This Christmas, give the gift of a little Parisian magic… From fine dining to fashion, unforgettable experiences to a little piece of heritage, here is the ‘Paris je t’aime’ guide to the capital’s 10 best souvenirs to bring home for the festive season and delight your loved ones.
A Verdi opera at the Musée Jacquemart-André
Opéra a Palazzo creates immersive opera performances in historic venues. Over the coming months, renowned opera singers will take turns performing “Rigoletto” and “La Traviata”, two operas by Verdi, in the intimate setting of the Jacquemart-André Museum, nestled within a 19th-century townhouse. This is an opportunity to attend an intimate concert in the sublime salons, furnished as they were in the days of a couple of upper-middle-class collectors during the Second Empire. Accompanied by piano, cello and violin, the audience sits in close proximity to the performers, in a small, intimate gathering, as night falls… The evening’s programme includes exclusive access to the temporary exhibition before the performance, a champagne tasting during the interval, and a private tour of the museum’s ground-floor apartments.
Opéra a Palazzo
From December to June 2027
From €255 per ticket
Jacquemart-André Museum, 158 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8th arrondissement
Holiday on Ice at the Zénith
First staged in 1943, Holiday on Ice is making a grand comeback with a breathtaking 2-hour 15-minute show: in “Cinema of Dreams”, 37 international performers deliver a series of stunts and artistic performances on ice skates against cinematic backdrops. This spectacular production, featuring nearly 300 costumes, is directed by artistic director Kim Gavin, renowned for his work with artists such as Adele, Lady Gaga and Take That. A visual and musical journey to delight young and old alike.
Holiday on Ice
11–14 February 2027
From €24 to €89 per ticket
Zénith de Paris – La Villette
We all know that one day isn’t enough to see Versailles… A historic symbol of the French art of living, the palace is one of the most visited monuments in the world! Whether you’re waiting to visit the Palace of Versailles or looking for a special souvenir, this ‘official’ book—featuring over 220 photographs, most of which have never been published before—has been designed as an immersive guide. In “Château de Versailles”, readers discover more secluded spaces such as the Chapel and the Royal Opera House, as well as those inaccessible to the general public, such as the apartments of the royal mistresses – the Marquise de Pompadour and Jeanne du Barry – and Queen Marie-Antoinette’s theatre. Exclusively, the book features the King’s private chamber and the Salon de Diane, two restored rooms that reopened to the public in 2026. The book is written by a leading historian on the subject, Guillaume Picon, who is also the author of the sublime “Versailles: The Gastronomic Revolution”, co-written with Jean-Maurice Sacré and Nicolas Kenedi, published by Editions Dilecta.
“Palace of Versailles”, €39.95, published by Glénat
‘Versailles: the gastronomic revolution’, €850, published by Editions Dilecta
As well as its collections of fine ceramics, Astier de Villatte produces fragrances created by the greatest masters of French perfumery: our favourite, “Mantes-La-Jolie”, evokes a refreshing, minty, botanical freshness that is as optimistic as can be. ‘Opéra’, a home fragrance inspired by the beehives on the roof of the Opéra Garnier. Porte des Lilas is a home fragrance inspired by 1920s Paris. There’s also “La Commune de Paris”, “Palais de Tokyo” and “Saint Honoré” – all fragrant snippets of Parisian places to take home with you! In the “Destinations” collection, the scents are available in a range of scented products: incense sticks, erasers (€9.50), scented candles, hand sanitiser (€15), perfumes in small and large sizes (from €85 to €265) and gift sets.
Astier de Villatte
171, rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 75001
A renowned French goldsmith’s and jewellery house, Arthus Bertrand crafts all its jewellery in France. Specialising in medals and military decorations, this venerable house, founded in Paris in 1803, has collaborated with the artist and illustrator Marin Montagut to create a new collection of medallions and lucky charms, which can be personalised with a word or a date. Presented in a case shaped like a miniature book, these intimate pieces of jewellery, crafted from recycled silver, feature an Eiffel Tower crowned with a heart – available in a choice of four colours – a true tribute to the city dear to both houses. An ideal gift for lovers of the capital, young and old alike. “I love the soul of antique objects that transcends the ages without ever losing its poetry,” adds Marin Montagut.
Pendant, 17mm, €160
Available in Arthus Bertrand and Marin Montagut boutiques and online
The French perfume brand Juliette Has a Gun, founded by Nina Ricci’s great-grandson, does things differently from everyone else: it has even put its own spin on the Advent calendar… to create an ‘After’ calendar! “ Not an Advent Calendar” extends the magic of the festive season right through to the end of the year: so you can still unwrap a present every day right up until 2027! The calendar is available from 26 to 31 December; each day, you open one of the six compartments, each containing a miniature or full-size product (worth €181). Inside, you’ll find a bar of soap (100g), a hand lotion, a body lotion, a mini perfume, a candle and a body & hair spray, all featuring the subtle – and unisex – fragrance ‘Not a collection’, which evokes the scent of fresh laundry and purity, with subtle notes of amber, wood and musk, and is suitable for all skin types, including the most sensitive.
