The Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the most famous and with good reason. On the first day of the market, hundreds of locals and tourists alike gather to witness the lighting of the Christmas tree on Place Kléber. The lighting of this iconic tree signals the ouverture of the markets and, consequently, the holiday season in Strasbourg.
Below is a review of key dates and times to visit Strasbourg for the Christmas market, as well as details on the best places to stay, and how to get here for a festive visit.
Strasbourg Christmas Market 2023 dates
In 2023, the Strasbourg Christmas market will take place from Friday, November 24 – Sunday, December 24. The first day is one of the most exciting, but you’ll have to plan well in advance to ensure you get the accommodation and travel arrangements you desire.
Hours of operation
The Christmas markets are open every day from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. There are two exceptions to this schedule:
- On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they are open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- On December 24th, they are open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Is the Strasbourg Christmas Market worth it?
The Christkindelsmärik (Alsatian for “Christmas Market) in Strasbourg draws over two million visitors to the city. It is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Europe who enjoys the holiday spirit, mulled wine, sweet Christmas-themed treats, and holiday decorations.
The Classics: Christmas markets to visit in Strasbourg
Place Kléber: Home to the enormous Christmas tree, Place Kléber is arguably the heart of the entire Christmas market scene in Strasbourg. The Alsatian buildings in the background form a storybook backdrop to a huge square bursting with the sounds and smells of the holidays: music, mulled wine,
Cathedral Market, (Place de la Cathédrale): With the iconic, 142-meter high spire rising grandly above you, this market is a can’t-miss.
Gutenberg Market, (Place Gutenberg): Every year, the Strasbourg city council organizes a cultural “visit” from a country that invites them to share their local flavors.
Broglie Market, (Place Broglie): This market always has a slightly regal vibe to it because it’s situated in front of the gorgeous city hall building.
Blink and you’ll miss ‘em… but don’t miss ‘em!
Below is a list of small, easy-to-miss markets in the sense that you could well be passing through them without realizing it!
- Place du Château
- La Place du Marché aux Poisson
- La Place du Temple Neuf
- La Place Saint Thomas
- La Place des Meuniers
- La Place Benjamin-Zix
- La Place Grimmeissen
- Square Louise Weiss
My personal favorites
So, which markets live up to the hype? Which markets fly under the radar?
For me, my personal favorite is the Place du Marché aux Poissons and Place Kléber. The former is situated right along the canal and you have dreamy views of the lights and decorations glowing over the water. The second is because I simply adore the enormous Christmas tree and am pleasantly hypnotized by the slowly changing colors on the tree.
Strasbourg Christmas market map
A complete map of the 2023 Christmas markets in Strasbourg can be found here, in addition to French descriptions of the various markets and their (many) festive characteristics.
Where to stay in Strasbourg for the Christmas market?
Visiting Strasbourg during the famous Christmas market season is truly magical. The planning and logistics that go into a successful visit, however, are not. In order to enjoy your visit, you’ll want to have a good understanding of how the influx of tourists affects the city, assess your tolerance for crowds and noise, and review a map of the city accordingly. Also, having a go-to guide for the best coffee in Strasbourg is never a bad idea either.
Grand Île: The heart of the festivities
“Île” means island in French, which is appropriate given that the city center is ringed by canals. Grand Île is essentially the downtown area of Strasbourg. Highly walkable, it’s less than a mile long and yet still manages to hold every one of the city’s 11 markets. If you’re looking to stay in the midst of the holiday bustle and cheer, look for places that note proximity to Place Kléber, Petite France, the Carré d’Or, Place Gutenberg, or Grand Rue.
Special mention: Krutenau. This neighborhood is located just outside the Grande Île and offers prime access to both the city center and the lively Place Corbeau and Place Austerlitz. The pricing of accommodation here reflects this ideal, which you’ll want to keep in mind when assessing accommodation options.
Important note on entering/exiting Grand Rue
Entering the city center is a hassle during the Christmas market period due to the increased security necessary during these high-tourist season times. Pedestrians and bikers can expect to wait in line for upwards of 10 minutes. Security guards will also check your bag thoroughly prior to entry. Additionally, none except registered vehicles are allowed in, and security checks those registrations too.
On the outskirts: Economic and safe options
Although staying on the Grand Île can be a magical way to experience the markets, it’s far and away the more expensive option. And, if you plan at the last minute, there may not even be any hotel or Airbnb availability left. So, it’s important to be aware of what other options exist.
