How to spend New Year's Eve in Paris

Paris, the City of Love, is no doubt one of Europe's greatest cities. New Years in Paris is a wonderful occasion and the City of Light is truly one of the special places to be  in the New Year.There are plenty of ways to celebrate New Years in Paris, whether you are looking to go clubbing, want to enjoy a cabaret show or a dinner cruise on the Seine river.
 
At the Lido on Champs-Elysees, you can take a benefit of a cabaret show accompagned by delicious dinner. Such goodies as foie gras and lobster are on the dinner menu at the Moulin Rouge. If you are really looking to get loose yourself while celebrating New Years Eve in Paris, then you should choose clubbing.


There are plenty of night clubs where you can enjoy New Years Eve in Paris that will last until the dawn. One of the city's top clubs is the Nouveau Casino. the main attraction here is the large dance floor. The Wagg is another French club that is a spot worthy of those wondering where to go on New Years Eve in Paris.
  
The Champs Elysees is the place to head if you want to be at the center of the party. Starting at around 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve, people start to come to the famous avenue. From many places on the Champs-Elysées, you can get a good view on the Eiffel Tower, which generally displays a sparkling dance of light at the stroke of midnight.

 

  
Dinner Cruises:
Another way to spend New Year a little bit more expensive option would be to have dinner on the Seine boat cruise to loose yourself in the lights and festive ambiance. Bateaux Parisiens offer a New Year's dinner cruise that includes musical entertainment, a bottle of champagne, and other special treats.
 No matter where you choose to spend New Year's Eve in Paris, the experience is sure to be a memorable one. Here's a champagne toast, wishing you a Bonne Annee!

Christmas Markets in Paris

Christmas shopping in Paris

The city of Lights wouldn't be as charmful without its Christmas Markets that held every year to introduce us to a magical atmosphere of Christmas.

The markets, offering custom holiday treats like hot wine, gingerbread, sausages and specialties from various regions of France, are an essential part of celebrating Christmas in Paris.Visit one of Paris's holiday markets for a scenic winter walk to get some extraordinary gifts for your family.

 

  

Christmas Market on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées

This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in Paris. It goes from the avenue Champs Elysees (Metro Champs Elysées-Clémenceau) to the Place de la Concorde (Metro Concorde).

Open: From November 15th, 2013 through January 5th, 2014

Location: Avenue des Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde

Metro: Passy, Champs Elysées-Clemenceau or Concorde

Open: Daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm; Fridays and Saturdays until midnight.

 

Christmas Market at La Défense
With 350 stands, this is one of the largest and most festive holiday markets surrounded by skyscrapers and spectacular view at the Grande Arche.
Open: From November 27th through December 28th, 2013
Location: Parvis de la Défense (near the Grand Arche)
Metro/RER: La Défense
 Christmas Market and Ice Rink at Trocadero
This one is perfect for kids! There is an ice rink and snow villages so they will keep them busy while you're choosing Christmas gifts. 
Open: Daily from December 12th, 2013 to January 5th, 2014
Location: Place de la Trocadero, across from the Eiffel Tower
Metro: Trocadero
 
 

December events in Paris

If you're lucky enough to be in Paris during this month of holidays, you will have a chance to live the most magical events of the year. The city sparkles with a million fairy lights, and hundreds of decorated trees along the boulevards.
 
Go and see the Christmas decorations in front of the Grand Magasins, along Champs Élysées and on Place de la Bastille. Visit also the Christmas markets of Paris where you can get seasonal specialties, sip vin chaud (warm spiced wine) and be impressed by the twinkling lights.

Christmas in Paris is a busy season! that's why I recommend you to book your Christmas in Paris as early as possible because all kinds of events sell out very quickly.

Don't be left out in the cold! The wait to get up the Eiffel Tower is often two hours long, even in December. But there is a solution to avoid waiting in the lines. Book a Skip-the-Lines Eiffel Tower Tour and your guide will walk you past the ticket lines and into the elevator for the tower. You've got better things to do in Paris than to stand in line! The Eiffel Tower is open every day.

 Enjoy Renaissance music performed by the Barok Ensemble in the stunning La Sainte Chapelle. The Holy Chapel was built by Louis IX on Ile de la Cité in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. Come to hear some good music and be amazed by the stained glass windows and Gothic architecture. 

