Paris at Christmas: 3-Day City Trip & Highlights
You want to explore Paris during the Christmas season or in winter? Then you’re in the right place!
In December 2024, we spent a long weekend in Paris with 3 nights. In this post, you’ll find out what to see beyond the Eiffel Tower and magical Christmas decorations during the cold season, where to stay, and how to spend your days.
Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Louvre & one of Paris’ most famous restaurants
Since we arrived by train, we were right at the Paris train station, where we got a Navigo Easy Pass for a one-time fee of €2. This card can be topped up as often as you like and used for public transport, making it perfect for a city trip. You can buy the pass at the ticket counters or machines at the station.
We started the day with probably the most famous sight in Paris: The Eiffel Tower. There’s a well-known street with a view of the tower that you’ve likely seen in many photos. Since we had trouble finding it ourselves, here’s the first tip: you can see the street from the picture below on Rue de Buenos-Ayres. Afterwards, we headed to the Christmas market (Marché de Noël) just near the Eiffel Tower on the Quai Branly promenade. The market offers a variety of food and mulled wine stalls and provides a good view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower in the evening. It runs every year from early December to early January.
Afterwards, we checked into our Airbnb from Peng. For 2 nights, it cost around €260, which is relatively affordable for Paris. However, it was very compact, the bathroom was far too small, and there were several steps in a winding staircase to reach the Airbnb. We booked it mainly for the location, as you could see the Eiffel Tower when stepping outside, but in hindsight, we would have chosen a different option. If you want to save money on accommodation and don’t mind limited space, it’s a cost-effective choice. Below, we’ve listed more accommodation options for every budget. When choosing where to stay, keep in mind the different arrondissements (20 in total) in Paris, each with its own charm. Here’s an overview of the districts.
After checking in, we headed toward Notre-Dame. The cathedral impresses with its architecture and age. Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after the devastating fire six years earlier, with the towers reopening in September 2025. Admission is free, but you can book a free time slot to avoid waiting. More information is available directly on the Notre-Dame website.
Next, we headed to the Louvre, which is already impressive from the outside due to its architecture and size. Admission is free for visitors under 26 and otherwise costs €22. Tickets can be purchased on-site. The Louvre website warns against fake ticket sales claiming to skip the line. You also have the option to book a guided tour. We explored independently, checking out the different exhibitions across several floors. The museum is huge, with a variety of exhibits, and of course, the most famous piece is the Mona Lisa. We were surprised at how small the painting actually is, and the line for a photo is huge, but it’s still a must-see when visiting the Louvre.
Afterwards, we walked to one of Paris’s most famous restaurant chains: Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. The concept is quite unique: they only serve one dish: salad, fries, and steak and there are no reservations. Sounds like mass production? Definitely. The food and concept still impress and attract a huge crowd. We knew it would be busy and that you need to arrive early, but we didn’t expect it to be that crowded.
We arrived at 6 pm, half an hour before opening, and still waited almost 1.5 hours! Our tip: arrive at least half an hour early or during lunch time. The food was amazing, but we wouldn’t wait 1.5 hours again. To finish the day, we returned to the Eiffel Tower to see it sparkle (from sunset until 1 am, every full hour).
Day 2: Galeries Lafayette, Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Our second day started with breakfast at Cafet’o, conveniently located near our accommodation. They serve authentic, affordable Colombian breakfast in a cozy atmosphere. Afterwards, we headed to Galeries Lafayette, one of Paris’s most famous shopping centers. The entire street around the Galeries Lafayette is full of shops. During the Christmas season, the store is festively decorated but also very crowded. Before heading to Montmartre, we stopped for lunch at Gajin Ramen. From the outside, it’s very inconspicuous and easy to miss, but it’s a hidden gem for all ramen lovers. We highly recommend making a reservation to avoid waiting.
After lunch, we continued to Place du Tertre, a lively area with street performers and cafés, near the Sacré-Cœur. On the way, you’ll also find the small Christmas market Marché de Noël des Abbesses. Overall, we found Paris’s Christmas markets less charming than those in Germany, and the food and mulled wine selection is quite different. The famous Sacré-Cœur church can be visited for free, except for the towers. Admission to the towers costs €8 per adult. We only visited the church from the outside, as the area around Sacré-Cœur was very busy and touristy.
After a stop at the cool bar Le Rendez-Vous des Amis, we strolled through the city and ended the evening with pizza and pasta at Casa Cosa and a visit to the Place de la Concorde/Jardin des Tuileries Christmas market. This winter market is one of the larger ones in Paris and offers a festive atmosphere.
Day 3: Dupleix, Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Élysées
We started our last day with a coffee at Café Onoul before picking up some delicious pastries at the bakery Panade. Afterwards, we headed to the Dupleix neighborhood, where we stumbled upon the Marché Grenelle. This weekly market is open on Wednesdays from 07:00–13:30 and Sundays from 07:00–14:30, offering a variety of fruit and vegetable stalls as well as savory food stands with fried dishes, paella, half chickens, and more – kind of a little street food market and perfect for a lunch snack.
Afterward, we took the train to the Arc de Triomphe, one of Paris’s most famous and historic landmarks. Built between 1806 and 1836, it impresses with its size and architecture. You can even go all the way to the top to enjoy the view. Admission is free for visitors under 26, and for those over 26, it costs €16–22 depending on the season, with higher prices in summer.
From there, we walked along the Champs-Élysées, one of Paris’s most famous shopping streets, home to numerous luxury stores like Dior, all beautifully decorated for Christmas. The street is perfect for strolling and admiring the decorations. Before heading to the airport, we ended our trip with excellent Vietnamese food at Pho Saint Martin.
Cafés, Markets & Restaurants
Christmas Markets in Paris
Where to stay in Paris
In general stays in Paris are quite expensive and the value for money is usually quite low. Apart from hotels you’ll usually find really small one-bedroom apartments with a really compact bathroom. Therefore, we tried to find some accommodations in Paris for every budget: