What could be more picture-perfect than Paris at Christmas? Strolling gloved hand in gloved hand around the city's Christmas markets, sipping chocolats chauds in a beautiful café, and stopping by the Galeries Lafayette to see the Christmas displays. Are we romanticising this a tad too much? Perhaps, but if you can’t get misty-eyed about Paris at Christmas, when can you, eh?
And this year, an old favourite is returning to the Parisian festive calendar. After hosting the Olympic fencing events and the major Art Basel fair in October, the Grand Palais has announced the return of its flagship winter event: the Grand Palais des Glaces (or Grand Ice Palace), also known as the largest indoor ice rink in the world.
To claim this title, the organisers are setting up a 3,000-square-metre ice rink under the restored atrium, or nave, which will be open every day until 2am. Tickets are on the expensive side, at €15 to €35 depending on the session. While details about the décor and programme are still to come, we can take a guess at how it might go by looking back at the last edition, which was way back in 2019.
The last instalment of the Grand Palais des Glaces saw visitors skating around a giant strobed disco ball while DJs played – and as for food, expect a festive Christmas market vibe with waffles, crêpes, mulled wine and hot chocolate. We’re feeling festive already.
The Grand Palais des Glaces will be open from 14 December 2024 to 8 January 2025.
Ready to get into the Christmas spirit?
Christmas is a great time to travel, with cities around the world decking the halls to fend off the mid-winter gloom. Check out our list of the best Christmas markets in Europe, or, if you're looking to travel further afield, the best Christmas markets in the world, as well as our round-up of the world’s most iconic Christmas trees.
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