Paris is in full festive swing this week, so listeners, let’s dive into what you can actually do in the city over the next few days.

Start with the lights. Paris Secret reports that the Champs Élysées has just unveiled its brand‑new illuminations, with 400 trees along the avenue wrapped in multicolored light and synchronized sound. It is completely free, and the perfect evening stroll: grab a vin chaud from a nearby stand and walk from Place de la Concorde up to the Arc de Triomphe as the whole avenue shimmers around you.

If you want to lace up some skates, Sortir à Paris notes that the Grand Palais des Glaces reopens from December 13 with what’s billed as the world’s largest indoor ice rink under the glass roof of the Grand Palais. This year there is even a huge illuminated Eiffel Tower structure in the middle of the rink, plus a terrace for hot chocolate and snacks between laps. For an outdoor vibe, the La Défense Christmas Market brings another rink surrounded by over 300 wooden chalets selling crafts and seasonal treats on the Parvis de La Défense.

Holiday markets are everywhere right now. According to Sortir à Paris, there is a charming Christmas village at the foot of the Eiffel Tower along Quai Jacques Chirac, with artisan stalls, regional specialties, and those unbeatable riverfront views of the Iron Lady sparkling on the hour. Over by Notre‑Dame, a dedicated Christmas market in Square René Viviani focuses on French crafts and gourmet products, ideal if you are hunting for more unique, locally made gifts.

If you are in Paris with kids or just feeling playful, Sortir à Paris highlights Christmas at Parc des Princes, where PSG has turned the stadium tour into a festive experience with a synthetic ice rink and family activities right inside the arena. Over at Disneyland Paris, there is a special nighttime drone show inspired by the Avatar film saga running through this week, filling the sky with choreographed lights over the park.

For something more contemplative after dark, Lumières en Seine at the Domaine de Saint‑Cloud offers a two‑kilometer illuminated trail through the park, mixing light sculptures and music in a magical nighttime walk, as reported by Sortir à Paris. Closer in, the Jardin d’Acclimatation is hosting the “Japon en Lumières” lantern festival, with around 2,000 glowing lanterns depicting scenes from Mount Fuji to Tokyo streets, turning the park into an enchanting after‑work or weekend outing.

Wrap up any evening by looping back through the department stores: Paris Discovery Guide points out that the grand magasins like Printemps Haussmann and Le Bon Marché have gone all‑in on Christmas windows and, at Printemps, even a free rooftop ice rink. It is a classic Paris ritual: press up to the animated displays, then head inside for last‑minute shopping under towering decorated atriums.

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