Christmas journey in Paris – the best photo spots

During Christmas, Paris really becomes a fairytale and I love enjoying the holiday season in the City of Lights! That’s why I’m putting here my favorite photo spots in Paris during Christmas. If you’re planning to visit the French capital soon, make sure to keep this guide with you while visiting !

Galeries Lafayette

Each year, Galleries Lafayette does everything to make the holiday season unforgettable, inviting us to dig into the warm feelings of Christmas. This is why this legendary Parisian department store is always the first place I go to, when Christmas season is here.

The first thing that you usually notice is the fabulous window displays. They are each year different but both parents and children are queuing on all side to take a closer look at the fascinating installations.

Then you pass through the front doors and a smile spreads on your face: in front of you right in the center of the Galleries, under the famous blue stained-glass dome, rises the biggest and most beautiful Christmas tree! In 2017, it was full of countless huge candy balls. In 2018, sponsored by the luxury watchmaker Piaget, it was all green and gold glitter. 2019 featured a beautiful red and gold Christmas tree with fairies, bees and winter flowers! 2022 was a hit-or-miss, some people didn’t like it while some others loved it; the theme was Sapin (pine tree) and sustainability.

Place Vendôme

Every year for Christmas, Place Vendôme, one of the most beautiful squares of Paris proudly displays its 8 Christmas trees, pairing at each corner of the square. As beautiful as elegant, echoing the place, the epicenter of Parisian elegance, it is always a pleasure to pass by and admire their splendor.

Just down the street leading to the Tuileries Gardens, the stunning Louis Vuitton shop often makes one of the most beautiful Xmas decoration, a gorgeous sun shining on traditionnal parisian building.

Place Maurice Barrès

5min away from Place Vendome is one of the cutest little square of Paris that is recently getting all the cutest Xmas decorations, place Maurice Barrès. The square is right in front of the beautiful church Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, a Roman Catholic church built between 1670 and 1676 when it was consecrated.

Village Royal

A few steps away from the previous place is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Paris, the Village Royal. Back in the late 18th century, this unmissable passageway was a former typically Parisian market which evolved to become a more elegant place keeping the atmosphere of a typical village road. Their display alternates between two cute and a very impressive Christmas tree.

Galerie Vivienne

The Galerie Vivienne is my personal favorite covered passage in Paris. I just love the neo-classical style with its elegant glass dome, mosaic floors and paintings. And it is even more magical with all the Christmas lights!

Dior – Paris Montaigne

The Avenue Montaigne homes lots of high fashion stores, such as Dior, which always have the best taste in their Christmas displays! In 2017, they displayed a stunning hot-air balloon, and in 2018, the most elegant white Christmas tree of the city before going under renovation for a few years. In 2022 they finally opened up again and the Maison Dior decided to display a gorgeous compass rose. It represents Christian Dior’s lucky charm: the star detached from a horse-drawn carriage wheel he stepped on rue du Faubourg St Honoré on April 18th, 1946. It was the sign he was waiting for to start the Dior fashion house.

Le Bon Marché

Every year, this famous department store put its Christmas decorations on. Their famous suspended trees look gorgeous in this art-deco Parisian store. Same as the Galeries Lafayette, you will usually notice first their fabulous window displays, different each year.

Jardin des Tuileries – Christmas market

This year again, the Tuileries welcome the Christmas Village. I just love wandering between the artisan’s stands, while sipping some mulled wine and eating some raclette cheese!

Four Seasons George V

The famous 5-star hotel right next to the Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe is always full of festive vibes for the holidays. In 2019 they had a stunning dome of lights in their courtyard, it was like a fairytale bubble! In 2022 they installed a stunning lights path that look like a Christmas tree from the outside.


I hope that this photo spots guide will help you taking beautiful pictures during your magical journey through Christmas in Paris!

Don’t forget to tag me in your stories and posts on Instagram if this article inspired you !

