Paris in December: Things to Do, Weather, What to Wear, & More!

Paris in December, it is a thing of beauty.

There is a crispness to the air that only comes in late autumn, and the city is decked out for the holidays.

If you’re searching for a magical, wondrous time to visit Paris, December is the winner.

To help you plan your festive getaway to the City of Lights, here is everything you need to know about Paris in December including weather, what to wear, events, things to do, whether it is worth visiting, and more!

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Want a full guide to Paris including itinerary ideas, where to stay, all the travel tips, a packing list, and more? Check out my ultimate guide to Paris!

Paris in December Weather

Whenever I make these monthly guides, I always get questions on the weather, and rightfully so. It affects what you’re wearing and even alters how you may choose to spend your time.

Paris in December can be cold. Personally, as a person who lives in Cleveland, Ohio in the US, Paris in winter isn’t that bad at all to me. However, if you’re coming from Sydney, Australia, Texas, etc., it may feel pretty chilly. 

But overall, December has chillier days, can get to freezing, and can have rain and [rarely] snow.

I will point out that while Paris temperatures aren’t typically bad in December, this time of year has higher humidity, making it feel chillier than the thermometer may say, so be sure to have layers!

To help you prepare, here are some estimated weather averages below. However, Paris weather can also be unpredictable, even more so this past year. So ALWAYS check the weather forecast prior to your visit and pack accordingly! The Weather Channel works fine for me!

• Average high: 47-50ºF / 8-10ºC
• Average low: 39-42ºF / 4-6ºC 
• Average number of days with significant precipitation: 9
• Hours of daylight: 8 hours, 14 minutes-8 hours, 33 minutes

Yes, be prepared for much less daylight! The shortest day of the year, December 21, the sun rises at 8:41 am and sets at 4:56 pm. Yes, before 5 pm! But hey! After that, the days start to get longer!

December 1 has sunrise at 8:22 am and sunset at 4:56 pm and December 31 has sunrise at 8:44 am and sunset at 5:03 pm. 

The bonus is that yes, you’ll have plenty of chances to see the Eiffel Tower lit up AND all the holiday decorations!

Yes, this is one of the coldest months of the year, so be prepared. It is also one of the wettest months of the year. Paris usually has gloomy days with some rain in December rather than snow, but stranger things have happened. Sun can happen too! But be prepared for rain and cold and you should be fine!

As far as 2025, there were days where it got up to 60ºF / 16ºC and it was around 50ºF /10ºC during the day for a good chunk of the month. It wasn’t until toward the end when the temperatures dipped. 

Important for 2026: We are currently in a Super El Niño year, which accounts for some of the crazy weather Paris has had. It is predicted that this is going to be a wet fall, so definitely come prepared!

Paris in December What to Wear

Now that we know what to expect weather-wise, let’s talk clothing!

• Boots. This is a winter staple. I love my black Timberland boots, as they’re warm and cute! Men’s boots here. Something waterproof to keep your feet dry and warm is essential, especially if you’re exploring outdoors!
• Wool socks. Keeping your feet warm is essential to not be miserable. Wool socks help keep your feet warm and dry. 
• Jeans/trousers. Jeans and trousers are a popular choice to wear in Paris! Men’s jeans here. Men’s trousers.
• Long-sleeve shirts. This is a great choice, especially if you layer a thick jacket on top. That’s because the second you enter a building, you will get blasted with heat. So sweaters are tricky whereas long-sleeve shirts help. Men’s version here.
• Sweaters. That being said, if you plan to go ice skating, go Christmas market hopping, and plan to spend a lot of time outside (or it’s really cold), bring some sweaters too! Men’s version here.
• Wool coat. This year, I plan to bring my warm wool coat! Men’s coat here. I’ve also worn a parka in the past, and it was great! Yes, parkas/puffy coats are worn around Paris.
• Scarf. Scarves are a great idea, especially if you’re going to be out and about exploring.
• Gloves. These are great in the early mornings/evenings or just cold days. 
• Ear muffs/hat. This was great for early mornings/evenings when the temps cool off more. 
• Wool underlayers. I’ll be honest, I haven’t needed many wool underlayers in Paris, but if you are from a warmer climate and aren’t used to cold or if it is a chilly day and you plan to be outside a lot, it is a good idea to stay warm. Men’s version here.
• Umbrella. Yes, you’ll definitely want to pack this for the rain!

