Paris Will Never Be The Same (Winter 2026 News & Update)
If you are flying to Paris this winter, the city you land in is not the same one you visited last year. In this Paris winter 2026 update we share twelve changes since our summer video, covering airports, safety, hotels, restaurants, Christmas markets and the immigration rules, including a correction we owe you from the summer. It is for anyone traveling to Paris between now and the New Year.
Airports and immigration
- ETIAS has been officially pushed to 2027. You do not need to apply for anything to fly this winter, and any website charging you for ETIAS right now is a scam.
- The EES border scan is live at every airport, and we explain how much extra time to build in at CDG.
- The over-65 exemption we missed in our immigration segment last summer, which affects many of you directly.
Safety, hotels and rumors
We talk about winter safety, including why Christmas markets are peak pickpocket season. We bust six rumors circulating in American Facebook groups, break down the new hotel openings with an honest word about who they are really for, and explain why we are removing one of our former Montmartre recommendations from our list.
Christmas in Paris 2026
The winter centerpiece is the complete 2026 Christmas market calendar, including an Alsatian market very few American visitors know about, the giant indoor ice rink at the Grand Palais and Notre-Dame’s first full Christmas since reopening. We also cover what is open and closed on December 24, December 25 and January 1, plus the NFL’s first regular-season game in France and a good-value travel window. A big share of Paris restaurants close completely on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and the best reveillon menus book out by the end of November, so plan your holiday meals early.
To lock in those meals, use our 125 best restaurants in Paris guide. For a smooth arrival, book an airport transfer with Welcome Pickups or use the G7 taxi app. And for the rest of your trip, our Paris Guide Bundle has you covered.