December may not be your first pick when planning a trip to Paris, but hear me out: This may be one of the best times of year to visit the City of Lights. With elaborate holiday displays in the shop windows, cafes festooned with twinkling lights and fragrant greenery, and Christmas markets set up throughout the city, Paris in December has its own special sparkle. Keep reading for five reasons why I think December is one of the best times to visit Paris.
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Crowds are thinner and prices are lower in the off-season. While Paris sees a bit of a surge in tourists during the holiday season, it’s nowhere near the number of visitors the city hosts in the summer. That means cheaper airfare and hotel prices, more space at restaurants, and the luxury of enjoying the city’s sites without being jostled around by loud tourists. During our recent early December visit, I don’t think we encountered a single American — which is a far cry from our week there in July, when we sometimes felt like we’d been teleported back to the U.S.
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Christmas shopping in Paris is pure magic. The city’s grands magasins (department stores) are famous for their elaborate Christmas decorations, so they’re worth a visit even if you don’t plan on shopping. Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann are some of my favorites; also check out The Samaritaine, BHV, and Bon Marche Rive Gauche. While some of these stores are quite expensive, Galeries Lafayette and BHV in particular have plenty of affordable finds including clothing, books, toys, and gourmet goods. In addition to these bigger stores, it’s fun to browse the little boutiques and markets for special gifts to bring back home. In fact, you may wish you had an extra suitcase for all of your finds.
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Classic French food was made for enjoying in the winter. Have you ever tried eating soupe a l’oignon or boeuf bourguignon in August? It’s really not enjoyable, and it’s a sure way to identify yourself as a tourist. However, on a gray December day, there’s nothing cozier than escaping the drizzle by ducking into a warm cafe for a bowl of soup, roasted chicken with vegetables, and a glass of wine. I also recommend grabbing a table on a pretty cafe terrace and ordering a hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) or cafe creme for an afternoon pick-me-up. Many terraces are equipped with blankets and heaters to help ward off the chill.
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Two words: Christmas markets. Some of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets are in France’s Alsace region and Germany, but Paris’ offerings aren’t too shabby. Little wooden chalets are set up all throughout the city selling mulled wine, raclette, and handmade gifts. Our favorites were at the Tuileries (which had a fun carnival vibe) and the Hotel de Ville, a city-hosted market with free rides for kids (our son loved the giant toboggan hill and carousel).
- Lots of festive events to choose from. As if Paris didn’t already offer plenty to do, the holiday season comes with some extra-special holiday events to add to your itinerary. Whether that’s seeing The Nutcracker at the opera house, taking in a Christmas concert at a cathedral, or heading out of town to see the Vaux-le-Vicomte chateau all decked out for Noel, it’s well worth carving out some time for a few extra festivities. Because how often will you get to spend your holidays in Paris?