Hello All,

We are travelling to Paris for the second time and will be spending 12/18-12/27 there. Our last visit was during summer and with a tour group. We are looking for a more intimate experience this time and have rented an apartment for our stay in the République area of town. We are also travelling with a 3 yr old.

We already plan on doing the Eiffel Tour skating rink, Christmas markets on the left bank and a day trip to Disney Paris. I'm waiting for restaurants to release their Christmas menus and then decide a place for Christmas eve dinner. Any suggestions would be great!

We also looking for some other, less obvious, more authentic things to fill some days.

Thanks!

For your list:

the window displays in the grand department stores, especially Galeries Lafayette;

the decorations along the Champs-Elysées and in the square by the Ritz Hotel;

food-shop windows, filled with wondrous things.

Any suggestions for a Christmas Eve dinner? I was looking at Violon d’Ingres or the restaurant at Bristol hotel. But I'm worried if they are too fancy for a 3 year old??

There will be concerts going on throughout the season. You can also check out some of the beautiful creches you'll find around the city (www.paris.fr/creches).

For dining in the 11th, with a 3-year old, you can try West Country Girl, 6 passage Saint-Ambroise, and Jeanne A, 42 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud. In the 3rd you can try Chez Jenny, 39 boulevard du Temple.

Also in the 11th is the Auberge Pyrénées-Cevennes, 106 rue de la Folie-Méricourt, and Bistrot Paul Bert, 18 rue Paul Bert.

Thanks for all the advise!

Another question: Is a day trip to the Strasbourg markets worth it? I've read it's 2.5 hrs each way. I don't mind it if it's something different then the markets in Paris but if not I'd rather do something local.

It's not worth loosing a day in Paris during late fall/early winter. 5 hours on the road when there is only a little over 8 hours of daylight during your time Paris.

I would consider trading out the ET skating rink for the one in front of the Hotel d'Ville.

We will be there this Christmas but in an apartment, so will cook our own dinner. A few years ago we went to Le Train Bleu and it may be a better option with a 3 year old in tow, if you are not interested in CE dinner in your apartment. Chez Clement is a local chain that might also work for you and is usually open on CE.

Agree that the store windows in Paris are lovely, especially Printemps and Galleries Lafayette.

We are headed to Strasbourg to spend a day at the markets, La Petite France and the cathedral...but just the two of us. We actually want to stay until after dark to see it lit up but not sure I would want to do that with a little one.

You may want to consider the Christmas markets at La Defense. Maybe visit Angelina for hot chocolate.

You may also want to check the Centre Pompidou regarding Christmas activities that would be good for/with young kids.

I spent a saturday at the Strasbourg market...very ill planned on my part....and it was wall to wall people....so much so, you couldn't enjoy the market. Restaurants were packed, and actually, I was miserable. I have also been to the market in Reims twice, which I enjoyed so much more. It's a shorter train trip, nice market, great town, a beautiful cathedral and you have the champagne cellars as well if you ae so inclined. It is likely that the markets during the week would be less crowded, so I would try and visit then if you are determined to spend some time there.

We are going on a Monday, so I hope we have a better experience in Strasbourg than you did, dmkujat. I think that you are the first I have seen not enjoy Strasbourg but I do love Reims.

Thanks everyone! With your help our trip is coming together!

Denisea - I hope you guys enjoy your Christmas in Paris. I will add the Hotel V'ille ice skating to my list, you can never get enough ice skating.

Other groups I have been following mention Reims also so I think we will check it out. Do you think its okay to wait until we are in Paris to book transit or is it better to prearrange?

I can't seem to find any listing for Christmas concerts/musicals that we could reserve a seat for. Any ideas of websites?