Celebrate Christmas in Strasbourg

Every year Strasbourg’s medieval heart transforms into a glittering, frosted wonderland of enchanting light displays and Christmas trees swathed in dazzling decorations. The fragrances of spice and chocolate float over centuries-old squares lined with stalls selling unusual gifts and delicious edible treats, around which festive crowds – up to 2 million annually – gather to celebrate this most magical time of year.

But where did it all start? Strasbourg sits on the French border with Germany, where Christmas markets originated back in the late Middle Ages. In its time, the city has been both French and German, with many German traditions, elements of language and cuisine styles being adopted down the centuries. It’s believed that the first Christmas market in Strasbourg was held in 1570. From that small beginning, today’s magnificent celebrations have grown, showcasing a unique blend of French and German heritage.

Late November sees Strasbourg’s festive extravaganza spring to life, with hundreds of wooden stalls taking over the central, UNESCO-listed district of La Grande-Île for a whole month, winding up on Christmas Eve.

Not content with holding one Christmas market, spectacular Strasbourg has 13 for you to explore, each with twinkling decorations, festoons of garlands and its own distinctive ambiance. Along with the three most popular listed below, the other smaller markets spread out across La Grande-Île.

Good to know: Even though the markets are free to access, take some cash with you – some stalls in the main squares accept credit cards, but smaller vendors often only take cash. You’ll need a few euros to pay for your souvenir mulled wine cup too!

Photogenic centrepiece of Strasbourg’s festive markets, baroque Place Kléber is home to a vast Christmas tree traditionally harvested from the forests of the Vosges. At its foot is the Village du Partage (Village of Sharing), where you can buy unique gifts to support local charities.

This market is best seen at night, when the cathedral is floodlit and you can browse chalet-style stalls selling Alsace specialities such as pretzels, choucroute (a sort of sauerkraut) and mulled wine (aka vin chaud or Glühwein) flavoured with cinnamon and cloves to head off the winter chill.

Site of Christmas market stalls since 1871, the delightful Place Broglie is also home to a funfair and the iconic ‘Christkindelsmärik’ sign, around which cluster wooden chalets selling Christmas baubles, hand-crafted jewellery and typical Alsace street food.

The markets become crammed with visitors from across Europe, especially in the immediate run up to Christmas. Plan to visit during the week in early December to dodge the heaviest of the crowds. The stalls are open between 11:30am and 9pm daily, and are generally at their busiest at nightfall when illuminations light up the cobbled streets. Place Broglie and Place de la Cathédrale are perhaps the most popular markets, so think about heading to Place Benjamin Zix in Petite France for a more intimate, quieter experience instead. 

Load up on local honeys, pâtés and almond bredele biscuits from the eco-friendly artisan market at the riverside Advent Village on Square Louise-Weiss. Other delicious festive goodies to sample include traditional pain d’epices ginger cake, gingerbread biscuits in a myriad of Christmas-themed shapes, and raisin-infused kugelhopf brioche cakes soaked in rum.

Sample floral Riesling d’Alsace or sparkling Crémant wines and choose your favourites to accompany you home. Toast your successful purchases with a warming glass of spicy mulled wine.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without cute ornaments in all shapes, sizes, colours and themes. Look out for delicate silver stars, angels sprinkled with glitter or pretzel-shaped baubles to hang on your tree – and don’t forget the Santa hat to complete your festive outfit!

Select elegant, green-stemmed Alsace wine glasses, handmade candles, gold-dipped metalwork bookmarks or delicate lace tablecloths – lacemaking is an age-old regional tradition – to take home as Christmas presents.

Good to know: Some stallholders will gift wrap your buys, but may charge a few euros more for the service.

Choose recycled presents at Marché OFF. The city’s first 100% sustainable market is located in upcycled shipping containers on Place Grimmeissen, and a browse will turn up unusual offerings such as repurposed wooden toys and ethically sourced gourmet chocolates. The vibe is pretty cool too, with lots of live music, street art and kids’ workshops.

With a gorgeous backdrop of half-timbered townhouses and every cranny liberally festooned with twinkling lights, trees and giant gold or red baubles, the streets of Grand-Île’s Carré d’Or district and Rue des Orfèvres are both treasure troves of romantic Christmas joie de vivre.