Not an Advent Calendar
€145
2, rue des Francs Bourgeois, Paris 75003
A legendary piece from the wardrobe of the Crazy Horse Paris dancers, this kimono is an exclusive design… that you’ll never see on stage – and for good reason: the Crazy Horse girls wear microscopic costumes! This iconic item lets you prolong the magic of the show… even at home! To complete this look inspired by the famous Parisian cabaret founded in 1951, we’ve also chosen the legendary pale pink fringed wig (€450) for a truly glamorous total look! A perfect tribute to this unforgettable show where the performers are transformed by kaleidoscopic lighting effects – a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Crazy Horse online shop
€150
Available at the official Crazy Horse Paris shop, 12 Avenue George V, Paris 75008
The world’s most-starred chef, who recently made his debut at the Musée Grévin in Paris, is also a chocolate lover! For the festive season, his collection centres on vanilla – his favourite spice – which he explores from every angle: “It is to chocolate what salt is to cooking,” says Yannick Alléno! This “Noire de vanille” bar is a must-have treat: It is sculpted with vanilla pods intertwined like vines, concealing beneath this thin layer of dark chocolate a vanilla caviar, a rich vanilla praline, shards of praline-flavoured Breton shortbread, a vanilla caramel made with Isigny cream, a marshmallow with lime zest and a pinch of fleur de sel. Absolutely divine!
Yannick Alleno Chocolates
345g, €49
25, rue du Vieux-Colombier, Paris 75006
9, rue du Champs de Mars, Paris 75007
Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet, 35 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 75009
Toit de Paris collects old zinc roofing sheets from the capital’s roofers and transforms them into unique items: key rings, bookmarks, decorative objects and Christmas ornaments. It’s worth noting that Paris is covered by 22 million square metres of zinc roofing, which has been listed as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2024! More than just a signature feature, this material is a legacy dating back to the mid-19th century, thanks to Baron Haussmann and his desire to standardise the urban landscape. As well as zinc, the brand also transforms slate, roof tiles and copper salvaged from the rooftops of Paris. These small, engraved pieces of history, with their subtle shades, marks and irregularities, are therefore a tiny (genuine) piece of Paris…
Toit de Paris
Christmas ornament, €19.95
A very Parisian collection has arrived at Macon & Lesquoy, a duo of designers who specialise in embroidered accessories: five brooches created in collaboration with PSG, Paris Saint-Germain, in a limited edition, designed as good-luck charms to celebrate the club dear to Parisians’ hearts. Each one embodies a symbol of the capital: the azure blue and bronze green street sign, the pigeon, the supporters’ scarf, and the historic Morris column with its XXL posters. A souvenir to take home from Paris or to add to your collection, and to wear proudly at upcoming matches…
[PSG x Macon & Lesquoy pins](https://maconetlesquoy.com/fr/4186-psg-collab-?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22391430603&gbraid=0AAAAA-7trOETpTLx5jFQDZVOI7 -UtK5RQ&gclid=CjwKCAjwl4HXBhAjEiwAHlpWhHYFxqfjHs9EqN4i6b8uNps6Ih8twQRmNgTEQWq_TTrQseKGBpYpVhoCbp0QAvD_BwE), from €30 to €44
Available at PSG shops and Macon & Lesquoy outlets: 37, rue Yves Toudic, Paris 75010 and 3, rue Saint-Gilles, Paris 75003
Advocates of the "slow life" lifestyle, the designers behind Jour Férié jigsaw puzzles use recycled cardboard and paper sourced from sustainably managed forests, and manufacture their products entirely in France. We love the poetry of everyday life captured in the illustrations of these puzzles, which can be enjoyed alone… or with others. Our favourite? "Regarder les gens" ("People-watching"), which is also one of Parisians’ favourite pastimes: settling down on a terrace and watching the world go by whilst sipping a coffee, comfortably seated on the capital’s iconic wicker chairs. The bonus: for the absent-minded, the brand even offers a free replacement service for missing pieces – up to a maximum of two pieces per jigsaw.
‘People-watching’ jigsaw puzzle, 1,000 pieces, 48 x 68.5 cm, €30
Available at La Samaritaine, Fleux, Perrotin Store, Altermundi, Le Bon Marché or La Bookerie in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine.
