Galeries Lafayette – Christmas in Paris

Paris is always beautiful! But Christmas in Paris has a special charm! The department stores windows are a spectacle, the Christmas fairs, like the one at Champs-Elysées Avenue, you can’t miss, specially if you’d like to eat a typical, delicious and good priced food, besides buying some souvenirs. 

Do you want more? Ice skate at Eiffel Tower or in front of the City hall! Do you prefer to watch a concert? There are lots of concerts in churches like the Sainte-Chapelle. 

Christmas in Paris

We had already been to Paris in all seasons. Each one has its own special charm. Christmas in Paris is cold, yes! The temperatures stay between 33°F and 45°F! Don’t get afraid! Coats, gloves, hats and scarfs can get you warm enough! Even my mother, with more than 70 years old, handled the cold weather and loved the city.

ATTRACTIONS OF CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

GALERIES LAFAYETTE 

Galeries Lafayette – Christmas in Paris

You don’t need to buy anything at the Galeries Lafayette! But, go inside and get marvelled with the Christmas decoration. We had never seen anything like that! Every year the decoration is unique and spectacular! This is the attraction of Christmas in Paris that we like the most.

Every year there is a huge Christmas tree with a completely different theme. The one of Swarovski crystals was awesome, great and beautiful. The first and third pictures were taken there in different years. 

The shop windows are a show apart.

For the ones who don’t know, in Galeries Lafayette, you can find clothes, accessories, beauty products, shoes, home decoration and kitchen utensils from different brands.

ADDRESS: 40 Boulevard Haussmann

DEPARTMENT STORE PRINTEMPS – CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

Printemps window – Christmas in Paris

Each year, the Christmas decoration is changed completely. The windows are a show. They attract so many tourists and locals, that they have to put a metal separation at the walkway to organize people. It’s difficult to take pictures.

TIP: GO TO THE TERRACE OF PRINTEMPS DE LA MAISON  TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AND FREE PARIS VIEW. AND WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT IN LINES!

Printemps – Christmas in Paris

You should go to the terrace to have a spectacular view of Paris. What’s best? You don’t have to pay for it! You just have to take the elevator to the last floor, cross the that floor and get in an escalator. It’s worth it! From there you can see the Madeleine, the Opera Garnier,  Sacre-Coeur, the architectural details from Printemps itself and much more..

And don’t forget to see the fabulous vitral roof of the 6th floor restaurant of Printemps de la Mode. It’s worth the visit, not just during Christmas, but all year around!

If you get lucky, it will be happening one of the free shows that the store offers at this time of the year. 

ADDRESS: 64 Boulevard Haussmann 

CHRISTMAS FAIRS ON THE STREETS OF PARIS

Christmas fair at Champs – Elysées Ave – Christmas in Paris

During Christmas in Paris, there are lots of street fairs happening. The one I like the most is located at Champs -Elysées Ave.

In this fairs, you will find all kind of products: souvenirs for the entire family, delicious food, all sort of wonderful cheeses and much more. It was where we bought the best foie gras we had already eaten. It’s an attraction you shouldn’t miss during Christmas in Paris. 

Another fair, that I like a lot, is the one located at La Defense, the modern neighborhood. Yes, La Defense is cool to visit. It has a lot of different huge sculptures scattered through the pedestrian streets,the famous office building in a cube shape with a hole in the middle, a colorful pool and Le Quatre Temps Mall.

This mall is similar to the Brazilian ones. It’s huge and I recommend it for people looking for some serious shopping. But pay attention, because it closes early at night.

ICE SKATING DURING CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

City Hall – Christmas in Paris

A lot of people, of all ages, dream about ice skating. You agree with me that ice skating during Christmas in Paris has a special charm. The 02 ice rinks that I like the most are the ones in front of the City Hall and the one at the Eiffel Tower. The last one is smaller.

STREET DECORATION DURING CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

Champs-Elysées – Christmas in Paris

I had already watched the Christmas decoration lighting at Champs- Elysée Avenue. It doesn’t worth it. I was standing, almost frozen, in the middle of the avenue, together with a lot of strangers shoulder to shoulder. And the cars coming and going both ways on our side… Don’t do it. Go in any given day and enjoy the decoration without stress.

THE FERRIS WHEEL AT PLACE DE LA CONCORDE

Place de la Concorde – Christmas in Paris

During Christmas in Paris, an enormous ferris wheel is assembled at  Place de la Concorde. In summer time, it usually is at Jardin de Tuileries. It’s really a great idea visiting the street fair at the end of Champs-Elysée Ave and go for a ride in the ferris wheel.

CURIOSITY:  Place de la Concorde was the location of the execution of  Luis XVI and Maria Antonieta, both guillotined.  Luxor Obelisk , that you see in the picture above, was brought from Egypt in 1998 and it is 3300 years old!

 RECITALS IN CHURCHES DURING CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

Sainte Chapelle – Christmas in Paris

During Christmas in Paris, there are lots of recitals, in different churches, that you can choose from. We watched one of Christmas songs in Sainte Chapelle. It’s a great opportunity to do something that French people love to do. As the church was very cold, they provided blankets for everyone.

  NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL

Nativity scene in Notre Dame Cathedral – Christmas in Paris

During Christmas in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral, that is a wonderful attraction throughout the year, has assembled a beautiful nativity scene beside its altar. It has a big Christmas tree too, this one located in front of the entrance.

ITINERARY FOR THE HOLLIDAYS

Champs – Elysées Ave – Christmas in Paris

A perfect combination is to spend Christmas in Paris, go to Reims, that is the french capital of champagne and later enjoy the Wine Route of Alsace. To close in a wonderful way, enjoy New Year’s Eve in Zurich. That’s exactly what we did. Simply perfect.

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