Looking for the best Christmas lights tour and decorations in Paris 2025/2026? Are you going to Paris for Christmas? That means enjoying beautiful Christmas lights & illuminations, decorations, skating rinks, delicious mulled wine and roasted chestnuts while you stroll through the best Christmas markets in Paris 2025. From mid-November it is Christmas in full swing in Paris with twinkling lights and decorations in the streets. A number of sights and museums are closed on certain days during the Christmas holidays in Paris. So be sure to check their website and buy your tickets in advance. Some restaurants are also closed between Christmas and New Year. The restaurants that do remain open are therefore very busy.
What are the best things to do in Paris at Christmas 2025/2026? Where can you find the most beautiful Christmas lights (+ bus tour) and illuminations, the best Christmas markets and decorated windows of the famous department stores in Paris? Pull out your scarf and gloves and discover 5 of the best activities to do during Christmas in Paris. From ice skating in Paris to window shopping in the famous department stores. Be sure to opt for the Christmas lights open bus tour.
• Christmas Lights Open Bus Tour 2025: Tickets Paris Christmas Lights Tour with Tootbus (1h30) →
• Fun to do: Tickets Paris Seine River Cruise by Bateaux Mouches (1h) →
1. Christmas lights tour in Paris 2025/2026, illuminations (on the Champs-Élysées) & decorations
Every year Parisians and tourists look forward to the start of the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations in Paris. From November 2025 to early January 2026 you can find the most beautiful Christmas lights in Paris on the Champs-Élysées, the famous department stores, the avenue Montaigne, Place Vendôme, the Montmartre district and Bercy Village. The beautiful covered passages in Paris are also worth a visit during the Christmas period.
On Sunday, November 16, 2025, the famous Christmas lights on the Champs-Élysées will be switched on, sparkling all the way until early January 2026. For the occasion, the avenue will be completely car-free that day, allowing everyone to enjoy the magic. In total, 400 trees will be decorated with twinkling light garlands, shining every evening until midnight — except on December 24 and 31, when they’ll stay illuminated all night long.
• Fun to do? Enjoy the magical atmosphere of Paris during the Christmas season on a 1.5-hour open-top bus Christmas tour. You will pass some of the most beautiful highlights in Paris with beautiful illuminations. There is an audio tour interspersed with Christmas songs while you enjoy a hot drink.
• Christmas Lights Open Bus Tour 2025: Tickets Paris Christmas Lights Tour with Tootbus (1h30) →
2. Ice skating in Paris: ice rinks in the most beautiful locations
During Christmas in Paris, several (outdoor) ice rinks are traditionally placed at several locations where you can enjoy skating. The most famous skating rink is at Jardin des Tuileries (Christmas market near the Louvre). Until a few years ago you could also skate in front of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, but for ecological reasons this is no longer possible. Tip: take your gloves with you, because they are mandatory everywhere and handy to brave the cold.
• Where and when can you ice skate in Paris 2025/2026?
– Le Grand Palais des Glaces – Ice skating under the glass roof of the renovated Grand Palais: from December 13, 2025 to January 7, 2026 – Legrandpalaisdesglaces.fr →
– Ice skating at the La Défense Christmas market: from November 13 to December 28, 2025 – Xmasparisladefense.com →
– Ice rink at the Jardin des Tuileries Christmas market: dates not yet known
– The largest open-air ice rink in Paris in the Parc André Citroën: data not yet known
3. Admire the Christmas windows and decorations of the famous department stores
The windows of Paris’s finest luxury department stores are impressively decorated during the Christmas season, with a new theme every year. While Christmas shopping in Paris, be sure to visit Galeries Lafayette, where you can admire a gigantic Christmas tree beneath its central dome. Other great department stores to admire the Christmas decorations include Le Printemps, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, and BHV Marais. Have fun Christmas shopping in Paris!
