Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, and in December the whole old town becomes one long market. Come for two days of timber-framed squares, white mulled wine and one of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals, then take the train to Colmar for a smaller, storybook version. It suits first-timers, couples and anyone who would rather eat their way round a market than shop it.
The 2026 dates
The Christkindelsmärik opens on Friday 27 November 2026. As of mid-October the city had not yet published the closing date (the 2025 edition ran until 24 December), so check noel.strasbourg.eu before you book a late-December trip. Colmar’s six markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026.
Where the markets are
The markets spread across the Grande Île, the island at the heart of the old town. The official programme lists:
- Christkindelsmärik, Place Broglie: the original and the biggest.
- Au pied du Grand Sapin, Place Kléber: the market at the foot of the city’s giant Christmas tree.
- Autour de la Cathédrale, Places de la Cathédrale and du Château.
- La Petite France, Places Benjamin Zix and Saint-Thomas, among the canals and half-timbered houses.
- Le Quai des Délices, Terrasse Rohan and Place du Marché-aux-Poissons: mostly food.
- Les Irréductibles Petits Producteurs d’Alsace, Square Louise Weiss: small local producers.
- Le marché du Carré d’Or, Place du Temple Neuf, and Le marché OFF, Place Grimmeissen, for something more alternative.
Expect bag checks when you cross onto the Grande Île. Travel light and it takes seconds.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Start at the cathedral. During the market season it opens continuously Monday to Saturday from 08:30 to 17:45, entered from the Place du Château side, and entry is free. Then climb to the platform: 330 steps up to 66 metres, with views over the rooftops of the old town. From October to March it opens 10:00–18:00, with last climb at 17:15.
Afternoon: Be back inside by 12:30 for the procession of the Apostles on the astronomical clock. Then work outwards: the cathedral squares, Place du Marché-aux-Poissons for food, and on to Place Broglie for the Christkindelsmärik.
Evening: Walk to Place Kléber as the light goes and the Grand Sapin is lit. Dinner at a winstub, the Alsatian wine tavern (see below).
Day 2
Morning: Head to Petite France early, before the lanes fill. Cross the Ponts Couverts to the Barrage Vauban, whose roof terrace (open 08:30–16:00 from November to February) looks back over the canals and towers.
Afternoon: Browse the producers at Square Louise Weiss and the Petite France market at Places Benjamin Zix and Saint-Thomas. Stop for coffee and cake at Pâtisserie Christian on rue Mercière, a few steps from the cathedral.
Evening: Try Place du Temple Neuf and the Marché OFF, then a last vin chaud on Place Broglie once the day-trippers have gone.
Day trip: Colmar
TER trains run between Strasbourg and Colmar about 42 times a day and take around 30 minutes, so there is no need to book far ahead. Colmar is compact. Walk from the station into the old town and follow the canals of Petite Venise, then find the craft market inside the Koïfhus, the old customs house, and the market on Place Jeanne d’Arc. The town’s six markets each have their own character, and the official site has a map.
If you have a car, or a second extra day, the nearby wine villages hold their own markets in 2026: Eguisheim and Turckheim from 27 November to 30 December, and Riquewihr from 27 November to 20 December.
Tip: Do Colmar on a weekday and Strasbourg’s busiest squares on Sunday morning. You swap the worst crowds in both towns for the quietest hours.
What to eat and drink
- Vin chaud blanc: Alsace’s white mulled wine, lighter and more aromatic than the red.
- Tarte flambée (flammekueche): thin, crisp dough with cream, onions and lardons.
- Bredele: small Christmas biscuits, sold by the bag in dozens of shapes.
- Pain d’épices: spiced gingerbread, often with honey and candied fruit.
- Bretzels and kougelhopf: the classic Alsatian snack and the fluted brioche-style cake.
- Choucroute garnie: sauerkraut with sausages and pork, for a proper sit-down dinner.
For dinner, book ahead in December. Winstub Le Clou on rue du Chaudron is a family-run tavern near the cathedral, serving Alsatian classics. Chez Yvonne (S’Burjerstuewel) on rue du Sanglier holds a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 Michelin Guide for its traditional cooking. Pâtisserie Christian on rue Mercière is the place for an afternoon pastry.
Beating the crowds
The official site’s crowd guide is clear. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday are quiet. Friday is moderate from 16:00 to 21:00. Saturday is busy from 13:00 to 21:00, and Sunday stays busy until about 18:00.
Tip: Arrive on a Thursday and leave on Saturday morning. You get two quiet market days and miss the weekend peak.
- Go to the cathedral platform early, before the market squares fill.
- See Petite France before 11:00.
- Eat early or late. Winstubs fill fast between 19:30 and 21:00.
- Use the tram to skip the walk in: lines A and D stop at Langstross-Grand’Rue, and B, C and F at Broglie.
Tip: The cathedral closes on 25 and 26 December, and opens only in the afternoon on Sundays.
Planning a longer trip? The Christmas markets 2026 calendar lists every major market in order of opening date. Across the Rhine, our guide to German Christmas markets picks the best of the rest, and our Bordeaux guide covers another French wine weekend. For more weekend ideas, see This Weekend.
FAQ
When does the Strasbourg Christmas market open in 2026?
It opens on Friday 27 November 2026. The closing date had not been announced by mid-October, so check the official site before booking a trip after mid-December.
Is one day enough for the Strasbourg Christmas market?
One day covers the main squares, but two lets you climb the cathedral, see Petite France in the quiet morning hours and eat properly. Add a third day for Colmar.
How do you get from Strasbourg to Colmar?
Take the regional TER train. There are around 42 a day and the trip takes about 30 minutes.
When are the Strasbourg Christmas markets least busy?
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday are the quietest days. Saturday afternoons and evenings are the busiest.
Is Colmar or Strasbourg better for Christmas markets?
Strasbourg is bigger, with more markets and more to do. Colmar is smaller and prettier at a walking pace. If you can, see both, since they are only half an hour apart.
