About the Markets

Christmas markets make Paris come alive with festive cheer at this special time of year. From November to 24 December Paris streets are lined with colourful stalls, decorations and fir trees brightening up the city providing a wonderful winter spectacle. The markets spring up in a variety of places offering a great range of festive produce and presents.

This festive period in Paris exudes the spirit of the season with its twinkling lights along the Seine and the irresistible temptations of all the local products. Among other gems are craft items which often make ideal Christmas presents, as well as Christmas decorations and other trinkets.

Here are a few Christmas Markets in Paris to choose from:

La Defense - is in the city region and perhaps one of the most impressive markets. Here there is an ice rink which entices visitors to take to the ice or to simply watch, relax and take stock for a while.

Dates: 28/11 to 29/12
Times: 11h00 to 19h30 during the week and it starts at 9h00 on Saturday.
Metro: Grande Arche de la Defense
RER: La Dèfense
Disabled facilities: Yes

Les Halles - this is another famous traditional market in the city centre. It attracts many people from across France who come because they enjoy doing their Christmas shopping here in particular. There is a wonderful array of gifts from chocolates to more unusual art and craft items.

De la Cour de Rome - Opens 30 November and runs to 24 December. From 7.30am to 8.00pm during the week. It starts at 9.00am on Saturday and 10.00am on Sunday. It is located in front of the Saint Lazare train station.

De Saint-Germains-des-Pres

Dates: 05/12 - 31/12
Time: 11h00 to 20h00
Disabled facilities: Yes

Montparnasse - this market is situated near the shopping centre in Maine Montparnasse. It starts 3 December to ends 31 December, from 10.00am to 8.00pm.

Place Saint-Sulpice - the market here has a merry-go-round inviting you to take a twirl on a colourful manèges de Noël of wooden horses.

Dates: 06/12 - 24/12
Metro: Saint-Sulpice
RER: Saint Michel - Notre Dame
Disabled facilities: Yes

Noisy le Grand Christmas Market (Paris, Ile de France) - adults and children alike will enjoy this Christmas Market with horse drawn carriage rides as well as sparkling decorations, hand crafted wooden toys and traditional glassware.

Copyright: Christmas Market Pictures obtained from Maison de la France: photographers Jean-Francoise Tripelon and Fabian Charaffi

More about Paris

Known worldwide as the City of Light (la Ville Lumière), Paris has been a major tourist destination for centuries. The city is renowned for the beauty of its architecture, its urban perspectives and avenues, as well as the wealth of its museums.

Built on an arc of the River Seine, it is divided into two parts: the Right Bank to the north and the smaller Left Bank to the south.

One of the great pleasures of Paris is its streetlife. Not many cities can compete with the hundreds of cafes, bars and restaurants that line every street.

A grand and imposing backdrop to this streetlife is provided by the sites of the city such as the Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower and Hotel de Ville.

Paris boasts more than 80 museums and around 200 art galleries and contains fine architecture from every period in a long and rich history, together with every amenity known to science and every entertainment yet devised.

For more information about Paris click here

Accommodation

Accommodation in central Paris can be hard to come by during the christmas market period, to locate a hotel please enter the dates below to search. Alternatively you may want to try self catering accommodation near Paris, during winter months many of our advertisers will be open to short stays. Click here for a list of properties.

Transport quick facts about the markets:

Free Parking: No
Pay Parking: Yes
Coach Parking: Yes
Nearest Bus Route: various
Nearest Railway Station: Gare Saint-Lazare
Nearest Tram Stop:
Nearest Tube Station:
Nearest Airport: Charles de Gaulle or Roissy
Nearest Ferry Port: Calais is approx. 3 hours drive

Please refer to individual markets above for further transport information.

Getting there

Suggested Travel Routes

Choosing to travel by train to France is a simple option. It’s fast and cost effective and also allows you to enjoy the beautiful French countryside. With a great rail network in place, it has never been easier to get to France by train.

From the 14th of November 2007, visitors travelling from the UK to France, will be able to catch the High Speed 1 Eurostar train, direct from St Pancras International to the Continent. Click here to find plan your rail journey Raileurope - Eurostar bookings

As a foot passenger from the UK to Paris:

By Train: from as little as £59 return, you can take Eurostar direct from St Pancras International in London to Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris in 2 hours 15 minutes. If you go from Ashford, you can arrive in under two hours. Trains run regularly departing London from 5.20am then approximately every half hour. Connections can also be picked up from Ashford or Ebbsfleet. A full timetable can be viewed by visiting Raileurope - Eurostar bookings

By Plane: It is worth checking online to find out which airlines are offering the best deals at the time, but as an example, you can fly direct to Paris from either Gatwick, Heathrow or London City with Airfrance.

Taking your car from the UK to Paris:

By Train: Take your car on Eurotunnel from Ashford near Folkstone, Kent direct to Calais in France. Journey time is about 35 minutes and the cost varies but is around £55 day trip return for a car and 5 passengers. The distance from Calais to Paris is approximately 290km and will take approximately 2hrs 45mins.

By Boat: It is usually cheaper to take a car over to France by boat, because the journey takes longer. Operators such as Seafrance and P&O offer regular ferry trips across the channel, with prices ranging from around £30 for a return day trip.

The drive from Calais to Paris is just over 3 hours, please see the route planner here for directions.

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Route Map from Calais to Paris