There’s a lot to do in Paris during the holiday season. Start your planning with Paris Insiders Guide’s recommendations for best things to do in December 2015. Activities include museum exhibits, castles, a recommended restaurant, and of course, Christmas lights.
Source: The 45 Best Things To Do In Paris – December 2015 | Paris Insiders Guide
Paris on a rare snowy day.
You might think there is less to do in Paris in the winter time, but the only thing you’ll see less of are the long lines to get into museums and monuments. As a general rule, Paris doesn’t get very cold during winter — when I was there in December 2014, the temperature didn’t get much below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.2 degrees Celsius). It did rain a lot, however — but that didn’t deter me from enjoying the city. There’s nothing like waking up in Paris to the sound of rain hitting the rooftop and windows.
Here are four activities that caught my eye in The 45 Best Things to do in Paris in December:
Picasso’s “Guernica” will be exhibited at the Grand Palais until February 29, 2016.
1. Pablo Picasso and the Modern Masters at the Grand Palais. Exhibit ends February 29, 2016. Metro: Champs-Elysees Clemenceau. The Modern Masters portion of the exhibit includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. Click here for the Grand Palais website and to book tickets. Price ranges depending on day of the week.
Chateau d’Amboise was a fortress, so it was built 81 meters (about 88.5 feet) high.
2. Private Tour: Loire Valley Castles Day Trip From Paris. Choose between two sets of castles (chateaux, or singular, chateau) — Amboise, Checoneau and Chambord, or Villandry, Langeais and Azay le Rideau — and enjoy lunch at an 18th century inn or at the park of Chateau de Langeais. Price varies depending on season and number of people in your party. Click here to book or see availability.
Chef Jerome Banctel heads Le Gabriel restaurant.
3. Featured Restaurant: Le Gabriel at La Reserve Hotel. The restaurant is headed by Chef Jerome Banctel and features a Japanese-French Fusion menu. The restaurant is located within La Reserve Hotel. Click here for a review by Paris Insiders Guide. Click here to see the rave reviews given by TripAdvisor users. Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Christmas lights on the Champs-Elysees near the Arc de Triomphe in 2014.
4. The Christmas Lights along the Champs-Elysees are positively beautiful no matter how you view them. Walk arm-and-arm with someone you love and take in the lights. You’ll never be the same.
Please note: It is my information that the Christmas Markets are closed due to the terror attacks in Paris on November 13.
Au revoir.
Image of Snowy Christmas at Eiffel Tower by CanStockPhoto. Image of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” by Martine, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Chateau d’Amboise by Christina Hsu, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Chef Jerome Banctel by Rota das Estrelas, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Christmas lights on the Champs-Elysees by Elsa L. Fridl.