When to go · Paris
Paris in December
Mixed month. Christmas lights and markets; cold; closures on 25 December and 1 January.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Medium
- France overall
- Prices
- Medium
- France overall
Verdict
Christmas lights and markets; cold; closures on 25 December and 1 January.
Weather in December
- Paris and the north, France · Paris, Lille, Champagne, Normandy inlandcool
Grey, damp winters; late spring and September are the sweet spot. Paris heatwaves hit 35–40 °C in July–August and most flats and small hotels lack air conditioning.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christmas and New Year
Late Dec–early Jan
Lights and markets; closures on 25 December and 1 January.
Christmas big impact
25 Dec · France
Most shops and many restaurants close on the 25th; Christmas Eve dinner is the big family meal.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · France overall
- Medium
- Prices · France overall
- Medium
France overall: Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar (book hotels months ahead); ski season opens mid-month.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket