But getting there is fast and easy. Three things set this market apart: 1 seriously great shopping opportunities for a wide range of well-made, unique, and gift-worthy items, 2 delicious food, and 3 the stunning architecture of La Defense's surrounding skyscrapers, especially dazzling at night when their lights glitter like huge sparkly Christmas tree ornaments. As a bonus, a large ice skating rink returns this year to the foot of the Grande Arche and will open one week after the Christmas Market's opening date.
Plus, you can enjoy La Defense's lovely holiday lights along its Esplanade, a wide pedestrian-only walkway stretching over half a mile 1k between the Grande Arche and the Seine River. So plan to spend more time here than you might expect!
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Learn more. On your right is a large enclosed shopping mall, Les Quatre Temps, and on your left, the distinctive arch of CNIT Centre of New Industries and Technologies where you'll find another shopping mall with a Fnac electronics store, a huge Decathlon sporting goods store, a bunch of other shops, and a Hilton Hotel.
But for now, ignore them, and walk through the Christmas Market's entrance across from the metro station and the Grande Arche. There's a quick security check, but usually not much of a line or delay getting in. As soon as you're inside the "village," you'll see paths lined Swiss-style wooden chalets, smell the tempting aromas of Alsatian sausages, gingerbread , and other holiday favorites, and perhaps even enjoy a visit and photo op with Santa.
