What Are the Strasbourg Christmas Markets?
The Strasbourg Christmas Markets, often dubbed “Capital of Christmas,” is a magical holiday attraction in the heart of Strasbourg, France. Dating back to 1570, it’s one of the oldest and most renowned Christmas markets in Europe. Every year, from late November to late December, the city transforms into a winter wonderland, with over 300 wooden chalets lining the streets.
Strasbourg itself gets decked out in Christmas decor, with thousands of Christmas lights and decor covering the city. When we visited in December, it even snowed, which really added to the festive charm. Below I’ve listed everything you’ll need to know to get the most out of your visit to this iconic Christmas market.
When Do the Strasbourg Christmas Markets Officially Start?
For 2024, the Christmas market starts on November 27th and ends on December 27th. You can find more information on their official site.
How to Get to the Strasbourg Christmas Markets
Getting from Paris to Strasbourg is easy and there are several options. The most popular choice is taking the high-speed TGV train. I recommend booking your TGV tickets as early as possible, especially as tickets become expensive the closer we get to Christmas. I’d recommend booking tickets as early as September for the cheapest price. The journey typically takes around 2 hours.
Alternatively, you can opt for a long-distance bus, which is often more budget-friendly but takes approximately 6 to 7 hours to reach Strasbourg from Paris. This can be worthwhile if you’re going for longer than a few days, however, if you’re doing a day trip, a bus ride will cut out too much time to be able to make it there and back within just a day.
Exploring the Markets
Strasbourg boasts a total of 13 Christmas markets scattered throughout the Old Town. The distance between any two markets varies from 50 meters to 800 meters. The most renowned Christmas markets in Strasbourg are located at Place de la Cathédrale, Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg, Place Broglie, and Place du Château.
Christmas Market at Place de la Cathédrale
Easily the most touristy Christmas market, the Christmas market at the cathedral is the most popular market in all of Strasbourg. Here you will find dozens of chalets offering anything from pottery to baked goods to vin chaud (mulled wine). The market is particularly beautiful at night as the cathedral makes a beautiful backdrop amidst all the twinkling lights of the chalets.
Place Kléber
Place Kléber in Strasbourg is a festive wonderland in the city’s heart. It features enchanting holiday booths, twinkling lights, and a towering Christmas tree. This 30-metre-high tree was carefully selected in the Vosges Mountains and is one of the greatest symbols of Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas.
Alongside traditional stalls, volunteer booths offer information, assistance, and charity initiatives, adding to the market’s warm atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy mulled wine, gingerbread cookies, and shop for handcrafted ornaments while engaging with the community.
What to Eat
While exploring the Strasbourg Christmas Markets, don’t miss out on the delicious culinary offerings. Some must-try items include:
- Flammekueche/Tarte Flambée (pizza of the Alsace region, it’s a thin dough base cooked with fresh cream, white cheese, onions, and little pieces of bacon)
- Bretzel (sweet or salty pretzels, you will see many variations of them as you explore the markets)
- Choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with sausage)
- Spätzle ( Alsacien pasta, the difference between this and other pastas is that spaetzle is created with a more liquid dough. The texture is crunchy on the outside and a little soft on the inside. They can be served with cheese, butter, bacon,
- Munster cheese (soft cheese with a subtle taste, made mainly from milk first produced in the Vosges, between the Alsace-Lorraine and Franche-Comté regions in France. You can find this topped on just about anything in the markets – we had a munster spätzle that was delicious)
- Vin chaud (mulled wine)
- Gingerbread (pain d’épices – literally, spice bread. Not the same gingerbread as the US, the gingerbread in France is soft and darker in color, while American gingerbread is lighter and crunchier)
- Mannele (brioche bread baked in the form of a human man with chocolate chips)
