Hotels
Paris at Christmas 2026: markets, lights and where to stay
The Champs-Élysées lights go on in late November, the Christmas markets fill the Tuileries and the square by Notre-Dame, and the department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann draw crowds every evening. Here are the 2026 dates, and the hotels to stay in.
7 November 202610 min
Picolo Editorial
It is early evening on the Champs-Élysées and the trees along the avenue are lit from the Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Paris does Christmas in its own way. There are fewer wooden huts than in Germany or Strasbourg, but there are lights, windows, ice skating and a city that is beautiful in winter.
In short: Paris at Christmas 2026
Christmas markets: La Défense from 12 November, the Tuileries from mid-November and Notre-Dame from 26 November.
The lights: the Champs-Élysées lights go on on 22 November 2026.
The windows: Galeries Lafayette from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Where to stay: by the Tuileries, in the Marais or in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at Le Meurice, opposite the Tuileries.
The Christmas markets in 2026
Tuileries Garden
The largest market in central Paris fills the Tuileries Garden between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, with food stalls and chalets. It is listed from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Go on a weekday afternoon if you can.
La Défense
The biggest Christmas market in the Paris region is at La Défense, the business district to the west of the city. It runs from 12 November to 31 December 2026, and the Le Sommet area with the ice rink is open until 3 January 2027. Take line 1 of the metro or the RER A.
Notre-Dame and the Latin Quarter
A smaller market is held in Square René Viviani, opposite Notre-Dame on the Left Bank. It runs from 26 November to 27 December 2026. Combine it with a walk along the Seine and the bookshops of the Latin Quarter.
The Seine and Notre-Dame
The Christmas market in Square René Viviani is just across the river from Notre-Dame. Photo: Unsplash
Lights, windows and ice
The Christmas lights on the Champs-Élysées are switched on in the early evening of Sunday 22 November 2026, and stay on every evening until early January. The windows at Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann open on 12 November at 6pm and stay up until 3 January 2027. The ice rink at La Défense is the easiest one to plan around, because it has confirmed dates.
If you want a classic German-style Christmas market, take the train east to Strasbourg and Colmar. See our guide to the Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar.
Where to stay at Christmas
By the Tuileries: Le Meurice
Le Meurice faces the Tuileries Garden on the Rue de Rivoli, so the market is across the road. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Le Meurice
On the Place des Vosges: Pavillon de la Reine
In the Marais, Pavillon de la Reine is a quiet base for the lights and the markets, with a small spa for cold evenings. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Pavillon de la Reine
In Saint-Germain: Hotel Montalembert
The Montalembert is a short walk from the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay and the Notre-Dame market. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Montalembert
On a smaller budget: Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre
In Montmartre, Hotel Des Arts scores 9.8 out of 10 from more than 1,000 guests. The streets around the Sacré-Cœur are lit up in December, and the metro takes you to the Champs-Élysées.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre
Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre
Hotel Des Arts, below the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
From London
Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in about 2 hours 16 minutes on the fastest trains. Eurostar asks Standard and Plus passengers to arrive 75 minutes before departure at St Pancras, and the gate closes 30 minutes before. You arrive in the 10th arrondissement, a short metro ride from every area on this page.
Book the Eurostar early for the weekends in December, when trains fill up. Staying into the New Year? See our guide to New Year’s Eve hotels in Paris, and more cities in Christmas market breaks.
Picolo would choose
Picolo would choose: a Thursday to Sunday in early December, staying at Le Meurice or Pavillon de la Reine.
Why: the lights and markets are all open, the weekend crowds are shorter on Thursday and Friday, and both hotels are within walking distance of the lights. The trade-off: hotel prices rise in December, so book early.
Frequently asked questions about Paris at Christmas
When are the Christmas markets in Paris in 2026?
La Défense opens on 12 November and runs until 31 December 2026, with the Le Sommet area open until 3 January 2027. The Tuileries market is listed from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The market by Notre-Dame, in Square René Viviani, runs from 26 November to 27 December 2026. Check the organisers before you travel.
When are the Christmas lights switched on in Paris?
The Christmas lights on the Champs-Élysées are switched on in the early evening of Sunday 22 November 2026, and stay on every evening until early January. The windows at Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann open on 12 November 2026 and stay up until 3 January 2027. Both are free to see, but busiest at weekends.
Where should you stay in Paris at Christmas?
Stay near the Tuileries and the Louvre if you want to walk to the lights and the market, or in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Marais for quieter evenings. Le Meurice faces the Tuileries market. Pavillon de la Reine is on the Place des Vosges, and Hotel Des Arts in Montmartre is a good choice on a smaller budget.
Is Paris busy at Christmas?
Paris is busy from late November until New Year, especially at weekends and around the department stores on Boulevard Haussmann. The markets are quieter on weekday afternoons. Many Parisians leave the city between Christmas and New Year, so restaurants can be easier to book then, but some smaller places close. Book hotels early for the weekends in December.
Sources
The 2026 dates for the markets, lights and windows come from Le Tourisme à Paris and City Paris, last checked on 7 November 2026. Some organisers have not yet confirmed all their dates, so check before you travel. Eurostar travel times come from Eurostar. Hotel ratings come from Hotels.com.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Enjoy Paris
Picolo Editorial