A December Week in Paris: A Luxe, Cultural, and Wonderfully Indulgent Itinerary
There is nothing quite like Paris in December. The cold arrives not as an inconvenience but as an accessory—an excuse for heavier wool coats, stronger café crèmes, and lingering a little longer under gilded ceilings. The city dresses for the season with a level of elegance that borders on theatrical: garland-lined balconies, gilded window displays, the scent of roasted chestnuts drifting between boutiques, and the quiet thrill of cold air meeting warm interiors.
This season, I chose to stay near the Luxembourg Gardens, a neighborhood that moves with a slower, more deliberate Parisian rhythm. Mornings there feel like walking through a watercolor: stone façades softened by winter light, the gardens quiet except for dedicated joggers and a few children shepherding sailboats across the fountain.
Staying near the Luxembourg Gardens gives you the perfect home base—intellectual Left Bank charm paired with easy access to the city’s most magnetic neighborhoods.
Below is a curated multi-day itinerary—a week designed for an aesthete, a flâneur, and a lover of art, fashion, and unforgettable evenings.
DAY 1 — Left Bank Ease & Classic Parisian Warmth
Morning: Luxembourg Gardens + Left Bank Ramble
Start gently. Cross through the Luxembourg Gardens, where winter light filters through bare branches and joggers trace quiet loops around the fountains. Wander toward the Sorbonne and down side streets lined with independent bookshops and antiquarian storefronts.
Coffee at Coutume, or a pastry break at Bread & Roses, both perfect for easing into Paris.
Afternoon: Le Bon Marché & Le Grand Épicerie
Spend your first afternoon at Le Bon Marché, the Left Bank’s cathedral of chic. Its December displays are stylish rather than flashy—Parisian to the bone. Browse contemporary labels, emerging designers, and curated home goods.
Stop by Le Grand Épicerie for gourmet treats to take home—salted butter caramels, teas, truffle oils, or beautiful festive chocolates.
Evening: Bar Hemingway
Begin your nights as you mean to continue—elegantly. Slip into Bar Hemingway at the Ritz, where the cocktails are literary, the atmosphere dimly golden, and the experience quintessentially Parisian.
Walk back slowly, savoring the glow from Place Vendôme.
DAY 2 — Marais Style Hunt & Vintage Treasures
Morning: Marais Boutiques & Contemporary French Labels
Head to the Marais for a full day of shopping. Prioritize the best of modern Parisian ready-to-wear:
- Sandro (especially strong this season—tailored coats, structured knits, and modern classics)
- Claudie Pierlot
- Suncoo
- Sézane’s flagship, charming as ever with its warm wood interiors
Pop into smaller concept stores for accessories and fragrance—there’s always something irresistible.
Afternoon: Vintage Circuit
Dive deeper into the vintage scene with a carefully curated route:
- The ROOM – Vintage Shop – elevated curation, excellent outerwear
- Le Temple du Vintage – bold, unique, and a treasure trove for statement pieces
- The Vintage Society – feminine silhouettes and Parisian classics
- The Parisian Vintage – impeccable finds, from leather to silk to couture-inspired gems
This is the Paris vintage scene at its best: thoughtfully organized, stylish, and never random.
Evening: Dinner at Restaurant Baronne
Warm, intimate, and quietly fashionable—Restaurant Baronne is the ideal wind-down after a day of shopping. Inventive dishes without pretense and a chic, candlelit setting.
DAY 3 — Art Immersion: Masterpieces, Modernity & History
Morning: Musée de l’Orangerie
Begin with Monet’s Water Lilies, an antidote to the December chill. The oval rooms feel like stepping into a daydream.
Midday: Lunch Near Tuileries + Walk Toward Place Vendôme
Have a light lunch nearby, then wander toward the Ritz area. December turns the neighborhood into a glowing luxury corridor.
Storefronts near Rue Saint-Honoré stun with holiday artistry—gold leaf, frosted branches, miniature tableaux. Window-shopping here is its own form of visual poetry.
Afternoon: Hôtel de la Marine
Continue to the Hôtel de la Marine for one of Paris’s most beautifully restored interiors. The apartments, salons, and galleries are breathtaking—18th-century elegance preserved down to shimmering parquet floors.
Evening: Harry’s New York Bar
End the day at Harry’s New York Bar, that iconic wood-paneled temple of classic cocktails. Sip a French 75 or Bloody Mary (which they famously claim to have invented).
DAY 4 — Louvre Splendor & A Night in the Golden Triangle
Morning: The Louvre
Visit early for the quieter winter hours. Start in the Richelieu Wing—Napoleon III’s apartments, the decorative arts collection, and the peaceful upper sculpture galleries are especially magical with thinner crowds.
Afternoon: Café Dior + Walk Through the Golden Triangle
Afterward, take a slow stroll through the Avenue Montaigne / Champs-Élysées / rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré area. December transforms the Champs-Élysées with miles of lights—soft, festive, and absolutely cinematic.
Make time for a late lunch or pastry at Café Dior, then browse nearby boutiques at a leisurely pace.
Evening: Rasputin
For nightlife with an edge of mystery, spend the night at Rasputin—velvet, mirrors, and a glamorous crowd. It feels like Paris after dark should feel: decadent, a little surreal, unforgettable.
DAY 5 — Artistic Marais & Modern Literary Nights
Morning: Musée Picasso
Return to the Marais for the Picasso Museum. Each visit feels like seeing a different Picasso—the museum rotates its collection cleverly, revealing new facets of the artist’s kaleidoscopic genius.
Afternoon: Quiet Corners & Hidden Courtyards
Explore the courtyards of the Musée des Archives Nationales, a serene architectural gem often missed by visitors. Then wander through small bookstores, galleries, and chocolatiers.
Evening: Silencio
Your night begins underground at Silencio, the David Lynch–designed club. The lighting is moody, the music impeccable, and the vibe feels carved from cinematic noir.
DAY 6 — Couture Moments & Self-Indulgence
Morning: Rue Cambon & Iconic Maison Shopping
Visit the legendary shopping corridors near the Ritz again—Chanel on Rue Cambon, heritage trunk-makers, and high-jewelry maison windows dressed in dazzling Christmas displays. This area feels like the beating heart of wintertime Paris luxury.
Afternoon: Spa or Leisure Time
Take the afternoon to rest—Paris is best enjoyed with energy to spare. Consider a spa afternoon or simply curl up in a café with a book.
Evening: Bar Les Ambassadeurs at the Ritz
Return to the Ritz for one final, indulgent evening—Bar Les Ambassadeurs is classic, opulent, and a perfect immersive finale. The live music and candlelight amber glow linger in your memory long after you’ve left.
DAY 7 — A Slow Farewell
Morning: Luxembourg Gardens, One Last Time
Revisit the gardens with a warm drink in hand. Watch the locals. Breathe in that crisp December air one last time.
Midday: Visit Montparnasse
Visit the iconic bistros in Montparnasse. Try Bouillon Chartier, which has beautiful Christmas displays. If you don’t have the time to stand in line, grab a lunch at La Rotonde, an iconic bistro in the area.
Afternoon: A Final Stroll at Saint-Germain
Wander through Saint-Germain’s boutiques, galleries, and cafés. Let the city slow you down.
Evening: A Quiet Dinner & A Midnight Walk
Choose a cozy brasserie. Walk home past glowing windows. Let Paris settle into your memory with the elegance it always does.
Paris in December Is an Experience—Not a Trip
This itinerary is not about racing from sight to sight; it’s about immersion. Texture. Light. Mood. Moments.
Paris shines brightest when you allow yourself to drift through it—with intention, but without urgency.
Gilded Sojourns 