The 2026 Paris Christmas market season runs from Nov 12 2026 to Jan 3 2027, and entry is free everywhere. It isn’t a single market but about a dozen villages spread across the city, each with its own dates: the JDS, which keeps the list up to date, announces some in autumn and adds the rest week by week.
We are at 5 Avenue Duquesne in the 7th, and that’s the most common question at the front desk in December: which one to visit? Here’s our answer, starting with the two villages on our side of the Seine.
Dates to remember for 2026
The overall window is Nov 12 2026 – Jan 3 2027. The only village with complete dates published so far is La Défense, Nov 12 – Dec 31 2026. For the others, Parisian practice is for organizers to confirm in late autumn, and most close between Dec 27 and Jan 3. Our advice is simple: check the date of the village you’re interested in the week of your visit rather than a month ahead. If you write to us, we’ll look it up with you.
Eiffel‑Branly Christmas Village
We list this first because it’s on our side of the river and is named after Quai Branly, along the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. It appears in the 2026 announced villages, free entry like the others.
For whom: those who want to visit the chalets and the Eiffel Tower in the same outing, without taking the metro between them. Evening is the best time, as the tower sparkles then. Allow about an hour for the chalets, no more: it’s not the largest market in the city, but it’s the most conveniently located.
Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés Christmas Village
Also announced for 2026, still left bank, and the one we recommend if you’re looking to buy gifts rather than just eat. Saint‑Germain is the book‑shop and boutique district of the left bank, and the village fits that outing: chalets on one side, the neighborhood’s shop windows on the other.
For whom: an late‑afternoon shopping stroll that ends with mulled wine. We have a walking route to Saint‑Germain from our place, and it works well in December.
Tuileries Christmas Market
This one is right bank, in the Tuileries Garden, and is the classic Parisian market: the 2026 list brings it back. It’s the most extensive intra‑city market and the most visited, which means crowds on weekends.
For whom: families, and first‑time visitors who want the most extensive market. Go on a weekday if you can. Because it’s on the Louvre axis, it pairs nicely with a museum visit the same day. If you have time for only one Christmas market and size matters, this is the one.
Notre‑Dame and La Défense
The Notre‑Dame Christmas market returns in 2026. It’s small, and its appeal is the location more than the chalets: you visit it when you’re already on the island, not just for the market.
La Défense, Nov 12 – Dec 31 2026, is the largest in the region and the only one with firm dates. It’s outside Paris, in the Hauts‑de‑Seine, and requires a dedicated trip. We recommend it only for a longer stay, or if you’ve already been and want to revisit.
From our place, Avenue Duquesne
Our rooms with a view overlook the Eiffel Tower, and the 28 m² Junior Suite has a sitting corner with two armchairs, which makes a December evening end much nicer. Breakfast is served buffet‑style every morning from 7:00 am to 10:30 am, leaving plenty of time to head out without rushing when it gets dark until eight. We also have a speakeasy‑style bar, a classic cocktail menu and cuisine signed by our chef, for those evenings when you come back with cold hands and a dinner out no longer appeals.