Christmas lights in Paris 2026: the most beautiful spots and itineraries from the 15th arrondissement

Every winter, Paris lives up to its nickname more than ever: the City of Light. As Christmas approaches, the streets light up, shop windows come alive and the capital turns into a fairytale setting.

From the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel, tucked away on a quiet street in the 15th arrondissement and just steps from Volontaires and Pasteur metro stations, the most beautiful light displays are only a few stops away. Here is our 2026-2027 guide: dates, must-see spots, this year’s highlights and routes tested from the hotel. Still deciding which neighbourhood to stay in? Read our guide Where to stay in Paris.

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When do the Christmas lights start in Paris?

The season kicks off in stages:

From 5 November: the Printemps Haussmann windows open the season, followed by Le Bon Marché (6 November) and Galeries Lafayette (12 November).
Mid-November: the Tuileries Christmas market and the illuminated light trails open.
22 November 2026: the official switch-on of the Champs-Élysées lights, with the avenue closed to traffic for the occasion.
29 November: the square in front of Notre-Dame lights up with its giant Christmas tree.

The lights then shine until early January 2027. On the Champs-Élysées, they usually come on at 5pm and stay lit until midnight (1am at weekends), and all night long on 24 and 31 December.

New for 2026: after a ten-year absence, the Christmas market returns to the Champs-Élysées, at the lower end of the avenue near Place de la Concorde, until 4 January 2027.

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The most beautiful illuminated spots

The Champs-Élysées

No Christmas in Paris is complete without its most famous light show. As night falls, the world’s most beautiful avenue is bathed in a golden glow: some 400 trees sparkle, the façades light up and a murmur of wonder runs through the crowd.

The windows of the great luxury houses compete in creativity, while garlands form a canopy of gold and silver. In 2025, a sound and light show was projected every evening at 6:30pm: one to look out for again this year.

This winter, the walk gains a new stop: the Champs-Élysées Christmas market is back at the lower end of the avenue, near Place de la Concorde, with its chalets of artisans and designers.

How to get to the Champs-Élysées from the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel?

In 25 minutes: line 12 from Volontaires to Concorde (no change), then walk up the avenue.
Or from the top: line 6 from Pasteur to Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, then walk down the avenue towards Concorde.
Usual hours: 5pm to midnight (1am at weekends), all night on 24 and 31 December.
Photo tip: arrive around 5:30pm for the blue hour.

Place Vendôme and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

At Christmas, Place Vendôme becomes a true jewel box of light: monumental Christmas trees, golden façades and sparkling jewellery houses. Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré unfurls its elegant garlands and haute couture windows bathed in light.

From the hotel: 25 minutes (line 12 to Concorde or Madeleine, then a 10-minute walk).
To make the moment last: a hot chocolate in one of the tea rooms on Rue de Rivoli or in one of the palace hotels on the square.

The department stores on Boulevard Haussmann

At Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, the animated windows delight young and old alike. For 2026, Galeries Lafayette has entrusted its colourful Christmas tale to designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, while Printemps celebrates a “knitted Christmas”.

Under the Galeries Lafayette dome, the famous giant suspended Christmas tree shines bright, a tradition dating back to 1976. Not to be missed: from 24 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, the Galeries Lafayette rooftop becomes a pop-up ice rink with views of the Eiffel Tower.

From the hotel: line 12 from Volontaires to Saint-Lazare, then a 5-minute walk.
Insider tip: arrive around 4:30pm, before the after-work crowds.

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche: the closest to the hotel

No need to cross the Seine to enjoy department-store magic. For Christmas 2026, Le Bon Marché takes visitors to a whimsical mountain village. The windows are unveiled on 6 November and the Christmas village is open until 31 December.

From the hotel: 10 minutes (line 12 from Volontaires to Sèvres-Babylone).

Beaugrenelle: Christmas in the 15th

In our own arrondissement, the Beaugrenelle shopping centre sets up a giant Christmas tree, nutcrackers and an old-fashioned little train under its glass roof, on the theme “The journey begins”. An ideal family outing, out of the cold.

From the hotel: line 6 from Pasteur to Bir-Hakeim, then a 10-minute walk along the Seine.

The Eiffel Tower and the Champ-de-Mars

Just a few stops from the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes at the start of every hour after dark. At the end of the year, its forecourt and gardens are also decked out in lights.

The paths of the Champ-de-Mars offer a peaceful atmosphere, far from the bustle of the grand boulevards. From the Bir-Hakeim bridge, the view of the Eiffel Tower reflected in the Seine is unforgettable.

From the hotel: 10 minutes (line 6 from Pasteur to Bir-Hakeim) or a 25-minute walk.

Notre-Dame de Paris

Reopened since December 2024, the cathedral celebrates another Christmas in lights: from 29 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, its forecourt hosts a majestic Christmas tree and its façade is illuminated. Just opposite, in Square René-Viviani, the Notre-Dame Christmas market gathers some forty chalets of French artisans, from 26 November to 27 December 2026.

From the hotel: 25 minutes (line 12 to Montparnasse, then line 4 to Saint-Michel).

The Tuileries Christmas market

Every winter, the Tuileries Garden turns into a Christmas village: nearly a hundred wooden chalets, a Ferris wheel, an ice rink, fairground rides and treats, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.

