Best Alsace Christmas markets: ultimate guide

We’ve officially entered the ‘ber months, so you probably already have a plan for your winter or Christmas holiday. Of course, the first place you think of is Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas. Then beautiful Colmar and those fairytale villages around it. I have to admit, Alsace is the best option for Christmas season, at least in my opinion. The half-timbered houses, fairy lights and entire towns covered in Christmas decorations make it feel a bit like a Christmas movie. And it’s so cool that you can do most of the trip by public transport.

But I will say this again: Christmas season in Alsace is crowded. If you can visit during the week, do it. Here is how I would choose between Strasbourg, Colmar and the villages without spending the whole trip rushing from one place to another

If you are planning the full trip, my 👉 guide to 15 things to do in Strasbourg, Colmar and the Alsace villages covers food stops, Christmas markets and the villages worth adding beyond Strasbourg or where to take the best pictures in Strasbourg 👉20 Beautiful Photo Spots in Strasbourg You’ll Love at Christmas.

If you’re combining Alsace with a few days in Paris, you can also check my 40 best things to do in Paris before planning your train to Strasbourg. In addition, for more on Paris, see other articles:

👉5 day itinerary in Paris: your ultimate guide
👉20 Most Instagrammable Cafés, Restaurants, Bars in Paris
👉20 best hotels with Eiffel tower view for all budgets

This article contains affiliate links. If you book a hotel or experience through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support Sparkling Escapes and allows me to keep creating detailed travel guides like this one. ♡

Planning note: Dates and transport details below were checked in September 2026. Recheck each town’s current dates before you book, particularly around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Alsace Christmas markets 2026 calendar

Destination	2026 market dates	The detail that changes your plan
Strasbourg	November 26–December 24	Opens at 2 p.m. on November 26; closes at 6 p.m. on December 24.
Colmar	November 23–December 29	Six old town markets. The separate gourmet market at Montagne Verte stays open until January 3, 2027.
Obernai	November 27–December 31	Closed December 25; shorter hours December 24 and 31.
Eguisheim	November 27–December 30	Closed December 24–26.
Kaysersberg	November 27–29; December 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20	Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. The last market day is December 20.
Riquewihr	November 27–December 20.	Open daily, but the market ends before Christmas. On weekends, a park and ride shuttle runs from Naturoparc.
Ribeauvillé	Medieval market is December 5–6 and 12–13 in 2026	The medieval market runs on these two weekends only: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sundays.

These are the dates I would plan around, but double-check each town’s schedule before you book. You can check the exact dates on the official pages for Strasbourg, Colmar, Obernai, Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé.

Which Alsace Christmas markets are worth your time?

If this is your first sight of all the Alsatian Christmas markets on a map, I know it looks like you should see every single one. The best Christmas markets for you depend on whether you want a whole city lit up or a slower afternoon in the villages. To me, the best time for this trip is late November through mid-December, when you can mix the cities and village markets.

Honestly, I know the temptation is to save every market. But if you have two days, I would give one to Strasbourg and one to Colmar. If you have a third, add the smaller villages. Obernai makes sense from Strasbourg; Eguisheim is easy to pair with Colmar. And please check Kaysersberg’s dates before you go, because its market does not open every day.

I wouldn’t try to do Strasbourg, Colmar, Obernai, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg in one day. It looks possible on a map. Then you add trains, parking, lunch and the fact that it gets dark early. Suddenly it isn’t such a fun plan.

Where to stay for the Alsace Christmas markets

If I had a few days, I would split my stay between Strasbourg and Colmar. Strasbourg makes sense for the first part of the trip, especially if you want to take photos before the crowds arrive and come back for the lights at night. Then I would move to Colmar for the markets there and use it as my base for the villages.

If you only have two nights, I wouldn’t change hotels just for the sake of it. Pick the city you most want to see after dark and take the train to the other one. Staying in a village sounds lovely too, but I would only choose that if I had a car or wanted a much slower trip.

Use the map below to compare hotels in Strasbourg, Colmar and the surrounding area. Check how close each one is to a station or the markets before booking. A hotel can look close on a regional map and still be awkward to reach at night.

Strasbourg Christmas markets: the stops I would choose

Strasbourg is one of the best places to start if this is your first Christmas trip to northeastern France. Christmas celebrations take over the historic squares, and the market stalls are close enough that you can explore on foot. The whole historic center feels festive, not just one street.

