I have about 10 days off work in December and have been thinking of taking a few days in Paris then going on to another area. I've never been to Paris during the Christmas season and would love to see the decorations, storefronts, Christmas markets, food, etc. What would be the best area to stay in, and what are the best things to do to get in the Christmas spirit, and get the feel of Paris during the Christmas season. This will be in early to mid December, I won't be there for Christmas eve or Christmas day.

I have been in Paris for Christmas. You won't have any trouble finding decorations!! It is pretty magnificent!!
As far as where you stay, it may depend on what you want to spend. Left bank hotels and locations are always popular. The 6th and 7th arr. are good to stay in.

There is usually an open-air skating rink set up outside the Hotel de Ville.

Paris is beautiful during December. I have visited during New Year's and it was still decorated nicely: huge bows affixed to the exteriors of shops and restaurants and public trees sporting bows and some tinsel. I agree that the left bank is a nice area to stay not only during the Xmas holidays but yearround.

The decorations are fascinating, but for the most part secular--different from the more traditional Christmas decorations you see in Germany. You won't find manger scenes, etc. As I always recommend to people traveling to Paris in December, pop into the wine department at Fauchon's where they run free champagne tastings every afternoon in December (a different champagne house each day and the tastings size is pretty generous).

You will not find the Christmas markets in operation in Paris in early December. For the most part they start about the 12th-15th of December. Two years ago there was a very nice market in "Les Halls" area. This in the center city near Pompidou Centre and not far from the Hotel De Ville. Last year there was no market there at all but a fairly nice market in front of the train station Gare St.Lazare. You find maybe a half dozen markets scattered around the city mostly very small. The nice thing about Paris around Christmas is the decorations on the Champs Elysees and in particular the department stores of Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. Better Christmas markets can be found in Strasbourg, Colmar and Lyon. The best are found in Germany. I spend from the day after Thanksgiving to Dec. 22 in the Nice area,(Monte Carlo) has a great Christmas market) various towns in Germany for the Christmas markets, Colmar (fantastic market), Strasbourg and then Paris every year. Colmar, Strasbourg and the German markets start earlier, some as early as Dec.1.

Larry J

Thanks for the information. I can get a good rate at Hotel Le Regent (elevator being worked on in December - 40% discount) in the 6th, I've also looked at the Hotel Langlois in the 9th it's in my price range.

When i was in Paris during Christmas time the highlight for Parisians seemed to be the store front along the Blvd Hausmann - the Galeries Lafayette and adjacent Au Printemps, huge throngs crowded in to see the decorated store windows from the street - each window had a scene from fantasy re-created - Snow White, etc., from some fables - moving figures, elaborate backgrounds - so be sure to check that out.

Are the stores decorated early in December?

We were in Paris last year at the end of November, and the decorations were already up then, so you should be fine anytime in December.

The decorations at the Galeries Lafayette were fantastic!

Many of the Christmas markets in Paris do start in early December (from around Dec 5 to 12). I think there are only 1-2 that don't start until Dec. 15th (and some stop then). The ones at Les Halles, Nation and Montparnasse start around the 5th--St Germain and a few others start around the 10th. Also, some of the Christmas street lighting starts around the last week in November -- such as around Place Vendome, rue St Honore, Champs-Elysees.

No not all stores - in fact i was struck by the pausity of decorations per se all over Paris - nothing like in the US - but Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps, yes look inside - their domes are elaborately decorated.

Thanks, any comments on the hotels I mentioned earlier?
Are there any special food or drinks available from any street markets at that time of year? I'm thinking of the gluhwein type of thing likein Germany.

I had a quick question, that I asked last December after our trip to Paris...

We saw our first manger scene in Notre Dame but baby Jesus was missing. I thought someone had stole it until we went to Italy and saw the same thing. Why is that?

I may misunderstand your question, but the baby Jesus is traditionally not added to the manger scene until Christmas Eve when he was born.

That would make sense. That's different than what I've seen in the US.

Try the Hôtel Mansart, in the 1st--just off the Place Vendôme. We stayed there in early December 2001 and were very comfortable. The superior twins are quite spacious, with large bathrooms, and the furniture is mostly antique. The hotel felt "true Parisian" to us, and the staff were very helpful. The location is great.

Have a look at Hotel Favart in the 2nd, it is a in the area of Opera, a very animated area during Christmas, with the proximity of Grands Magasins such as Galeries Lafayettes that have wonderful illuminations in storefront...I love it!
The hotel is a 3 star hotel but with good rates, it is a nice little hotel, with lovely decoration...
http://www.hotel-favartopera.com
Enjoy your trip in Paris!

"That would make sense. That's different than what I've seen in the US..."

Except perhaps for one store in Greenwich Village that kept a beautiful nativity scene in their store window. Only problem was the store cat kept pulling baby Jesus out of the manger so he could sleep in it himself ;-) (Made a good photo for the book Working Cats)

I went 3 years ago in the first weekend of December. The Markets were up and running by leas halles. The ice skating though we missed by a few days. It was such a great weekend for us. I foung a beautiful morocan lam in the markets that now hangs in my hallway and we just wandered. It was very cold though compared to Dublin so we bundled up and walked a lot. I would stay in the 5/6th as opposed to the 7th as its closer to the action (OK you can take the metro but I like to walk). The decoration were so unusual and I loved the christmas lights they sold...very beautiful.