10 Christmas Activites in Paris for Families and Kids
As a parent living with young children in Paris I'm always looking for festive things to do during the holiday season. My goal is to do most during the day and 1-2 things in the evenings (my kids are 1 and 4) because let's be realistic, it can get cold at this time of year and it's nice to have both days and nights to enjoy! Around this time of year in Paris the sun sets really early (around 4:30pm) so we can still do "evening" things (like see Christmas lights!) before their bedtimes. If you're here on holiday we all know that bedtime goes OUT THE WINDOW when on vacation so even more time to enjoy!! SO without further ado here are magical and christmassy things to do in Paris during December!
10 Christmas Experiences for Kids and Families in Paris (2023):
Click on this Google map to Find Each Family Christmas experience in Paris Pinned:
1. See the Nutcracker for kids or "Mon Premier Casse Noisette"
(from now until the end of February)
I’m so excited to share that the fairytale ballet "The Nutcracker" is showing at the Théatre Mogodor in Paris! It was created and interpreted by star dancer of the Opéra de Paris Ballet, Karl Paquette, and the show was a HUGE success last year.
The ballet has been adapted for a younger audience, which makes it perfect for the whole family! It runs in two 40 minute parts, and is recommended for children 5 and up. The shows are at 11am and 2:30pm and tickets are from 29€. Head here for their site and to reserve: https://monpremiercassenoisette.fr/
I can't wait to take my daughter to see the Nutcracker! She'll be 5 soon and I'm excited to bring her to her first ballet, and I just love that it’s one geared for kids. She loves the theater and this is going to be a big hit especially during this festive season, I know it!!
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2. Marché de Noël D’Apprentis d'Auteuil au coeur du 16e arrondissement
(December 5-10)
This is a special pop up and VERY LIMITED TIME Christmas Market really geared towards families and kids! They have stuff for the whole family: Lots of foodie stands (you'll be able to get your vin chaud or mulled wine!), wooden chalets filled with local goodies, you can buy your Christmas tree here (un sapin), a brocante area (flea market!!), and then daily activites and shows for kids including lego workshops, dance workshops, a film screening for kids, magic workshops for kids, and lots more. You can see all of what they offer here: https://www.apprentis-auteuil.org/actualites/vie-de-la-fondation/feeries-dauteuil
3. Lumières en Seine
This was one of our FAVORITE things to do during Christmas time last year and the year before. It’s absolutely incredible and I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it if you are traveling here for Christmas holidays. It's a walk through the Parc Saint Cloud (on the edge of Paris, easily accessible by public transport or via a taxi if you prefer) and they have a bunch of different light shows put to music, an incredibly beautiful decorated carousel, lights you can walk through.. it's hard to describe, but I would really really recommend this experience because it’s accessible for every age. Word to the wise, make sure to bundle your kids UP, they're going to want to watch and stare at every single light show and it gets cold in the evenings. (Looking for handwarmers in Paris? I'd highly recommend these boxes of hand warmers from Decathlon. They have stores all over Paris!) Out first year, we saw kids of every age there, our little guy was about 6 months old and was bundled in the stroller and absolutely ADORED looking at the lights, my daughter who was 3.5 at the time loved this so much too, and all the adults in the group were totally enchanted! It was truly the perfect way to see lots of gorgeous Christmas decorations and one of the best things we’ve done the last two Christmas seasons in Paris!!
This year, it opens on November 15th, and you can buy tickets for specific dates if you know when you’ll be in Paris!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND: https://www.lumieresenseine.com/
4. Disneyland Paris
This is more of a fun day trip! It’s not in central Paris (about an hour on the train from central Paris) but you can do it for the day or stay overnight at one of their hotels! There are always huge Christmas festivities at Disneyland Paris with loads of themed decorations and rides. If you decide to go, download the app so you have access to wait times, can reserve the restaurant, and see all of the special activities happening. There are parades and of course firework shows on the weekends! It's such a great idea if you're a Disney-loving family. Disneyland Paris is MUCH smaller than other amusement parks in the US so I would definitely recommend a limited amount of time there. You don't need more than 1-2 days in my opinion! You can see their site and buy tickets here: https://www.disneylandparis.com/
5. Meet Santa Claus at the Hôtel de Ville!
This is a month long Christmas village in front of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris! You will totally feel the magic of Christmas amongst the Christmas decorations, meeting Santa (Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays 3-9pm, or every day from the 23-31st). Theres a carousel, luge for kids, rock climbing wall, and it's across the street from Le BHV, one of the iconic French Department stores so you can hop over there and do some Christmas shopping too!
The window displays at BHV are really cute too. You'll find the classic wooden chalets in front of the hotel-de-ville with gastronomic treats to warm you up. It's a very cute winter wonderland and the kids will absolutely LOVE IT.
While you're in this area you can also walk over to the Seine river for a lovely stroll, or head into the Marais neighbourhood of Paris where you have some of the best tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Getting lost in this area is really fun and you're bound to stumble upon cute coffee shops, more holiday decorations, other smaller Christmas markets, and festive decorations.
