Einan23

How late do Paris food shops typically stay open on December 24?

I am arriving at CDG around 5:30 pm. I'm staying at an apartment in the 16th, so we will need to do a bit of grocery shopping and possibly bring in food for dinner as well.

Any information on shop closings in general and/or particular shops that might be open a bit later would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Christina

I don't know about particular ones that will be open later, but food shops and supermarches will generally close early on Christmas Eve, so if they usually are open until about 9, they may close around 7-7:30.

The 16th is a big arrondisement, you might want to say where you will be.

Einan23

Staying on Rue Saint-Didier, near Avenue Raymond Poincare.

Thanks.

PalenQ

You can buy things at the mini-food markets in CDG airport. On Christmas Day lots of small stores will be open.

There may be some Muslim-owned stores open later on Christmas Eve too in your district.

Ah the Christmas Even boulangerie rush - note the long long lines outside bread shops in late afternoon getting that fresh bread for the ubiquitous midnight feast celebrating Christmas.

fuzzbucket

Christmas Eve is one of the busiest shopping days of the year - the second is New Year's Eve. Food shops do not close early on these days, since they count on making as much money as possible from last minute clients.

If you land at CDG at 5:30 PM, you won't be in Paris for at least another hour, probably will be 90 minutes by the time you check in to where you're staying. You'll have to cross your fingers and do some advance research so you can shop nearby and very quickly.

If there's a Monoprix nearby, it will be open until at least 9 PM.
The traiteurs, fromageries, boulangeries will close around 8 or 8:30 PM. There is always an "alimentation generale" on a corner somewhere, if you need toilet tissue and coffee.

Christmas day is on Sunday, when many food shops will be closed.
You'll find cafes and some restaurants will be open, though.

kerouac

December 24th is the 2nd busiest day of the year (after December 31st). When those two days fall in a Monday, which is the normal closing day (not this year -- those days will fall on Saturday), every place is open anyway because it is out of the question to lose sales on those dates.

Supermarkets will be open until at least 8pm and the other places until 7 or 7:30 although they seem to extend their hours a bit more every year.

If you need to buy things on December 25th, there should be no problem because the usual Sunday opening hours will apply.

Einan23

Thank you all for your replies. It seems that I will have a reasonable chance to find some shops open as long as my flight is on time. If the flight is late I'll probably have to get something at the airport. I'll contact some of the local shops to try and get firm closing times. Thanks again.