Christmas Markets: Tuileries Jardin

If you are in Paris during the holiday season (November 15- January 5) I highly recommend that you visit the Tuileries Christmas market. At the market there is food, shopping, drinking and entertainment for everyone. Here’s what you can expect

Open late

The hours we saw online were marked closing at 20h which is extremely early for the afterwork crowd. We grabbed an Uber and ran inside assuming we had just enough time for a quick bite and tour of the market. As 20h approached, I wondered how they would clear the park out and wondered why certain rides and stands had not started closing down. As 21 came to a close it became clear, the market was far from closing! After doing more research I learned the market closes around midnight during the week and a little after midnight on the weekends. Official hours below. 

Food options

There are a wide range of food options from sausage sandwiches (the aroma hits you as soon as you enter the market) to paella to French specialties like Aligot and Tartiflette. There’s an oyster bar with white wine pairings. There’s a Caribbean food bar with sandwiches. The list goes on. This is definitely not gluten or lactose intolerant friendly eating. The amount of cheeses, dairy and meats is overwhelming. There are so many different things to try that you may need to go to the market multiple times just to feel satisfied. There are little stands where you can eat your food to-go and most foods range from 5-20 euros. There are also sit-down restaurants scattered around the market that are enclosed. After walking around for an hour or so you may look to these enclosed areas for warmth and a warm drink. 

Drink options

For as many food options as there are, the drink options are a bit more limited. There      are several warm drinks that you will find such as: mulled wine, spiced cider, spiced orange juice and hot chocolate. The most interesting option for me was the warmed spiced orange juice as this was something I’d never heard of. Upon asking for a sample (do ask for samples if you’re curious, with a smile of course) I realized I never want to taste spiced warm orange juice again! It’s very particular. 

Dessert options

There is no way you can enter and leave a Christmas market without any desserts- it is practically mandatory. The classic options are: waffles (gaufres), crepes, and churros. There are a handful of toppings you can add on top that make these extraordinary. Be careful not to indulge too much if you plan on going on any rides!

Rides

There are quite a few rides for kids and adults to enjoy at the market. One of the most popular is the ice-skating rink. Having gone to Tullieries market twice now, Sunday night is not a good night to go to the market ice-skating rink because there are lots of kids at various skating levels inside the tiny rink. Whereas on a Monday night, there are less people and less kids inside the rink. If you like to ice-skate, a weeknight may be your best bet. I would also suggest bringing an extra pair of socks as the floor is wet between the rental area and the rink. There are more intensive rides for the dare-devils and kid friendly rides and slides for the young ones. The most important thing is to remember the waiting times and how cold it may be at the top of the Ferris Wheel- be prepared to wait in the cold without the warmth of a mulled wine. Just in case, there’s always the option to buy gloves, hats and scarves at the market as well!

Getting there: Metro line 1 Tulleries is probably your best and closest option for the metro. 

Official Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-11:45pm Friday-Saturday 11am- 12:45am and Sunday 11am-11:45pm. 

What to bring: Cash* (40.00 on average for food, drink, a ride or a gift) *entry is free, warm clothes