As always, check the weather forecast prior to your visit and pack according to your comfort levels/cold tolerance. 

But overall, layers are great! I also have a guide to packing for Europe in winter here for more details!

December Events in Paris

Now it’s time to buckle up, because Paris in December is full of events! Most are related to the holiday season, but if you want to immerse yourself in the charms and lights of the season, Paris is a great place to visit! 

Paris Holidays in December:

• Christmas Day (December 25): This is the only public holiday in Paris in December, and it is Christmas! This celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is a Christian holiday.

Note: Many places close down early on Christmas Eve (December 24) because in France, they tend to celebrate more this evening. This evening is their feast called Le Réveillon. It is a multi-course feast eaten with family. Gifts are also typically exchanged. Places close down early for December 31 (New Year’s Eve) as well. 

Events in Paris in December

• Festival de l’Automne (September 11, 2026-January 10, 2027): This festival celebrates the arts like music, dancing, theatre, and more! It happens in various venues around Paris, and it is a great way to take in some culture with the locals!
• Disney Enchanted Christmas at Disneyland Paris (November 7, 2026-January 6, 2027): Get into the festive spirit in a way only Disney can do! Enjoy the celebrations and decor at Disneyland Paris–perfect if you’re visiting Paris in December with kids!
• Festival of Lights in Jardin des Plantes (mid-November-mid-January): Enjoy the light festival in Jardin des Plantes in Paris with many displays during the holiday season! 
• Paris Christmas Markets (mid-November through early January): The long-awaited Christmas markets are open! While some of the larger markets like the Tuileries and La Defense open in November, by December, they’re all up and running at some point, and some pop-up markets happen too. I’ll share major market dates below! 
• Hanukkah (December 4-12, 2026): You can partake in the 8-day Jewish holiday to celebrate the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple. Paris will have Menorah lighting ceremonies. Check more details here. 
• Christmas Concerts: There are many Christmas concerts happening in the month of December at various churches across the city. Most concerts happen typically within the week of Christmas, although we’re going to a concert in early December at the Eglise de Saint-Germain-des-Pres! Check concerts here. 
• Le Festival du Merveilleux (December 26, 2026-January 3, 2027): If you’re here after Christmas, be sure to head to Musée des Arts Forains (AKA the Museum of Fairground Arts) for their annual festival where you can explore, enjoy the turn-of-the-century rides and games, visit without a guided tour (which you need the rest of the year), and witness fun performances. It’s a unique thing to do in Paris during the holidays! Book your ticket in advance, though!
• New Year’s Eve on the Champs-Elysees (December 31): Ring in the New Year on Paris’s famous Champs-Elysees complete with music, lights, and fireworks! 
• French School Holidays (December 20, 2026-January 3, 2027): Of course, around Christmas, French school holidays begin until past the New Year. Things may be busier during that time. 

Things to Do in Paris in December

Here are some epic things to do this time of year in Paris!

PS– I have a full guide to Paris at Christmastime here including the best things to do!

1. Visit the Christmas Markets!

The Paris Christmas markets are so much fun! I fell in love with them during my visit! 

One of my favorite things was visiting the Tuileries Christmas Market, eating a raclette sandwich (it’s a half wheel of cheese melted under a heat lamp and scraped into a sandwich…it is delicious), and riding the Ferris Wheel with views over the city.

