Best Christmas Markets in Alsace 2023

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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Quick Guide to the Best Alsace Christmas Markets 2023

We can’t think of anything more quintessentially wintery in France than a stroll through the best Christmas Markets in Alsace. Twinkling lights, mulled wine, wooden chalets, and a festive atmosphere – the Alsace Christmas Markets are definitely one of the top things to do in France!

Alsace is a historical region in Eastern France. Alsace’s capital is Strasbourg, which is also the capital of Grand Est, the new French region that comprises the historical regions of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine. Located close to the current border with Germany, the region of Alsace changed hands from Germany to France and vice-versa several times during the last centuries. That’s why visitors will find many German influences in Alsace, especially in the architecture, gastronomy, and Christmas markets.

Set in some of the region’s most picturesque cities, towns, and villages, visiting the best Alsace Christmas Markets is both a shopping experience and a destination discovery.

Here, we list the best Alsace Christmas Markets 2023, from Strasbourg to Mulhouse and beyond, as well as some ideas for Alsace Christmas Market itineraries by public and private transportation.

When to Visit the Christmas Markets Alsace

The best Christmas Markets in Alsace typically open during the last weekend in November and end on New Year’s Day. In general, the chalets open as early as 9 a.m. and remain open until 9-10 p.m.

The Christmas Markets Alsace are crazy busy on weekends, but it is also a fun and festive atmosphere. If you’re looking to avoid crowds as much as possible, try to visit the Christmas Markets in Alsace on weekdays, ideally in November.

The Alsatian Christmas Markets are among the most popular things to do in France in winter so book your accommodation and transportation well in advance!

Alsace Christmas Market Itineraries

Below, are two ideas for Alsace Christmas Market itineraries to visit some of the most beautiful Christmas Markets Alsace has to offer:

OPTION 1: Strasbourg is France’s capital of Christmas and the best place to start this Alsace Christmas Market itinerary. Strasbourg is also the best place to rent a car if you decide to plan an Alsace road trip.

From Strasbourg, take a day trip to Obernai to visit its wonderful Christmas Market.

Leave Strasbourg to Sélestat to visit its Villages de Noël. From Sélestat, you can visit the Christmas Markets of Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr on day trips. Then, travel to Colmar.

Colmar is a great base for exploring the Christmas Markets in the villages of the Alsace Wine Route, like Kaysersberg or Eguisheim.

From Colmar, travel to Mulhouse to visit the last (but not least) Alsace Christmas Market on this list.

OPTION 2: Start with the Mulhouse Christmas Market, and then travel north to Colmar to visit the Colmar Christmas Market.

From Colmar, take the Christmas bus shuttle to visit the Christmas Markets in the villages around on day trips (Eiguisheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg,…).

After Colmar, head to Strasbourg for the grand finale (the best Christmas Market in Alsace), perhaps with a day trip to Obernai.

Strasbourg, the capital of Europe and Alsace, is one of the most beautiful cities in France. The city has an interesting historical and architectural heritage, making it the wealthiest city in Alsace. Strasbourg’s Old Town, developed on the banks of the River Ill, not far from the Rhine River, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a wonder of Gothic art. The Petite-France district reveals its picturesque charm to visitors with its beautiful half-timbered Renaissance houses and pretty canals.

In addition, the city’s museums are fascinating, the perfect place to learn more about the region of Alsace and its traditions. If you visit Strasbourg for the first time, we recommend this Strasbourg itinerary for two days.

The city of Strasbourg hosts the best Christmas Market in France, which is also the oldest (since 1570!). If you only have time for one Alsace Christmas Market, then go to Strasbourg.

The Christmas events in Strasbourg start with the giant Christmas tree and all the Christmas illuminations lit up. Then, expect a city beautifully decorated and full of feel-good festiveness for all the family.

One of the unique things about the Strasbourg Christmas Market is that it is actually made up of multiple markets, occupying the city’s central squares and selling everything from handmade decorations to traditional biscuits of Alsace and other yummy things. Each square is a different market with a different theme.

Christkindelsmärik is the biggest Christmas Market in Strasbourg, and it is located at Place Broglie. Foodies will head to the Place du Marché-aux-Poissons and on the terrace of the Palais Rohan to discover Alsatian gastronomy during the festive days.

