Christmas is just around the corner. In between Christmas markets, gift shopping and strolling among the Christmas decorations, you can take a break and enjoy a visit with an enthusiastic guide or a tasting tour! Special events are also on offer for the festive season: creative or gourmet workshops, concerts, cruises... See all our suggestions for original activities, walks and guided tours to enjoy in December 2024.
Christmas atmosphere: activities and outings
Enjoy exceptional outings in the run-up to the festive season. Treat yourself, dream and travel!
Discover Paris under the stars on a champagne and macaroons cruise.Discover raw chocolate at the Rraw Cacao workshop. Take part in the "chocolat chocolat" guided tour between Rambuteau and the Marais (also available in a special children's version). You can also enjoy all kinds of specialties at the Butinerie workshops, at theGuinguette des Grandes Serres Christmas cookie decorating workshop, or take a guided tour of the Paris Gare de l'Est Christmas Market.
Dream away at a concert in the magical setting of the Château de Grosbois, at the Château de Santeny, on a ciné-balade with Juliette Dubois or treat yourself to an exceptional workshop in which you'll create your own carpet by learning how to tuft!
Donatien Schramm and Raphaëlle Gras take you on a guided tour of Paris, the World City.
Explore our historic heritage and major monuments in a different way
A live-stream tour of the Basilique Saint-Denis lets you appreciate the Gothic architecture and history of the kings and queens of France from the comfort of your own home. Visit the Hôtel Gaillard, an architectural gem on the Plaine Monceau, former headquarters of the Banque de France, now home to the Cité de l'Economie and the Opéra Comique. Discover the auction house and the Drouot district. And don't miss the temporary exhibition "Sport en banlieue" at the Musée de l'Histoire Vivante in Montreuil and theexhibition"Eugène Carrière, peintre humaniste et engagé" at the Musée de Gournay-sur-Marne.
Immerse yourself in the 1920s with a visit to Les Belles Poules, a former brothel whose décor has remained virtually intact.
Discover or (re)discover the Château de Vincennes with its keep and Sainte-Chapelle, or the Domaine de Grosbois with its château and trotting horse training center.
Don't miss a visit to the homes of famous people, such as the Maison des Jardies in Sèvres orGeorges Clémenceau's apartment-museum. Review the history of the Saint-Cloud national estate.
Revisit your classics in an original way with backstage tours of UNESCO, the Palais de Justice, the Grande Mosquée de Paris, the Bastille's July Column, the Théâtre national de la Danse - Chaillot...
Museums open their doors to you for an unusual visit to the Musée de La Poste or the Musée français de la radiologie et de l'imagerie médicale, a counter-visit to the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris or a confidential tour of the Musée Yves Saint-Laurent.
Enjoy urban strolls to discover the nuggets of Parisian neighborhoods and beyond.
Rediscover Montmartre in a different way, through song or film. There are many other ways to stroll through Montmartre, such as following in the footsteps of the composer Erik Satie, or following in the footsteps of the Cabarets de Montmartre and the Paris Commune.
Ciné-balades are the perfect way to discover Paris from a different angle, and to hear a wealth of anecdotes about the films and the behind-the-scenes stories behind the scenes. Discover those about Woody Allen, Audrey Hepburn or Agnès Varda.
You can also enjoy offbeat tours with Les Potins de Paris, and follow in the footsteps of Paris's lesser-known underbelly...
Admire the architecture of the cities of Greater Paris. Discover the area around Gare de l'Est, the Germanic cultural heritage in the heart of the French capital, Gare Montparnasse or Gare des Invalides.
Admire the works of Le Corbusier to the south of Paris and explore the Passy district, where architecture tells the story of the capital's history and modernity. Follow in the footsteps of Buren at Beaubourg.
The Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine invites you to delve into the history of modern and contemporary architecture. Don't miss the guided tour of the Seine musicale building.
Take in the sights and sounds of Abraxas in Noisy-le-Grand. Discover Plaine Saint-Denis, once one of Europe's largest industrial zones. Take a guided tour of the Bobigny Muslim cemetery or a guided walking tour of Roissy CDG international airport.
Greater Paris is also the cradle of street art, with world-famous artists regularly gracing city walls. You'll find a wide range of street art tours in the four corners of the metropolis throughout the year, including a stroll through Vitry, capital of street art, street art and feminism, etc.
Take part in street art tours with artists such as JEANJEROME and EDDIECOLA in Montreuil or Meuh de Paris in Pantin. Also in Pantin, follow the guide for a free street art tour. Nearby, discover the origins of street art in the 19th arrondissement, and the history of cinema through urban art in Montreuil.
In the same vein, take part in the following tours:
Discover the world near you
Travel to the end of the street with Raphaëlle Gras 's guided tours of India: 19th-century Paris under the Indian influence andgourmet India in La Courneuve.
Donatien Schramm takes you to China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan with tours of Chinese gastronomy in Belleville, Chinatown at the end of your chopsticks, Vietnam in Paris, Korea in Paris...
And for families, don't miss a trip to the land of manga and Little Dragons of Chinatown.
Meet the craftsmen and their know-how
You can push open the doors of the workshops of the Mobilier National de la Manufacture des Gobelins, theBobin tradition workshop specializing in tapestry restoration, theDiamantino Labo Photo workshop, France's only master printer-filterer, or a millinery workshop. Art craftsmen reveal their secrets during visits to a stained-glass or ceramics workshop.
Looking for gastronomy? You'll be spoilt for choice with a visit to the cocoa factory,a spirits distillery or the Gallia brewery in Pantin, or a visit to an artisan winemaker.
You can also meet a beekeeper for a tour of the world of bees at the Musée de la Carte à jouer.
In Montreuil, you can visit an underground urban farm in the 19th arrondissement or the Permapolis aromatherapy center in Saint-Denis.
Last but not least, companies such as Saint Gobain Placoplatre, Cité Maraichère de Romainville and Archives Diplomatiques open their doors behind the scenes. Enter theRATP maintenance workshop for metro line 11.
If you prefer live performance, opt for a backstage tour of the MC93 followed by a show, or a discovery of the Théâtre Paris Villette followed by a performance. Discover the little-known career of dancer Paula Padani at the Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme.
Looking for a gift idea for Christmas?
For Christmas, a birthday, anniversary or any other occasion, give the gift of unusual visits with our Explore Paris gift vouchers, sure to delight the curious.
Tip: don't forget thatthere are plenty of free tours on Explore Paris!
In english, please!
Explore Paris is also an English-language boutique. We offer English-language tours of the Basilica of Saint-Denis, UNESCO, Roland-Garros stadium and Montmartre in song, as well as a wide range of private tours. Enjoy!
Dates and Opening Time
From December 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Official website
exploreparis.com
Booking
exploreparis.com
