The Magical Christmas Markets in Strasbourg and Colmar, France

If you want to enjoy a beautiful, cozy Christmas in a historic location, head to Strasbourg and Colmar, France.

Known as the Capital of Christmas, Strasbourg lives up to its reputation. Nearby, Colmar offers a more intimate, casual experience with plenty of authenticities. Stroll the exciting and huge markets in these medieval cities with half-timbered buildings, extravagant cathedrals and plenty of fairytale charm.

Here’s your guide to having a very memorable, very special Christmas in Strasburg and Colmar, France. Get ready for a fantastic Christmas experience you will remember for years to come!

What’s a Christmas Market?

If you haven’t had the pleasure of going to a Christmas market yet, it’s an outdoor series of stalls that sell various goods and specialty food and drink. Many of the items sold are handmade or crafted by a small business.

Think leather goods, wooden ornaments, glass objects, linens, candles, lotions, and other items made by artisans.

Consumables sold may include items that could be gifts, such as ornately decorated cookies, or a special holiday treat for the season like gingerbread. There are also plenty of stalls dedicated to those who and hungry right now.

Delicious local favorites such as sausages and potatoes, bredele (almond cookies) and warm drinks will keep you satisfied and comfy while browsing the markets.

What’s So Special About Strasbourg’s Markets?

Strasbourg’s Christmas markets were held as early as the 12th century! Their well-known Christkindelsmarik began in 1570 as one of the first regular markets in existence and the first in France.

The city rests in the Rhineland, part of a strip of land that belonged to Germany for many years. As the region on the French side is known today, Alsace is a mix of German and French cultures, including the eastern nation’s love of Christmas.

Not only are the markets very old, but they are also all over the city. In 1992 the mayor’s office decided to place clusters of stalls (locally called chalets) in various parts around town. Strasbourg was declared to be the Capital of Christmas due to the widespread celebration across the whole city.

Also, the decorations are spectacular. Rather than just lights, shop owners put up 3D displays of huge toys, teddy bears, Santas, stars and lots of vibrant greenery.

What to Buy

You can find many unique souvenirs and gifts for friends at home at the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets. My favorite items are the carved wooden ornaments and fabric hearts for your Christmas tree. The heart is a symbol of the region, and you’ll find them represented in various forms throughout Alsace.

Hats and scarves would be ideal purchases and useful if you forgot yours! Other items could include candles, wooden toys and blown-glass Christmas ornaments.

Food gifts are quite popular, like large heart-shaped gingerbread decorated especially for Strasbourg. Many people love to bring home bredele to friends, and handmade chocolates are sure to please.

Food & Drinks

Oh, so many great choices! Browsing the markets with a snack in hand is the best way to enjoy your time. As for food, you can’t leave a Christmas market without eating a sausage. Since this area borders Germany, the local cuisine is a mix of French and German.

So, baguettes and crepes freely mix with pork knuckle and sauerkraut. Pretzels, chocolates, specialty breads, and candies are a favorite each year. Spätzle is a German egg noodle that is super dense and chewy, like a dumpling. Sautéed in butter, it’s comfort food at its best.

Vin chaud is a hot, spiced wine that is a popular drink at markets in France. Here in Alsace, the wine is white, compared to typical glühwein, which is red. You can easily find spiced fruit juice that tastes similar but without alcohol. But once I tried a bright orange drink…that turned out to be just plain, hot orange juice. Yuck!

Coffee, cider, and hot chocolate are also available. And a warm drink will allow you to stay out in the evening to enjoy more of the sights. It was in the 40s during the day and colder at night when we visited in late December.

Colmar’s Charm

Colmar is a small town about 30 minutes south of Strasbourg. It is easy to hop on a train to bridge the two locations. Although Strasbourg is an incredible city, I recommend lodging in Colmar and visiting its markets as well. We spent a few nights in a large room that had been a home many years ago.

It was very affordable and on the second floor just above the main thoroughfare of markets. We could open our windows and hear the sounds of Christmas music! A walk outside our hotel put us in the middle of Colmar’s excellent market. The city was easy to explore on foot and had a few interesting sights besides the market.

A unique feature of Colmar is the canals that run through the city. One area is referred to as “La Petite Venise” because the waterways and charming architecture will make you feel like you’re in Italy. It’s an enjoyable and beautiful city to visit.

How to Get There

Strasbourg and nearby Colmar are in the Alsace region of France, and Strasbourg is Alsace’s capital. The area borders Germany, with the Rhine river flowing along the border. Strasbourg has an international airport, but it’s very affordable to fly into Paris, France or Frankfurt, Germany and take a train to the city.

By train, Paris is about 2.5 hours away, while Frankfurt is just under 2 hours away. Those within the continent will find Strasbourg well-connected by train to many areas.

Where to Stay

We stayed in Colmar, which is smaller and has a more relaxed and village-like feel. Strasbourg is not huge, but it does feel quite urban. However, I include some great hotel options in Strasbourg if you don’t have much time or choose to see just Strasbourg on this trip.

Recommended places to stay in Colmar:

Hotel St. Martin– This is where we stayed. It’s in an excellent location and has 40 rooms. Our room was along the street, so ask for that if you want to hear the markets. If you want quiet, there are rooms further to the back of the property.

Hostellerie le Marechal– An adorable place in La Petite Venise, you will love staying here. The half-timbered buildings seem right out of a storybook, and the rooms are elegant and cozy. It also has a highly rated restaurant on site, although it books up fast.

Hotel Turenne– It’s a few minutes’ walk from the old town, but an excellent choice with 54 rooms of varying size. It has a charming lobby and is a popular place.

Recommended places to stay in Strasbourg:

Hotel Cour du Corbeau de Strasbourg MGallery– Located close to the cathedral, this large hotel with lovely exterior passageways is a nice splurge. Suites are available, and shops and restaurants surround the property.

Hotel du Dragon– An affordable option yet clean and classy, this hotel is a great choice. It’s close to the sights but quiet. Save your money for more delicious meals out in Strasbourg!

Additional Tips

If you live in a warm climate like us, then you will want to bundle up to attend a Christmas market. You may be outside for several hours, and the weather will be cold and possibly wet.

Bring a heavy coat as well as scarves, gloves and a hat. It’s the perfect time to wear tall boots and warm socks.

Although our modern age makes paying with credit cards easy, it is best to have plenty of cash in your wallet as well. Many artisans can’t accept card payments. You can’t go wrong with having money in hand at a Christmas market.

We enjoyed seeing the markets at various times of the day. One day we explored in the morning, then had lunch in a restaurant to warm up a little and rest our feet. A few times, we went out in the early evening and stayed after dark to see the lights illuminated in all their glory.

But the incredible decorations of Strasbourg and Colmar may be best photographed during the day. So many cute Christmas Teddy Bear displays!

The markets usually kick off in late November and go through the first week of January. There were ten markets in Strasbourg last year, and some of them close earlier than others.

With the challenges of 2020, the markets have decorations and special events but no chalets. The city’s website will post information about 2021 as soon as it’s available.

A visit to the exceptional Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar is truly a magical experience. It’s unique among markets and an experience to remember. What’s your favorite part of seeing a Christmas market, or what you’d love to see most? The food? The decorations? Let me know in the comments below!

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