Paris is brimming with energy and festive delights this week, listeners. You’re waking up in a city that’s morphing from golden autumn into sparkling pre-holiday mode, and the options for adventure, art, music, and magic are endless.

If you’re in the mood for Christmas spirit, two massive markets kick off just in time. The Tuileries Christmas Market has transformed the Tuileries Garden starting November 15. Expect a buzzing fairground atmosphere, rows of gourmet food stands, artisanal chalets selling gifts, rides, a huge ice rink, and cozy holiday lights stretching all the way to the Louvre. It’s festive, family-friendly, and a chance to sample the season’s best treats and mulled wine. Over at La Défense, the city’s largest Christmas market is in full swing through December with more than 300 chalets, a central ice rink, and daily appearances by Santa Claus. There’s live entertainment and handicrafts galore, perfect for picking up creative gifts or just basking in the seasonal cheer.

Art and culture fans can lose a few hours—or days—this week in museum exhibitions that you won’t find anywhere else. The Musée d’Orsay is showcasing John Singer Sargent’s portraits, some never before seen in France, while the Grand Palais offers a joint retrospective of Niki de Saint-Phalle and Jean Tinguely through January. That venue gleams after its Olympic renovation; now’s the rare time you’ll find short lines and space to savor each work. For contemporary art with an edgy vibe, check out the Street Art & Contemporary Art Festival at Poste du Louvre. It’s free, features over 200 works, and runs through November 23, so you can meet the artists and enjoy live performances right in the heart of Paris.

Nighttime strolls get a new dimension at Lumières en Seine, a glittering installation trail in the Domaine de Saint-Cloud. Picture two kilometers of immersive light and music displays—a magical walk under Parisian stars, going nightly all week long.

Music lovers, the Spotify Equal Festival comes to Palais Brongniart on November 18, spotlighting French-speaking female artists like Clara Luciani and Charlotte Cardin. For opera or ballet, you’ll find public performances this week at the Palace of Versailles Opera Theater, including La Traviata on November 19 and 20.

Families and thrill-seekers can escape to Jardin d’Acclimatation from November 22, where Christmas festivities launch with lanterns, rides, and fun for the kids. Don’t miss the holiday lights going up Monday on Faubourg Saint-Honoré, or hop over to the covered passages by the Grands Boulevards for a warm, old-world shopping stroll.

From jazz concerts aboard Seine barges to poetry readings in atmospheric cafés, there’s always something unexpected on a Paris evening. Whether you picnic at Versailles or sip cocoa under the sparkling lights, Paris this week is yours to discover.

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