DECEMBER in PARIS

Taken by the cold, caught up by its magical nights, Paris is now progressively entering Winter season. Ultimate City of Lights, the capital city however tirelessly continues to perpetuate its shine and magic!

Between the Christmas lights, international events and unique shows in Paris, discover this year end’s program specially prepared by the Youth Hostels BVJ Paris:

1/ Essential rendezvous in December in Paris

After the 2016 Salon du Cheval in Villepinte and the 2017 horse show in the center of Paris, 2018 offers something even better: from November 25th until December 3rd, discover the 47th edition of the Salon du Cheval de Paris! Attend many events for all ages during 9 days, gathering professionals as well as amateurs.

• Indoor horse competition: national competition with show-jumping, dressage…At amateur and professional levels; watch some of the world’s best riders!
• Competition for enthusiasts: discover new horse-riding disciplines every day and seize the opportunity to participate to several initiations, demonstrations, workshops or baptisms.
• Finally, do not miss the very popular “Nuit du cheval” (horse night) on Saturday November 24th at 8.30pm. Between artistic performances and high-level sport, the evening will offer a unique horse show.

As regards photography enthusiasts, while the 2017 edition of Paris Photo was presented by the Youth Hostel BVJ Opéra-Montmartre, the 2018 will take place at the Grand Palais! Between November 8 and 11, the place will welcome the 22nd edition of the world’s biggest fair dedicated to photography: Paris Photo. Open to collectors, professionals and amateurs, over 190 international galleries and exhibitors will be present.

Close to the Champs Elysées Avenue in Paris (world’s most beautiful avenue), the Grand Palais is less than 20 minutes away from the Youth Hostel Paris Champs-Elysées. On your way to the Grand Palais, you’ll even be able to walk by the Arc de Triomphe and cover all major shops on the avenue before arriving at the Grand Palais, located next to the Elysées gardens.

From November 23rd, the Grand Palais will change its tone and welcome a unique tribute exhibit for the 10th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death: Michael Jackson: On The Wall! During 2 months, the exhibit will show how the artist influenced some of contemporary artists’ works like Andy Warhol or Isaac Julien…

International and unique, the exhibit will explore the social phenomenon caused by the artist related to identity, racial questioning and celebrity.

Without forgetting the Paris boat show with over 1000 boats in 2016. NAUTIC’s 58th edition will take place during 9 days between December 8 and 16, 2018. Planned are over 1000 boats, 700 exhibitors and extreme water activities 2017…revised and improved for this 2018 session, in December in Paris!

2/ Christmas celebrations in Paris:

More than ever in December, Paris puts on its lightings! Whether you walk along the Champs Elysées Avenue in Paris – they will become pedestrian on Sunday December 2nd 2018, rue du Faubourg Honoré, cross the place Vendôme or walk along the avenue Montaigne, the Capital City’s most beautiful streets will light up through their decorations and bring the Christmas spirit to life in Paris, up until the Butte Montmartre and its Sacré-Coeur…

Seize the opportunity to walk around the different Christmas markets that flourish in the various Paris areas right from November. Discover the first market of the Canopée des Halles from December 1st until January 6th, right next to the Hostel BVJ Louvre in PARIS, the traditional Alsacian market right in front of the Gare de l’Est between December 5th and 21st, or enjoy a Rive Gauche getaway, next to the Youth Hostel BVJ Quartier-Latin, to discover the Christmas market at the foot of Notre Dame de Paris from December 14th until December 23rd or in the Saint Germain area between December 1st and January 1st.

The opportunity to taste local and traditional productions, buy designer objects and dive for a moment into the Christmas magic in the very center of the City of Lights…

To continue your walk, go up until the Grands Boulevards to admire the Galeries Lafayette or Printemps windows. Faithful to the tradition, the major shop fronts come alive every year to offer a truly magical show to passers-by. Between decorations and animated automatons, the fronts have both kids and adults enter a unique world, few steps from the Youth Hostel BVJ Opéra-Montmartre / Mademoiselle Mars Hotel.

And to admire this show over 70 meters above the ground, make sure to be at Place de la Concorde from November 17th to enjoy the traditional Grande Roue de Paris!

3/ A unique experience in the heart of the City of Lights:

As you now know, December in Paris is one of the best periods to enjoy the beauty of the rightly named “City of Lights”! Despite the cold, it could be worth treating yourself with a unique jaunt on one of the famous Parisian Bateaux Mouches! Whether for a simple trip, lunch or dinner, cross the city through the Seine or the Canal Saint Martin and admire the most beautiful buildings of the city under a unique perspective!

Many companies offer excursions and activities on Bateaux Mouches: the Bateaux Parisiens, the Vedettes du Pont Neuf or Caneauxrama (note: come by the reception of the youth hostels BVJ Opéra-Montmartre or BVJ PARIS HOSTEL in Champs-Elysées Monceau, we very often have discount coupons!

…Celebrating the last day of the year!

Christmas activities slowly bring us to the end of December…An essential location for the holiday season, the heart of the party will once again be the avenue des Champs-Elysées, welcoming thousands of enthusiastic Parisians every year.

Although no firework is planned for now, the Arc de Triomphe and Tour Eiffel lightings will offer visitors a unique view for those who will want to celebrate the New Year’s Eve together!

THE party of the year for some…and especially for nightclubs that offer an exclusive party (often at a very high price!).

If you’re staying at the BVJ Opéra-Montmartre HOSTEL in PARIS, we advise you to go to the very secret and sexy Orphé (hidden behind a discrete small door at 7, Rue Pierre Fontaine in the 9th arrondissement of Paris) or try the selective Carmen or the more popular Bus Palladium, located 10min away from the youth hostel BVJ. Emblematic club with a particular penchant for rock’n’roll, the club will revisit the 80’s top hits for the occasion.

As for the youth hostel BVJ Champs Elysées-Monceau, you are less than 30min away from Yoyo. Located within the Palais de Tokyo, the club will transform into a true dancefloor until the early morning for the occasion.

Very different and totally free!!! The Paris Townhall will organize an event on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Paris. Lights will be projected on the Arc de Triomphe from 11pm.

Here we are now: it’s January 1st, 2019…Are you ready for a fresh start?

As from our side, we are ready to welcome you in all our youth hostels BVJ Paris. Ideal for small budgets, if you’re looking for a simple and authentic accommodation in the heart of the city, we’ll welcome you throughout the year and will do our best to make your trip in Paris a unique one!