Hi Everyone!!

My husband and I have a little over 12 hours (due to a FANTASTIC layover) in Paris on Christmas Day as we make our way from Canada to Thailand.

We have just started our research for this visit and are wondering if there are any out there that are particularly knowledgeable about Paris over the holidays??? What?s open and closed etc.

Also, although I do plan to return one day soon, we would like to make the absolute most of our stop and see as much as we possibly can (even if only from the outside)and have a couple of great French meals.

All suggestions are welcome!!!

Thanks in advance.

Lilly

Lily,
There's some good news and bad news regarding the 25th of December. It's Christmas day and the crowds will be very lightl and it will be easy to walk around the uncrowned streets, but I afraid that it's Christmas day and most places will be closed for the day, including most restaurants, except for those at a few of the international hotels that will be open for their guest and others wandering the streets of Paris.

At least you can see the monuments which will be worth the layover time.

Of course, all the churches are open and I believe Au Pied de Cochon, the brasserie near St-Eustache, is open 24/7 year-round.

The Marais is the Jewish area of Paris. There may be more stuff open there.

I've not spent Christmas Day in Paris but I have spent the day in other French towns and cities. There will be plenty of bars and restaurants open, and the metro will be running, much as on a Sunday. The French don't make so much fuss over Christmas, but they do go out to eat, and many restaurants offer special menus.

We will be in Paris over Xmas and accorrding to the web site, I think the Georges Pompidou Center (modern art) will be open. Can anyone confirm this? Most of the Jewish sites will be closed because Xmas falls on the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday).

We spent last Xmas in Paris. 90% of the restaurants on the Champs d'E are open. Crowds are lighter during the day and get heavier towards evening. The lines at the Eiffel Tower were long. The Ominbus tours and Boats were still running and most museums are closed. Go to the closest I and they will have a list of what's open and what is closed. Still a great day to just wander.. Go to the Galleries Layfaette (sp) and check out the window displays but beware of the congested sidewalks.

I think there is always something going on around the Champs-Elysees, and you could also check around the Hotel de Ville, as they have special Christmas stuff going on (carousel, ice rink, I believe, sometimes other things).

The website for the Pompidou does imply it will be open, which is a surprise to me, although in recent years a few museums are usually open on some of the major holidays. The Pompidou is open on Bastille Day now, for example (and the Louvre sometimes), I didn't expect Christmas, though, I'll admit -- but the web site says open every day except Tuesdays and Labor Day (May 1st), so I guess they are. Since they mentioned one holiday, I think they would have mentioned others if they were closed.

The Pompidou is open Christmas. I believe they are only closed on International Workers' Day. There were definiely a few other museums open too, as I know we had about 3-4 choices, but I can't remember which (not the Louvre,,not d'Orsay, not Rodin).

We went last year and it was a great way to spend the day. We walked from our apartment on Ile Saint Louis to Place des Vosges, through and around the Marais doing a little shopping, went to the Pompidou. My mother went to the Museum of Jewish History (I think that's it) as she'd been to the Pompidou so often. Wonderful!

Have a great time, you lucky Lilly.

This is for Laralue and Lilly. Out of curiosity, I had e-mailed Au Pied de Chochon to see if they'd accept reservations for Christmas day. I just got back confirmation today for a 10pm seating there on Christmas. So, YES, Au Pied de Cochon IS open. Now, does anyone want my reservation??? It seems a shame to cancel it.

Laralue, this restaurant shouldn't be too expensive for you & your family to eat there. Plus, the decor is nice, the food is good, and it's an historic restaurant so will be a nice choice.

tchao,
Beatchick