While it is more commercialized than smaller city Christmas markets, the food and drinks here are great! Now Paris has many Christmas markets, all with varying opening dates. Here are the Paris Christmas market key dates for 2026: 

• Tuileries Christmas Market: November 14, 2026-January 3, 2027.
• La Defense Christmas Market: November 12-December 31, 2026, & until January 3, 2027 for the Festive Zone.
• Hotel de Ville Christmas Market: December 4, 2026-January 3, 2027 (To be confirmed).
• Alsatian Christmas Market at Gare de l’Est: December 2-18, 2026.
• Notre Dame Christmas Market: November 26-December 27, 2026.
• Eiffel Tower Christmas Market: December 5, 2026-January 3, 2027 (To be confirmed).
• Abbesses Christmas Market in Montmartre: November 19, 2026-January 3, 2027 (To be confirmed).
• Saint-Germain-des-Pres Christmas Market: November 24, 2026-January 5, 2027 (To be confirmed).
• La Villette Christmas Market at Parc de la Villette: November 20-December 28, 2026 (To be confirmed).
• Saint Michel Christmas Market in the Latin Quarter (at Place Saint Michel): December 4, 2026-January 3, 2027 (To be confirmed).
• Champs-Elysees Christmas Market is also making its return this year: November 22, 2026-January 4, 2027.

2. Visit les Grands Magasins.

The major department stores are well worth visiting during the month of December because they are DECKED out! Galeries Lafayette Haussmann has its gigantic decorative tree, and all the major stores have epic window displays. 

Even Galeries Layfayette Haussmann and Printemps Haussmann have lovely rooftops to go up and witness the city all lit up with holiday decor and go ice skating!

Other departments stores to visit include Bon Marché, BHV Marais, and La Samaritaine.

3. Go on a Bus Tour to See the Christmas Lights.

Yes, you can go on an evening bus tour to admire the best holiday lights in the city! 

Book it here!

4. Seine Cruise.

With early sunsets comes the chance to enjoy the Eiffel Tower lit up before you go to dinner, Christmas concert, etc. And the Seine is a lovely place to see it!

With this cruise, you can even select the time you go so you can try to time it to when the Eiffel Tower sparkles! The Eiffel Tower sparkles for the first 5 minutes of the hour after nightfall until midnight (final sparkles).

Bundle up and enjoy the lights after sunset!

Book it here!

5. Ice Skating at the Grand Palais.

From December 12, 2026-January 6, 2027, you can go ice skating at the Grand Palais. A gorgeous building on its own, it becomes a wonderland around the holiday season. You book a sesson for either the morning, afternoon, or nighttime. The nighttime session has lights and DJ sets too!

Check it out here!

6. Suimoa Walking Tour With a Local.

You can have a local guide walk you around to the best places in Paris! Whether you want to explore the covered passages of Paris, enjoy iconic photo spots, learn about neighborhoods like Montmartre, or learn about the Eiffel Tower, you can wander Paris with a local and discover more!*

Book your tour here!

7. Enjoy All the Comfort Food.

Winter in Paris is the perfect excuse to eat all the gooey, cheesy, delectable comfort foods. I love places like La Petite Perigourdine for the cheesy aligot, La Jacobine for onion soup, or Le Vieux Bistrot for fondue.

Check out my fave restaurants in Paris here! Oh, and it’s also the perfect time for hot chocolate. I have a guide all about that too.

And for a fun food tour, check out this one all about chocolate and pastries!

8. Go to the Market.

Aside from Christmas markets, Paris is full of fabulous food markets too! This time of year, you’ll spot mushrooms, root vegetables, chestnuts, apples, pears, oranges, and cheeses. 

