Our 9 last minute gift ideas to save Christmas at the last minute

If you're here, it's probably because you thought you had 'plenty of time' to do your Christmas shopping. But here it is, it is December 24, and you are empty-handed. Okay, don't panic. If crowds don't scare you, or if you think you have time to collect in store, you can take a look at our original gift ideas for less than €100, choose from our selection of 9 best science fiction books , or even find small presents in our gift ideas for less than €10.

The best last minute Christmas gifts sorted by theme

For others who are busier, don't worry, with the internet, you can do wonders. This guide brings together lots of ideas for nice gifts that you can buy at the last minute. In this guide you will find our ideas classified by category, there is something for everyone:

Subscriptions

A quick gift to make and appreciated by all. Christmas is a good opportunity to offer a subscription. This could be for a streaming platform, Music platform or even something else.

1. A subscription to an sVOD streaming service

How can you simply provide access to a video service? You can buy a prepaid card or subscribe with the person's email address. Be careful, however, to choose the platform according to your tastes. To be sure of your choice, you can consult our ultimate comparison of all streaming platforms. But to keep it short, here is what we generally recommend you buy:

• Abonnement Max (HBO) : if you have people among your loved ones who have not seen Game of Thronesit's time to take them hostage by offering them a Max subscription, the HBO platform. With the latter, they will be able to watch the entire series as well as the spin-off House of The Dragon but also many classics like all Harry Potter.

• Disney+ subscription : make no mistake, Disney is no longer aimed only at young people. Very good series like Shogun are aimed at a more adult audience. Overall, it is also an excellent choice for fans of the Marvel universe or even Star Wars, because there are a large number of series from these licenses.

• Apple subscription : the discretion of this platform should not deceive you. Apple TV+ does not offer thousands of titles, but the few available on the platform are of high quality. A large part of the series, films and documentaries are well produced and deserve to be seen, like the series Ted Lasso, Severance or even Silo.

For the duration of the subscription, adjust according to your budget. A year is enough time to make the most of the catalog, but a few months will also do the trick to watch certain content in particular.

2. A cinema subscription

If choosing a subscription to a platform is difficult, choose a good return to basics. A cinema subscription, for the year or for the months, brings everyone together. For the choice of card, everything depends on the location of the lucky person, but here are the most common options:

The CinéPass Gaumont Pathé : the latter allows access to all standard screenings in 73 cinemas in France. For sessions such as 4DX, VIP session, there is an additional charge. The little Christmas bonus: Pathé is offering the month of January 2025 for any subscription before December 25.

The UGC card : another equivalent option, this UGC card allows access to 850 UGC, mk2 and partner rooms in France.

3. Subscription to a music streaming platform

And nothing stops you from limiting yourself to films and series: you can also offer a music subscription to Spotify Premium. You can find them online and even in supermarkets for €10 and €60. You can also gift an Apple Music subscription with an Apple gift card or even a Deezer subscription.

4. Subscription to Numerama+

Small decisive pass. You can find all of Numerama, only better, with subscriber privileges thanks to our Numerama+ plans. Different subscriptions are available and some might surprise you. It is possible to offer a subscription to Numerama+. So why not introduce those around you to Numerama, a media resolutely focused on the future?

Gift cards

It's often the choice of prudence, the gift we give when we want to avoid making a mistake… but well chosen, they can also be a really good idea

5. An Amazon gift card

Let's start with a safe bet. Amazon is a never-ending catalog and your loved one will be spoiled for choice when it comes to treating themselves. Credit the card with the amount of your choice from €5 to €5,000.

6. La carte cadeau gaming (PlayStation Store, Xbox, Steam…)

Downloading a game via a code has become commonplace and makes the task of gifting a video game much easier. No need to go to specialized stores and wander for hours looking for the title that will please you. Prepaid cards allow you to hit the mark.

• Pour PlayStation : The PS5 now equips many homes. Its catalog of games continues to grow and includes several essential titles. Still as expensive, don't take the risk of making a mistake and opt for a prepaid card valid on the PlayStation Store. Several amounts are available and prices start from €10.

• Pour Nintendo Switch : Two options are available to you. Either you take a €50 Nintendo eShop card which allows you to purchase the latest releases on the console directly from the Nintendo Store, and thus discover the latest The Legend of Zelda : Echoes of Wisdomreleased in 2024. But you can also opt for a Switch Online subscription which allows Switch, Switch OLED and Switch Lite players to play online. You can sign up for a subscription just for one month, or pay in advance for 3, 6 or 12 months. The individual plan will only allow one account to access the internet to play. On the other hand, the family account gives access to all members of a family, which can be particularly relevant in the case of siblings who own both parts of the very latest Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet. Finally, a latest version with the additional pack allows access to the great classics of the Nintendo 64 or Sega.

• Pour Xbox : unsurprisingly, this card concerns people with an Xbox Series X, an Xbox Series S or even a Windows PC Gamer. It gives access to an entire catalog of games, a bit like an SVOD service, over the entire duration of the subscription. The games library is regularly updated and the month of December is particularly plentiful. It's a good way to test games before buying a real favorite. Just like for the Nintendo Switch and the PS5, you can also choose the option of a prepaid card if no Game Pass game appeals to you.

• For PC : although Microsoft makes its Xbox Game Pass accessible to PC games, the reference in this area remains the Steam platform. In addition to the flagship opuses from classic publishers, it is possible to find a whole bunch of very good quality independent games. In short, offering Steam money means offering PC players a choice, within a window of 5 to 100 euros – who could potentially also play Counter-Strike skins or any other games on the platform.

7. A gift card for books on an e-reader

If the selection above does not convince you, you can consult our selection of fantasy novels or draw from our list of science fiction comics: the vast majority of titles are available in electronic format. And if you have absolutely no idea, you can also offer gift cards from the two main sellers specializing in e-books: Kobo (in partnership with Fnac) and the Amazon Kindle range.

• For Koboyou can take a card worth between €10 and €50:

• Pour Kindlethe range offered by Amazon is wider: you can credit the card always between €5 and €5,000. They make books!

8. A gift card for board games

If you have board game fans among your loved ones, then a gift card to purchase them is a good option. With a Philibert gift card of €20 to €50, they will be able to choose the game that they like best — but don't hesitate to suggest that they consult our tests before deciding.

Tickets

On another note, why not offer an unforgettable moment? Whether it's a concert, football match or exhibition, tickets are a great last minute gift option as they are usually sent by email or text message.

9. An event or an amusement park

On Fnac Spectacles, there is something to do between:

• Concerts and festivals;
• The shows;
• The theater;
• Exhibitions and Museums;
• Sports;
• and even amusement parks

It's difficult to recommend a specific experience, but here are some options to explore.

For space fansthere is in particular the 55th International Aeronautics and Space Exhibition. The ticket costs €18 and gives access to the show for three days, from June 20 to 22, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On the program: meetings with industry companies, interactive activities, exploration of impressive aircraft and a daily air show.

For thrill-seekers, a short trip to an amusement park is also a good option — whether at:

What SVOD service is right for you?
Netflix, Disney+, Canal+, Max: comparison of the best streaming platforms
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