Paris France
Things to do in Paris in December 2026
By Tripnostic Research · Updated June 3, 2026
For Paris in December 2026, build the day around dated events, seasonal conditions, venue hours, and booking windows. Dated picks to verify first include Christmas Markets of Paris 2026 and Le Beaujolais Nouveau. Check the event list and public holidays below before assigning fixed dates.
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Paris in December 2026
Weather
Temperature
47°F / 36°F
8.1°C / 2.2°C
Precipitation
11d
2.4in · 60mm
Daylight
8.1h
December is cold and wet, but Christmas lights on Champs-Elysees and department-store windows make evening walks worthwhile.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Christmas Markets of Paris 2026
Various Christmas markets across Paris offering festive goods, crafts, and seasonal treats. — Free entry; individual vendors may accept cash or card.
Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Le Beaujolais Nouveau
The third Thursday in November marks the release of Le Beaujolais Nouveau and the beginning of the Christmas season
Source: Month Signals
- Dec 5 – Dec 13
Fête des Lumières de Paris 2026
An annual light festival illuminating iconic Parisian landmarks with spectacular light installations and projections. — Free public event; some special installations may require advance booking.
Source: festival research
- Dec 10 – Dec 20
Paris Jazz Festival - Winter Sessions 2026
A series of jazz concerts held in various intimate venues around Paris celebrating winter jazz music. — Tickets required; booking recommended in advance.
Source: festival research
- Dec 15 – Dec 27
Festival du Cirque de Paris 2026
A contemporary circus festival featuring performances by international and French circus artists. — Tickets required; available online and at venue.
Source: festival research
Public holidays
- Dec 25Christmas Day
Planning checklist
- 1Check the 5 dated Paris events for anything that overlaps your exact December dates before assigning fixed sightseeing days.
- 2Hold flexible plans around the 1 public holiday in France; museums, markets, and government-run sights can switch hours.
- 3Group each Paris day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.
Build your Paris plan for December
Start fresh — type or paste places you're considering — and Tripnostic checks every one against your December dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Paris events overlap your trip. Already have a list from a friend or an AI itinerary? Paste it and we'll check that too.
Build my Paris planAbout Paris
City overview
Paris is arranged by the Seine, the two river islands, and a spiral of 20 arrondissements that starts near Notre-Dame's Kilometre Zero. The Louvre-Tuileries axis, the Latin Quarter around the Sorbonne, the Marais around Rue des Rosiers, and Montmartre above Pigalle give first-time visitors a practical mental map.
Food & drink
Paris food ranges from croissants, steak frites, onion soup, crepes, and macarons to falafel on Rue des Rosiers and Vietnamese banh mi around Rue Mouffetard. Budget travellers can use bakery sandwiches, street crepes, and EUR20-40 prix-fixe menus away from the Champs-Elysees. Wikivoyage notes Paris has Europe's deepest Michelin field and the world's second-highest Michelin-star count after Tokyo.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- AEiffel Tower
- BPere Lachaise Cemetery
- CSeine river walk
- DCentre Pompidou
- EMusee d Orsay
- FLouvre Museum
- GNotre-Dame de Paris
- HArc de Triomphe
- IBasilique du Sacre-Coeur
- JSainte-Chapelle
1Eiffel Tower
4.7★ · 486,743outdoorOpen dailyGustave Eiffel tower from the 1889 Exposition Universelle, standing above Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement. Bir-Hakeim on Metro Line 6 and Champ-de-Mars-Tour Eiffel on RER C are the usual arrivals.
WikipediaTimed summit and second-floor tickets sell out in school holidays; book the official site before choosing reseller tours.
2Pere Lachaise Cemetery
4.6★ · 4,488outdoorOpen dailyLarge cemetery in the 20th arrondissement with cobbled lanes and famous graves from Oscar Wilde to Edith Piaf. It pairs with Belleville or Menilmontant rather than the Louvre-side core.
Wikipedia
3Seine river walk
5★ · 9outdoorOpen dailyThe UNESCO-listed riverbanks connect the Eiffel Tower, Musee d Orsay, Louvre, Ile de la Cite, and Notre-Dame. Walking the quais is often faster and clearer than making short Metro hops through Chatelet.
