Public life on Christmas Day is generally quiet. Post offices, banks, stores, restaurants, cafés and other businesses are closed. Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve.
A trip to Paris is a trip worth planning, but planning it takes. There are tons of festive Christmas activities in Paris from the incredible hot chocolate and Christmas markets to the window displays at the Lafayette Galleries. Those are just a few things you should add to your list for how to spend Christmas in Paris.
While you may need to put dreams of a white Christmas on the back burner — Paris rarely gets more than a thin layer of snow — there's no shortage of romantic ways to spend winter days there, whether on a moonlit cruise along the Seine or in the toasty glow of a heated terrace with a glass of wine in hand.
London blew Paris out of the water when it came to decorations and Christmas lights. Add in Christmas high-tea, a Broadway show or play, and ice skating below a palace…it's a clear winner. AWA Tip: if you have limited time and are wondering whether to spend more time in London or Paris, add more time to London.
The city offers about 15-20 Paris Christmas Markets you should visit during your trip, whether you're looking for the perfect gift to place under your Christmas tree or if you want to be immersed in the French culture by sipping hot mulled wine and sampling tasty sausages, cheese and chocolates.
There's no such thing as a bad time to visit Paris. The city retains its romantic charm all year long, with winter offering its own unique appeal: trees and Haussmannian boulevards gleam with twinkle lights, cafes glow with red heat lamps, and department stores go all out with lavish holiday displays.
Paris is one of the most expensive cities to visit in Europe, with an average daily cost of €120-565 (approximately $128-603 USD) per person per day. However, there are areas where you can learn to get the most out of your travel budget.
Paris weather in December is very cold and wet with a small chance of snow. The city is located in the north of central France, which means it has a typical Western European oceanic climate with regular winds blowing in from the North Atlantic Current.
March to May and September to October are the best times for a bit of everything. Spring (especially April and May) and autumn (particularly September and October) are ideal for visiting Paris – crowds are thinner, but the weather is temperate and lovely.
The Eiffel Tower is even more magical when it's adorned with dazzling Christmas lights. Every night, from early December to early January, the tower is transformed into a twinkling wonderland, with thousands of lights sparkling against the night sky.
Seven days in Paris gives you time to explore the city in depth, take day trips, and even enjoy some downtime. It's not too long if you want a comprehensive Paris experience. In my opinion, any shorter isn't long enough. Plus, it gives you a chance to do day trips to places like Rouen.
Most shops, museums and many restaurants will be open. Although Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are not official holidays in France, the train stations will be packed as Parisians head out for their Christmas getaway.
Are things open in Paris between Christmas and New Year's?
most attractions are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Two exceptions: the Eiffel Tower, and the Jacquemart-Andre museum. Some places will close early on Christmas eve. Some but not all restaurants change their menu and prices for NYE.
December in Paris tends to be on the cloudy side, however, 8-9 days this month will still be sunny or at least partly sunny. Some precipitation falls on average on 15 days this month, however, only 8-9 days will record at least 1 mm (0.04 inches).
The best time to visit Paris is from April to June and from October to early November when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowds are thin. However, the cheapest time to visit Paris is early December, January, and February as these are considered off-season due to the harsh winters Paris faces.
We happened to be in Paris during winter which is traditionally the tourist off season. Being the off season the crowds were significantly smaller than they normally are during summer, although it still seemed very busy.
Sadly, it only snows in the city 3-15 days per year, usually less, and the chance of that landing on Christmas Day is pretty low. However, there have been a few occasions of snow recorded around Christmas time, and there's always a chance you'll get lucky!
Along with January and February, the Disneyland weather in December is the coldest of the year. Temperatures will hover around 6°C but there's little chance of snow and it's sunnier than in the UK. Many visitors love the crisp and slightly chilly climate at Disneyland Paris before Christmas.
What to wear in Paris in the winter? Your outfits for Paris in winter will have a warm coat. Nice Paris outfits winter include turtlenecks, wool ponchos, or oversized cardigans as the second layer. You can complete your outfits in Paris with a warm scarf and a wool hat.
To sum up, living in London is around 21% more expensive, than living in Paris. Yet, taking into consideration the average salary, it is also higher in London than in Paris. The average monthly net salary (after-tax) amounts to 2,144.30 € (1,852.37 £) in Paris, and 2,591.28 € (2,238.50 £) in London.
For any traveller curious about the price of beer in Paris, the average cost across the city is €6.76 – we've rounded up the best value places to soak up the atmosphere near the stadium with a drink in hand.