• Opening of the Christmas windows in Paris department stores 2025/2026:
– La Samaritaine | From November 5, 2025 to January 6, 2026 – Theme: Paris m’emballe
– Galeries Lafayette | From November 12, 2025 to December 31, 2025 – Theme: Le Plus Beau des Cadeaux
– BHV Marais | From November 18, 2025 to December 31, 2025 – Theme: Rêverie de Noël
– Bon Marché Rive Gauche | From November 7, 2025 to December 31, 2025 – Theme: Le Bon Marché de Noël
– Printemps | From November 6, 2025 to January 4, 2026 – Theme: Un Noël à New-York
• Read also: 5x Best and Most Famous Department Stores in Paris →
4. Go Christmas shopping at the best Christmas markets in November & December
Especially in the evening, the Christmas markets in Paris are one of the highlights of the Christmas period in Paris every year. Wooden chalets, cozy Christmas lights and an enchanting journey to the land of Santa Claus. And so it’s time for chocolate, chestnuts, mulled wine and ice rinks. Furthermore, of course, nice Christmas decorations, good food and there are also various attractions for children. From the Christmas market in Montmartre to the Christmas market at Notre-Dame in Paris.
• Read also: 7x Best Paris Christmas Markets 2025/2026: Dates & Locations →
5. Celebrate an enchanting Christmas at Disneyland Paris 2025
Celebrate the magic of Christmas at Disneyland Paris! From November 8, 2025 to January 6, 2026, Disneyland Paris puts on a festive show with a brand new parade, various Christmas shows, fun markets, beautiful lighting, decorated streets and all your favorite Disney characters. You can easily make a day trip from Paris by, for example, taking the Disneyland Paris Express from Gare du Nord. Be sure to book your entrance ticket to Disneyland Paris in advance. The prices depend on the chosen date.
Time to visit the best Christmas markets 2025/2026 or the beautifully decorated Christmas windows & illuminations in the department stores (with beautiful Christmas lights and decorations). Or enjoy an Christmas lights tour through Paris. Celebrating Christmas in Paris in a more traditional way? Visit the Sacré-Cœur or Église de la Madeleine. On 24 and 25 December there will be night masses with fun concerts.
FAQ about the best Christmas lights tours and decorations in Paris
1. When does the Christmas lighting in Paris usually start?
The magical Christmas lights typically switch on in mid-November and shine until early January. Expect them to sparkle from November 20th to January 5th.
2. Where can I see the most beautiful Christmas lights in Paris?
The Champs-Élysées steals the show every year, but don’t miss Place Vendôme, Avenue Montaigne, Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and the charming village-style displays in Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
3. Are the department stores decorated too?
Yes! Stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann are known for their spectacular window displays, giant trees, and festive façades.
4. Can I see the lights on a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour?
Absolutely! Many companies offer special Christmas Light Night Tours, where you can admire the city’s festive sparkle from the top deck of a warm, open-roof bus.
5. When do the Christmas light bus tours operate?
Most tours run from late November through early January, typically starting between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM, once the city is glowing. Exact dates are expected from Nov 22 to Jan 5.
6. How long is the Christmas light bus tour?
Tours usually last about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic and the route. Some offer audio guides and festive music onboard.
7. Do I need to book the bus tour in advance?
It’s highly recommended. These tours are popular in the holiday season and tend to sell out quickly, especially around Christmas Eve and weekends.
8. Are there other ways to enjoy the lights?
Yes! Walking is a great (and free) way to enjoy Paris at its most magical. Consider a stroll from the Louvre through Rue de Rivoli, or around Notre-Dame and Île Saint-Louis.
9. Is there Christmas lighting near the Eiffel Tower?
While the Eiffel Tower itself is always beautifully lit, nearby Avenue de la Motte-Picquet and Champ de Mars also get festive touches, and there’s often a Christmas market nearby.
10. Are the Christmas lights eco-friendly?
Yes, Paris has made great strides in sustainability, using low-energy LED lighting and switching to greener installations in recent years.