Show 7 more sights
- 4Centre Pompidou
- 5Musee d Orsay
- 6Louvre Museum
- 7Notre-Dame de Paris
- 8Arc de Triomphe
- 9Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
- 10Sainte-Chapelle
Neighborhoods
1Louvre, Les Halles, and the 1st arrondissement
The geographic centre: Louvre, Tuileries, Palais Royal, Place Vendome, and the Les Halles transport hub. It is monument-dense and useful for short stays, but crowded around the Pyramid and Chatelet.
2Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements)
Former marsh district of Rue des Rosiers, Place des Vosges, Musee Carnavalet, Hotel de Ville, and Centre Pompidou. It has small streets, Jewish bakeries, boutiques, and busy bars without the Champs-Elysees scale.
3Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Pres
Left Bank university-and-cafe territory around the Sorbonne, Pantheon, Jardin du Luxembourg, Saint-Sulpice, and Boulevard Saint-Germain. Rue Mouffetard and Place de la Contrescarpe keep the student-food angle visible.
4Eiffel Tower, Invalides, and the 7th arrondissement
Grand Left Bank district anchored by Champ de Mars, Les Invalides, Musee d Orsay, and Rue Cler. It is quieter at night than the Marais and practical for families who want the tower close.
5Montmartre and Pigalle
The 18th arrondissement hill around Sacre-Coeur, Abbesses, Pigalle, and the Moulin Rouge. Expect stair streets, portrait painters, music bars, and bracelet sellers near the basilica steps.
6Canal Saint-Martin, Belleville, and Menilmontant
Northeast Paris around the canal, Rue Oberkampf, Parc de Belleville, and Pere Lachaise. It is better for bars, street art, and neighborhood food than for postcard monuments.
Day trips
22km / 20-40min by RER C from central Paris
Versailles
Louis XIV palace and gardens on the southwest edge of the region. Reserve palace entry and leave time for the gardens, Grand Trianon, and the walk from Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station.
75km / 45min train from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon plus shuttle
Giverny
Claude Monet's house and water-lily garden are strongest from late spring through early autumn. Avoid rainy days because the garden is the point of the trip.
32km / 40min by RER A to Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy
Disneyland Paris
Two-park resort east of Paris. It is an easy rail day trip, but weekend and school-holiday lines make dated tickets and early arrival important.
Getting around
Paris Metro and RER cover the city, with RER B linking Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, and Denfert-Rochereau for EUR13. Metro Line 14 now serves Orly for EUR13, and the Seine quays are often the clearest route between Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and Musee d Orsay.
Common questions about Paris in December
- Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Paris in December?
- Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Paris list into Tripnostic and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
- How do I plan Paris days without crossing the city twice?
- Tripnostic groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.
- Is it worth going to Paris in December?
- Yes. December is cold and wet, but Christmas lights on Champs-Elysees and department-store windows make evening walks worthwhile.
- What's on in Paris in December 2026?
- Paris has 5 dated events in December 2026; start with Christmas Markets of Paris 2026, Le Beaujolais Nouveau, and Fête des Lumières de Paris 2026 and confirm tickets before planning the day around them.
- What is the most eaten food in Paris?
- Paris in December works best around Eiffel Tower, Pere Lachaise Cemetery, and Seine river walk. Check Christmas Markets of Paris 2026 if it overlaps your dates. December is cold and wet, but Christmas lights on Champs-Elysees and department-store windows make evening walks worthwhile.
- How should I dress for Paris in December?
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 8°C / 47°F. A heavier evening layer because nights average 2°C / 36°F. Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 11 rainy days.
- What to pack for Paris in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Paris checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 8°C / 47°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 2°C / 36°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 11 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Paris
- 4 days covers the main Paris highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Paris worth visiting in December
- Yes. Paris in December: 8.1°C high, 2.2°C low, 60mm rain over 11 days, 8.1h daylight. Mild and dry — shoulder-season sweet spot.