Experience the magic of Christmas in France
Tickets now on sale for the 2023 holiday season. Shop at traditional markets, taste local delicacies and more!
Christmas is a great time to explore the country. In addition to fabulous French gastronomy and culture, you can immerse yourself in France’s unique holiday traditions! Shop at traditional markets in Strasbourg, marvel at the Fête des Lumières (Festival of Light) in Lyon, or take a festive dip at the Bain de Noël at Valras-Plage. You might even take advantage of low fares to book all three! Tickets have just been released for the holiday season, and the French will start booking early on 04 October 2023. Reserve now for the best prices!
Not sure where to go? Take a look at our top destinations of the season:
The lights of Lyon
Lyon truly comes alive over the Christmas season, beginning with the magical Fête des Lumières. This annual Festival of Lights, held since 1852, is a chance to see the city lit up in all its glory, with artists creating stunning light displays and installations across Lyon’s buildings, streets and parks. For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss sampling some of the city’s traditional papillotes, a French Christmas food favourite. These fortune-filled chocolates originated in Lyon, where legend has it a love-sick candymaker’s assistant slipped love notes inside the bonbons’ wrappers as a way to woo the woman he loved.
Sparkling Strasbourg
Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik has been around since 1570, making it the oldest Christmas market in France. December is the month to enjoy hundreds of stalls spread out across the city’s Cathedral Square and Place Broglie, where toys, Alsatian ornaments and traditional French Christmas foods await. Strasbourg also boasts one of the country’s largest and most impressive Christmas trees, so don’t miss the giant pine decorated from top to toe in Strasbourg’s Place Kleber.
A winter dip at Valras-Plage
Dive into a more adventurous French Christmas tradition by heading to Valras-Plage, a one hour cycling journey from Béziers along the Canal du Midi and into the area's surrounding country roads, for a festive dip with Father Christmas. Valras-Plage hosts an annual Bain de Noël in the Mediterranean Sea for those brave enough to take the plunge. If icy waters aren’t quite your bag, chill on the side and take in the view with a glass of vin chaud.
Local delicacies in Aix-en-Provence
For festive foodies, Provence is all about delicious treats at Christmas. And lots of them. While Brits may look forward to a Christmas pudding or fruit cake at the end of their Christmas meal, Provençales go all out with their tradition of les treize desserts. This French Christmas Eve tradition dates back to 1683 and sees families coming together at the end of dinner to enjoy 13 desserts, symbolising Jesus and his twelve apostles. Travellers heading to Aix-en-Provence should look out for the city’s Treize Desserts market selling these traditional treats, including dried plums, quince jams, candied melons and Aix-en-Provence’s famous almond sweets, calissons.
The Santons of Marseille
In Provence, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without the region’s traditional santons (little saints). These handmade clay figurines that feature in home and church nativity scenes have been central to Provence’s yuletide celebrations since the French Revolution. Visit Marseille’s annual Santons Fair to see masters of the craft sell their wares.
Terms and conditions:
Sale dates: From 04 October 2023 and until tickets sell out.
Travel dates: 10 December 2023 to 09 January 2024.
Trains: Domestic TGV INOUI and Intercités.
Standard sales conditions apply.
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