Here are some to check out:

• Raspail Market: Tuesday & Friday from 7 am-1:30 pm.
• Rue Mouffetard Market Street: Everyday except Monday from around 8 am-1 pm. However, weekends are the best time to go.
• Rue Cler Market Street: There are many shops and things that have varying opening times. Many are closed on Monday all day and Sunday afternoons. But it is typically open all day until around 8 pm Tuesday-Saturday.
• Place Monge Market: Wednesday & Friday from 7 am-2:30 pm. Sunday from 7 am-3 pm.
• Maubert Market: Tuesday & Thursday from 7 am-2:30 pm. Saturday from 7 am-3 pm.
• Marche d’Aligre: Tuesday-Friday from 7:30 am-1:30 pm and Saturday-Sunday from 7:30 am-2:30 pm. The covered market is open from Tuesday-Friday from 9 am-1 pm and 4-7:30 pm, Saturday is from 9 am-1 pm and 3:30-7:30 pm, and Sunday is from 9 am-1:30 pm.
• Bastille Market: Thursday from 7 am-2:30 pm and Sunday from 7 am-3 pm.

9. Best Day Trips From Paris in December.

Here are great day trip ideas for December in Paris!

• Strasbourg. Yes, you can visit the Strasbourg Christmas market during a day trip! It’s about 2 hours from Paris via train!
• Colmar. You could instead visit the Colmar Christmas market! It’s about 2.5 hours from Paris via train. It’s a longer day, but worth it! I recently did a day trip to Colmar during the spring market this year!
• Reims. You could take a quick 45-minute train ride to Reims for the day to go Champagne tasting, explore the historic Champagne cellars, and even visit their Christmas market (just make Champagne tasting/tour reservations in advance!).
• Lille. Head about an hour via train toward the Belgian border to enjoy this city with its famous Christmas market!
• Provins. About 1 hour, 20 minutes away via train is this Medieval town. And if you’re in Paris on December 12-13, 2026, you can take a day trip to Provins to discover their Medieval Christmas market! You’ll just catch the SNCF Transilien Line P train as part of Ile-de-France’s public transit.
• Disneyland Paris. Head to Disneyland Paris for the day to celebrate the holiday season with Mickey and friends! You’ll take the RER A here from Paris. Get tickets here!
• Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. Enjoy the Grand Noel celebrations at this gorgeous castle complete with a pop-up ice rink, decor, and light show! Book tickets well in advance! They also have a shuttle from Paris you’ll need to reserve in advance!
• Loire Valley. Take a guided tour to the Loire Valley to see fairytale castles decked out for the holidays!

Be sure to purchase train tickets in advance for popular places like Strasbourg, Colmar, etc. as it books up (and prices increase). 

Where to Stay During December in Paris

When it comes to where to stay in Paris, I have many guides I’ll share below. However, for the holiday season, I think the 9th arrondissement is super charming.

For starters, you have the Opera area which is donned in lights and decor, especially around the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and Printemps Haussmann department stores. 

Even if you stay further north in the neighborhood, you’re close to the Abbesses Christmas market and Montmartre! Here are some hotels to check out:

Hotel Joyce: Part of the Asotel chain, this is a more budget-friendly place to stay that is also charming in the northern part of the 9th. I stayed here in April and really enjoyed myself!

Book it here!

Hotel Maison Mère: I recently stayed here as well and had a great time! They have a lovely breakfast spread, gorgeously designed rooms, and it’s a nice little tucked away area near the northeastern part of the 9th. It’s also not far from Gare de l’Est (in case you want to pop over to Strasbourg or Colmar for the day!).

Book it here!

Hotel Monsieur Helder Opera: If you want to close to the action near the Palais Garnier and holiday displays at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and Printemps Haussmann, then this is the place to be!

Book it here!

Another great area is the 5th arrondissement in the Latin Quarter. During a previous holiday visit, I stayed at Hotel Atmospheres, and it was in a great location for exploring and close to many things!

Book it here!

Is Paris in December Worth Visiting?

I will stand by that there isn’t a bad time to come to Paris! Each time has its pros and cons. And December, while chilly, is still an amazing time to visit, especially if you want to get in the holiday spirit!

Between the Christmas markets, holiday decor and lights, and overall coziness, it’s a super charming time to visit Paris.

