Hello fellow fodorites....this is particularly a question for those in Paris and frequently travelers to Paris concerning availability of seeing the major sites around the Christmas Holiday. Christmas this year 2011 is on Sunday ...yet would access be available say the following monday tues....the prior thurs friday...saturday....or would it be limited or mostly closed here and there? We want to spend a nice romantic time over Christmas in Paris yet see a few of the big sites since we have yet to experience them such as Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. recommendations/advice would be most welcomed....peace to all..

We spent Christmas in Paris a few years ago. Museums are open up to and on Christmas eve (but may close a bit early--check their websites), and the usual museums that are normally closed on Monday and Tuesday will be closed on their regular days.

I believe the Natural History Museum, the Pompidou Center, and the Jacquemart-Andre Museum are open Christmas day, but double check for this year. Paris doesn't really close down on Christmas day as other cities do. You'll have plenty to do. And the Eiffel Tower is open every day.

THANKS....this is most helpful to know. I am pondering staying in the Marais....in order to be able to walk to local shops restaurants and bakeries and such....anyone have experiences with B&Bs or hotels in the very heart of Le Marais?

<i>in order to be able to walk to local shops restaurants and bakeries and such.</i>

Have you heard of any area in Paris where this is not possible? The Marais, while still a fine area, is now seriously declining in this department, since so many of the traditional commerces have been converted to chic clothing or decorating boutiques.

If you are <b>really</b> interested in local shops, restaurants and bakeries, you will <b>not</b> stay in the central core of the city but rather in one of the outer arrondissements.

We had no problems at Christmas last year. Things started shutting down in the late afternoon for Christmas Eve and were pretty quiet until Christmas afternoon. Other than that, most things were open and we enjoyed our time in Paris over Christmas.

I am not a big fan of the Marais area. It's full of chain shops, etc...

I think you will find in areas that are populated by non-Christian ethnicities things will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas. We were concerned about finding food because our hotel did not have a restaurant, but we had no problems at all. We went to the Louvre the day after Christmas. The links to our T/Rs are below-the photo links are within the T/Rs.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-fantastic.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ch-smaller.cfm

YOu can walk to local shops and restaurants in any part of Paris, but they are farther apart in the outskirts or less transportation options in some areas (in some of the outer arrondisements). In any case, there is no problem at all in any area in the central arrondisements being able to walk to shops and restaurants (except maybe some parts of the 8th).

Anyway, there is no reason you have to stay in the Marais for that compared to any other arrondisement. There aren't any B&Bs in Paris to speak of, I think you are thinking it is like Britain where there are some in cities, but that is a rural concept. YOu can find a few on some private websites, but it's not common.

And if you are interesting in saving money at all, you will trade off a central location for an extra 10 minutes on the metro (which runs just fine every day of the year).

thanks for all your responses and hints. Well the primary thing when we go on trips anyplace is to be able to walk out of the hotel to a say coffee shop across the street or a nice bistro on the next corner and to see people out and about...not crowded mind you but interesting to watch and take in.
We like to do a lot of walking around just absorbing the area/atmosphere sort of thing.