I still remember the first time I saw the Champs Elysées from above at Christmas. My feet were frozen after walking from Opéra, my phone was dead, and I had given up on reaching the Eiffel Tower. That was the year I learned something: Paris Christmas lights are designed to be seen from everywhere except street level. The trees form canopies. The buildings create tunnels of gold. And from down there, you catch maybe half of it. From an open-top bus? You catch everything. Ninety minutes, eight major landmarks, no frozen toes.
Your 90-minute Christmas lights experience at a glance
- Route covers Opéra, Vendôme, Concorde, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Avenue Montaigne, and the Eiffel Tower
- Elevated open-top view reveals decorations invisible from street level
- Audio guide in multiple languages plus festive playlist included
- Two artisan chocolates from Choco-Story Paris with every booking
- Cancel or change free up to 24 hours before departure
Why Paris at Christmas hits different from above
From my evenings guiding visitors through Paris at Christmas, I have watched countless tourists make the same mistake. They start at Opéra Garnier, excited. They walk to Place Vendôme. Still smiling. Then Concorde. Feet starting to ache. By the time they reach the Champs Elysées, around two kilometres later, the magic is competing with exhaustion.
The Eiffel Tower sparkle at the top of each hour? Most never see it. They are sitting in a café somewhere near George V, nursing blisters and regret.
What strikes me every time is the difference in perspective. Street level gives you fragments: a decorated shopfront here, a glowing tree there. Elevated, you see the choreography. The way Boulevard Haussmann’s department stores coordinate their displays. How the light installations on the Champs Elysées were designed to form a continuous golden canopy overhead. According to Paris Discovery Guide, over 150 streets across roughly 70 neighbourhoods participate in the illuminations, and the modern LED installations now run on near-zero energy. But numbers do not capture it. Sitting two metres above traffic, wrapped in a blanket, watching it all unfold without checking Google Maps every thirty seconds? That captures it.
Good to know: The official Paris tourism dates for 2025 confirm illuminations run from mid-November through early January, with the Champs Elysées lights staying on all night on December 24 and 31.
The route: from Opéra to the Eiffel Tower in 90 glittering minutes
Honestly, if you have only one evening for Christmas lights in Paris, this is how I would spend it. Let me walk you through exactly what unfolds.
-
Opéra Garnier and Place Vendôme: The bus passes the Haussmann-era facades near Opéra before gliding into Place Vendôme, where eight giant Christmas trees anchor the square’s corners -
Concorde and Champs Elysées: The sweep from Place de la Concorde onto the avenue is the moment cameras come out. Golden light cascades above for nearly two kilometres -
Arc de Triomphe and Avenue Montaigne: The roundabout view is spectacular, then the route curves through the fashion district’s more intimate decorations -
Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro: The tour times the approach for maximum impact. If you are lucky, you catch the hourly sparkle. If not, the tower still dominates the skyline in its evening dress
The 2025 Paris illuminations calendar confirms the Champs Elysées lights launch on November 16 with a sound and light show, while Place Vendôme follows on November 19. Planning your visit after these dates guarantees the full experience.
For complete details on the route, timing, and booking, you can find more information on the tour page.
What you actually get (and why the chocolates matter)
When I recommended this tour to Sophie, a colleague visiting Paris for the first time at Christmas, her main worry was the cold. An open-top bus in early December. Temperatures around 4°C. She thought I was mad.
She came back converted. The blankets provided, combined with her own warm coat, kept her comfortable throughout. Her one regret? Not bringing gloves thin enough to use her phone for photos. My lesson: always recommend hand warmers for anyone wanting to photograph the entire journey.
According to Offbeat France‘s winter guide, December temperatures usually range between 8°C and 11°C, though Paris often feels colder than the thermometer suggests. Rain is common; snow is rare. The most important rule: layers.
What to bring for your open-top evening tour
-
Warm coat you can layer over a jumper
-
Thin touchscreen-compatible gloves for phone photography
-
Scarf or neck gaiter for wind protection on the upper deck
-
Portable hand warmers (optional but recommended)
-
Fully charged phone with spare battery pack
Beyond the practical, the artisan chocolates from Choco-Story Paris add a genuinely nice touch. Two praline hazelnut pieces, delivered as you board. They are not the reason to book. But when you are settling in with a blanket, the lights starting to glow outside, and someone hands you chocolate? It sets the mood.
The audio guide runs in multiple languages, with a Christmas playlist underneath. Flexible booking means you can cancel or change up to 24 hours before departure. For anyone planning a late evening afterwards, I have written a Paris after 10 PM guide that covers safe navigation and late-night options across the city.
Your questions about the Paris Christmas lights tour
Is an open-top bus tour worth it compared to walking?
Soyons clairs: you will cover in 90 minutes what would take four hours on foot. The elevated view reveals installations designed to be seen from above. Walking gives you intimacy with individual displays; the bus gives you the complete picture without exhaustion. If you have limited time or limited patience for December temperatures, the bus wins.
What if it rains during my tour?
Tours run regardless of weather. The lower deck offers covered seating if conditions become unpleasant. That said, light rain on the upper deck creates interesting photo effects with the lights, and you can always move down if needed.
Will I see the Eiffel Tower sparkle?
The tower sparkles for five minutes at the top of each hour after dark. The tour route times the Eiffel Tower segment to maximise your chances, but I will not promise it. When it happens, you will know. When it does not, the tower still looks magnificent.
When do the Christmas lights actually turn on?
Most major installations launch in mid-November and run through early January. The Champs Elysées inauguration for 2025 is scheduled for November 16. For maximum impact, visit between late November and early January when all displays are active.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Frankly, yes. The 90-minute duration is manageable, the blankets and chocolates keep small ones happy, and the lights speak for themselves. Bring extra layers for children and sit toward the front for the best forward views.
The next step for your Paris Christmas evening
I have taken every Christmas lights tour this city offers. I have walked every illuminated avenue until my feet ached and my phone died. The conclusion I keep reaching: the magic of Paris at Christmas was designed for those who look up. An open-top bus puts you exactly where the light installations want you to be.
Book for after dinner, bring layers, and save your walking energy for the Christmas markets the next day. Your feet will thank you. And somewhere between Vendôme and the Eiffel Tower, when the golden canopy of the Champs Elysées stretches out in front of you, you will understand why Parisians do this every year.