At nightfall, head to Place Kléber to admire the always impressive Christmas illuminations and the giant Christmas tree. For children, there are arts and crafts workshops and an ice skating rink.

Where to sleep in Strasbourg

Obernai is one of the most beautiful Alsace Christmas Markets near Strasbourg. Nestled at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile, Obernai delights visitors with its winding little streets and colorful half-timbered houses, notably on the Place du Marché, Rue du Marché, and Place de l’Etoile.

Don’t miss the Place du Marché, the beating heart of the historic town. Here, outstands the beautiful Hôtel de Ville (15-16th century), the 60-meter Tour de la Chapelle, and the Halle aux Blés, recognizable by its pointed gable roof.

During Christmas, Obernai’s cobbled streets and Renaissance architecture are swathed with sparkling illuminations and decorations, and it is wonderful to walk around the old town.

The Obernai Christmas Market is dedicated to Alsatian crafts and gastronomy, and it is the perfect place to taste the local products in a magical setting. This Alsace Christmas Market is centered around the Place du Marché, where you’ll find a giant Christmas tree, a model village, and a Petit Train for kids. Then, stalls spread out into Place Neher, Place du Beffroi, and Place de l’Étoile, with the tourist office offering walking tours and biscuit-making workshops.

Riquewihr is located in the heart of the Alsace Wine Route, 15 km from Colmar. Part of the Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges and ideally nestled in the vineyards, Riquewihr is a cute, flowery village with a typically Alsatian character, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.  

Every year, more than 2 million visitors visit Riquewihr to admire its beautiful heritage and visit its three museums: Musée de la Tour des Voleurs (with a torture chamber), Musée Hansi (with the artist’s personal objects), and Musée du Dolder.

The Riquewihr Christmas Market is one of the most magical, combining to perfection architectural heritage with Christmas lights and decorations. This Alsace Christmas Market is spread over two sites: Place Fernand Zeyer and along the Esplanade des Remparts near the town hall. On the first three weekends, the market is extended to Rue du Général de Gaulle.

Stroll through this fairytale Christmas Market: the wooden chalets offer craft items, Christmas ornaments, and gift ideas. There are also chalets proposing gingerbread, pretzels, sweets, bredalas, pastries, and mulled wine.

Riquewihr received the distinction of “Christmas Towns and Villages.” This label rewards the large-scale and quality events that are organized in Riquewihr throughout the Advent period.

Where to sleep in Riquewihr

Located in the center of Alsace, between the cities of Strasbourg and Mulhouse, Colmar is a must-stop on any Alsace road trip. The city, of medium size, is frequently voted as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and it has many monuments and typical neighborhoods, particularly beautiful and well-highlighted.

You are going to love walking around Colmar, with its picturesque canals and half-timbered houses. In addition, Colmar has several interesting museums, including the very famous Unterlinden Museum or the museum dedicated to Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, who was born and raised in Colmar.

Colmar is another quaint place in Alsace revered for its annual Christmas Market. Actually, the Colmar Christmas Market is voted one of the best Christmas markets in Europe year after year!

A sublime ‘light path’ takes the visitors to discover the six Christmas Markets, each nestled in an idyllic setting and with its own identity and theme. Depending on the Christmas Market, you will find stalls of Christmas decorations, gourmet food, crafts, and even a children’s market.

Apart from the Christmas Markets, there are many cultural & tourist activities spread around the town, so once you arrive at Colmar, we recommend heading to the Tourist Information (Place des Unterlinden) for the full program of activities and a map with the locations.

One of the best things to do at the Colmar Christmas Market is to see the illuminations on Friday and Saturday nights. The colors attract lots of “oohs” and “aahs” as half-timbered Medieval houses become illuminated.

TIP: Colmar or Strasbourg Christmas Market? Colmar and Strasbourg are the two best Christmas Markets Alsace has to offer. While the Strasbourg Christmas Market is considered France’s best Christmas Market, the Colmar Christmas Market always ranks high among the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe. The Strasbourg Christmas Market is better connected to other cities in France and Europe, while the Colmar Chrismas Market is more compact, so there’s less walking involved.

