When you come right down to it, Paris is a collection of hotspots. From charming cafés and famous museums to world-class restaurants and hidden gems, there's no end to where you can visit and have a good time here. Even more so when it's New Year's Eve. Here in the 'City of Lights,' there are so many places where you can celebrate the start of the new year that it'll probably take you a whole day just deciding where to go. So to help you out, here's a list of the best spots in the French capital where you can end the year and start the new one right!
UPDATE: Due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19, many of the events listed in this article have been canceled. Please be advised.
Champs Elysées
As the most famous avenue in all of Paris, the famous
Champs Elysées was already a must-see spot in the city. But on New Year's Eve, this particular area gets jam-packed with locals, tourists, party-goers, and the like. Every year, on December 31st, without fail, Champs Elysées hosts the biggest New Year's Eve party in all of Paris. There's great music, lots of food stalls, people chatting about, and more. And once the clock strikes twelve, the city's famous fireworks display goes off behind the Arc de Triomphe—it's quite the sight! Ultimately, you can say that welcoming the new year on the Champs Elysées is the quintessential Parisian way!
Eiffel Tower
The Arc de Triomphe isn't the only star of the show during New Year's Eve in Paris. Of course, the city's most famous monument, the Eiffel Tower, would also host its own end-of-the-year bash! You have two choices on how you want to celebrate New Year's Eve here. The first is to enjoy a luxurious dinner complete with a live quartet, champagne, and more at the famous summit of the tower. You can enjoy amazing views of the city while you dine. The second is to watch the tower's iconic fireworks display from the
nearby areas, whether you're on Place du Trocadéro, Champ de Mars, and more.
Seine River
Up for a cruise to welcome the New Year? Well, all you have to do is to head on over to the Seine River. Every New Year's Eve, the city offers luxurious cruises, especially for couples, to help them end the year right.
Bateaux-Mouches is the most famous of them all, even providing multi-course dinners and live music along the way.
Le Capitaine Fracasse, on the other hand, brings about a more festive feel that's perfect for families and friends. Either way, once it's midnight, the views of the fireworks displays from here are second to none!
Le Marais
As one of the trendiest
districts in Paris,
Le Marais is a hotspot-filled area worth visiting even when it's not New Year's Eve. So what about the place that makes it a go-to place during this special holiday? The food, of course! Although all of Paris is known as a 'food capital,' there's no denying that Le Marais has more than its fair share of incredible restaurants, bistros, cafés, and the like. From traditional French cuisine to foreign menus with delectable Parisian twists, there's arguably no better place to have your New Year's Eve feast than in this neighborhood. The only downside, however, is that most of the hotspots here are pretty expensive.
Montmartre
If there's one neighborhood in Paris that you can expect will be a good time on New Year's Eve, it's
Montmartre. Known as the bohemian hub of the French capital, this place turns into quite the party on the last night of the year. Bars will be hosting year-end bashes, bistros would be packed, and many residents will likely host their own respective soirées too! If you want to have a lively Parisian celebration to start the new year right, Montmarte is the place to be! Moreover, the district's famous Sacré-Cœur has its own show-stopping fireworks display you wouldn't want to miss!
La Sainte-Chapelle
Just because you're in Paris on New Year's Eve, it doesn't mean you have to join in on all the hectic fun. If you're one to celebrate the holiday in a more peaceful and even solemn way, you can always head on over to
La Sainte-Chapelle. This beautiful church, which can almost rival the world-famous Notre Dame in its gothic glory, annually hosts holiday concerts around late December. From Christmas Day to Epiphany Day on January 6, a particularly
important French holiday, expect this chapel to be brimming with heavenly music every night. Start the new year in peace and prayer in this amazing place of worship.
Palais Garnier
If you want a different type of show, you can always head on over to the world-famous
Palais Garnier for an opera show. Yes, you read that right! Every December 31st, this iconic theater puts on operatic performances to help end the year on a beautiful and classic note. From love tragedies like 'La Traviata' and 'Madame Butterfly' to magical epics like 'The Magic Flute,' you can get your fix of centuries-old famous works that are still as beautiful as ever today. It's a particularly Parisian way to spend the holiday since the tradition of going to the theater has continued on since practically the Middle Ages.
Paris Cabarets
Still up for a fantastical show on New Year's Eve? Then head to a
Parisian cabaret! There are plenty of them all around the city, each more historic and more opulent than the next. And every year, without fail, they present year-end extravaganzas you won't want to miss. On these very special occasions, their shows tend to be bigger, brighter, more sparkling, sexier, more provocative, and downright more amazing than usual. From acrobatic acts to famous musical numbers, watching a cabaret performance is surely a memorable way to end the year in Paris!
Is there any place that's better to welcome the new year than in Paris? The French capital is known for its many must-see attractions and popular hotspots. And on New Year's Eve, a good number of them would be the hottest places in town!
Don't forget that your
luxury home here in Paris can also be the best hotspot to start the new year!
