Celebrate Christmas and New Year in Paris Region

For Christmas, Paris Region will be looking its best. There’s lots going on at the end of the year, including Christmas lights and shop window displays, the most beautiful spectacles for you to admire as a couple or with the children. From Saint-Germain-des-Prés to Provins, the streets are festooned with thousands of lights. While Christmas shopping, take the time to admire the window displays at Galeries Lafayette or Printemps Haussmann. The illuminations are a good opportunity to explore Paris Region from a different angle. Stop to embrace the magic of Christmas at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, on Place Vendôme or facing Notre-Dame Cathedral.

You don’t have to go to the theatre to see a spectacular show in Paris Region. At Christmas, the châteaux of Île-de-France look like fairytale castles. As history and magic combine, children and adults alike are left spellbound by the Grand Noël in Vaux-le-Vicomte, or the Noël du château de Breteuil. If you’d rather celebrate Christmas at the Sleeping Beauty castle, make your way to Disneyland® Paris. For two whole months, spectacular illuminations and magical sights will send you straight back to childhood with the Disney Enchanted Christmas.

If you’re more into bucolic outings, check out the trails of light of Paris Region. During the festive period, Christmas trees aren’t the only ones that light up. At the Jardin d’Acclimatation of Paris, the Jardin des Plantes or the Parc Floral, take a stroll through an abundant jungle decorated with paper lanterns and lit-up sculptures. Poetic animations the children will love… As well as the adults.

Of all the places to go at the end of the year, the Christmas markets have to be in the Top 3. Wooden chalets, sweet smells of hot chocolate, Christmas carols… From one square to another, each of Paris Region’s markets looks like a Father Christmas village. Short of ideas? Let the creators inspire you. To prepare your Christmas gifts in secret, let your children become stars on ice, at one of the multiple pop-up skating rinks to be found at the Christmas markets at this time of year. For a more traditional Christmas, explore the markets of Provins or the Bergerie Nationale near the Château de Rambouillet.

In Paris Region, even your shopping sprees are packed with Christmas magic. To be spoilt for choice, head for the shopping malls such as Carrousel du Louvre or Westfield Forum des Halles. Fancy an enchanting shopping experience? Theatrical window displays, XXL decorations and designer Christmas trees await you in the Paris department stores. At Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann, artists and creators compete with ideas to add even more magic to your Christmas shopping spree.

To hunt down that unique perfume, a handicraft creation or an original toy for your child, the independent boutiques are your best bet. Fans of designer goods will find what they’re looking in the concept stores all over Paris Region. To put stars in the eyes of your youngest, check out the toy shops to find the perfect teddy bear. If it’s bargains you’re looking for, you absolutely must visit Vallée Village where you’ll find luxury items at discount prices.

In Paris Region, the Christmas celebrations are all about great food. The restaurants of Paris Region pull out all the stops for their Christmas menus. Foie gras, truffles and capon take pride of place alongside other iconic festive dishes. Among the musts is Café de la Paix where an evening Christmas set menu is served on Christmas Eve and a brunch on Christmas Day. At Ciel de Paris, the festive menu comes with a view over the lit-up rooftops. Unless of course you’d rather have raclette than a seafood platter? In which case, choose among the mountain restaurants of Paris Region.

In Paris Region, Christmas is the season of self-indulgence. It is the period when the Christmas log makes its comeback. Pierre Hermé, Christophe Michalak and Cédric Grolet are among the many chefs who pull out all the stops to add sparkle to your Christmas meal. As if that weren’t enough, you should try the delicious panettone from Christophe Louie.

But what would the end-of-year festivities be without those Christmas chocolates? From Advent calendars to boxes of chocolates to hide among the presents, the Paris Region’s chocolate makers have more than one trick up their sleeve to delight children and adults alike.

Bring your partner, friends or family to Paris for New Year’s Eve for a truly unique experience. In the City of Light and the surrounding region, there’s no shortage of things to do.

To get a feel for the capital, try a bar crawl in Saint-Germain-des-Prés or the Montmartre district. Or maybe you’d rather spend a romantic evening anticipating the moment when the bells strike midnight? In that case, it’s dinner for two in a gourmet restaurant, or a dinner cruise on the river Seine. And if you’re a party animal at heart, try Yoyo under the Palais de Tokyo, where you can dance the night away.