Foodie Fun
Mini Bûche de Noël at La Cuisine Paris, 6, 13, 20 December
Join us for an afternoon of festive pastry baking, and learn how to make a selection of mini 'Yule Log' cakes! During this special workshop, you will learn how to make the most traditional Christmas treat - with a difference! Take home all the skills you need to make your own miniature Yule Logs, known in France as Bûches de Noëls! You'll make two different flavours, Chocolat et Cerise (Chocolate and Cherry) and Aux Châtaignes (Chesnut), and learn all the steps to bake and decorate this French classic. Find out more and book here.
Les Halles de Paris C'etait Quand, Hier? Until 6 December, Librairie Sur le fil de Paris
Just a few moments from La Cuisine, we recently discovered a fantastic little exhibition that celebrates the history of Les Halles (where the vast food market of Paris used to be located) and the newer location - Rungis, which is celebrating its 50th birthday! Through photographs, books and documents, you'll be able to see just how amazing Les Halles was at its height, and how huge Rungis is now!
2 Rue de l'Ave Maria
Christmas Cheer
Christmas Markets in Paris
Les Marchés de Noël usually kick-off towards the end of November and beginning of the month and are charged with energy and excitement. As the big day quickly approaches there is no better time to visit the Christmas markets!
Each market has a different feel, but our favorites include Le Marché de Noël de Notre Dame, for its artisanal food and art markets, Le Marché de Noël alsacien à la Gare de l'Est for the best delicasies from the Alsace region, including bretzels, pains d'épices et les petits gâteaux de Noël. Or finally, the beautiful Montmartre Market around Abbesses, with around 30 chalets just at the base of the Sacre Coeur (dates tbc).
Christmas Displays in Paris
Paris is known as the Ville Lumiere or the 'City of Light', and during December this title certainly comes into its own!
The city of Paris goes to extraordinary lengths to decorate their beautiful streets and department stores windows with elaborate displays of Christmas cheer. The streets are gilded with Christmas lights and enormous ornaments, while stores like Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and BHV try to out do each other every year with their Christmas themed windows displays. Major tourist destinations showcase their Christmas spirit including the avenue des Champs-Elysées, the Montmartre district, and the Bercy Village.
Family Fun
Harry Potter Pop-Up! Until 31st January
A great excuse to visit one of the lovely Covered Passages of Paris, why not head to Passage des Princes to find the magic of a Harry Potter pop-up store? Grab yourself a magic wand or an invisibility cloak
3-5, boulevard des Italiens
Les Enchanteurs de Noel - 7-22 December
Are you looking for something to both entertain and exhaust restless children and teenagers over the Christmas period? Then be sure to check out this event at the Chateau de Vincennes. For the first two weeks of December, you can explore this exciting festival and travel back in time to experience life during the medieval period. There are plenty of activities for all ages, including workshops and playgrounds for kids, performances from magicians and illusionists, an impressive parade of knights and dragons, with plenty on offer to eat for a Christmas feast. Perfect for the entire family! Find out more here!
Ice Skating Rinks in Paris 2019
The Grand Palais des Glaces - Back for another showstopping year, the vast ice skating rink in the Grand Palais will be back from December 13th until January 8th. You can really whirl your way around this rink thanks to a whopping 2,700 square metres of ice, and there will be light shows, parties, DJ sets, disco balls and live entertainment! Be sure to enjoy this one, as the Grand Palais will be closing for renovations.
La Grand Arch at La Défense - Pair a visit to the Christmas Market at La Defense with an ice skating session on top of one its most impressive buildings! From December 8th - 21st you can skate on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and from 22nd until January 6th you can skate every day from 10.30am - 6.30pm. This rink has a fantastic view over Paris but note that it is a synthetic rink, so you can't bring your own skates. Rental is €3 and tickets to skate are €12 and gloves are mandatory so don't forget them!
Plaza Athenée - In the beautiful courtyard of this famous hotel from November 24th you can take to the ice surrounded by gorgeous architecture and twinkling lights. Why not opt for the Festive Tea Time and enjoy hot drinks, beautiful cakes by chef Angelo Musa, and complimentary access for two children to the ice skating rink. €60 per person. Find out more here.
Galeries Lafayette - If you feel like doing some shopping and then skating around on the rooftop of one of the most famous stores in the world... then this option might be for you! Enjoy gorgeous views over the city while gliding around a 160 square metre rink - and for free.
Culture Vultures
- Leonardo da Vinci, The Louvre, until February 24th
- Van Gogh Starry Night, Atelier des Lumières, until December 31st
- Crime and Justice in the Middle Ages, Tour Jean-sans-Peur, until 29 December
- Francis Bacon: Books and Painting, Centre Georges Pompidou, until 20 January
- The Golden Age of English Painting, from Reynolds to Turner, Masterpieces from the Tate Britain, Musée de Luxembourg, until 16th February
- Mondrian's Figurative Work, Musée Marmottan Monet, until 26 January
- Degas at the Opera, Musée d'Orsay, until 19 January
- The Alana Collection, Masterpieces of Italian Painting, Musée Jacquemart-André, until 20 January
- Toulouse Lautrec, Resolutely Modern, Grand Palais, until 27 January,
- Charlie Chaplin, Philharmonie de Paris, until 26 January
- Marie-Antoinette: Metamorphoses of an Image, Conciergerie, until 26 January
- Greco, Grand Palais, until 10 February
An American in Paris, Châtelet Theatre, until January 20th
Why not take in a glitzy razzle dazzle show during the festive season? The newly opened Châtelet Theatre is staging a fabulous production of An American in Paris this winter, and you can find out all about it here!
Festivities Further Afield
Vaux le Vicomte is always an unforgettable place to celebrate the holiday season and 2019 is no exception. From November 23rd, the palace (on which Versailles was modeled) will transform itself into a wonderland of illuminations, Christmas trees and rooms beautifully decorated for the season. This year there'll be an incredible light show every half hour on the front of the Chateau, so read all about it and book just here.
Disneyland Paris of course goes all out during the holiday season from 9th November until 6th January. There's Mickey's Christmas Big Band, Fairytale Princess Waltzes, a Christmas Village and more - perfect for a magical family Christmas. Find out all about it here.
New Year's Eve in Paris
It's one of the most festive nights of the year, whether you're cosy at home with ready-to-pop Champagne or out on the town! In Paris, there are some great options for this night of new starts, and here are just a few if you'll be in town!
New Years Night at the Cabaret
All the major Cabarets throw a seriously glitzy New Years Party and that includes the Lido, Crazy Horse and the iconic Moulin Rouge. You may have to stretch your wallet a little, but you will certainly be partying your way into a New Year in style!
The Light Show on the Champs Elysées
Every year the Arc de Triomphe becomes a canvas for a stunning light show to celebrate the coming of the New Year, with thousands of people flocking to the Champs Elysées to watch! The light show usually starts around 11.30pm, but bear in mind that transport there and away again will be packed, so plan accordingly!
Cruise your way into 2020
Bateaux Parisiens offer the chance to glide into the New Year with their New Year's Eve Dinner Cruise, so you can enjoy Champagne, a gourmet dinner, and astonishing views - then party until dawn!