Strasbourg groups its stalls into eight market areas around the historic center. I love that you can walk between them, but I wouldn’t turn this into a challenge to see all eight. Here are the ones I would put on my route:

Place de la Cathédrale and Place du Château

This is probably the Strasbourg view you saved first. The cathedral behind the chalets is beautiful, but yes, it gets crowded. I would come early for photos and fewer crowds, then return in the late afternoon when the market is open and the Christmas lights are on. I like seeing the same place both ways.

Place Broglie: Christkindelsmärik

If you want a traditional market, go to Place Broglie. The Christkindelsmärik dates to 1570 and is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets. I would stop for a vin chaud, look at the handmade gifts and then walk towards the cathedral or Place Kléber.

Place Kléber: the Grand Sapin

You can’t really miss the huge Christmas tree in the main square. It is a great place to stop after dark, when the fairy lights and festive lights come on. If you like seeing Christmas trees all lit up, I think this is the best experience in Strasbourg. The square also has a sharing village, so it isn’t just another place to buy things.

Place du Temple-Neuf: the Carré d’Or market

This is a short stop between the cathedral and Place Kléber. Look up, not only at the stalls. Sometimes the decorations above the streets are my favourite part.

Petite France: Square Louise Weiss, Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint-Thomas

This is where I would stop checking the time for a bit. Petite France has those half-timbered houses and narrow streets I would want to photograph properly. Square Louise Weiss is good for local products and local crafts, and Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint-Thomas are nearby. You can reach them with a short walk. I would leave extra time here.

Place du Marché-aux-Poissons and the Palais Rohan terrace

Come hungry to the market near Place du Marché-aux-Poissons and Palais Rohan if you want to try some Alsatian gastronomy. If it is freezing and you need a break inside, the Palais Rohan museums are an option too. I would check their hours and tickets for that day.

Place Grimmeissen: the OFF market

If you want something different, stop at the OFF market for second-hand, local and socially responsible gifts. It is near Petite France, so I would add it while I’m already in the area.

For the spots I actually photographed early and after dark, use my 20 Strasbourg Christmas photo spots guide. The teddy bear house is especially worth seeing lit up.

Colmar Christmas markets: give the old town a full day

Colmar feels different from Strasbourg right away. You have colorful houses, cobblestone streets and Christmas decorations around so much of the entire old town. For me, that is the holiday spirit. It is also why I would not do Colmar as a rushed day trip with a train back in the late afternoon.

Colmar has six Christmas markets, but please don’t plan six separate trips across town. Five are in and around the old town: Place des Dominicains, Place Jeanne d’Arc, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, the Koïfhus and Little Venice (Petite Venise). The 2026 gourmet market is listed separately at Plateau sportif de la Montagne Verte, so check the map before adding it to your walk.

If you want photos of Little Venice without a lot of people, go before the markets open. I would start near Quai de la Poissonnerie and the bridges, then head towards the covered market and Place de l’Ancienne Douane. But leave time to eat. Tarte flambée tastes much better sitting down than while rushing to the next pin.

I also have Pfister House, St Martin’s Church and the Unterlinden Museum in my Colmar notes. You don’t need to see them all, but I wouldn’t spend the whole day looking only at stalls when the town itself is so pretty. If you stay for dinner, I would try a glass of Alsatian white wine. Book a table if you want a proper dinner, especially on a weekend.

You can take a TER train between Strasbourg and Colmar, so this part of the trip does not need a car. Check the train schedule for your date. Colmar is also a good home base if the smaller villages are your priority. I have a 6:47 a.m. train in my old notes, but I wouldn’t plan a day around it without checking the current timetable.

Smaller Christmas markets near Strasbourg and Colmar

This is where the planning gets fun and a little complicated. The Alsatian villages can look close together on a map, but their markets do not share one schedule. The best option is to choose the exact dates first, then pick which beautiful villages you can actually visit while their markets are open.

Obernai Christmas market

Obernai is the small market I would add on the Strasbourg side. Its tourism office lists 45 chalets across five squares, with traditional crafts, local food and Alsatian things like bredele, gingerbread, wine and foie gras. I would give it a relaxed half day instead of trying to squeeze it between Strasbourg and Colmar.

