Strasbourg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets

The Strasbourg Christmas Market runs from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, spread across 8 markets in the Grande Île, the historic centre of Strasbourg. The Strasbourg Christmas Market dates back to 1570, which makes it the oldest Christmas market in France, and the city has called itself Strasbourg Capitale de Noël (Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas) since 1992.

This guide covers the confirmed 2026 dates and hours, each of the 8 markets and where it stands, the Alsatian food and drink to look for, and how to get there without a car.

When is the Strasbourg Christmas Market in 2026?

The Strasbourg Christmas Market opens on Friday 27 November 2026 and closes on Thursday 24 December 2026, according to noel.strasbourg.eu, the city’s official Christmas site. The opening hours for 2026 are listed below.

Every market closes for good on the evening of 24 December. No chalet opens on Christmas Day or in the week up to New Year, so a trip planned for 25 December onwards finds the squares empty. Entry to all the markets is free.

Where is the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

The Strasbourg Christmas Market fills the squares and streets of the Grande Île, the island in the River Ill that holds Strasbourg’s old town and its cathedral. The markets sit close together, so you walk between them under the street lights rather than taking transport. The first chalets are a 10-minute walk from Strasbourg’s main train station, according to the city’s own FAQ.

What are the 8 Strasbourg Christmas markets?

The city lists 8 Christmas markets for 2026, each on its own square in the historic centre. The 8 markets are listed below, with the squares they occupy.

1. Christkindelsmärik, Place Broglie. The Christkindelsmärik is the historic market, the one that started in 1570 and moved to Place Broglie in 1870. The City Hall facade on the square is decorated each year with figures from the market’s history.
2. Around the Cathedral, Place de la Cathédrale and Place du Château. The cathedral market is the one the tourist office calls the most spectacular, with chalets running right up to the west front of Strasbourg Cathedral.
3. Au pied du Grand Sapin, Place Kléber. Place Kléber holds the Grand Sapin, the city’s giant Christmas tree, which has stood on the square every winter since 2000. The Village du Partage, a charity village of local associations, has been set up around it since 2002.
4. Le Quai des Délices, Terrasse Rohan and Place du Marché-aux-Poissons. The Quai des Délices is the gourmet market, and the tourist office points to it for locally produced foie gras and for bredle biscuits.
5. La Petite France, Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint-Thomas. The Petite France markets sit among the half-timbered houses and canals of the old tanners’ quarter.
6. Les Irréductibles Petits Producteurs d’Alsace, Square Louise Weiss. The small-producers market shares Square Louise Weiss with the Advent Village (Village de l’Avent), the family area with daily storytelling, craft workshops and concerts.
7. Le marché du Carré d’Or, Place du Temple Neuf. The Carré d’Or market stands in the shopping streets between the cathedral and Place Kléber.
8. Le marché OFF, Place Grimmeissen. The OFF market, opened in 2015, is the social and solidarity economy market, built from shipping containers and selling vintage furniture, upcycled gifts and organic local products, with about 30 stalls.

Taken together, the 8 markets run to more than 300 chalets across the Grande Île, according to the Strasbourg tourist office.

How old is the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

The Strasbourg Christmas Market was founded in 1570 as the Christkindelsmärik, the market of the Christ Child. The city’s own timeline gives the key dates after that: the move to Place Broglie in 1870, the Strasbourg Capitale de Noël name in 1992, the Grand Sapin on Place Kléber in 2000 and the OFF market in 2015. The 2020 market was cancelled because of the pandemic, the first time in centuries, and only the tree went up that year. In 2025 the event received ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.

What food can you eat at the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

Alsatian Christmas baking is the food to look for at the Strasbourg Christmas Market, and several of the specialities are only made in December. The foods the Strasbourg tourist office recommends trying are listed below.

• Bredle. Bredle are small Alsatian Christmas biscuits that families bake in December to give away, in varieties such as Butterbredle (butter), Schwowebredle (almond and cinnamon) and Anisbredle (aniseed).
• Christstolle. Christstolle is a long Christmas cake of dried fruit and spices covered in icing sugar, and it keeps well enough to take home.
• Maennele. Maennele are brioche buns shaped like a little man, with raisin or chocolate-chip eyes, traditionally eaten on Saint Nicholas Day.
• Gingerbread. Gingerbread comes as flat, shaped lebkuchen or as soft honey cake sold by the slice.
• Berewecke. Berewecke is a dense Christmas bread of dried pears, nuts and candied fruit soaked in schnapps, served in thin slices.
• Dampfnudle. Dampfnudle are balls of risen dough cooked in a pot and served with fruit compote.
• Foie gras. Foie gras in a block or terrine was first made in Alsace in the late 18th century, and the gourmet market on Place du Marché-aux-Poissons sells local versions.

What can you drink at the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

Mulled wine is the standard drink at the Strasbourg Christmas Market, made in Alsace with either red or white wine, spices, sugar and citrus. The other drinks worth trying are listed below.

• Hot apple juice. Hot apple juice is the non-alcoholic option sold alongside the mulled wine.
• Christmas beer. Christmas beer is the amber, spiced seasonal brew that Alsatian breweries make each winter, sold at brewery stands in the markets.
• Mulled beer. Mulled beer, made with local beer, spices and organic Vosges honey, is served on Place Broglie.

Every drink comes in a reusable cup with a €1 ($1.16, £0.86) deposit. Hand the cup back at any drinks chalet for your euro, or drop it in one of the collection points on the squares and the deposit goes to a Strasbourg charity.