Head for the ice rink on lovely Place Kléber after dark and execute a few spins and loops underneath the giant Christmas tree. Celebrate successfully staying upright with a glass or two of local Crémant sparkling wine.

A revered part of Strasbourg’s Christmas celebrations, Europe’s largest Nativity Crib is displayed in Notre-Dame Cathedral. Legend has it that a new figure is added to the diorama each year.

Good to know: You can climb the 330 steps up to the cathedral’s viewing platform for a bird’s-eye glimpse over the markets laid out below.

Pose with your special someone under the famous ‘Christkindelsmärik’ sign on Place Broglie and post the pic on Insta to let the folks back home know what they’re missing.

Starting from Petite France at nightfall, wander the banks of the River Ill to Sainte-Madeleine Bridge, soaking in the sheer beauty of Strasbourg as you pass trees alight with shimmering decorative stars.

Accompanied by heartwarming Christmas carols, the lighting ceremony takes place daily at 4pm on Place Kléber. A different decorative theme is chosen for the 30-metre (100-ft) giant fir every year.

Little legs can get tired with lots of walking, so hop on the mini-train running between all the markets from 11am to 5pm daily.

When you visit Place Gutenberg Market – themed around a different country every year – make sure Santa knows what your kids would like for Christmas by posting a letter to his friend Père Noël – the mail box is right next to the blue-lit tree in the middle of the square.

Fingers crossed for a white Christmas? Strasbourg looks even prettier under a carpet of glistening snow, but if you have no luck, bring home a snow dome instead. Whatever the weather, make sure your offspring keep toasty warm with regular servings of divinely velvety hot chocolate from stalls throughout the market.

Kids been good all year? Treat them to a cuddly teddy bear from the exquisite Terre d’Ours toy store on Rue du Bouclier.

Take yourself off on a whistle-stop tour of the many landmarks in charming Grande-Île, including the Covered Bridges and the Barrage Vauban dam. On your route, pop into the cathedral to see the 19th-century astronomical clock.

Add a little culture to your holiday mix with a visit to the three exceptional museums in the monumental, 18th-century Palais Rohan. No time to visit them all? Prioritise the masterpieces by Veronese, El Greco and Tiepolo in the Museum of Fine Arts.

Book a free, multilingual tour of the European Parliament’s headquarters and the Simone Veil Parlamentarium to learn about the workings of the EU through entertaining and interactive displays. If your dates coincide, you can also access the Hemicycle, the inner sanctum where MEPs debate and vote.

Strasbourg is an eminently walkable city, with riverfront Petite France one of its most photogenic quartiers. Famous for its pastel-coloured, timber-framed mansions perched precariously along the River Ill, it’s a real joy to explore on foot as you navigate a labyrinth of cobbled lanes and covered bridges spanning the waterways.

Save your appetite for tucking into hearty dishes – tarte flambée pizzas, choucroute served with pork and apple strudel perhaps – at a welcoming winstub, the regional version of a pub. If you’re spending Christmas Day in Strasbourg, there’s no better place to sample Alsace’s rich blend of French and German culinary traditions.

Strasbourg in December is cold, but hopefully dry with some bright, sunny days. You’ll still need to wrap up warmly, with gloves, hats and scarves recommended to keep out the chill. Many of the streets are cobbled, so sturdy, comfortable shoes are a must – and if you’re intending to do all your Christmas shopping, take a tote or rucksack in which to store your purchases. (There’s a security check at all routes onto La Grande Île, so any bags will be searched).

Many Strasbourg restaurants and winstubs are open for celebratory festive feasts on Christmas Day. However, do be aware that December 26 is a public holiday in this corner of France and most places will be closed.

There is a fantastic choice of Strasbourg hotels to suit luxury travellers, families looking to treat their kids and couples seeking a festive escape à deux. You can walk to the markets in this pedestrian-friendly city from most hotels in the historic, central Grande Île.

Cars are not allowed in the city centre, but if you’re splashing out on a romantic rendezvous at Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, there is paid parking at the hotel. If you and the family are arriving in Strasbourg by train, consider staying at Aparthotel Adagio Strasbourg Place Kléber as it’s only 10 minutes’ walk from the TGV station.

Is Strasbourg worth visiting at Christmas? A thousand times, yes… We hope you love discovering its enchanting delights as much as we do, and wish you a Joyeux Noël!