1 Day Christmas Itinerary in Paris 2025 🎄✨
- frompariswithfun
- Dec 22, 2025
- 4 min read
Paris is magical all year, but in December it becomes something else entirely. Streets glow with lights ✨, shop windows sparkle 🎁, and the air smells of roasted chestnuts 🌰. Even a short stay can feel like stepping into a Christmas movie.
But what if you only have one day in Paris at Christmas? Don’t worry — with the right plan, you can experience the highlights without rushing. Here’s our perfect 1 day Christmas itinerary in Paris 2026, mixing history, festive fun, shopping, and dazzling lights.
Morning: Breakfast in Style ☕🥐
Start your Christmas day the Parisian way — with a delicious breakfast in a cosy spot.
Angelina (Rue de Rivoli): famous for its thick hot chocolate 🍫 and Mont-Blanc pastry.
Carette (Place des Vosges or Montmartre): elegant tea rooms perfect for a Royal croissant 🥐 and hot chocolate with wipe cream !.
A local boulangerie: sometimes, the best Christmas breakfast is a fresh baguette 🥖 and a pain au chocolat enjoyed on the go.
Fuel up — you’ll need the energy for a day full of magic.
Next, dive into Paris’s 19th-century covered passages — glass-roofed galleries filled with history, boutiques, and cafés. At Christmas, they glow with garlands and twinkling lights.
👉 Instead of just strolling, make it interactive with a treasure hunt in the passages couverts. Armed with a puzzle booklet, you’ll follow clues through Passage Verdeau, Jouffroy, Panoramas and Galerie Vivienne.
It’s cultural, playful, and warm — perfect for winter ❄️. Families love it, groups of friends get competitive, and couples discover hidden gems together.
💡 Bonus: between puzzles, stop at Le Valentin for a festive pastry or a hot drink.
Lunch Near Palais Royal 🍷🍽️
After the hunt, head toward the Palais Royal. This elegant square, with its arcades and Buren columns, is a peaceful oasis even in December.
For lunch, try one of the many traditional bistros nearby:
🥩 Le Grand Colbert: traditionnal french brasserie, you can go with yours eyes closed.
🥖 Le Bougainvillier (Galerie Vivienne): French cuisine : ideal for families (they are kids friendly)
🍲 Bistrot Victoires (Rue de la Vrillière): generous portions at great prices, often packed with locals.
It’s a good moment to warm up before tackling your afternoon.
Afternoon: Christmas Shopping 🛍️🎁
No Paris Christmas is complete without shopping under the lights. From Palais Royal, walk toward the Opéra district, where festive magic is everywhere.
Galeries Lafayette: the iconic dome hosts a giant Christmas tree 🎄 with a new theme every year. The store windows are animated wonders, attracting kids and adults alike.
Printemps Haussmann: stylish displays with plenty of gift ideas.
Passage du Havre: just behind the grands magasins, smaller but practical for last-minute shopping.
Don’t forget Lafayette Gourmet downstairs — perfect for gourmet Christmas treats like foie gras, chocolates, and festive wines 🍷🍫.
💡 Insider tip: take a moment on the Galeries Lafayette rooftop. If you can, try the Ice Rink, and the panoramic view over Paris in winter light is breathtaking 🌆.
Late Afternoon: Christmas Lights Walk ✨🌲
As darkness falls early in December, it’s time to admire the lights. From Opéra, you’re ideally located to explore some of the most beautiful spots:
🌟 Place Vendôme: giant Christmas trees in a chic square.
🌲 Champs-Élysées: a glowing tunnel of lights leading to the Arc de Triomphe.
💎 Avenue Montaigne: luxury boutiques dressed like Christmas gifts.
This walk combines elegance and festive cheer — and is easy to do on foot.
👉 If you want to make it extra fun, try the Opéra district treasure hunt 🕵️♀️. It’s an evening version, with puzzles leading you through the lights of Vendôme, Concorde, and Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Evening: Dinner & a Show 🍽️🎭
For dinner, choose between cosy tradition or festive sparkle:
Le Grand Café Capucines (Boulevard des Capucines): historic brasserie with seafood and Parisian classics.
Bouillon Chartier: affordable, bustling, and 100% Parisian.
Trendy spots near Opéra: from Japanese rue Sainte-Anne 🍣 to festive Italian trattorias 🍝.
After dinner, the evening isn’t over. The Opéra district is full of theatres 🎭. December often brings festive shows, ballets, and musicals. For something unforgettable, check for tickets to The Nutcracker or a Christmas concert at La Madeleine.
Nightcap: Rooftop or Cosy Bar 🌆🍷
If you still have energy, finish your day with a last festive view of Paris:
Le Perchoir: trendy rooftop bars with heated spaces and mulled wine.
Hotel rooftops near Opéra like Madame Rêve): cosy bubbles with cocktails and hot drinks.
Or simply return to the grands magasins rooftop to see Paris sparkle at night✨.
It’s the perfect way to end a 1 day Christmas itinerary in Paris 2026 — with lights, laughter, and maybe a final puzzle to solve.
One day in Paris at Christmas can be packed with magic: a delicious breakfast ☕, a treasure hunt in glowing passages 🕵️♀️, lunch in a cosy bistro 🍷, shopping under the grands magasins dome 🛍️, an evening walk among the city’s most dazzling lights 🌲, and a festive show 🎭.
👉 Add in gourmet treats, rooftops, and maybe one more hot chocolate, and you’ll understand why December is one of the most wonderful times to experience the City of Light.
Paris doesn’t just decorate for Christmas — it transforms the season into a story you’ll want to live again and again. ✨🎄
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