Paris Walking Tour: Christmas Food and Decorations

A city for all seasons, Paris holds new surprises around every corner year-round, but there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the French capital at Christmas that makes it extra special. Start soaking up Paris' Christmas charm at the famous Galeries Lafayette, where your guide will meet you in the morning for a 3-hour tour.

Enter the beautifully illuminated department store, bustling with Christmas shoppers, and admire its opulent interior perfectly appointed with elegant Christmas décor. Inside, head to a food hall to enjoy some oysters with white wine — a typical French pairing — followed by a sweet treat such as macarons or an éclair. Browse the shop's selection of cheeses, caviar, foie gras, chocolates, gingerbread and more, and purchase anything you please.

Breathe in the crisp winter air as you hit the streets, strolling past festively decorated, Art Nouveau facades of Paris’ high-end shops and boutiques. Follow your guide up to a rooftop viewing deck for breathtaking views over the city. Back on street level, head to a Christmas decoration shop to browse trinkets and souvenirs for friends and family back home.

Venturing through the 8th arrondissement, pause at La Madeleine to learn about the history of this famous Roman Catholic church, built in honor of Napoleon’s army. Continue down winding streets and passageways lined with shop windows decked out in festive finery. Poke in and out of quaint food and tableware shops for which the area is known, and on Passage Vivienne, duck inside a traditional wine bar to enjoy a tasting session of fine foie gras with Champagne or dessert wine. You'll feel like a true Parisian!

After three hours admiring Paris' Christmas ambiance, end your tour near the Louvre.