Paris
France’s capital is always spectacular, but from late November, it gets an extra layer of fabulousness. Illuminations transform the main streets with luminous arches,coloured bulbs and dazzling projections, illustrating why Paris is aptly known as the City of Light.
Book a tour with OpenTour Paris (paris.open tour.com/en), which takes you to see the most beautiful squares and monuments lit up at night, including Place Vendôme, the Opera Garnier, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
Don’t miss the Christmas market at Les
Halles, which offers festive workshops, an Enchanted Forest, plus the chance to visit Santa’s house. Just across from Notre-Dame, on Square René Viviani, is an annual crafts market, which features ceramics, jewellery, leather goods, ironwork and tableware made by some of the city’s best artisans.
For a Christmas tree with style, check out the exhibition at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (les sapinsdenoeldescreateurs.org), where prestigious fashion labels including Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Jean-Paul Gaultier give theirs a makeover. You can also ice-skate on a rink at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in the Parc du Champ-de-Mars. How to do it: Eurostar tickets from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord cost from £44pp one way; to book, visit eurostar. com. Double rooms at the four-star Hotel Square Louvois, close to the Opera, cost from €180/£160 per night; book via hotellouvois-paris.com.
For more info, visit: en.parisinfo.com