90 days in the winter in the south of France

We spent Christmas in London and New Year’s in Rome. Both cities were mostly closed down for the holidays. Everything was closed Christmas Day.

London is the worst at Christmas. France does not close down except on Christmas day and even then the public transport at least in Paris is running unlike London where it closes for two days.

Are you considering southern France or Paris for Christmas or New Year? Because Paris is not in the southern parts of the country.

Regarding Christmas markets they are originally a Germanic custom, so in France you'll find the oldest and most traditional ones in Alsace. If they are the best depends very much on how you define best.

Paris for Christmas or NYE? Yes, I know where they are, but are they a better alternative than anywhere in the south of France. That is my question.

Better? It depends on you. They will both be 80% shut down on Christmas Day. You can take walks in either, movies open in Paris, restaurants available in either Paris or Nice. You are more likely to have sun in Nice, but it's not guaranteed. Otherwise Paris is gray and anywhere from the same temperature as Nice to twenty degrees F colder on some days in winter.
Surrounded by water on two sides, the daily temperature and cloud cover in a lot of France can vary a lot.

Christmas being a time spent with family, the best place would be to go to dinner with a French family, if possible in a family with a good cook.

Apart from that, the south of France does not have a Christmas market tradition, and only a few restaurants and places remain open.

By the sea NYE is also celebrated by some daring people who go swimming. If you like this kind of experience, bring your swimsuit.

(sorry for the clichés)

There are Christmas markets throughout the main towns and cities in the Cote d'Azur, like Nice and Cannes. I'm not certain about the southwest --- evidently not. One small village, Luceram, transforms into a town filled with nativity scenes (creches). However, Strasbourg is the most famous for it. As a winter tourist destination, you will find many restaurants open for Christmas. The same cannot be said for the smaller towns and villages throughout the south, which may have seasonal closures and little open.

NYE may be best handled in Paris, though you can find celebrations in the larger cities in the South.

in the south of france, I definitely recommend staying in the beautiful hill town of gordes, you will not disappoint. nick

remember that your 90 days include both the arrival and departure days from the Schengen area, and if you run over due to illness or accident or strike or flight change, you are in trouble.

Taking it right to 90 is courageous.

I agree with Nigel. Give yourself some wiggle room.

You might want to stick with towns and cities along the coast. Small towns and villages in land can be pretty shut down from November 2 to Easter. Ok to visit but a lot can be closed.