 • November 30 to December 26

 

Le Grand Tasting- Great Wine Fair

Taste wines from around France along with the other 20,000 vistors, all under the glass pyramid of the Carrousel du Louvre. Say "cheers" with the finest wines from Château Lafite, Rothschild, Moët et Chandon and hundreds of others.

• Carrousel du Louvre
• December 6 & 7

Christmas Lights on the Champs Elysees

Each year during the Xmas season, many districts in Paris are decorated with impressing lights and decorations. In the 8th arrondissement, the decorations on the Avenue des Champs Elysées are the most exceptional and impressive in the whole city.
Each year 200 trees are decorated on the avenue Champs Elysees in Paris with a clever design. Glittering garlands and shiny rings are put up around the trees. They run the length - 2.4 km - of the Champs Elysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. Every half hour, the magic garlands and the rings slowly change colour, from white to purple and then red.

If you are a visitor in Paris during this period don't forget to have a walk and take some pictures on the most magical and exceptionnal avenue Champs-Elysées.
 
The Christmas lights on the Champs-Elysées 2013 were switched on by French actress Laetitia Casta at a ceremony on Thursday 21st November at 6pm; The ceremony took place at level with number 127 Avenue des Champs Elysées.The Christmas lights on the Champs-Elysées have been elevated to a height of 7 metres, giving a perspective effect.

Let's turn back time and share again this magical moment.. have a good viewing!

         

 

How to spend Sunday in Paris

 
The most of the city’s shops are closed on this day — but that doesn’t mean that visitors can’t enjoy Paris to the fullest. Here are some ideas on what to do in Paris on lazy Sundays.
 

Go to the Marais. Most of the shops in this quarter (originally jewish) follow the tradition and stay open on Sunday. While the rest of Paris can feel sleepy, the Marais bustles on Sundays.

Take a day trip. There are several beautiful castles just outside Paris: Versailles, Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau. Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny are also open during the spring, summer and fall. Sundays are good for exploring these monuments.
 

 
A good idea to spend Sunday could be also visiting a park. The most famous are The Luxembourg and Tuileries gardens, but there are also two woods outside the city: Vincennes in the east and Boulogne in the west. The Parc de Bagatelle, within the Bois de Boulogne, has beautiful rose gardens and a chateau of its own. You have a possibility to rent a boat by the lake in Vincennes.
 Take a benefit of parisian markets. Many food markets are open on Sunday mornings, and the flea markets on Paris’s outskirts, such as those at Saint-Ouen and Vanves, are also busy on the weekends.

Discovering Montmartre also gives us the opportunity to get to know parisian districts better. In Fall the famous Montmartre is not as crowded as in summer so you will find less tourist there which is an advantage.

Fall fashion trends 2013

 

There's something about fall fashion that makes us go and see the new 'tendances' at the shops. Presonally I like the combination of red and gray on coats and bags.


Now it's time to start the search for the perfect fall coat and to find those amazing autumn boots.It is what Parisians do best. After all, aren’t they known for their dark colors, stylish bags, chic scarfs and gorgeous coats?

 

 
How to make it cheap

There are plenty possibilities to find nice, fashionable clothes without spending a fortune on it. Local shops may be expensive, so you'd better stop by to common shops such as HM or Zara.

When you get your shopping plan I advice you to choose wisely. It's always better to buy universal clothes that you can put on 2 season in a row than chosing lots of expensive pieces. As said Coco Chanel, “Fashion changes, but style endures.”

Discover the magic of parisian Parks

You must agree with me that there is something magical in parisian parks during the Fall. Entering the parks in autumn means diving in the sea of warm red, orange and yellow tones. For someone who loves photography it's the best opportunity (and place!) to take extraordinary photos with beautiful scenes. This Fall you can't miss a walk around the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Canal Saint Martin, and the Jardin du Luxembourg.



Even though we all love summer picnics on the grass with some friends and good bottle of wine you must admit that parisian parks in the autumn seduce us as much as in the summertime. It's a good idea to get a fresh air when it gets cold instead of sitting at home in front of the TV !

Apart from a simple walk in one of these parks we can also find some attractions for kids or even adults. In some parks such as Jardin the Luxembourg, Moceau thre are placed the carousels and playgrounds for kids. Kids can even have a ride in a "Oui Oui" car ! Moreover it is possible to 'rent' a poney and have a ride as well !
In front of the most of the parks you will surely spot the chestnuts sellers who sell the famous "châtaignes". Enjoy it to taste the french winter speciality and warm yourself at the same time !