Announced dates: 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Free entry, rides charged separately.
Opening hours: last year, 11am to 11:45pm, with early closing on 24 and 31 December.
From the hotel: 20 minutes (line 12 from Volontaires to Concorde, no change).

Immersive light experiences

Jardin des Plantes: “En voie d’illumination”

Since 2018, the Jardin des Plantes has come alive every winter with a night-time walk among giant light sculptures, blending science and poetry. The 2025 edition explored light emitted by nature, from fireflies to the northern lights. The 2026-2027 edition is expected at the end of the year.

Dates: late 2026 – early 2027, programme to be announced (last year: 12 November to 18 January).
Indicative hours: 6pm to 10pm, last entry at 9pm.
Booking: timed tickets required.
From the hotel: 30 minutes (line 6 to Place d’Italie, then line 5 to Gare d’Austerlitz).

Jardin d’Acclimatation: the Lantern Festival

For its 4th edition, the Jardin d’Acclimatation Lantern Festival heads to India with “Nuits indiennes” (Indian Nights): thousands of lanterns and light sculptures illuminate the park’s paths in the Bois de Boulogne.

Dates: 27 November 2026 to 21 February 2027.
Hours: 6pm to 9:30pm (last entry at 9pm).
From the hotel: 35 minutes (line 6 to Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, then line 1 to Les Sablons).

Bonus, just outside Paris: Lumières en Seine

At the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, Lumières en Seine offers a 2 km trail of light and music every winter, with more than 25 illuminated scenes. The next edition is expected in mid-November; check the official website for confirmed dates.

After these sparkling strolls, come back to the calm and comfort of a room at the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel.

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Our favourite magical routes from the hotel

Romantic route “Left Bank → Right Bank” (about 3 hours)

Leave the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel and take line 6 from Pasteur to Bir-Hakeim.
Stroll across the Champ-de-Mars and take photos of the Eiffel Tower from the Bir-Hakeim bridge (ideally when it sparkles on the hour).
Line 6 from Bir-Hakeim to Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, then walk down the illuminated Champs-Élysées to the Christmas market near Concorde.
Walk to Place Vendôme for a hot chocolate break.
Direct return: line 12 from Concorde or Madeleine to Volontaires.

An evening of romance, light and wonder, with no change of metro on the way back.

Family route “Lights & attractions” (about 3 hours)

Line 12 from Volontaires to Saint-Lazare, then a 5-minute walk to the department stores.
Animated windows at Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, the tree under the dome, then the rooftop ice rink or terrace.
Line 8 from Opéra to Concorde (2 stops) and on to the Tuileries Christmas market.
Ferris wheel, rides and sweet treats.
Direct return: line 12 from Concorde to Volontaires.

A route designed to delight young and old alike.

Short “Left Bank” version (about 1.5 hours)

For a first evening or with young children: the windows and Christmas village at Le Bon Marché (line 12 to Sèvres-Babylone), then the illuminated Eiffel Tower (line 10 to La Motte-Picquet, then line 6 to Bir-Hakeim) and back on line 6 to Pasteur.

Practical tips for enjoying the Christmas lights

Best times: 5:30pm to 7pm for the blue hour, or after 9pm for a quieter stroll.
Avoiding the crowds: go on weekday evenings, and skip the Champs-Élysées switch-on night if you don’t like big crowds.
Getting around: from the hotel, line 12 (Volontaires) takes you to Concorde, Madeleine and Saint-Lazare with no change; line 6 (Pasteur) serves the Eiffel Tower and Étoile.
Bookings: timed tickets for the Jardin des Plantes and the Lantern Festival, best booked before your stay.
With children: gloves, hats, regular breaks and hot chocolate.
Back at the hotel: enjoy the comfort of your renovated room.

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Experience the magic of Christmas in Paris from the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel

After an evening wandering beneath the lights, the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel welcomes you in a calm, cosy atmosphere, on a quiet street in the 15th arrondissement.

With two metro stations a few minutes’ walk away, you can reach the Champs-Élysées, the department stores and the Eiffel Tower with no change. To compare neighbourhoods before you book, see our guide Where to stay in Paris.

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Frequently asked questions about Christmas lights in Paris

When are the Champs-Élysées Christmas lights switched on in 2026?

The switch-on is announced for Sunday 22 November 2026, with the avenue closed to traffic. The lights then stay on until early January 2027, from 5pm to midnight (1am at weekends).

Until when can you see the Christmas lights in Paris?

Most of the lights shine until early January 2027. The Champs-Élysées Christmas market stays open until 4 January and the Jardin d’Acclimatation Lantern Festival until 21 February 2027.

What are the best Christmas markets in Paris in 2026?

The Tuileries (announced dates: 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027), the Champs-Élysées (back after ten years) and Notre-Dame, in Square René-Viviani (26 November – 27 December 2026).

Are the Christmas lights in Paris free?

Yes: the Champs-Élysées, the department store windows, Place Vendôme and Notre-Dame are all free. Light trails such as the Jardin des Plantes or the Lantern Festival are ticketed and require booking.

What is the best area to stay in to see the Christmas lights?

The 15th arrondissement is quiet and well connected: from the Nouvel Hôtel Eiffel, line 12 goes straight to Concorde and the department stores, and line 6 to the Eiffel Tower and Étoile.

When is the best time to see the lights?

On a weekday, between 5:30pm and 7pm for the blue hour, or after 9pm to avoid the crowds.