6. Jardin des plantes: Jungle en Voie d’illumination
This is a truly beautiful light up animal expo that's on this year in the Jardin des Plantes called the Jungle en Voie d'Illumination. It's creations of animals from fabric and then lit up in this iconic garden, you simply walk around and they have music and sounds too so it’s an immersive experience. Absolutely beautiful for a walk around, your kids will really love it. Again, like the lumières en seine, take hand warmers and dress in layers! Y
You can see this expo during the day too, and if you want to heat up with a hot mint tea afterwards, you can go to the Grande Mosque de Paris serving fresh mint tea in their gorgeous garden across the street from the Jardin des Plantes. If you have a dinosaur aficionado in the family like I do, go during the day so you can then pop into the Palaeontology museum and see tons of extinct and non-extinct skeletons of all sorts of animals. Head to the second floor up for the dinosaur skeletons.
https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/fr/jungle-en-voie-d-illumination
7. Christmas Concert:
How about some Christmas carols!! The French capital is filled with gorgeous churches and lots of them put on carols and Christmas shows during this time of year. The Église Saint-Eustache is one that is well known and has tickets available. This year, the iconic Eglise Saint Sulpice with its famous organ also has a concert on December 15th.
8. Where to see sparkling Christmas lights
(check out map At the top of this post for pin points!):
Twinkling lights are one of the best and easiest ways to get into the Christmas sprit and I LOVE walking around with the kids and just admiring them. They never ever EVER disappoint.
Here are some places I'd recommend to see gorgeous lights and decorations all around the city of Paris:
Village Royal - 25 Rue Royale, 24 Rue Boissy d'Anglas, 75008 Paris
You can do some christmas shopping here too in luxury stores like Dior. You're a quick walking distance from our next favorite place for decorations...
Place Vendôme - Pl. Vendôme, 75001 Paris
Home to the Ritz hotel and a number of gorgeous jewellery and luxury brands like Dior, Place Vendôme has some of the prettiest decorations for Christmas every year. Through the glass windows you and see absolutely stunning jewellery and window shopping to your hearts desire. Take a walk on Rue Saint-Honoré for more luxury brands and their stunning decorations. The Christmas magic is all around here!!
This year the Ritz is having a beautiful carousel as part of their Christmas decor and a pop up chalet for ritz goodies to bring home. Not to miss. You can reserve the Ritz tea time as an extra festive experience too, though I would recommend for older children. (5+)
Pantheon Christmas trees - Pl. du Panthéon, 75005 Paris
A family trip to Paris always brings you somewhere by the Jardin du Luxembourg for some playing and while you're there, head over to the Pantheon! The Christmas tree decor outside is so beautiful and it's just a hop skip and a jump away from...
The lights around the Odéon - Place de l'Odéon, 75006 Paris
There is a big christmas tree in the center of Place de l’Odéon and then starts a gorgeous street of lights that goes on and on and ON all the way to the river seine. Walk down rue de l'Odéon for a very festive atmosphere.
9. Head to the Christmas markets:
Ok I want to warn you, a lot of the big markets aren't great, but there ARE a few Christmas markets that are filled with festive treats and unique creations from local artisans.
Local artist markets:
The Artisan Market in Le Bon Marché - Le Bon Marché is the oldest of the parisian department stores and has not lost any of it's charm or class!! I love this one and go every year because they always have unique local brands that you can buy from! You find gifts at every price point and I love heading upstairs to get a special Christmas ornament every year. Would definitely recommend!
Head over here to the official town hall website (pop it into google translate if you don't speak french) https://www.paris.fr/pages/dix-marches-de-noel-ou-deambuler-pendant-les-fetes-25634
The big "Christmas" markets that you'll see that are central but I usually avoid:
Christmas market in Saint Germain des Près - Frankly, it's disappointing. It's cute with the chalets but doesn't have much else.
Tuileries Garden Christmas Market - While this is a big one with rides and sort of like a mini amusement park, it's basically the same exact tiny fair that you see all year long with a different sign in the front. The perk for me is the ferris wheel (15€/person, cash only) and the beautiful view of Paris from it. I probably would avoid this mayhem or at least take it for what it is: not an actual Christmas market. If you do go watch your pockets and bags!!!
10. Christmas Windows Decor:
This is a HUGELY popular thing to do in Paris for the Christmas holidays for locals!!
The grands magasins of Paris have a sort of "window war" to see who can decorate the best!
The three big ones are:
Le Bon Marche - 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris
You ALWAYS have a really unique and different holiday decor inside here along with a ton of local artisans selling beautiful presents at every price point. I love their windows and it's not usually too packed which I also really appreciate with kids.
Printemps Haussmann- 64 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Stunning and I love their houseware collections!! Less insanely crazy than Galeries Lafayette that's next door.
Galeries Lafeyette Haussmann - 40 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Everyone in Paris waits for the Galeries Lafayette tree to be unveiled every year! It's usually a big theme and most times it's a big hit. The windows are always out of this world. I would highly recommend avoiding weekends here because it is MAYHEM. I avoid shopping here for presents at all costs because it's so so SO busy but it admittedly has a lot of great stuff. One thing not to miss is the view on the top floor rooftop. You can either see it through a window OR you can go on to the roof and the view of Paris is next level. Highly highly recommend!!
Recommended day trip from Paris or quick overnight:
Take the train to Strasbourg in Alsace and go experience true French christmas markets in Strasbourg and the christmas village of Colmar. It's truly like you step into Beauty and the Beast. The train is direct and 2 hours to Strasbourg center. You walk 10 minutes from the station and you're in the heart of the christmas markets. Start at the cathedral and get lost (and try not to buy everything lol).
Paris is so much fun around Christmas time, I LOVE living here with my kids and exploring the city. It's the perfect place to get into the christmas sprit and have a ton of fun with your kids as a family. Wishing you the best best best time here!!
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