I’m looking forward to my trip to Paris this December! Of course it is worth visiting in December!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions about visiting Paris in December.

1. Is Paris busy in December?

Paris can be busy, especially later in the month when school holidays begin closer to Christmas. The Christmas markets can also be busy, particularly on nights and weekends. However, overall, it’s still a lovely time to come and isn’t as busy as peak summer!

2. Is Paris expensive in December?

I wouldn’t say it’s super expensive, but it’s not the cheapest either. But overall, hotel prices and flights are pretty reasonable during the month. It does peak more between Christmas and New Year’s.

3. What is open on Christmas Day?

A lot is closed on Christmas Day because it is a major holiday. However, here are some places that are typically open:

• Eiffel Tower is open daily, including on Christmas.
• Musée Jacquemart-André is open from 10 am-6 pm.
• You can do a Christmas Lunch Cruise on the Seine!
• The Tuileries Christmas Market and La Defense Christmas Market are open on Christmas Day! Note La Defense’s market doesn’t open until 3 pm on Christmas Day.
• Many churches are having masses if you’d like to attend a mass.
• The Toot Bus is doing their Christmas lights tour on Christmas Day as well.
• Moulin Rouge is also running their shows on Christmas Day! Book your ticket here!

4. What food is open on Christmas Eve/Day?

Thankfully Paris, being a larger city, has restaurants open on Christmas Eve/Day. While a lot of places will be closed, many spots in touristy areas and hotel restaurants will remain open for tourists. Some restaurants even have special, holiday dinners! 

Also, the Tuileries Christmas Market and La Defense Christmas Market are both open on Christmas Day too! La Defense’s market closes earlier on Christmas Eve (6 pm) and opens later on Christmas Day (3 pm). 

Here are some other restaurants open on Christmas Day:

• Le Coq et Fils makes great roast chicken and is open for lunch and dinner Christmas Eve/Day.
• Les Deux Magots is open most of the year and will be open for Christmas Eve/Day. So get your hot chocolate fix!
• Bouillon Pigalle and Bouillon Republique are open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve/Day.
• Madame Brasserie at the Eiffel Tower and is open for Christmas Eve/Day.
• Le George at the Four Seasons Hotel George V has a Christmas Menu. This is a Michelin-starred restaurant.
• Le Violon d’Ingres is another Michelin-starred restaurant that is open for Christmas Eve/Day.

However, be sure to book these places well in advance! They do book up!

5. Do you need to book in advance in December?

When it comes to popular attractions, it is always a good idea to book in advance as those can still book up. 

And for restaurants and holiday attractions that require tickets, again, I would book in advance. Same with hotels, and especially trains. 

For lesser-known or less touristy attractions, you’re fine just showing up and wandering most of the time! 

6. Are Christmas markets open throughout December in Paris? 

Yes, many of them are! It really depends (see dates above)! Some even remain open through the New Year!

7. Can you visit Paris in December without celebrating Christmas?

Yes you can! Although, you’ll certainly see many lights and see may run into some Christmas markets, if Christmas isn’t your thing, you don’t have to partake. You can also just enjoy museums and attractions. 

8. Is Paris a good destination for New Year’s Eve?

I’ll be honest in that I’ve never spent New Year’s Eve in Paris, and I’m a person who prefers celebrating with friends at a house. However, Paris definitely has its fair share of parties and celebrations, with the most notable being the lights and fireworks at the Champs-Elysees. 

9. How many days do you need in Paris in December? 

More time is always better in Paris! However, 3-5 days is a good amount of time to enjoy Paris, explore some attractions, and partake in the holiday festivities! Here are some itineraries for Paris:

• 1 Day in Paris
• 2 Days in Paris
• 3 Days in Paris
• 4 Days in Paris
• 5 Days in Paris
• 7 Days in Paris

There you have it–your ultimate guide to visiting Paris in December! From what to wear to iconic things to do, this is why Paris in December is a fabulous time to visit!