Eguisheim Christmas market

Eguisheim is the little village I would pair with Colmar. Its market runs from November 27 to December 30, except December 24–26. I haven’t been there yet, but the circular streets and half-timbered houses are the reason I would add it. I would leave time to look around beyond the stalls. If you don’t have a car, check the Colmar Christmas shuttle for your day.

Kaysersberg Christmas market

I would only build a Kaysersberg market day if I were there Friday to Sunday before December 21. Its market runs on four Advent weekends. The village may still look lovely on Monday, but the stalls won’t be open. Please check this before you book.

Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr Christmas Market

I’ve visited Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr, two medieval villages that are worth visiting if you have more time. But their markets don’t have the same opening dates: Ribeauvillé’s medieval market is December 5–6 and 12–13 in 2026, while Riquewihr’s runs November 27–December 20.

Many of these stops sit on or near the famous Alsace Wine Route, with the Vosges Mountains to the west. The Rhine River marks much of the French border with Germany on the other side of Alsace. Northern Alsace has its own Christmas markets, but I would save it for another trip. My broader Alsace guide has more places if you want to keep planning.

How I would plan 2 or 3 days at the Alsace Christmas markets

The perfect way to ruin this trip is to put every saved place into one day. I would rather walk at my own pace and enjoy Christmas time in two or three different towns.

Two days: One day in Strasbourg and one in Colmar. I would take photos in Strasbourg early, then see the cathedral, Broglie and Petite France, and return to Place Kléber after dark. The next day, I would take the train to Colmar and stay long enough to see it lit up. That is plenty for two days.

Three days: Keep the two city days, then use the third for villages. If it is Friday, Saturday or Sunday in Advent, I would look at Eguisheim and Kaysersberg. On a weekday, I would choose Eguisheim and more time in Colmar, or add Obernai near Strasbourg. This is exactly why I would pick my dates before deciding on the villages.

The Colmar Christmas shuttles leave from Colmar station and run November 27–December 20, 2026. The route to Eguisheim runs during the week; the route for Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé runs Friday to Sunday. Tickets are sold online, with sales scheduled to start November 12. If you drive, remember that parking takes time too.

Practical tips before you go

These are the travel tips I would check before booking anything for the festive season. Most Alsatian markets open in late November and run through at least part of the month of December, but not all on the same days.

• Pick your dates before your villages. Strasbourg closes its markets on December 24, while some Colmar-area markets continue into late December. The openings are not interchangeable. In the first week of December, check the weekday as well as the date before choosing Kaysersberg.
• Keep mornings for photos and evenings for lights. I went back to several Strasbourg spots after dark because the festive lights made them look so different. That is the sweet spot for me.
• Expect the biggest crowds on weekends. Strasbourg’s official crowd guide shows Mondays and Tuesdays as generally quieter. An early December weekday might be your best experience.
• Check the market map. Strasbourg’s market areas can shift in description from year to year. Check the current market map before planning individual stops.
• Book the parts you cannot easily move. Accommodation, a dinner you care about, and any timed show deserve a booking. A cathedral light show is an extra activity, not one of the Christmas markets; confirm its current programme and ticket price separately.

Alsace Christmas markets FAQ

Can you visit Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets in one day?

Technically, yes. Would I do it? No. I want a full day in each, and I especially want to see both after dark.

Are the Alsace Christmas markets open after Christmas?

Some are. Strasbourg ends on December 24, while Colmar’s main Christmas markets run through December 29 in 2026. The Colmar tourism office lists its gourmet market and Ferris wheel through January 3, 2027. I would check the current Place Rapp programme before counting on an outdoor ice rink; older guides mention one but the 2026 listing does not confirm it. So early January is a different trip from the one you see in early December. Eguisheim and Obernai also have dates later in December, with holiday closures or shorter hours. Check each official listing for the exact day you want to visit.

Do I need a car for the Alsace Christmas markets?

No car is needed for Strasbourg and Colmar. The Colmar Christmas shuttles can help with selected villages on their operating dates. A car gives you more flexibility for a multi-village day, but parking and traffic still take time.

Which Alsace Christmas market should I choose if I have limited time?

Strasbourg for the huge Christmas atmosphere. Colmar if you want to spend a day walking around a smaller town. If you can do both, that is the trip I would make.

For more ideas beyond the stalls, read my guide to things to do in Strasbourg, Colmar and the Alsace villages.