A local’s guide to the most beautiful lights and Christmas decorations in Paris, from the BHV Marais to winter-themed shop windows, cafes and areas!
It seems I’ve moved back to Paris a little sooner than I thought – I’ve been here for a few days now, and have arrived in the thick of Christmas shopping lists and gleaming lights.
I’ve been walking around beautiful neighborhoods I told you about in the past like Saint-Paul, secret villages like the Butte-aux-Cailles, and have come across many an illuminated shop window.
At the time of writing, I hadn’t yet been to Printemps and Galeries Lafayette.
They offer some of the prettiest Christmas shop windows, but I will update this post as soon as I go so you can see what it looks like this year.
In the meantime, if you’re hunting for gorgeous lights and Christmas decorations in Paris, the spots below are some of my favorites!
Christmas Decorations in Paris: 9 Spots for Beautiful Lights
From Hotel de Ville, its illuminated paths, Christmas market and numerous photo spots to Le Marais and the Latin Quarter, you’ll find here some great photo spots, places to marvel at.
We’ve got teddy bears and decorated coffee shops, traditional Christmas trees and discrete ornaments on some shops of Rue des Francs Bourgeois.
Christmas in Paris is a dream; it might not be snowing yet, but visit these spots from 4.30 pm, and you’ll come across wonderful lights and decorations!
Christmas Decorations in Paris: Hotel de Ville
Hotel de Ville is located right off Rue de Rivoli, and close to the Seine river as well.
It is the city hall of Paris, and there are always performances going on and people picnicking on the square facing the building.
At Christmas time, there is a food and artisan market, alongside decorations to please adults and kids, and an illuminated path perfect that people use as a backdrop for photos.
Read: Hidden Flavors: 5 Secret Places to Eat in Paris You’ll Love
Best Christmas Decorations in Paris: BHV, Department Stores and Shops
The BHV is one of the most famous places to go shopping in Paris, a huge department store on Rue de Rivoli and close to Hotel De Ville.
You can find anything you might be wishing for inside, from jewelry to makeup, and of course, clothes and accessories.
The BHV is quite soberly decorated when it comes to Christmas lights, but its windows are magnificent
Read: 9 Aesthetic Streets in Paris To Wander Around and Snap Shots
Christmas Decorations in Paris: Coffee Shops and Brasseries
From end November/beginning of December, coffee shops and brasseries of all kinds dress in garlands and baubles.
My favorites are the cute cafes around Le Marais, Montmartre, Saint-Paul and Bastille, but you’ll find decorated cafes and food spots all around the city.
Read: 17 Magical Gardens in Paris and Gorgeous Parks To Visit
Best Christmas Lights in Paris: Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole
Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole is one of the oldest places in Paris; constructed in 1512, it is now a cafe and restaurant.
Whether you visit Paris in the spring or at Christmas, you will find it always makes for a very instagrammable place – right now, crisp white Christmas trees elbow wisteria.
During the warm season, Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole has a few tables outside that make for the cutest terrace, just minutes from Rue de Rivoli and Notre-Dame.
Read: 14 Best Cafes To Work in Paris & Study (Laptop Friendly!)
Christmas Decorations in Paris: Saint-Paul and Rue de Rivoli
Rue de Rivoli is very long, and starts close to the village-like area of Saint-Paul, which incidentally houses a secret enclave, the Village Saint-Paul, with hidden cafes, shops and birdhouses.
All along Rue de Rivoli, and all the way up towards Concorde, you will find all kinds of beautiful winter-themed shop windows.
Saint-Paul feels more historical than grand, with more independent shops that mix the old of their buildings with the brightness of the holiday season.
Read: The Best Makeup Stores in Paris For Beauty Addicts
Best Christmas Lights in Paris: Le Marais
Le Marais and the Old Jewish Quarter of Paris is another great village-like area I love walking around when I’m in Paris.
I’m more into secret gardens and tiny shops, and that’s what Le Marais offers, alongside historical sites like the Cloître des Billettes I recently shared with you.
When I walked around Le Marais yesterday, followed by a stroll along the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, I found many cute little Christmas shop windows and Christmas trees.
Read: 21 Best Bakeries in Paris to Indulge in Pastries and Cakes
Christmas Decorations in Paris: Latin Quarter
I popped by the Latin Quarter yesterday, looking to purchase a new book from the gorgeous, historical Shakespeare and Company bookshop.
The Latin Quarter is an area I’ve mentioned in the past; if you’re looking for floral places to visit in the spring in Paris, places like Rue de Buci are breathtaking.
Read: The Most Beautiful Bookstores in Paris
On the way to Shakespeare and Company, I walked past La Bucherie.
It’s a cute restaurant and brasserie that had one of the most beautiful Christmas displays I’ve seen in Paris so far, with a rabbit, a nutcracker and a heavily-decorated (normal) tree.
Read: 20 Most Instagrammable Cafes in Paris from Colorful to Cute
Best Christmas Decorations in Paris: Chatelet
Châtelet, and specifically the Westfield Shopping Centre are another spot to visit if you’d like to see sparkling lights and decorations around December.
The Christmas tree inside Westfield is huge, and there are stairs you can climb to take a picture right in front of the tree.
Then, as you walk around streets of Châtelet, you will see more restaurants and cafes with pretty decorations.
If you would like to see something a little different in the area, too, do pop by the colorful Stravinsky Fountain, and discover the fake windows of Rue Quincampoix!
Read: 6 Free Museums in Paris To Visit With Beautiful Decor
Best Christmas Decorations in Paris: Butte aux Cailles
The Butte-aux-Cailles area is located in the 13th Arrondissement, and like the Cité Florale, makes for one of the quaintest villages inside Paris.
The area is mostly known for its street art, cafes, indie shops and winding streets, but you’ll come across really cute Christmas decorations here and there.
If you do decide to visit the Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood, you’ll find yourself breathing the air of the old Paris blended with colorful, sometimes-controversial street art pieces, at a slow, soothing pace.
Read: Montmartre Paris: 14+ Hidden Gems and Secret Places
Christmas Decorations in Paris: 9 Spots for Beautiful Lights
Hopefully, you’ll have found here some Parisian spots you didn’t expect when on the hunt for Christmas lights and decorations!
Paris is a dream at this time of the year – this year, it’s not even that cold, and I love that I can see a gorgeous sunset on Christmas markets, and people hurrying about to get presents in time for the D day.
When you’re done enjoying these places, why not keep going with the following: