Bienvenue, listeners, to Things to Do in Paris with your globe-trotting sports nut Oly Bennet, coming to you from the City of Light where even the pigeons look like they’ve done runway training.
Today Paris is in full-on winter sparkle mode: crisp chill in the air, low gray skies that make every café glow extra golden, and Christmas lights stretching over boulevards like the city just put on its championship jersey. Scarves are mandatory, fashion points optional but strongly encouraged.
Let’s kick off with some star events lighting up Paris today.
Over at the Musée d’Orsay, the museum is hosting guided tours around Edouard Manet’s legendary Olympia, a perfect pick if you want big‑league art history without feeling like homework, according to the Musée d’Orsay’s own program.
In the 12th arrondissement, Parc Floral is transformed by The Luminous Odyssey, a night-time lantern and light trail with over a thousand illuminated creations and even a drone show, as detailed by Sortir à Paris. It’s basically a fantasy video game level you can walk through.
Christmas markets are the city’s current MVPs: the Eiffel Tower Christmas Village along Quai Jacques Chirac brings food stalls, gift chalets, and a perfect view of the Iron Lady all decked out; meanwhile, the giant La Défense market offers hundreds of chalets and even an ice rink, both highlighted by Sortir à Paris.
For families, the Notre-Dame and Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés Christmas markets are serving crafts, regional treats, and kid-friendly entertainment in some of the most iconic streets on the planet, again reported by Sortir à Paris.
And if you’re in the mood to dance, JamBase lists L’Ultrabal at Lumière tonight in the 12th — think big Parisian bal energy with modern vibes.
On the city news front, Christmas traffic is in playoff mode: busier than usual near major markets like La Défense, the Tuileries, and around the Eiffel Tower, so expect slower metro platforms and more packed trains at peak hours. RATP, the public transit operator, recommends giving yourself extra time and favoring metro lines over buses around big event zones. Over in the food universe, local outlets are buzzing about new winter menus at bistrots around Saint‑Michel and the Canal Saint‑Martin, with many spots leaning into cozy comfort food: think duck confit, raclette, and hot chocolate that could bench-press your diet.
Now, your must-do playbook for today.
Warm up with a late-morning wander along the Seine from Saint‑Michel to Notre‑Dame, then duck into a café for a chocolat chaud and people-watching.
Hit a Christmas market double-header: Eiffel Tower Village by late afternoon for views and photos, then Notre‑Dame market at dusk for crafts and atmosphere.
After dark, head to Parc Floral for The Luminous Odyssey — dress warm, charge your phone, and pretend you’re in a live-action snow globe.
If nightlife calls, close out with L’Ultrabal at Lumière or a classic wine bar in the Latin Quarter for a glass of red
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.