For a number of reasons have not visited my beloved Paris for a few years and am missing it big time. Planning is complexified by my and SOs schedules, but looks like we may be able to work in a quick visit over new Year's - say, 28th December through 2 or 3 January. Have previously visited Paris in Winter and am not concerned about weather, just wonder whether the holiday season will mean closures or other reduced opening hours. Also would appreciate any recommendations for New Year's Eve festivities. Would also be open to visiting somewhere outside Paris, but flights would likely be in/out of CDG.
Thanks, y'all!

No, Paris will be loaded with tourists and all "attractions" will be in full swing. Do not miss the Musée des Arts Forains at Bercy, as this is the only time of year that is is open to the 'walk-in' public. This Christmas season's dates are from 26 December to 6 January.

We spent a really nice memorable New Year's eve many years back at Georges, the restaurant on the top level of the Centre Georges Pompidou. https://restaurantgeorgesparis.com/fr/

Great tip Kerouac.

in my experience many restaurants are closed between Christmas and New Years and many others have special menus at double the normal prices. If you have something in mind you should book early.

Everything will be open for the end of the year in Paris.
A celebration idea would be the Champs Elysées with 500 000 people!

Many, many Parisians celebrate NYE at a favorite restaurant, which will normally have a fixed menu (usually expensive) and often entertainment. People book these places months in advance, so unless you want to wander the streets hunting down a kebab in some "service non-stop" place in the 20ème, you'd best get on this right away. Lots of closures and reduced hours has not been my experience, but for a good meal/NYE experience you do need to plan now.

Of course, "many, many" probably translates to 5% of Parisians max .(which would already mean more than 220,000 not even counting the suburbs). The vast majority of the French prefer to have a celebration at home with all of the items that they love, unlimited drinks, at their own speed, and obviously about 75% cheaper than a restaurant would charge. Doing that, you miss out on a dance floor and a DJ.

Yes, of course most of them are at home or at friends' houses, but those who are out and about IME tend to be doing the fixed-menu thing, which does limit the choices of those visitors who just want to pop in somewhere for dinner.

January 1st is a major national holiday and many things are closed that day. It's one of the holidays (along with Christmas and May 1st) when most things are closed. Meaning museums and stores, of course,. and attractions like the Arc.

Seamus--We've spent two Xmas holidays in Paris, one for the Millennium and one two years ago. I think reporting on experiences almost 20 years ago probably is not helpful. So let me start with general advice re eating: the big holiday meals at the upper restaurants are mostly set menus. I would start beating the bushes now if that is your intent. However, many of the solid brasseries are open on those days for a lesser cost.

We are confined to the 7th this year because of newbie family members who have quite limited time in the city and want to stay "huddled." With this year's limitations, we have settled on Violon d'Ingres for our Xmas Day and we think we are cooking together and assembling take-out the night before. Violon d'Ingres might have a NYE menu for you. We are leaving before NYE this year.

Two years ago for Xmas Eve, we had a lovely set menu at 24 Le Restaurant. I would repeat that meal again in a heartbeat.
For Xmas Day, we ate at 114 Faubourg. We would NOT do that again. It was more show than substance.
Our New Year's Eve dinner was at La Ferme Saint Simon. While we would have repeated THAT choice for sure, that restaurant is ending (they are recommending Guya where their chef Pierre Gagnaire has gone. I have not tried it, but I might).

By the way, I have to mention that after at least 15 visits to Paris, two years ago was the first we had ever stayed in the 1st. The candelabra Xmas lights on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoréwere wonderful, and we found ourselves fascinated by the lines of people and the lines of limos outside of Hermes. It's worth a stop just to see people insanely vying for the opportunity to buy goods worth about a zillion times their value.

As to other things: We are telling our newbies to check out the Christmas Markets, to look at all the Christmas windows and to take advantage of the two special exhibits at the d'Orsay. No matter what they decide, my husband and I SHALL attend the Picasso and Renoir special exhibits there! One good thing is that the newbies will be able to watch the Eiffel twinkle in the distance as they walk on Rue St Dominque and they will get to enjoy the lights of Rue Cler.

Kerouac, thanks for the tip about the Musée des Arts Forains at Bercy, We've never been, and we look forward to going.

If I think of more things, I'll add later.

Correction: The restaurant named above should be "Gaya" and it is merely a Pierre Ganaire restaurant that is getting mixed reviews. Oh well.

NYE falling on a Monday may also limit restaurant choices. Many of our favorites are not open on Mondays.

Thanks so much for all the helpful advice... have been doing a bit of surfing for NYE dinner and indeed see a lot of set menus. Not necessarily opposed to that if it is an appealing menu. And hiked prices for holiday meals are not unique to Paris!

Anyone else have something to add?

This will probably be too touristy for you, but I loved it -
"Overview Explore the bright lights of France’s buzzing capital by night on this 2-hour evening Paris tour by Citroen 2CV car. Hop into your Citroen 2CV, widely considered France’s most iconic automobile, then spin through the city in style with your guide. Discover top attractions illuminated by night such as Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, the Louvre Museum, Sacré Cœur Basilica and, of course, Notre Dame Cathedral. End your tour by sipping Champagne by the Eiffel Tower.. All taxes, fuel surcharges and service fees included All necessary equipment included Free hotel pickup and drop-off included

I did it for Christmas night a few years ago. I'd definitely do it again for NYEve. The hotel pickup is at 10 and it's a 2 hour tour. A different way to celebrate the New Year. I ate an early dinner at the hotel that evening. A vintage, Citroen, a bottle of champagne and the lights of Paris! It was a great night.

Do you have any suggestions for a nice restaurant for NYE? Thanks!!

Nice restaurants will be charging 300 euros and up per person for New Year's Eve -- more like 500 euros for the really nice ones.

You could check to see if there are any tickets left for the New Year's Eve 350th anniversary gala at the Opera Garnier. We bought our tickets back in June; although they are sold out, you can be put on the wait list in case any become available. The evening will feature highlights from various operas and ballets. https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/seaso...s#distribution