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Paris, the city of lights, transforms into a glittering celebration of joy and new beginnings on New Year’s Eve. The air is filled with anticipation as the streets fill with people eager to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one with open arms.
Whether you enjoy a gourmet dinner in an elegant restaurant or join the colourful hustle and bustle on the Champs-Élysées, there is something for everyone in Paris.
Imagine standing under the sparkling fireworks at the Arc de Triomphe with a glass of champagne in your hand. Or perhaps you’d prefer a romantic cruise along the Seine while admiring the city’s illuminated landmarks. The possibilities are endless, and every celebration promises unforgettable memories.
We’ll take you on a journey through the festive traditions and exciting activities the French capital has to offer on New Year’s Eve weather you are a single traveller, looking forward to romancing as a couple, or travelling with family. Get inspired and plan your magical night in the heart of France!
Paris sparkles with excitement on New Year’s Eve! Whatever you plan to do – to join the festivities, you better start planning early. Book your Parisian adventure 2-3 months ahead to snag the best deals. Fancy a stress-free celebration? Consider an all-inclusive package with hotel, dinner, and event tickets.
Remember, it’s peak season – prices soar, and crowds gather, but when you can set all the planning aside and just indulge, the magic is worth it!
Of course there are hundreds of options, but going to Paris for a special occasion, we cannot stress enough to choose your Parisian home wisely and according to the plans of the evening. The Latin Quarter, Marais, or Saint Germain offer easy access to transport and attractions.
Imagine waking up to an Eiffel Tower view or toasting from your balcony as fireworks light up the sky. Many hotels offer special New Year’s packages – perfect for ringing in the new year in style!
Even if you generally are not into fancy dinners, you cannot stick to “the usual” on New Year’s Eve. Indulge your taste buds with a gourmet feast instead! Michelin starred restaurants like Le Bristol and La Tour d’Argent offer exquisite New Year’s menus. If you want to savour French haute cuisine to the full, restaurants such as Le Jules Verne (in the Eiffel Tower) or Guy Savoy (3 Michelin stars) offer incredible food, often accompanied by live music or exclusive wine pairings.
Many of the finest restaurants and rooftop bars in Paris offer special New Year’s Eve menus and celebrations. For example, restaurants in Le Marais or on the rooftops of the Centre Pompidou or the Terrass’ Hotel Montmartre offer a beautiful view of the city and a festive menu. For a particularly luxurious experience, you can visit the Four Seasons George V or Le Meurice.
Prefer a cozy bistro? Le Comptoir du Relais and Chez L’Ami Jean serve up traditional French fare with festive flair. Usually, on New Year’s Eve various exquisite dishes are traditionally served, often as part of a festive menu. Imagine it to look like the following gourmet meal:
You start with delicious appetisers such as foie gras on crispy toast and escargots baked in aromatic herb butter. Puff pastry canapés with boudin blanc or caviar provide additional enjoyment.
For the main course, you can expect exquisite dishes such as pâté en croûte, an artfully wrapped meat pâté, and seafood platters with oysters, lobster and scallops. The turkey in various preparations rounds off the feast.
To finish, there is the traditional Bûche de Noël, filled with chocolate or buttercream, as well as colourful macarons and sweet papillotes with messages for the New Year. Don’t you think that this admittedly quite fancy dinner makes New Year’s Eve in Paris unforgettable?
For an extraordinary New Year’s Eve experience, tourists can celebrate on the Eiffel Tower itself. The 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant on the first floor offers an exclusive New Year’s Eve menu with a breathtaking view of the city. After dinner, visitors can watch the countdown on the platform and toast to the New Year.
Included:
As the clock strikes midnight, Paris transforms into a dazzling spectacle. Head to the Arc de Triomphe for a mesmerizing sound and light show. The Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Paris. Thousands of people gather here to admire the impressive light show at the Arc de Triomphe. From around 9 pm, the famous avenue becomes a pedestrianised zone where crowds gather to ring in the New Year.
The area around the Eiffel Tower also is a popular meeting place for New Year’s Eve revellers. The tower lights up every hour on the hour and many toast with champagne in the surrounding parks to celebrate the new year.
Directly opposite the Eiffel Tower is Trocadéro Square, one of the best places to see the Eiffel Tower in all its splendour. Many people gather here to enjoy the tower’s impressive light show and toast the New Year.
For a slightly quieter, but no less impressive celebration, you can climb the hill of Montmartre and enjoy the view from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. From here you have a magnificent view over the city, and the atmosphere is often relaxed and friendly. Even if there are no official events, many gather here to celebrate the New Year in atmospheric surroundings.
Unlike other places, there are no official fireworks in Paris for New Year’s Eve. In Paris, there is a huge fireworks display usually only once a year. It takes place on 14 July, the French bank holidays, and is held in the evening at the Eiffel Tower after the morning military parade on the Champs-Elysées. (There might be a little firework at the end of the light show at the Arc de Triomphe, though.)
Bring the whole family to Disneyland Paris for a magical New Year’s celebration! Special parades, fireworks, and character meet-and-greets await in the beloved theme park. And yes, this might be the one spot where you can be sure to get New Year’s Eve fireworks in Paris. Don’t miss the Disney Illuminations show – a feast for the senses. With extended park hours, you can ring in the new year with Mickey and friends!
The festive spirit of the Christmas season is still going strong, as some of the local christmas markets are open well into the new year.
The skating rinks at the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars offer festive fun with stunning backdrops. Take a whirl on beautifully decorated carousels at Champ de Mars or Tuileries Garden. Part traditional Christmas Market, part holiday carnival, the Tuileries Christmas Market stretches for almost half a mile along the north side of the garden from late November through early January between Place des Pyramides and Place de la Concorde.