Poincaré: Located beside the enormous shopping center called Les Halles, this is a little corner of the city tucked just outside the “gare” (train station) neighborhood. Although the gare can leave some feeling uneasy, Poincaré is a reasonably safe area located 5-10 minutes walking from an entrance to the Grand Île. Other options in the vicinity include Faubourg Saint Pierre, and near Place Haguenau.
Neudorf: This calm neighborhood is helpfully located a stone’s throw from the bus station, and is easily accessible from the train station (tram lines C and D). While it does take around 20 minutes to walk into the city center, the route is straightforward and typically safe.
Illkirch: Even further outside the city is a nicer neighborhood called Illkirch, easily accessible from the train station (tram line A). Staying out here will require a daily tram ride into the city, so if you’re just here for a couple of days, I’d recommend getting a 48-hour public transport pass.
Contades: This is a quiet family neighborhood with beautiful architecture. While it is a short tram away from the city center, staying here puts you in close proximity to the European Parliament, Parc d’Orangerie, and a lovely, little-known restaurant.
Orangerie: Located about a 10-15 minute tram ride outside the city, the official neighborhoods here are “Quinze” and “Vauban,” but most ads will likely note proximity to the lovely park nearby. (Definitely worth a visit in and of itself during any time of the year!)
Neighborhoods to exercise caution
Gare: The neighborhood by the train station gets a bad reputation, however, during the day I’ve found it to be a lively and dynamic place with nice people. I will say that as a woman it can feel a little uncomfortable in the evenings when it’s dark, especially if you’re alone and not sure of your way around.
For this reason, and considering that the Christmas markets are at their most beautiful in the evening, I would recommend that tourists staying in this neighborhood exercise increased caution when leaving their accommodation in the evening.
Musée d’Art Moderne: Technically part of the Gare neighborhood, this area is just beside the Ponts Couverts. Ponts Couverts is less than five minutes’ walk from the nearest market. If you’re looking for a place to stay here, try to stay closer to the city than further away from the Île.
Esplanade: This is a very student-heavy area, which isn’t to say that it’s unsafe per se. However, iit can get quite noisy and overwhelming in the evenings.
Meinau: This neighborhood is adjacent to Neudorf, however, it is far more dynamic. Some parts are quite calm and safe, while others are the opposite. You can feel that it is a neighborhood in flux when you look at the buildings – many are new builds and clearly designed to cater to the young professional. The neighborhood does have a stadium which local sports fans love, but I wouldn’t recommend this area for a prospective Christmas market tourist who would just like to fill up on mulled wine and safely wander back in the evenings.
Note: The places described in the above section reflect recommendations I would make to someone who has never visited Strasbourg before and is coming specifically to enjoy the Christmas markets.
How to visit the Strasbourg Christmas market
There are several different ways to come to Strasbourg for the Christmas market.
Arriving from Paris
One of the most common is to take the train from Paris. If you take the train, you will arrive in the city center and be well-positioned to access accommodation anywhere in Strasbourg, but particularly the Grand Île.
Another (less eco-friendly) option is to fly, however, if you’re coming from Paris I would not recommend this as it’s far simpler and less time-consuming to simply take the train. Finally, you can take something like a FlixBus, which is often the most economical option and will drop you off at a bus station near some of the neighborhoods mentioned in the outskirts section above.
Arriving from other major cities in France
I always recommend reviewing train routes first, but the fact is that from certain areas it’s far more time-efficient to fly from France, particularly if you don’t have a lot of time to visit the Christmas market. Additionally, the Strasbourg airport is excellently located and it’s very easy to connect to a train to take you into the city.
Personally, I tend to fly with the Spanish budget airline Volotea because they have very competitive prices and offer many routes. However, they have recently become far more stringent on the carry-on baggage size and weight allowance, so take care here as not following the instructions could result in an unpleasant fee to pay at the airport. Also, you’ll want to budget to bring holiday-themed snacks and souvenirs home, so don’t forget to factor that variable into your packing plan!
Arriving from major cities in Germany
Munich, Frankfurt, or Stuttgart: Taking a train or bus is likely the easiest option.
Berlin: Volotea recently added routes to Strasbourg.
Arriving from major cities in Switzerland
The train will be your best bet!
I love your blog! Keep it up! Your photos are beautiful and I appreciate your helpful details as well as personal experience. You keep reigniting my desire to move to France and you make me feel like I can do it (even at 47). Merci!