Here are my top 10 activities to enjoy over Christmas in Paris with kids, should you decide to venture beyond the warmth and cosiness of your home.
Paris sparkles with an extra touch of brilliance during the holiday season, and the city comes alive with the twinkle of Christmas lights and shop displays. This year marks our third (where has the time gone???) Christmas living in Paris, and we have loved to explore all the city has to offer during the holidays.
1. Visit the Christmas Markets
Parisian Christmas markets transform into winter wonderlands with Swiss-style wooden chalets. Here, you will find mulled wine, crepes, raclette sandwiches dripping with cheese, and various artisan products made in France.
My top pick for a family-friendly Christmas market in Paris is the one nestled within the beautiful Jardins des Tuileries. Running from 16 November 2024 to 1 January 2025, this lively market features iconic chalets and offers abundant entertainment for kids of all ages. The attractions include a Ferris wheel, an outdoor ice rink, bumper cars and a giant slide. While admission is free, you need to pay for the rides separately. The market is open every day from 11 am to 11.45 pm. For a dose of history and culture, pair your trip to the market with a visit to the Louvre Museum or the Musée de l’Orangerie, both just a short walk away from the Christmas market.
This year, Paris welcomes a new addition—the very first Christmas Market at La Villette. With 30 chalets, you can enjoy comforting treats and browse artisan goods carefully selected for the season. Beyond the delicious food, there will be plenty of activities, including Santa’s Chalet, a ski simulator, a skating rink, a climbing wall, and other festive highlights. This Christmas market runs from 16 November 2024 to 1 January 2025. Nearby, you’ll find the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, one of the Best Museums in Paris for Kids. Consider pairing your visit to the Christmas market with a trip to this museum.
2. Jurassic Illuminated at Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is a fantastic place to visit with kids year-round, but over the Christmas holidays, it transforms into a magical night time experience with stunning light installations. Each year features a new theme, and this year, it’s all about Dinosaurs.
Dive into the heart of the Jurassic period during an illuminated stroll through the gardens, brought to life by monumental animated sculptures. Explore fascinating paleoenvironments where dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and the first birds emerge from the shadows. This immersive and educational experience is a chance to uncover the biodiversity of a bygone era while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Dates: 20 November 2024 – 19 January 2025
Address: Jardin des Plantes, Place Valhubert, Paris 5
Tickets: €18 adults, €15 children (aged 3-12), free for those under the age of 3. Buy tickets here.
3. Lantern Festival: The Dinosaur Ball at Jardin d’Acclimatation
Taking the kids to Jardin d’Acclimatation is the highlight of our summers in Paris. It’s the best amusement park in the city, and you can easily spend a whole day here. This winter, the Jardin d’Acclimatation invites you on a magical 6-hectare Christmas walk featuring over 2,000 lanterns and around 100 dinosaurs brought to life through giant illuminations. From tyrannosaurs and brontosaurs to velociraptors and triceratops, you’ll discover 40 species of Mesozoic-era dinosaurs along a spectacular 24-stage illuminated route. This event also features thrilling new attractions like the VR Xperience, a dynamic virtual reality adventure, and the 360° Xperience, an immersive film transporting you back to the age of dinosaurs. For an unforgettable view, hop on the new giant Ferris Wheel and admire the dazzling displays from above. Perfect for families!
Dates: 29 November 2024 – 2 March 2025
Address: Jardin d’Acclimatation, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16
Tickets: €18 adults, €12 children (aged 4-11), free for those under the age of 4. Buy tickets here.
4. Lumières en Seine
Lumières en Seine is returning this year to the Domain National de Saint-Cloud with another journey of sound and light through a night time walk. Technically, it is not in Paris; Domain National de Saint-Cloud is just west on the river Seine’s banks. However, it’s within easy reach by metro. Lumières en Seine is a more than 2km night walk with magical light installations and glowing sculptures, which will take between 1hr and 1hr 30mins to view.
Dates: 15 November 2024 – 12 January 2025
Address: Domaine National de Saint-Cloud
Tickets: €23 adults, €18 children (aged 3-11), free for those under the age of 3. Buy tickets here.
5. Christmas Themed Cooking Class at Chez Bogato
Chez Bogato is a creative and festive pastry shop located in Marais. They are well known for creating amazing tailor-made cakes, but they also have pastry workshops throughout the year where you can learn to bake like a real pastry chef, with family or not. In fact, all pastry workshops can be purchased as gifts, so save this as an idea for a Christmas present this year.
Read my review of the Christmas baking class I took with my daughter this December here.
There are three different categories of Christmas workshops for kids:
- Teen masterclasses (for ages 10+), lasting between 1h30 and 2hrs at €45
- Kids workshops (for ages 4+), lasting for 1h30 at €45
- Parent/Child duo workshops (for ages 4+) lasting 1h30mins at €39
Chez Bogato presents various festive workshops this holiday season, including Christmas and Snowman Cupcakes, Christmas Macarons, Christmas Cookies, Decorated Christmas and Gingerbread Shortbread, Christmas Log, and Fir Tree Cake.
