Where to See the Christmas Lights in Paris

Are you planning a trip to Paris for Christmas? One of the best ways to celebrate Christmas in Paris is to see the lights that fill the most emblematic places in the city. From grand avenues like the Champs Elysées to quieter neighbourhoods on the outskirts.

The lights are usually switched on from the end of November to the beginning of January, so you have plenty of time to go to Paris and experience a special Christmas, visiting tourist attractions that look even more impressive at this time of year. Because when night falls in Paris, Christmas makes its appearance in the form of thousands and thousands of light bulbs that will accompany you on your trip.

Every night the Eiffel Tower is illuminated, but from November to January the lights of approximately 20,000 bulbs become even more special, as the most famous tower in the world is not the only one that shines, but the entire path leading up to it is filled with lights that create a festive atmosphere.

Thousands of lights flank the path for visitors arriving on the Tower's esplanade. When you book your ticket to the Eiffel Tower, in addition to the spectacle of lights and colours, you will be greeted by a small restaurant in a transparent dome that is placed on the first floor every Christmas. Need a stop before you continue admiring the Parisian Christmas? Here you can have a hot (and sweet!) drink.

Ice skating under the lights of the Eiffel Tower

If instead of relaxing you fancy a bit more movement, why not go ice skating? That's right, during the Christmas season, an ice rink is installed around the Eiffel Tower where you can skate surrounded by a light show that makes this plan even more brilliant.

Also, if you're travelling to Paris with children, this visit has a surprise that they'll love... I've been told that Father Christmas walks around the Eiffel Tower during the most special weeks of the year. Aren't you going to go and see him? Remember that, although you don't need a ticket to walk around the area, you do if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower.

Besides the fact that the Champs Elysées is always one of Paris' must-see Christmas markets, at night hundreds of lights and animations fill Paris' busiest avenue with magic. Without a doubt, it is very exciting to walk more than 2 kilometres between trees laden with luminous garlands.

Although the walk is a bit long, I recommend you take it easy and stop at the market stalls while you see how the Arc de Triomphe gets bigger and bigger as you walk towards it.

If you don't like crowds, it will be difficult to avoid them, because going to see the lights on the Champs Elysées is one of the main Christmas plans in Paris, especially on the day of the switch-on. However, I would remind you that the lights are on from the end of November until the beginning of January, so you can go at that time, admire them more calmly and, why not, extend the Christmas spirit a little longer.

From November to January, the Place Vendome is also filled with golden lights to celebrate Christmas. Therefore, this is a must-see if you want to experience Christmas in Paris.

Apart from the garlands of lights that adorn the facades, the illumination of Place Vendome stands out for its decorations, especially the giant fir trees that are green during the day but at night look snowy due to the amount of white and blue lights that cover them.

My advice is to go to see these lights at the end of the day, when all you feel like doing is resting for a while. The refinement, glitz and glamour of this square will soon wear off, though, because the glitz and glamour of this square will wake anyone up. You can also book a private tour of Paris that will take you to this and other locations where the lights speak for themselves.

One of the most luxurious avenues in Paris has been adding Christmas lights since the end of November. In addition to the general illumination of all Parisian streets, in this area it's the lights in the shop windows that leave everyone who passes by with their mouths agape.

Even if you're not going to buy anything in the boutiques there (such as Chanel or Louis Vuitton), my advice is to take a walk while you admire each display, they are worth it! Don't think that just looking at one of the shop windows is enough, because each fashion brand designs each shop with care and according to its own personality.

One of the great advantages of the lights on Avenue Montaigne is that you don't have to wait until night to see them, because during the day they also dazzle and give life to the cold Parisian winter days. Besides, you can also see them by hopping on the Paris Sightseeing Bus if you don't want to walk so much.

If you're walking among the hanging lights on the Avenue des Champs Elysées, you may come to the Place de la Concorde, where the lighting is just as spectacular, creating a Christmas atmosphere that will enchant even the most sceptical. But if there is one thing that has become a must-see when Christmas comes to Paris, it is the Ferris wheel that is placed in the Place.

Apart from the lights, the best thing about this Ferris wheel is the views it offers, which have nothing to envy of the best viewpoints in Paris. Can you imagine being able to see the centre of Paris lit up at Christmas? Climb up there and you'll be left open-mouthed, because I promise you the view is incredible.

• Price: approximately €12, although there are discounts for children.
• Tip: when you come down, you adults can take the opportunity to have a comforting mulled wine at one of the stalls around while you continue to gaze at the lights. It's delicious!

Although Notre Dame Cathedral is not specially lit during the Christmas season, the big tree in front of the cathedral is enough to light up the whole square. Never seen it before? Well, now you have one more thing to add to your list.

In addition to the lights, the tree is decorated with great care, making it even more imposing and beautiful. The combination of the natural green of the tree and the blue of the lights are the perfect complement to Notre Dame.

• Tip: take at least half an hour to sit on a bench nearby and admire the tree and the light it gives off against the starry Parisian sky.

Do you know this district in the 6th arrondissement of Paris? Some of the greatest intellectuals and artists in history have met in its brasseries and cafés, but at Christmas time all its streets are filled with lights. In particular, I recommend you go to Boulevard Saint Germain and Place Saint Germain des Prés, where all the light decorations are concentrated.

Although many people go to Saint-Germain-des-Prés just to see its Christmas market or have a drink in its traditional cafés, there are many people who are surprised when they see a light show.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés doesn't have the most powerful lights in Paris, but I can assure you that there is something special about them. Besides, being a less touristy area, you can enjoy Christmas in a more relaxed way. I recommend you discover its lights while you get to know all its streets on a tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés to make the most of being there and get to know it in depth.

Do you want to live the experience of entering a Christmas story? Make a note of this recommendation: the Boulevard Haussman. This area is home to the most famous department stores in Paris, so in addition to the lights, expect window displays full of decorations and even automatons welcoming Christmas.

I can assure you that all the big shops will attract attention with their lights, colours and Christmas windows, but if there is one place you will want to head to, it is the Galeries Lafayette and its illuminated façade. You will have heard of it because during the year the architecture of the building is already impressive enough, but during Christmas it is even more so.

If you don't believe me, watch this video and wait until you see the 25-metre tree that presides over the hall of the Galleries during the festive season. But beyond the tree, you will see how the windows of all the shops in the Galleries follow a common style and design to maintain harmony and bring the magic of Christmas to every corner.

When you arrive at Bercy Village you will feel your imagination run wild. The decorations take on a thousand and one shapes (animals, spheres, trees, etc.) and all of them are illuminated. The result? A landscape of lights that turn this open-air shopping centre into a kind of Christmas village created by some of the best French designers.

Bercy Village is a historic place, so as well as seeing the lights you can sit on one of its terraces and observe its white stone, wood, steel and glass construction while you have a good glass of wine, as this small village is full of wine cellars.

Being in the 22nd arrondissement and not as popular as other neighbourhoods, Bercy is a good place to enjoy the lights of Paris without so many people but with the same excitement and Christmas spirit.

Are you going to the Louvre on your trip to Paris? I recommend that you go at the last minute or even take advantage of the day when they open at night, so that when you leave you find yourself in the great Tuileries Garden dressed for Christmas and with lights that illuminate the whole place.

In the centre of Paris, the magnificent Louvre garden stretches out and at Christmas time, as well as hosting a beautiful market, it is also full of large luminous structures.

And while you're strolling among the luminous decorations and discovering the myriad shapes they take, you can do some Christmas shopping at the market stalls. Have you already made a note of all the stops to see the Christmas lights in Paris? I promise they will dazzle you in a good way and you will experience a magical Christmas.