Rediscovering the Champs-Élysées at Christmas

The holiday season in Paris is synonymous with magic. At the heart of this enchantment, the famous Champs-Élysées avenue always transforms into a spectacular trail of light. The Elsa Hotel is your ideal starting point to soak up this unique atmosphere and ensure you don't miss any of the Christmas festivities on the Champs-Élysées.

The magic of Christmas on the Champs-Élysées 2025

Every year, the lighting of the Christmas decorations on the world's most beautiful avenue is an event that draws crowds and marks the official start of the holiday season. In 2025, the Champs-Élysées Committee has gone all out to offer you a memorable spectacle.

A magical and original scenography

The 2025 edition promises a true trail of light stretching from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. For the occasion, the Champs-Élysées is adorned with exceptional lighting, designed to create a truly immersive experience. This year, you will be captivated by the ceiling of glowing braids connecting the 400 trees along the side paths. Designer Thierry Reboul, known for his artistic direction of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is behind this transformation, ensuring spectacular visuals. The lighting design is entrusted to Thomas Dechandon, who combines his expertise with Reboul's to make the Parisian artery sparkle like never before. As always, the installation was designed with sustainability in mind, using low-energy LED garlands and recyclable materials.

The lighting ceremony: an exceptional show

The 2025 inauguration of the Champs-Élysées illuminations took place on Sunday, November 16, at 6:30 PM. This year, actress Léa Seydoux was chosen as the event's patron, kicking off the festivities alongside the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of the 8th arrondissement Jeanne d’Hauteserre, and the President of the Champs-Élysées Committee. A sound and light show was designed for the occasion, featuring a magical scenography with a musical score by Victor Le Masne. The opening evening also featured a performance by Canadian singer Charlotte Cardin, adding a pop and international touch to the event. This year, the ceremony, broadcast by France Télévisions and other channels, reinforced the iconic status of the Christmas lights on this legendary avenue.

An immersive experience every evening

Every evening from 5 PM to midnight (until 1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, and all night on December 24 and 31), the lights transform the avenue into a fascinating trail of illumination. On the hour (6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM, etc.), a sparkling mini-show delights passersby, bringing a festive air to Paris and echoing the shimmer of the Eiffel Tower.

From the Champs-Élysées to the Elsa Hotel: a memorable Parisian stay

After admiring the Champs-Élysées lights, the Elsa Hotel allows you to extend the magic in an intimate setting, decorated with a theme of femininity and 1930s Parisian chic. Located just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, in the heart of the Golden Triangle formed by the Champs-Élysées, Avenue Montaigne, and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the hotel features attic rooms with small balconies and stunning views of the monument. From there, the perspective creates an ideal setting to watch the city sparkle, far from the crowds but close to the festivities.

Extend the Christmas magic near the Elsa Hotel

Beyond the lights of the world's most beautiful avenue, the surrounding neighborhoods offer plenty of outing ideas, easily accessible on foot or by a few metro stops from the Elsa Hotel. For shopping and department store window displays, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann unveil their own Christmas decorations and giant trees, with some hosting musical shows or family activities. A few metro stops are enough to reach Place Vendôme and its sumptuous decorations, or the Christmas markets in the 8th or 16th arrondissements, where you can enjoy mulled wine and seasonal specialties. On December 24 and 31, many visitors extend the evening at the Place de la Concorde or near the Eiffel Tower, where entertainment and fireworks celebrate the holidays in style. From the Elsa Hotel, it is easy to reach these locations while enjoying a quick return to a comfortable sanctuary for the night. At the end of the year, the Champs-Élysées becomes a place of tradition, light, and winter wonder. Thanks to the 2025 Christmas lights, you will rediscover Paris in its best light. Come succumb to the beauty of winter and stay at the Elsa Hotel, the perfect address to dive into the magic of Christmas on the Champs-Élysées.