Paris museums and monuments on 25 December and 1 January
Each venue publishes its own closed days. This table uses each venue's page as read on 23 October 2026. "Not listed" means the page names its closed days and this date is not among them; confirm it in the venue's booking calendar before you plan around it.
| Venue | 25 Dec | 1 Jan | Also closed that week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louvre | Closed | Closed | Tuesday 29 Dec |
| Musée d'Orsay | Closed | Not listed | Monday 28 Dec |
| Musée de l'Orangerie | Closed | Not listed | Tuesday 29 Dec |
| Sainte-Chapelle | Closed | Closed | — |
| Versailles palace and Trianon | Closed | Closed | Monday 28 Dec |
| Catacombs | Closed | Closed | Monday 28 Dec |
| Petit Palais | Closed | Closed | Monday 28 Dec |
| Arc de Triomphe | Not listed | Not listed | — |
| Eiffel Tower | Open (every day in December) | Not stated | — |
| Centre Pompidou | Closed for works | Closed for works | — |
The sources, venue by venue:
- Louvre: its hours page says it is closed every Tuesday and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Normal hours are 9:00–18:00, to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Orsay: closed every Monday, 1 May and 25 December; open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30–18:00, Thursdays to 21:45.
- Orangerie: its hours page lists Tuesdays, 1 May, the morning of 14 July and 25 December as closures; otherwise 9:00–18:00, last admission 17:15.
- Sainte-Chapelle: closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; winter hours 9:00–17:00, last access 30 minutes before closing.
- Versailles: the château's practical page closes the palace and the Trianon estate on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January. The gardens and park are open every day.
- Catacombs: closed Mondays and 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open Tuesday to Sunday 9:45–20:30, last admission 19:30.
- Petit Palais: closed Mondays and 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, 11 November and 25 December; its permanent collections are free with no booking.
- Centre Pompidou: its closure page says the Paris building closed from 22 September 2025 for renovation, aiming to reopen by 2030; its programme runs at partner venues in the meantime.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve hours
Both 24 and 31 December 2026 fall on a Thursday, which is normally Orsay's late night. Few venues publish holiday-eve hours in advance, so these are the only confirmed changes:
- Arc de Triomphe: the practical information page gives an early closing at 16:00 on 24 and 31 December 2026, against a normal winter closing of 22:30 (last admission 45 minutes before). Its annual closures list names 1 May, 8 May, 14 July and the morning of 11 November, not Christmas or New Year's Day. The lift is out of service, so the terrace is reached by 284 steps.
- Eiffel Tower: the operator's December guide, published on 5 October 2026, says the tower opens every day in December from 9:30, closes at 23:45 or even 00:45 in the last two weeks of the month, and "generally" closes earlier on 31 December, around 18:30.
The Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Versailles and the Catacombs did not mention any early closing on 24 or 31 December when we checked. That is not a promise of normal hours; check again in December.
How to plan Christmas week in Paris
For Christmas Day, build the day around the Eiffel Tower and outdoor Paris. Of the sights in this guide, it is the only one whose own page confirms it opens every day in December. Since 29 September 2026, the rates page says stairs tickets also need advance reservation, so book any ticket type ahead. Our Eiffel Tower tickets guide compares the lift, stairs and summit. The Arc de Triomphe is a second option, but confirm 25 December in its ticket calendar because its page neither lists it as open nor closed.
For New Year's Day, Orsay or the Orangerie. Both list only 25 December among their holiday closures. Book a timed slot; see our Musée d'Orsay tickets guide.
Fit the Louvre, Versailles and the Catacombs into 26, 27 or 30 December. Mind the weekly closures: Monday 28 December shuts Orsay, Versailles, the Catacombs and the Petit Palais, and Tuesday 29 December shuts the Louvre and the Orangerie. The Louvre tickets guide covers booking a slot.