The store is in a lovely spot, just a short walk from the beautiful Hôtel de Ville and the BHV Marais department store. Stroll around the Marais neighbourhood and browse through wonderful shops nearby.
6. My First Nutcracker (“Mon Premier Casse Noisette”) at Théâtre La Boussole
When ‘The Nutcracker’ starts playing, you know Christmas has arrived. Théâtre La Boussole presents a new interpretation of the story as a musical for the whole family to enjoy. The show lasts 70 minutes and runs on Saturdays and Sundays at 6pm, with daily performances during Paris school holidays.
Dates: 23 November 2024 – 26 January 2025
Address: Théâtre La Boussole, 29 rue de Dunkerque, Paris 10
Tickets: €18.50 – €21.50. Buy tickets here.
7. Les Folies Gruss
The Gruss family-owned circus Les Folies Gruss is an excellent outing for the whole family. Renowned for its equestrian showcase featuring acrobatic feats and entertaining comedy skits, it’s a sure fire hit if your children are fond of horses. The show lasts 1hr 30mins and there are two performances daily at 3pm and 9pm.
Marking a momentous milestone this year, the Alexis Gruss Company commemorates 50 years of performances in Paris — an extraordinary accomplishment spanning six generations of dedicated artists and the passing down of equestrian expertise.
Dates: 17 November 2024 – 2 March 2025
Address: Carrefour des Cascades, Paris 16
Tickets: €25-80 (depending on seats). Buy tickets here.
8. Go Ice Skating at Grand Palais
After a 5-year break, the iconic Grand Palais ice rink is making a grand return! Skaters can once again glide beneath the stunning glass roof of this historic Paris landmark, known as the world’s largest indoor rink. The Grand Palais des Glaces offers 2,700m² of skating space, set to lively music and even DJ sets. With a dedicated area for children, this long-awaited event promises a magical winter experience for skaters of all ages.
Dates: 14 December 2024 – 8 January 2025
Address: 5 avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8
Tickets: €20 adults, €15 children. Purchase your tickets in advance here.
9. Festival du Merveilleux at Musée des Arts Forains
The Festival du Merveilleux is an opportunity to discover the Pavillons de Bercy – Museum of Fairground Arts in a different way. The museum houses a collection of heritage objects, including rides and attractions dating back to the 19th century. At the end of each year, the museum opens its doors for the Christmas Festival du Merveilleux. During this special event, all museum rooms are accessible, and there are live performances from aerial dancers, tap dancers, burlesque clowns, and others.
This year, the Festival runs from 27 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, putting spectator sport in the spotlight. The Festival is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Tickets are €22 for adults and €14 for kids (ages 3-11), and you can buy them online here.
10. Christmas Window Displays
And finally, make sure to include a visit to the Parisian department stores to admire the stunning festive decorations. Each year, the stores transform their windows into animated Christmas displays, perfect for enjoying with kids. Here are five Parisian stores that promise a magical experience in any given year.
1. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Admire the magnificent indoor Christmas tree, the annual centrepiece of the department store, which can be viewed up close from a glass walkway. This year’s display is especially meaningful as the store marks its 130th Christmas. Swiss designer Kevin Germanier, renowned for his work in upcycled fashion, has designed the costumes for the window display characters, adding a touch of responsible fashion to the holiday magic.
Dates: 14 November 2024 – 31 December 2024
Address: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9
2. La Samaritaine
This year, the store is going green, transforming itself into an enchanting winter garden filled with magical foliage and luminous creatures.
Dates: 8 November 2024 – 5 January 2025
Address: 9 Rue de la Monnaie, Paris 1
3. Printemps Haussmann
Step aboard the Printemps Express, where passengers dressed in eco-conscious clothing made from recycled fabrics feature in the Christmas window displays.
Dates: 7 November 2024 – 31 December 2024
Address: 64 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9
4. Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
The theme for this year’s festive display is “Christmas in Paris.” Look for green rabbits hidden in shop windows, lobsters and octopuses dancing in city fountains, and mysterious figures sheltered by Parisian lampposts.
Dates: Starts 8 November
Address: 24 Rue de Sèvres, Paris 7
5. BHV Marais
This year, the department store becomes an enchanted house filled with mischievous elves, who bring the windows to life in a playful, colourful world for an unforgettable holiday experience.
Dates: Starts 6 November
Address: 52 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 4
Share your favourite places and activities in Paris with kids during Christmas in the comments below!
Check out my Paris Itineraries with Kids for ideas on what to do and see in Paris with kids and join me on Instagram to follow for more.
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