Let yourself be tempted by the delicious flavours of sizzling sausages, raclette (a dish made from melted cheese) and freshly prepared waffles and crêpes in the market’s wooden chalets. Why try to withstand those yummy regional foods and beverages, including vin chaud (hot mulled wine), roasted chestnuts, and other seasonal favourites?
Warm up with treats from the lovely decorated stalls – the perfect end to a family day out and a smooth glide into the new year.
Sail into the new year with a Seine river cruise! Bateaux Mouches and La Marina offer unforgettable dinner cruises. Savor gourmet cuisine, sip champagne, and dance to live music as Paris glides by. Watch the city’s landmarks light up the night – a truly magical way to welcome the new year.
Numerous providers offer special New Year’s Eve dinner cruises, which often include live music, multi-course menus and champagne. You can enjoy the fantastic view of illuminated sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame while you relax on the water and look forward to the countdown.
Popular providers:
Bateaux Parisiens: Luxurious dinner cruise with 6-course menu and live orchestra.
Le Capitaine Fracasse: A dinner cruise with great value for money and a view of the sights.
Paris by night
Experience the glitz and glamour of a Parisian cabaret show! The Moulin Rouge and Lido dazzle with spectacular New Year’s Eve shows. Book a dinner and show package for the full experience. Feathers, sequins, and high-kicks – it’s a night you’ll never forget!
The Moulin Rouge, one of the most famous cabarets in the world, puts on a spectacular New Year’s Eve show every year. This glamorous event includes a special gala dinner, a breathtaking revue with dancers, dazzling costumes and live music. The event is extremely popular with tourists who want to spend a festive and extraordinary New Year’s Eve.
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The Lido de Paris, located on the Champs-Élysées, is another world-famous cabaret theatre that offers a very special show on New Year’s Eve. Guests can enjoy an exquisite dinner followed by a mesmerising show with artistry, dance and music. The night ends with a grand celebration.
Highlights:
Another option for cabaret lovers is the legendary Crazy Horse. Here you can enjoy a special matinee show on New Year’s Eve, which kicks off the evening in style with champagne and a glamorous performance by the dancers. This intimate, chic event offers a unique atmosphere.
Music lovers can welcome in the New Year with a classical concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. Every year there are special concerts performed by internationally renowned orchestras. What a wonderful way to say goodbye to the old year.
At luxurious hotel bashes like the Peninsula Paris or Shangri-La Hotel Paris you can just dance the night away. Paris knows how to party!
Craving something edgier? Hit themed parties at Rex Club or Wanderlust, where DJs spin until dawn. Some of the most popular places are
· Rex Club: one of the most famous clubs in Paris, popular for electronic music and big New Year’s Eve parties.
· La Bellevilloise: A versatile venue that offers live music, DJ sets and an exuberant party atmosphere on New Year’s Eve.
· Wanderlust: A stylish club on the banks of the Seine known for its open-air events, even in winter!
For a more intimate affair, book a private room at the iconic Bar Hemingway or Bar du Plaza Athénée. The suggestion alone sounds decadent, don’t you think?
Navigate Paris like a pro! The metro and bus systems are your best friends – at least they will be, if you familiarize yourself with how it works beforehand. (We prepared an article for you, to make it easier.) Be prepared for crowds and plan extra time for your journeys. Paris on New Year’s Eve is bustling, but that’s part of the excitement!
Some of the main streets in Paris, such as the Champs-Élysées and streets around the Eiffel Tower, will be closed to traffic from a certain time on New Year’s Eve. This is to allow pedestrians to safely enjoy the festivities without having to worry about traffic.
Stay smart and safe as you celebrate. Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas. Stick to well-lit areas and follow local safety guidelines. Remember, the goal is to have fun and create lasting memories!
Private fireworks: In the centre of Paris, the private setting off of fireworks and the use of firecrackers is strictly prohibited. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent accidents and injuries.
Arrive early: As large crowds are expected, it is advisable to arrive at the venues early to avoid crowds.
Take good care of personal belongings: Due to the large crowds, there is an increased risk of pickpocketing. It is important to store valuables safely and remain vigilant.
Use public transport: The metro often offers the safest and most convenient way to get around as many roads are closed.
Stay informed: Visitors should keep up to date with any changes to security measures via official channels such as the City of Paris website or news.
Overall, the security measures in Paris on New Year’s Eve are comprehensive and well organised to ensure that all visitors and locals can celebrate the New Year safely and carefree.
Plan ahead to make the most of your budget. New Year’s Eve in Paris can be pricey, but there are ways to save. Look for package deals and early bird specials. Don’t forget to factor in extras like tips and souvenirs. With some smart planning, you can have a fabulous Parisian New Year without breaking the bank.
If you want to spend several days in Paris and see a lot of the city, the Paris City Pass may be a practical help. The City Pass gives you access to many sights, city tours and great things to do. Visit the Louvre, take a city tour with the hop-on hop-off bus and look forward to a wine and cheese tasting. The Paris City Pass is a great way to plan your visit, and the included tickets mean you don’t have to queue. Simply perfect for exploring Paris at your leisure.
If you are only going to stay for a short time and want to keep it to the most important must-sees, take a look at the Paris Essentials Pass. It might be just the thing for you!
There are so many possibilities to have a wonderful New Year’s Eve in Paris. Just one last advice: You cannot do everything at once, and you will not be able to visit lots of places in this one evening. And you should not even try to! Nobody will be impressed by your story of trying to get from point A to point B while missing all the festivities. Better plan ahead, do not overload your evening, and just enjoy. You can always come back next year …
Embrace the magic of Paris this New Year’s Eve. Choose from gourmet dinners to dazzling fireworks, and you can be sure: unforgettable memories await. Santé et bonne année!
