Paris

Christmas Activities

Let yourself be carried away by the magic and romance of Paris from the open top of an electric green bus. Pass by Opera, Place Vendôme, Concorde, Champs Elysées, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, the big department stores, and many more.  Discover the "City of Light" and immerse yourself into the Christmas spirit. Admire the city illuminated with Christmas lights and listen to an audio commentary that includes traditional Christmas songs. Share this special moment with your loved ones.

There’s so much to see in Paris, and so many of the city’s monuments are even more spectacular when viewed at night. See the landmarks and popular attractions of the City of Light by pedicab, with a driver who knows the city well. The pedicab has a capacity of 2 persons, and your driver/guide will provide commentary as you ride by the city’s iconic sites on either a 1-hour or 2-hour tour. It’s up to you to decide which monuments you’d like to see and hear about. Your sightseeing route could include the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysées, Notre-Dame, and the world-famous Latin Quarter. See the Louvre, the Orsay museum, and the Opera as well. In the winter, you won't have to worry about being cold, as you’ll be provided a princess blanket to keep you warm. In addition, there’s also a clear plastic tarp available for inclement weather, to keep you dry without obstructing your view!

If you've gone through a few botched attempts at a delicious Christmas dinner, or are looking for some interesting new recipes to take home, this 3.5-hour cooking class is perfect for you. Arrive at the cozy apartment of a local chef and learn how to make the perfect gourmet Christmas dinner together. Use the best seasonal ingredients to make fantastic red kuri squash with scallops and black truffles for an appetizer, guinea fowl supremes with white wine and morels for the main course, and a dark chocolate yule log for dessert, accompanied by a mont d'or cheese. Once the meal has been prepared, sit down with your chef and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Our Christmas menu: Potimarron velouté (cream of red kuri squash), scallops **** Supreme of guinea fowl, Jura yellow wine and morels **** Mont d'or cheese **** Chocolate and chestnut bûche de noël (Yule log) **** Coffee or tea, water, wine - Jura Savagnin or Chardonnay

Join an expert local guide and discover the magic of the holiday season in Paris. Your guide will take you to the Champs Elysées, one of the world’s most famous streets, lit up every year to celebrate the holiday season. The switching on of the Christmas lights on the Champs Elysées signals to everyone in France that the holiday season has begun, and it’s here that Parisians gather on 31 December to see in the New Year. Pass by the Elysée Palace where the French President lives, and see iconic sites such as the Lido cabaret, and the famous Fouquet's restaurant, where you can perhaps indulge in some French celebrity spotting! We’ll stop at the celebrated patissier Ladurée, where you will be treated to delicious French macarons from their delightful pastry store and tearoom. What better way to see the Christmas lights across Paris than from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in the city? Built by Napoleon Bonaparte to celebrate his great military victories, the terrace on the top offers some of the best views over the city. Your guide will explain the history and significance of this magnificent monument, before providing you with skip the line tickets to ascend to the top. Admire the sparkling Champs Elysées laid out at your feet and enjoy the breathtaking views of the dazzling Eiffel Tower shimmering nearby.

Your guide will first take you on a journey away from the crowded shopping streets and into a more hidden side of the city. This is where Parisians shop in what were the precursors of today’s shopping malls. Discover richly decorated elegant passages, which were once lit by some of the first electric or gas lights in the city. Today they are still home to charming boutiques and brasseries, as they were then, with café tables spilling out into the passageways. Covered with glass roofs to avoid the winter weather, they are the perfect place to explore during the holiday season. See the beautiful and extremely fashionable Palais Royal. Explore its arcades full of history, chic stores, and bijou pastry shops. You will also pass by the magnificent Opera Garnier and hear the story of its infamous Phantom. Then it’s back onto the bustling Parisian boulevards, to visit the Galeries Lafayette, which is one of the most splendid old department stores in Paris. It is renowned for its dazzling glass dome and the imaginative spectacular Christmas tree that is installed under it each year. French children come here to gaze at the wonderful window displays, join them and be enchanted by the holiday magic.  End your tour at a fine gourmet food store, where you will be able to see, taste, and buy all sorts of typical French Christmas delicacies, both sweet and savory. Join the locals as they shop for their festive tables and immerse yourself in a truly Parisian holiday season.

Get an insider’s view of Paris' most vibrant Christmas spots on a small-group 2-hour walking tour around the charming, wintry city. Begin your urban walking adventure by meeting your guide in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Take in views of the Champs de Mars, the Seine, and of course, the Eiffel Tower itself. Marvel at the twinkling festive lights that add a certain magic to Paris in winter, and visit the most beautifully decorated places in the city. Along your way, learn fun anecdotes about Paris in wintertime from your expert, local guide. Stop for a visit at a traditional Christmas Market and warm yourself up with a hot drink and snacks, and browse the sparkling stalls for seasonal goodies to bring home.

Discover the magic of Christmas with this special winter gourmet tour in the heart of the bohemian Paris neighborhood of St-Germain-des-Prés. Your guide will escort you to some wonderful specialist gourmet shops, from pâtisseries to boulangeries, introduce you to chocolate makers and invite you to sample a superb selection of delicacies along the way. Learn about the traditional French "13 desserts” and sample delectable nougat, spiced gingerbread and candied fruits. Feel the spirit of the festive season with a stroll around Montparnasse Christmas market, tasting a variety of regional specialties at the enchanting market stalls. You will experience the warm and cozy Christmas atmosphere of a Parisian tearoom, while enjoying a hot toddy. Throughout the tour, your guide will tell you about the history of traditional French Christmas celebrations and introduce you to the sapin de Noël, or French Christmas tree. Bon appetit!

See the festive lights and decorations of Paris at Christmas with a local host and experience the seasonal cheer of the "City of Lights" from an insider's perspective. You'll be paired with guides that are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free time sharing it with like-minded travelers matched to them. Benefit from an itinerary that can be adjusted according to your interests following contact with your host after booking. Stroll the cobbled streets of Le Marais and browse the Christmas markets. Find special gifts and indulge in gourmet treats such as warming chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) and mulled wine. Learn about holiday traditions like the "13 Desserts of Christmas" and visit sweet shops and pâtisseries to taste seasonal fare, such as gingerbread and Yule time logs.