What can you buy at the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

Christmas decorations, local food and crafts are what the Strasbourg Christmas Market sells. The chalets carry tree ornaments, Alsatian biscuits and gingerbread, Christstolle to take home and regional products such as foie gras, while the OFF market on Place Grimmeissen focuses on vintage, upcycled and fair-trade gifts. Almost every stall takes cards, often contactless, but the city still advises bringing some cash, because the cash machines on the Grande Île get very busy.

What else is there to see at Christmas in Strasbourg?

Strasbourg Cathedral is the main sight beyond the stalls, and during Advent it hangs 17th-century tapestries of the life of the Virgin Mary and sets up an 18-metre (59 ft) nativity scene. The other Christmas sights the tourist office recommends are listed below.

• The cathedral platform. The cathedral platform is a climb of 330 steps, with a view down over the markets and the rooftops.
• The Grand Sapin lighting. The Grand Sapin on Place Kléber is lit at 16:00 in a ceremony set to music.
• The Promenade aux Étoiles. The Promenade aux Étoiles is a walk lit by 400 stars between the Pont du Corbeau and the Saint-Guillaume bridge.
• A boat tour. A Batorama boat tour on the River Ill shows the decorated quays and bridges from the water.

How do you get to the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

Strasbourg is easiest to reach by train, because the main station is a 10-minute walk from the first chalets and the old town is closed to cars while the market is open.

First, take the train. The fastest TGV INOUI services from Paris Gare de l’Est reach Strasbourg in about 1 hour 45 minutes, according to SNCF Connect, and regional TER trains run on to Colmar in about 30 minutes. Before you travel, compare trains to Strasbourg.

Second, fly into Strasbourg Airport at Entzheim. The airport’s shuttle train reaches Strasbourg station in 8 minutes, with up to 5 trains an hour, according to the airport. For long-haul trips, compare flights to Strasbourg.

Third, if you drive, leave the car at a Park and Ride (P+R) on the edge of the city. The P+R costs €4.20 ($4.90, £3.60) a day, and the ticket includes a return tram trip for everyone in the car. Motor traffic is banned on the Grande Île during market hours, and bikes and scooters have to be pushed. Trams A, C, D and F stop close to the market squares. For an Alsace road trip beyond the city, compare rental cars.

Where to stay near the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

The Grande Île and the streets around the train station are the most convenient base, since both are within walking distance of all 8 markets and you never need the car. For options in those areas, compare hotels in Strasbourg and the rest of France and book early, because the market weekends fill first.

Where to eat near the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

A winstub, the traditional Alsatian wine tavern, is the place to eat a proper meal after an evening at the stalls, and the tourist office recommends one to end a market day. Look for Alsatian dishes such as choucroute and baeckeoffe on the menu, and pair them with Alsace white wine.

Strasbourg sits on the German border, so it pairs well with a trip to the Christmas markets in Germany, such as the Heidelberg Christmas markets across the Rhine in Baden-Württemberg. Our France travel guide covers the rest of Alsace and the Grand Est region.

Strasbourg Christmas Market FAQ

Where are the Christmas markets in Strasbourg?

The Strasbourg Christmas markets are on 8 sites in the Grande Île: Place Broglie, Place de la Cathédrale and Place du Château, Place Kléber, Terrasse Rohan and Place du Marché-aux-Poissons, Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint-Thomas, Square Louise Weiss, Place du Temple Neuf and Place Grimmeissen. All of them are within walking distance of each other.

Is the Strasbourg Christmas Market open on Christmas Day?

No, the Strasbourg Christmas Market is closed on Christmas Day. The markets close at 18:00 on 24 December 2026 and no chalet reopens before New Year.

When is the Strasbourg Christmas Market least crowded?

The Strasbourg Christmas Market is least crowded on Mondays, Tuesdays and weekday mornings, according to the city. Wednesday afternoons, Friday evenings and the whole weekend are the busiest times.

Is Strasbourg expensive at Christmas?

Strasbourg’s Christmas market itself costs nothing to enter, so the spending comes from food, drink and where you sleep. Drinks carry a €1 ($1.16, £0.86) refundable cup deposit, and a day at a Park and Ride costs €4.20 ($4.90, £3.60) with the tram included. Hotel rooms are the expense to plan for, because December weekends sell out first.

Can you bring a dog to the Strasbourg Christmas Market?

Yes, dogs on a lead are allowed in all the Strasbourg Christmas markets. The city advises against bringing one on Saturdays and Sundays because of the crowds, and suggests weekday mornings instead.

Is it worth combining Strasbourg with Colmar?

Strasbourg and Colmar combine easily, because regional TER trains link the two cities in about 30 minutes. Strasbourg has the bigger and older market spread over 8 sites, so a common plan is to base yourself in Strasbourg and go to Colmar for a day.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 4 tips below come from the city’s official 2026 FAQ and timetable, and each one covers a detail that changes how you plan the visit.

1. Arrive after 14:00 on the opening Friday. The stalls open at 14:00 on Friday 27 November rather than the usual 11:00, so a morning arrival that day finds the chalets still shut.
2. Do not plan a Christmas Day visit. Every market closes at 18:00 on 24 December and nothing reopens before New Year, so the week after Christmas has no market at all.
3. Park at a P+R rather than driving into town. The €4.20 ($4.90, £3.60) day ticket covers parking and a return tram for everyone in the car, and the Grande Île is closed to motor traffic during market hours anyway.
4. Keep the cup or the euro. Each drink comes with a €1 cup deposit. Return the cup at any drinks chalet to get the euro back, or leave it in a charity collection point.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers France for independent travellers, including the Christmas markets, hotels, trains and tours worth booking, and updates this page when dates, prices and rules change.