As much as we adore Paris over the holiday season, the actual day of Christmas is a tad challenging. Like other traditionally Catholic countries, in France, the main holiday meal is enjoyed on Christmas Eve, and December 25th is a public holiday – when more eating and visiting family takes place. This means that a huge majority of restaurants, shops, and museums are closed on Christmas Day. So what can you do on this very, very quiet day? Luckily, you’ll still have an amazing day by doing some of the activities on our list of fantastic things to do in Paris on Christmas Day.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image Courtesy of Viator
Get to know Paris’s top sites on a half-day tour
Most tour companies will be closed on Christmas Day, but this fun and informative walking tour is available on December 25th. The 4-hour tour gives you an excellent overview of the city and its top sites. Zipping around the city by metro, the tour includes seeing the outside of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Moulin Rouge while also exploring the Latin Quarter and Montmartre. If it’s your first time in Paris, or if you’d like a little refresher, this is the tour for you.
Book a Paris Top Sights Half-Day Walking Tour | Various Arrondissements
Climb the Eiffel Tower (yes, it’s open on the 25th!)
While most of Paris’s most popular attractions are closed on December 25th, the city’s most famous site is actually open. So if you’re hoping to climb the Eiffel Tower during your trip, this is one of the best things to do in Paris on Christmas Day. It’s a great opportunity and a super memorable activity for Christmas Day, but we recommend you reserve tickets as soon as possible because they usually sell out – but not many people will be in the know about its opening hours like you.
Reserve Eiffel Tower Tickets | 7th Arrondissement | WA
Visit Notre Dame, the Ile-de-la-Cité, and the Latin Quarter
Christmas is a very fitting day to learn about the city’s most famous churches, several of which are on and around Ile-de-la-Cité. This tour takes you around the Latin Quarter and over onto the main island where you’ll discover where the city was founded over 2,000 years ago. You’ll also see Notre Dame Cathedral, which will be once again open after its renovations (hurrah!), and two other important churches, Saint-Severin and Sainte-Chapelle. The tour also visits the charming Place-Dauphine and the Pont Neuf, the city’s oldest bridge which has some spectacular views of the city too.
Join a Notre Dame & Île de la Cité Tour with Sainte Chapelle | 1st and 4th Arrondissements
Image Courtesy of Tuileries Christmas Market via Instagram
Browse Paris’s Fabulous Christmas Markets
If you’re looking for great things to do in Paris on Christmas Day that are in the spirit of the holidays, then you may want to visit some of the city’s Christmas markets. Called marchés de noël in French, many Christmas markets are open on the 25th and they are super fun and festive. Here you’ll be able to sample some tasty French holiday treats. do some last-minute shopping, and possibly even hit the ice rink for some skating. If you’re interested in learning more, see our selection of the best Christmas markets in Paris.
Various Arrondissements | WA
Tour Europe’s top collection of Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou
Are you into surrealist paintings, Cubist sculptures, or video art? Then you should make your way to the Centre Pompidou, which also happens to be one of the ONLY Paris museums open on December 25th. The perfect match for art lovers and one of the best things to do in Paris on Christmas Day, roaming through the museum’s rooms you’ll find top works by Picasso, Modigliani, Marcel Duchamp, Georges Braque, and other avant-garde artists. The museum will be closing for several years of renovations as of mid-2025, so this is also your last chance to visit it for quite some time.
Purchase a Centre Pompidou Entrance Ticket | 4th Arrondissement | WA
Image Courtesy of Museum of the Art and History of Judaism via Facebook
Explore the beautiful Marais district
Many Parisian neighborhoods will be pretty quiet on December 25th, but the Marais is a little exception. The district is one of our favorite areas for strolling and simply admiring its stunning streets, buildings, and squares is a great thing to do in Paris. However, certain parts of the neighborhood make up the historic Jewish district of Paris, especially on and around Rue des Rosiers. So you’re bound to find some shops and restaurants open in this area (don’t miss out on a sandwich at the famous L’As du Fallafel!). The Museum of the Art and History of Judaism is also one of the rare museums open on December 25th, so you can delve into the city’s fascinating Jewish heritage by visiting this great museum.
Learn more about the Museum of the Art and History of Judaism | 4th Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Viator
Take a French wine and champagne tasting
As we’ve mentioned, many restaurants and bars will be closed on December 25th, but you won’t miss out on sampling some amazing French wine and champagne by attending this great tasting class. We’ve tried out this experience and think it’s a fantastic way to get an intro to French wines. During the class, you’ll sample six different wines (including one champagne) while also learning how to taste wine and read French wine labels. You can also decide to upgrade your tasting to include a plate of cheese or charcuterie – which could replace your dinner since it’ll be tricky to find a place to eat today.
Book a French wine and champagne tasting | 1st Arrondissement
Discover the history and cool sites of Montmartre
Montmartre is another wonderful area to visit on Christmas day. Although some boutiques and restaurants will be closed, several cafés and some stands of the Montmartre Christmas market tend to be open on the 25th. If you’d like a little guidance visiting the area, this fantastic tour is operating. In addition to visiting Sacré-Cœur, you’ll get to see where renowned artists like Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso lived and worked. So in a way, it’s like visiting an open-air museum – when most are closed today.
Join a Montmartre Highlights Walking Tour | 18th Arrondissement
Attend a show at the world-famous Moulin Rouge
Is going to the Moulin Rouge on your Paris bucket list? Well, December 25th is the perfect day to go because the Moulin Rouge is another famous Paris venue that’s surprisingly open on the 25th. As we said above, a lot of restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day, so this is an additional reason to consider attending the famed cabaret which also has a dinner option. And there’s no question – this will definitely be among your most memorable Christmas Days ever.
Reserve a table at the Moulin Rouge | 18th Arrondissement | WA
If you enjoyed our list of things to do in Paris on Christmas Day you might also like our other great articles on Paris in winter. Read these articles next:
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