Are you traveling to Paris and would love to forget you’re a visitor in the City of Love? If so, the next thing is to find the best Christmas markets in Paris and feel like you belong. Known as the City of Love or the City of Lights, it’s one of the most popular destinations across the world and traveling to Paris is fun at any time of the year. Most people don’t visit France and leave without visiting Paris and enjoying all the romance and great energy the city has to offer. Winter in Paris is exceptional, with the city brightly lit and some of the best Christmas markets offering amazing items and offers for visitors and locals alike.
Originating in Germany and the Alsace, Christmas markets have spread across all over Europe for the past couple of decades. Enjoyed by Parisians and visitors alike, Christmas markets have become a must for the holiday season. Christmas markets in Paris offer everything from delicious authentic French food, colorful jewelry, amazing curio ornaments, and much more. Winter in Paris has the best to offer, and all you have to do is indulge and enjoy at any time. If you’re traveling to Paris, below are some of the best Christmas markets to visit.
Since you are here, you probably want to read this post too: The Top 10 Things To Do In Paris This Winter
Le Village de Noël de Paris La Défense
It’s a huge Christmas market at the La Défense Esplanade. It boasts of 350 chalets, and it’s an embodiment of what Christmas markets in Paris will look like in the 22nd century. The market has the towering skyscrapers of Paris’s main financial quarter as the backdrop. The market has an assortment of items on offer, from jewelry to toys to Christmas decorations to non-Christmassy items. One of the stalls features varieties of exquisite nativity figures at amazingly low prices. The seasonal fruits and freshly baked gingerbread entice one to indulge.
Location: Esplanade de La Défense
Métro: La Défense (RER A – La Défense)
Dates: November 25, 2021 to December 29, 2021
La Magie de Noël aux Tuileries
The market rose like a festive phoenix from the former Champs-Elysees Christmas Market that ended a few years back. La Magie de Noël has around 100 stalls selling all Christmas admirables. It sits in a vast green space of Tuileries Garden and has enough to keep everyone visiting the market full all year long.
The market theme during winter in Paris is food, fun, and entertainment, and it doesn’t compromise. If you’re out with the family or as a couple, look out for the huge Ferris wheel, and more than a dozen other carnival rides to keep you entertained. The ice skating rink with a separate section for kids is amazing, and the Champagne bar sets the bar pretty high. The hot mulled wine made the night for me, and the French-produced specialty food kept us full all through.
Location: Jardin des Tuileries
Métro: Tuileries or Concorde
Dates: November 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market
It’s one of the never-miss markets when traveling to Paris, especially during winter. The super-stylish market has 20-40 chalets stoking high-end gifts and luxury Christmas items. The main section that draws so many people to the market is fashion. The market has a selection of items from the local and international scene combined with the usual festive favorites. The food and drinks here are also on another level. For those who love artisan chocolate or love fancy champagne, the market has great things to offer you. The Vin Chaud Champagne here is amazing, and you can take some home together with scented candles or exquisite chocolate infused in liquor.
Location: Boulevard Saint-Germain
Métro: Saint-Germain
Dates: November 20 to December 26, 2021
Square René Viviani near Notre-Dame Cathedral
It’s not in front of Notre Dame Cathedral but gives a serene view of the cathedral. Its located on the opposite side of the river and is one of the best Christmas markets in Paris. It boasts of regional produce, performances for the kids and hosts the oldest tree in Paris.
It’s one of Paris’s most attractive seasonal markets, with the brightly lit Christmas tree appealing to you from far. Here, you get to enjoy nibbling on roasted chestnuts and shop for regional artisan gifts as the young ones enjoy a performance for the kids. You’ll also find some specialties such as tapenades from Provence, specialty cheeses, and more.
Location: Square René-Viviani on Quai Montebello
Métro: Maubert-Mutualité or Saint Michel (RER C/RER B to Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame)
Dates: December 10 to 26 2021
Eiffel Tower Christmas Market on Champs de Mars
Talk of a great view combined with various things to do and enjoy in Paris. For those who visit Paris and never leave without going to the Eiffel tower, you get a double treat this time round. The fake snow, wonderfully decorated huge Christmas tree, and close-up views of the Eiffel Tower have this Christmas market in Paris standing out.
Open early December until after New Year, the market has about 35 chalets and a few food trucks. It also specializes in delicious local cuisine and gourmet foods ready to eat on the spot. The Savoyard and Alsatian stand out in the market with their mouthwatering regional specialties. As you shop, you get to sip on some hot mulled wine and take some amazing photos against the “Iron Lady” standing tall as a backdrop.
Location: Quai Branly
Métro: Pont de l’Alma (RER C – Champs de Mars)
Dates: December 2021 – January 2022
Place des Abbesses Christmas market in Montmartre
Winter in Paris with your kids will never be the same again. The market is up the hill, where there is a children’s carousel next to the medium-sized Christmas market. It’s different from the other crowded markets in the area giving a smaller town operation feel. It has a few stalls and rides well set at the entrance to the metro, inviting you to an amazing day out.
Here, you fortify yourself with warm spiced wine as you shop around. The hot roasted chestnuts straight from the grill invite you to the Vin Chaud and Marrons Chaud signage. You can also follow your nose and won’t get lost to enjoy the treats. The market is also great to sample traditional bites such as small plates of sautéed mushrooms, escargot, and raclette. Before you get the specialty cheese to take back to your apartment, you can join the others at the Champagne bar with a friendly neighborhood vibe.
Location: Place des Abbesses
Métro: Abbesses
Dates: November 26, 2021 to January 2, 2022
The Alsace Celebrate Christmas at The Gare De l’Est
It might be around 500km from the city of Paris, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get a taste of winter in Paris here. It’s one of the oldest Alsatian markets outside the city, and here you eat and drink amazing traditional Alsace-style products. Get your stomach ready for kougelhopf, bretzels, sauerkraut, mannele, and much more. If you fancy some white wine, seek the Riesling and get your fill as you munch on the free tastings.
Are you traveling to Paris and wondering what winter in Paris looks like? Coming to France isn’t a completely fulfilling trip without getting a picture of the Eiffel Tower, right? How about you enjoy local delicacies in one of these Christmas markets in Paris and get a photo with the “Iron Lady” standing tall as always? Welcome to Paris, and don’t forget to engage and enjoy these great markets.
Location: La place du 11-Novembre-1918
Métro: Gare de l’Est
Dates: December 1-17, 2021
These are just some of the more traditional and popular Christmas markets in Paris. There can be upwards to 20 Christmas markets in Paris, including smaller pop-up markets, neighborhood Christmas markets, and specialty markets. For additional information on those markets visit Paris Info.
Having gone to a French culinary school I have always wanted to go to Paris. These markets look amazing.
All of the markets look amazing. My dream is to visit Paris in the winter time and Christmas looks like it would be magical. Thank you for sharing.
These are great Xmas markets, and Hotel de Ville has a great Xmas market that’s worth checking out also. Joyeuses Fêtes
Looks amazing! So beautiful. We went to our first German Christmas market in Wisconsin last week. It was so fun. I can’t wait to go to more all over the world.