With love,
Marina

P.S.: Find out what are my favorite photography spots in Paris in my seasonal guides!


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27 Comments

  1. 10 December 2019 / 19 h 04 min

    Wow! All these photos look so amazing Marina!! I need to visit Paris during Christmas πŸ™‚

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      10 December 2019 / 19 h 47 min

      Thank you so much! I hope you can visit soon, I love Paris during Christmas, it really is magical πŸ™‚

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      12 December 2019 / 11 h 19 min

      Thank you so much for your kind words! Paris is amazing for Christmas πŸ™‚

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      15 December 2019 / 10 h 42 min

      Paris during Christmas really is beautiful, I can only recommend it πŸ™‚

  2. Rhonda Albom
    14 December 2019 / 20 h 40 min

    Paris through your eyes is amazing. You sure found some fabulous Instagramable spots, especially that giant bear!

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      15 December 2019 / 10 h 43 min

      Aww thank you so much! This giant bear is the cutest right!

  3. 15 December 2019 / 0 h 19 min

    Wow, I’ve never seen Christmas displays like this before! Absolutely beautiful!! Galleries Lafayette is so impressive! I love the photos of you dancing too, gorgeous!

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      15 December 2019 / 10 h 43 min

      Thank you so so much! The Christmas tree at Galeries Lafayette this year is my favorite πŸ™‚

  4. 15 December 2019 / 3 h 59 min

    Oh Christmas trees….how I love your Christmas trees! Thanks for inspiring Christmas!

  5. 15 December 2019 / 9 h 53 min

    Paris at Christmas looks like such a dream! So beautiful!

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      15 December 2019 / 10 h 44 min

      I love Christmas time in Paris πŸ™‚ Have you ever been ?

  6. 15 December 2019 / 15 h 58 min

    Your photos are so gorgeous. And the locations you’ve suggested are amazing!!

  7. 16 December 2019 / 9 h 48 min

    Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year! I love Paris and can only imagine how magical it is at Christmas. Photos are fab and making me very jealous!

  8. Annalisa
    23 December 2019 / 22 h 16 min

    I didn’t know Paris could be so magical during the holidays, very artistic pictures πŸ™‚

    • Marichankobe
      Author
      28 December 2019 / 10 h 43 min

      I am so happy you like it! Thanks a lot πŸ™‚

  9. 21 November 2020 / 23 h 03 min

    Making me sad not to be able to visit Paris this Christmas!

    • Marina
      Author
      24 November 2020 / 5 h 26 min

      I know, same here!

  10. Taylor
    22 November 2020 / 4 h 43 min

    Wow! All of your photos are so stunning Marina! I totally need to get back to Paris during Christmastime and see all of these magical spots. πŸ™‚

    • Marina
      Author
      24 November 2020 / 5 h 26 min

      Thank you so much Taylor! Paris during Christmas is magical!

  11. 22 November 2020 / 12 h 09 min

    Paris looks so beautiful in winter and you have done it justice with these gorgeous photos. Now I want to visit Paris for Christmas, if only that was an option this year.

    • Marina
      Author
      24 November 2020 / 5 h 26 min

      Thank you so much! I wish we all had this option this year too … hopefully next year!

  12. Jiayi Wang
    22 November 2020 / 22 h 29 min

    Love seeing this collection of all your gorgeous Paris Christmas photos, Marina!! Your Place VendΓ΄me photos are the best. These are such wonderful suggestions and I’ll be sure to follow them if I’m ever in this beautiful city for Xmas! πŸ™‚

    • Marina
      Author
      24 November 2020 / 5 h 27 min

      Thank you so much Jiayi, I’m so glad you like them!

  13. Nina
    25 November 2020 / 2 h 01 min

    Village royal is totally picture perfect. Love this guide!

    • Marina
      Author
      29 November 2020 / 23 h 49 min

      Yes it’s one of my favorite spots! Thank you so much!

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