, and offers fantastic views, including the Eiffel Tower. For a truly magical experience, we recommend you time your ride in sync with the Eiffel Tower light show which takes place at the start of every hour. This is a special experience with the Eiffel tower contrasting against the night sky.
On the tastier side of things, there are lots of regional tasty treats to enjoy in the Magie de Noël market. The smell of local sizzling sausages is sure to tempt your taste buds. You can snack on French cheeses, waffles, chocolate pancakes, roasted chestnuts and fast food like burgers and fries!
Wash it all down at one of the chalets that offer different types of French wine, champagne, coffee and hot chocolate.
You can also discover the Artisan Village section of the market where you can pick up all types of crafts from around the world. Perfect for any last-minute gifts you may have forgotten!
La Défense Marché de Noel
Come meet Santa in La Défense! With a more modern setting intertwined with the glittering towers of the Paris business district, this Christmas market is all about variety. Being the biggest in the Paris region the market offers a staggering 350 wooden chalets and attracts well over 1.5 million visitors each year.
The best time to visit is during the evening when the buildings are lit up. You should allow plenty of time to visit this market as the variety of goods and snacks on offer is staggering. There is even a Canadian section where you can buy maple syrup straight from Quebec. You can spend hours wandering around looking for things to buy.
Some of the wonderful goods on sale at this market include nativity figures, Christmas trees, winter attire such as Santa costumes, fluffy socks, hats and onesies, toy stands, high-quality leather goods from Morocco, herbal teas, scarves and coats.
Indulge in treats such as regional meats like hams and sausages, French foie de gras, cheeses, clementines and special brandies and other warming liquors. If you have international taste, there’s even a Spanish section selling freshly made paella.
For the eco-friendly amongst you, La Défense Marché de Noël only uses LED lights which saves on electricity and helps protect the environment.
Paris is linked to all major UK airports making it a convenient city in Europe to visit this Christmas. Why not hire a car from the airport when you arrive and take the opportunity to discover more of France? Combining a visit to the Paris Christmas markets with exploring the outskirts and smaller villages further afield makes for the perfect long weekend.
