The 10 best gifts to buy at the Paris Christmas markets

When you’re heading to Paris for Christmas, you’ll probably want to buy some very nice winter and Christmas gifts or souvenirs to commemorate the amazing time you had in Paris.

The good news is that the Paris Christmas markets are a great place to find unique and high-quality gifts. The bad news is that there are so many amazing gifts to choose from.

I’ve been there, and I looked for festive gifts for my whole family the last time I was in Paris for Christmas. It was actually quite hard because I had analysis paralysis and didn’t know what to buy because there was just so much choice.

That is why I’ve made a list of the best Christmas and winter gifts to buy at the Paris Christmas market and christmas villages. This way, you’ll know what to expect and can think about what you want to buy for whom.

1. Handcrafted Christmas Ornaments

One of the best gifts to get at the Christmas market in Paris are handcrafted Christmas ornaments.

I personally love to add at least one new ornament to my Christmas tree every single year because there’s a lot of memories attached to that ornament.

Especially if I go to another country or make a city trip during the holiday season, I like to buy a Christmas ornament because it is one of the most amazing souvenirs to hang on your Christmas tree.

Some of the best handcrafted Christmas ornaments you can buy at the Christmas market are delicate glass baubles. I absolutely love those. They are on the more expensive side, but they are something you will cherish for the rest of your life.

There’s also hand-painted wooden figures, which are very nice, and intricate metal decorations, which you can either put next to your tree or hang on your tree.

The absolute best parisian Christmas markets to buy ornaments from are the Notre-Dame Christmas Market and the Montmartre Christmas Market because they are well-known for the more artisan and handcrafted items. You can also try the one at Jardin the tuileries. It is in my eyes one of the best christmas markets in Paris.

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2. Artisanal Jewelry

Next, you can also buy artisanal and handcrafted jewelry. Many local artisans create unique pieces that they sell at the Christmas market in Paris.

These can range from elegant necklaces and bracelets to sacred rings and earrings. I remember buying a beautiful lapis lazuli necklace for myself, and I still wear it every year.

The best places to buy artisanal jewelry are the Fédéral-Main-d’Après Christmas Market, which is a bit more upscale and therefore more expensive, and the Montmartre Christmas Market, again because it is well known for its artisan sellers.

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3. French Gastronomic Delicacies

You can also buy a lot of French gastronomic delicacies. I love bringing back food from different places for people, especially those who are foodies like me, because that way I can share my experiences with them.

Some of the gourmet foods you can bring back from the Paris Christmas Market are truffles, sausages, artisanal cheeses, chocolates, amazing wines, spirits, and other luxury holiday gifts for food lovers.

If you want to buy French delicacies to take home as Christmas presents, I recommend going to La Magie de Noël at the Tuileries Gardens, as it’s a large Christmas market, the De La Défense Christmas Market, as it’s the biggest one, or the Christmas Market at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, especially if you want luxury items.

The Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market is well known for its wide selection of gourmet foods.

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4. Handmade Crafts and Decorations

Another thing you can take home from the Christmas markets in Paris are handmade crafts and decorations.

You’ll find a variety of items, like pottery, textiles, candles, and wooden toys. Last time I was in Paris over Christmas, I bought a wooden toy for my friend’s new baby, and she’s finally able to play with it, and she absolutely loves it.

Another thing I saw and loved were those German Christmas dolls that you put a candle in, which makes a merry-go-round.

They are perfect for decorating your house or giving as a gift. Again, I recommend the Montmartre Christmas Market for this because they focus on high-quality handmade crafts and gifts. You can also check the christmas market at the Eiffel Tower.

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5. French Wines and Spirits

I know this goes more into the territory of gourmet food, but I would also recommend looking for French wines and French spirits. France is obviously the country of wine, but they also have amazing spirits, like Cognac and Pineau de Charentes.

These bottles make amazing gifts for people who love great spirits. Cognac is perfect for those who like hard liquor, while Pineau de Charentes is ideal if you like fortified wine.

Where to get this?

I recommend checking out La Magie de Noël at the Tuileries Gardens, or for something a bit more exclusive, go to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market.

Last time I was there, I even saw a stall selling amazing bottles of Champagne, as the Champagne region is not far away, and they had an extensive selection of bottles.

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6. Warm Winter Accessories

Another thing I love to buy at Christmas markets are warm winter accessories.

You can find anything from cozy scarves, hats, gloves, to shawls. Many of these are made from materials like wool, which is more affordable, or cashmere if you’re looking for something a bit more luxurious.

You’ll find warm winter accessories at any Christmas market in Paris, such as the Champs-Élysées Christmas Market, the notre dame christmas market, the tuileries christmas market or even the Christmas Market at Les Halles.

These accessories make perfect holiday presents. I remember getting a pair of really cozy slippers myself, and I absolutely loved them.

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7. Perfumes and Fragrances

Another gift you can buy in Paris are perfumes and fragrances. As you might know, Paris is the city of haute couture and also of perfumes. Many stalls offer products from well-known French perfumers, which are ideal for those who want to give a very nice gift this holiday.

If you go to the smaller Christmas markets, you might also find people selling cheaper knock-off perfumes. If that is something you’re into, as I am, because they are often quite similar to the real deal but much cheaper, then this is also something you can get at the Christmas markets.

If you want the real deal, go to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market. If you’re looking for something that might not be the real deal, you can always go to the Christmas Market at La Défense, which is a big one where you might have some luck, or the one at La Villette, or the one at Notre-Dame.

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8. Books and Stationery

If you’re heading to Paris for Christmas, you can also buy books and stationery at the Christmas market.

There aren’t many stalls selling these, but last time I was there, I did see some, and I think they’re such amazing gifts. Many of these items are notebooks, Parisian journals, sketchbooks, calendars, and they also have amazing stationery.

If I could, I would have literally bought everything there. But that might have been the mulled wine and christmas lights speaking!

I saw one stall at the Notre-Dame Christmas Market, and I think I remember seeing one at the Abbesses Christmas Market as well, but don’t take my word for it.

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9. Traditional Toys and Games

You can also buy a lot of handcrafted and traditional toys and games, like wooden toys, puzzles, or games that make charming Christmas gifts for children. This is an amazing gift for the christmas season!

I honestly think these beautiful games are often crafted with great attention to detail, and they make wonderful gifts for people with young children.

I’m sure that next time I go to Paris for Christmas, I’ll pick up some toys for my son and myself. If you want to get traditional toys and games, head to the Montmartre Christmas Market at Abbesses, or go to the one at Champs-Élysées. You can also try the Alsatian christmas market near Place de la Concorde. It also has some of the best christmas decorations in the city! Here you can really feel the magic of Christmas!

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10. French Pastries and Sweets

And last but not least, you can also pick up some French pastries and sweets, although I do think they might not make it under the tree. Last time I was in Paris for Christmas, I picked up some pastries and macarons to bring home to share with my friends that evening.

These sweets are often beautifully packaged, making them perfect for gifting or just eating all by yourself. There are quite a few places that sell macarons and pastries, and I even saw one stall that sold Belgian chocolate, with the vendor actually being from Belgium since I talked to him in Flemish.

I saw him at the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market, but you can also get pastries and sweets at any other Christmas market in Paris, like La Magie de Noël at the Tuileries Gardens, Les Halles, Notre-Dame, and many others. 

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