Paris at Christmas: A Guide to the Best Christmas Lights & Displays

Paris at Christmas is my favorite time to visit the city! That’s because every corner is magical with Christmas lights and festive displays. The famous streets of Champs‑Élysées and Avenue Montaigne are lined with glittering lights and luxury shops have elaborate displays. It all starts mid-November and throughout December. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Paris in December and how to enjoy the festive atmosphere, then read on!

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When is Paris Decorated for Christmas?

Christmas at Paris begins in mid-November. In 2025, most decorations will be up by November 16th and be taken down by January 7, 2026.

Where to Stay in Paris

I have stayed at a few places in Paris and could recommend Hôtel L’Ormaie & Spa. It was a great location just a 7 minutes walk from Trocadero, where you’ll find an Eiffel Tower view! Plus, it’s around €200 a night which isn’t too bad for Paris. If you want to know what it looks like, check out my Instagram video on this hotel!

🏨 If you are looking for hotels with an actual view of the Eiffel Tower, then check out my referenced blog post. The one pictured above is Hotel Elysées Union and was one of the most affordable hotels with a close view of the Eiffel Tower.

Other areas to consider staying would be Le Marais in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. La Chambre du Marais is well-located with beautiful aesthetics.

Christmas in London or Paris?

You might be considering London and Paris for Christmas, but who does Christmas better?

You can watch my Instagram video comparing the two and also read my London Christmas Guides.

My vote is for London! There was just way more beautiful decorations to see in my opinion. But don’t get me wrong, I love both cities.

However, do note that everything shuts down in London on Christmas day, even the public transport.

If you still can’t deicide, you can easily visit both as they are accessible by Eurostar in only 2.5 hours.

Paris at Christmas: Best Christmas Displays

1. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

My ultimate favorite Christmas display in Paris has to be the one inside the shopping center, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. This luxury department store has a different display each year. The display last year was a large pink Christmas trea set right below the elaborate art nouveau dome.

You can admire it from any level in the store but if you want the best view, you have to go to the glasswalk.

The Glasswalk is a 9‑metre‑long glass walkway suspended 16 metres above the floor of the Coupole store. You can find it on the 3rd floor of the Coupole store, near the Café Coutume escalator.

To walk along it, you need a reservation ahead of time. You can also reserve in store with a QR code but you’d risk finding it fully booked. It actually books up really fast and you’ll find long queues in store. So to avoid disappointment, be sure to book online here as soon as slots open on every Friday for the following week.

Be sure to arrive 10 minutes ahead of time. You will have 5 minutes to enjoy the walkway views with a small group of 6 people. To get an empty shot, you’ll want to be the first one in the group or quickly snag a shot after everyone finishes.

Plus, there’s a light and sound show every 30 minutes which is really cool to see.

2. Avenue of Champs-Élysées

The Avenue of Champs-Élysées is Paris’ most iconic street. So of course you will find it fully decked out for Christmas. The street is lined with Christmas lights which switch on November 16th. You will find festive storefront displays at many of the luxury shops like Luis Vuitton and more.

And of course at the end of the road lined with millions of lights, you’ll find the impressive Arc de Triomphe.

The lights typically come on around 5 pm until midnight on most evenings. However, they remain on for extended hours on Fridays, Saturdays and key nights such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Paris at Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a visit here.

3. Luxury Shops on Avenue Montaigne

Avenue Montaigne is home to some of Paris’s most famous fashion stores, like Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. During the holiday season their storefronts go all out with festive window displays.

Each shop has its own theme which changes each year. The avenue is a little quieter than the Champs‑Élysées, so you can really take your time, snap photos, and soak in the festive decor.

The most impressive display has to be the one at Christian Dior. There’s also a light show where the facade’s lights glimmer on and off. It’s really magical!

4. Christmas Lights on Avenue Montaigne

Along Avenue Montaigne you will also find all the trees covered in lights. So after admiring the shopfronts, be sure to take a walk through the light filled streets, too.

Did you know the easiest way to see the city is through this Christmas Lights bus tour? You’ll get to hop on and off to all the major sights and see the lights from the open-top bus!

5. Pl. Maurice Barrès

Place Maurice Barrès during the holiday season is another favorite Christmas Display of mine in Paris. The display changes every year. Over the years the square has seen everything from illuminated hot‑air‑balloons to beautiful installations floating above designer façades.

For Christmas 2025, the display at Place Maurice Barrès was a light‑up golden snow globe. There’s also wonderful shops in this square with festive displays.

6. Bow Lights at Rue Saint-Honoré & Rue Royale

The streets of Rue Saint‑Honoré and Rue Royale are lined with giant golden bows which are super adorable. This is one of my favorite streets in Pari,s  during Christmas.

While you’re in Paris, don’t miss the experience of sailing along the Seine River to see many of the iconic landmarks in a short time!
Book a Seine River Cruise

7. Place Vendome

Place Vendome has one of the best Christmas displays in Paris. There’s multiple Christmas trees and one of the prettiest carousels I’ve seen. In fact, one of the best things to do in Paris in December is to visit this festive display. It’s super family friendly so you can bring children here to enjoy the carousel.

8. Galerie Vivienne

Galerie Vivienne is one of Paris’s most charming covered shopping arcades, and at Christmas it really comes alive. The glass roof and elegant mosaic floors are already gorgeous, but during the holiday season, the arcade is decked out with twinkling lights, festive garlands, and beautifully decorated shop windows.

It’s the perfect spot for a stroll and since it’s covered you can avoid the cold.

9. Village Royal

Located just off Rue Royale in the 8th arrondissement, Le Village Royal is a beautiful passage full of high‑end boutiques and restaurants. Each year brings a fresh and creative display, making it one of Paris’s most instagrammable photo spots for Christmas. For instance, the 2024 display featured a hot‑air balloon andiIn earlier years, there was a giant teddy bear sculpture adorned with lights and surrounded by festive décor.

10. Tuileries Garden Christmas Market

The best thing to do in December in Paris is to enjoy the Christmas Markets. While Paris isn’t huge on Christmas Markets like other European cities, it’s still worth having a visit to Tuileries Garden Christmas Market. This is the biggest Christmas Market in Paris, afterall.

There are rows of wooden chalets lit up with fairy lights, selling everything from artisan gifts to mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. If you want the full experience, you have to check out the Ferris wheel – it lights up beautifully at night and gives you the best view over the market and even the Louvre.

The market is super family friendly and there’s even an ice skating rink to enjoy. Just note, it can get really busy, especially on weekends, so if you want a quieter stroll or a shot without a ton of people, try going early in the morning or on a weekday.

You may also like these posts:
🚆 Best European Christmas Markets by Train
✨ Best Cities for Christmas in Europe
🇨🇭 Bern, Switzerland Christmas Market Guide
🛷 Montreux, Switzerland Christmas Market Guide
🏰 Christmas Guide to Rothenburg, Germany
🎄 Cologne Christmas Market Guide
🏘️ The Charming Town of Eguisheim, France
🎅🏼 Christmas Markets in Alsace, France
🎡 Best Christmas Decorations in London
🇨🇿 Best Christmas Markets in Prague