Top 10 Christmas outings for the whole family

A buzzing Christmas at the Galeries Lafayette

What would Christmas be like in Paris without the windows of department stores? This year, Galeries Lafayette has been transformed into an enchanted beehive, with gilded decor for honey, honeycombs made out of the shop’s alcoves, and the glass dome transformed into a sparkling sky, beneath which stands a huge, fairy-tale Christmas tree covered in winter flowers and glittering baubles, where the busy bees seek their nectar.

Kawaii Christmas windows at Le Printemps

Christmas is a very special time at Printemps Haussmann. The window displays and shop floors are filled with surprises: a reindeer queen, cheeky turkeys, a grumpy bear, green mice and a double-crossing elephant! Embrace the festivities with these quirky, excitable creatures.

O Christmas tree…in Le Marais

The BHV Marais is home to a more traditional Christmas. The façade is decked out with lights and the entire interior transformed into a Christmas market, complete with wooden stalls selling arts and crafts, decorations, gifts and delicacies from all four corners of France. Make sure you drop in during your winter strolls in Paris.

Watch out - ice ahead!

From 13 December to 8 January, there’ll be plenty of slipping and sliding beneath the Grand Palais’ magnificent glass dome, on the largest ice rink in France. And the best thing about the cold winter air? Hot chocolate! Afterwards, enjoy the late-night sessions until 2 a.m. with a DJ, giant glitter ball and light shows.

Illuminated beasts

Until 8 March, the garden and park at the Château and ZooSafary Park in Thoiry will be lit up every night for Lumières Sauvages and its handmade fabric lanterns. Venture into a magical forest, and explore the oceans and world of the dinosaurs. An enchanting voyage for the whole family!

The gift of a Château

Until 5 January, Vaux-le-Vicomte celebrates Christmas and transforms into an enchanted palace. When you arrive, it’s a majestic avenue of lit-up Christmas trees leads you to the entrance of the château. Inside, each rom has a colour theme: warm autumnal tones, sparkling silver, scarlet red, and gold. Don’t miss the monumental projection on the southern façade, prolonging the magic and telling the story of the château.

Marvellous amusements

From 26 December to 5 January, the Musée des Arts Forains puts on a Christmas show in the Bercy neighbourhood. Enjoy the impressive collection of fairground attractions from bygone days, hop on a wooden horse, surrounded by musicians, mime artists and acrobats, wander down the hidden street lit up for Christmas — all in all, a fairy-tale world that’s just waiting to be explored.

Magical Christmas

Disneyland® Paris is preparing a truly magical Christmas for you, with glittering illuminations, a giant Christmas tree, Christmas parade, musical shows and evening events, and – of course – the chance to meet Father Christmas and all your favourite Disney characters (until 6 January). On 31 December, the attractions stay open all night and the castle forms the backdrop to an incredible fireworks display. What better way to welcome in the New Year?

Dinosaurs in Paris!

Until 5 January, dinosaurs will invade the Jardin d’Acclimatation from nightfall. Prehistoric Safari plunges visitors into the terrifying world of the dinosaurs. Venture into the world of the Tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, velociraptors and other bloodcurdling beasts as you follow an itinerary that combines 3D illuminations, animatronic statues, interactive shows and themed attractions.

Fantastical creatures

Every evening until 19 January at nightfall, the Jardin des Plantes comes alive with a host of astonishing creatures, giant illuminated structures depicting from the bottom of the oceans. You can continue your visit in the zoo, which also features around 30 illuminated animals.

A magical outing for the whole family.