A Magical Holiday Shopping Experience in Paris

Bring the Joy of the Season to Your Holiday Shopping

Much has been said about April in Paris, and tourists flock to the city all summer long. Fewer people, however, experience the magic of Paris in the winter. Covered in fresh snow and bedecked for the season, the town sparkles like the rarest of jewels on a satin pillow. The anticipation of the coming holidays and celebration of the New Year fills the air with a joyful expectation. It is a magical time to explore the City of Lights.

While Paris is an extraordinary destination every season, there are a few great reasons to visit the city between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here are five reasons to start planning a trip to Paris this year.

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While Paris' reputation as the City of Light is well-known, at Christmas time the streets, buildings, and monuments are ablaze with millions of lights in celebration of the season. There are few things as magical as a stroll in the crisp air along the banks of the River Seine looking at the grand buildings in the bright winter light. From November to the beginning of January, the Christmas illuminations on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, on Avenue Montaigne, in Place Vendôme, the Montmartre district, Bercy Village and in many other places across the city make Paris more magical than ever!

A visit to a Paris Christmas Market is one of the fastest ways to get into the holiday spirit. With sparkling lights, roasting chestnuts, and plenty of mulled wine to keep you warm, these festive street markets filled with Swiss-style chalets are the perfect place to find a unique gift for all those on your holiday shopping list. Possibly the most idyllic Paris Christmas market is the Marché de Noel Notre Dame, situated on the Left Bank just across the Seine from the world-renowned cathedral. With Notre Dame's soaring medieval towers and spires as a backdrop, the market is the perfect place to find high-quality arts and crafts made in France.

Nowhere in the world will you find a greater assemblage of the most iconic, luxurious, and coveted brands. Arrange a private shopping tour to visit the storied atelier and meet the artisans behind some of the best-known names in fashion and style such as Hermès, Cartier, Boucheron, Chanel, and Guerlain. Under their roofs, craftsmen and designers work together to bring to life creative visions that inspire and delight. Find the ones you love gifts that they will treasure and create memories that you will share forever.

In winter, the chefs of Paris celebrate the heartening, earthy flavors of the season. Across the city, those famous black Périgord truffles lend their rich voice to the chorus at the most excellent restaurants. These late fall and early winter months are also a great time of year to explore the hearty, comfort foods of France. Find a comfortable dining room, preferably with a fireplace, to luxuriate in meals of confit de canard, cassoulet, and boeuf bourguignon created to warm your soul. And it is the perfect season to sit outside a café with a wool blanket and a chocolat chaud watching the world pass by.

The City Sparkles with Holiday Lights. While Paris' reputation as the City of Light is well-known, at Christmas time the streets, buildings, and monuments are ablaze with millions of lights in celebration of the season. There are few things as magical as a stroll in the crisp air along the banks of the River Seine looking at the grand buildings in the bright winter light. From November to the beginning of January, the Christmas illuminations on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, on Avenue Montaigne, in Place Vendôme, the Montmartre district, Bercy Village and in many other places across the city make Paris more magical than ever!

Find Unique Gifts at Paris Christmas Markets. A visit to a Paris Christmas Market is one of the fastest ways to get into the holiday spirit. With sparkling lights, roasting chestnuts, and plenty of mulled wine to keep you warm, these festive street markets filled with Swiss-style chalets are the perfect place to find a unique gift for all those on your holiday shopping list. Possibly the most idyllic Paris Christmas market is the Marché de Noel Notre Dame, situated on the Left Bank just across the Seine from the world-renowned cathedral. With Notre Dame's soaring medieval towers and spires as a backdrop, the market is the perfect place to find high-quality arts and crafts made in France.

Tour the Atelier of Paris Nowhere in the world will you find a greater assemblage of the most iconic, luxurious, and coveted brands. Arrange a private shopping tour to visit the storied atelier and meet the artisans behind some of the best-known names in fashion and style such as Hermès, Cartier, Boucheron, Chanel, and Guerlain. Under their roofs, craftsmen and designers work together to bring to life creative visions that inspire and delight. Find the ones you love gifts that they will treasure and create memories that you will share forever.

The Winter Menus at the Best Restaurants. In winter, the chefs of Paris celebrate the heartening, earthy flavors of the season. Across the city, those famous black Périgord truffles lend their rich voice to the chorus at the most excellent restaurants. These late fall and early winter months are also a great time of year to explore the hearty, comfort foods of France. Find a comfortable dining room, preferably with a fireplace, to luxuriate in meals of confit de canard, cassoulet, and boeuf bourguignon created to warm your soul. And it is the perfect season to sit outside a café with a wool blanket and a chocolat chaud watching the world pass by.

Explore Magical Christmas Displays. Much like the famous shops along Fifth Ave in New York City, you’ll find the major department stores and boutiques of Paris joyfully competing to create Christmas displays that outshine the competition. The capital's most famous, and the world’s first, department store, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, decorates to celebrate both its chic offerings and the architectural wonder of its iconic building. The unique space was designed by the architect Louis-Charles Boileau and the engineer Gustave Eiffel. While you visit, you can share your holiday shopping list with one of their talented personal shoppers who will help you discover the perfect gifts for friends and family.

Holiday Concerts and the Sounds of the Season. In addition to lights, lots of good food & wine, and shopping Christmas in Paris means music, music, music. Not just in the concert halls, but also in the historic churches and cathedrals of Paris. A Christmas concert at one of these landmark venues is something you will never forget. We would be hard-pressed to imagine a better way to celebrate the festive season than a classical music concert at the extraordinary Gothic church La Sainte Chapelle on Île de la Cité. Whatever your spiritual beliefs and persuasions, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral for the Christmas Eve service can be a memorable and peaceful occasion. The service, which often includes a stirring and inspirational midnight choir, is open to everyone. With so much to do and so many places to explore, this holiday season might be the perfect time for you to come to Paris. In addition, a bonus reason to visit now, savvy shoppers may find airfares are much lower during the last weeks of November and early December. So gather your list of who has been naughty and nice and come experience the city on the Seine like never before.

Some details of the experience.

The holidays: Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this holiday season whether they're naughty or nice.

When in Paris : Explore and discover those special gifts and moments you will share for a lifetime.

Address : Paris

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