Where to sleep in Colmar

Located in the heart of Alsace, between Colmar and Strasbourg, the city of Sélestat is often underrated. And it is a pity because it has some remarkable buildings like the Humanist Library – one of the only two humanist libraries in Europe – l’Arsenal Sainte-Barbe, or the Romanesque Church of Sainte Foy.

Sélestat is also a great base for exploring the famous Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg and some picturesque Alsatian villages like Saint-Hippolyte, Bergheim, or Ribeauvillé.

DID YOU KNOW? Sélestat owns the oldest written record known to the world about the Christmas tree. We find this mention in an account book of the City dated 21 December 1521. This book is exhibited in the Humanist Library. The star in Sélestat, the Christmas tree, has its own parade, La Parade du Sapin. This year it will take place on Sunday 17 December 2023, departing from Place de la Victoire at 3 pm.

The Sélestat Christmas Market remains an intimate, authentic celebration, far from the crowds of Colmar or Strasbourg. Actually, in Sélestat, they call it Village de Noël (Christmas Village), and the stalls are located in two central squares: Place d’Armes and Place du Dr. Maurice Kubler on the forecourt of the Humanist Library.

But there’s more! Follow the Christmas tree marks on the floor and look for the different events, installations, and activities spread throughout the city center in a fairy tour route.

Where to sleep in Sélestat

Kaysersberg is one of the best-known wine villages on the Alsace Wine Route. This small village is nestled at the entrance of a Vosges Valley, only a few kilometers from Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr.

You are going to love Kaysersberg, with its beautiful historic center, its many half-timbered houses from the 15th-16th centuries, and a unique fortified bridge built in 1514 in pink sandstone from the Vosges. Kaysersberg means ‘the Emperor’s Mountain,’ and the imperial castle that dominates the city has an incredible charm.

Kaysersberg is an ideal base to spend Christmas in Alsace. Even if the Kaysersberg Christmas Market is lesser known than the neighboring markets, it is worth a detour for its authenticity and traditional character. This Alsace Christmas Market is nestled in an authentic and picturesque setting at the foot of the castle ruins.

Discover Kaysersberg’s Christmas Market and enjoy its festive and joyful atmosphere. Meet the craftsmen, carefully selected to display their original creations in the thirty or so small chalets. This Christmas Market only takes place during the four weekends of Advent.

Eguisheim is one of the most beautiful villages in Alsace. The town has a picturesque setting, surrounded by hills covered with vineyards and overlooked by the Trois-Châteaux, which watch over it. Eguisheim is located only 7km from Colmar.

Explore this charming Alsace village, with the Counts’ Castle in the central square and its half-timbered houses. Some are decorated with magnificent oriel windows or balconies with sculpted galleries. In the village, there are also two pretty Renaissance fountains dating from the 16th century.

Since 2010, Eguisheim has boasted the label “Christmas Towns and Villages.” This coveted label rewards the enhancement of the architectural and cultural heritage of the Medieval city.

The Eguisheim Christmas Market is small, intimate, and renowned for its atmosphere and authenticity. This Alsace Christmas Market 2023 takes place at Place du Marché des Saules and Place Monseigneur Stumpf. In both places, you will find around thirty artisans and designers who come to sell their creations in pretty wooden chalets, all sparkling with light.

Located at the foot of the Vosges, the historic and wine-growing town of Ribeauvillé is one of the must-stops along the Alsace Wine Route.

When visiting Rbeauvillé, don’t miss the village’s Grand Rue, the charming half-timbered houses, and the remains of Medieval fortifications overlooked by the ruins of the three castles of the Counts of Ribeaupierre.

Be seduced by Ribeauvillé Christmas Market, Alsace’s unique Medieval Market that plunges visitors into a joyful Medieval atmosphere. It is a bustling market, with peasants, traders, dancers, and strollers in Medieval costumes.

Most of the stalls are lined along the Grand Rue, and they offer all kinds of crafts and gourmet products, from sweet regional delicacies to wild boar on a spit, and of course, beer and mulled wine.

Ribeauvillé’s Medieval Christmas Market is a journey back in time and a unique show for all the family.

Located in the south of Alsace, Mulhouse is the second-largest city in the region. The city has a beautiful central square with the Hôtel de Ville, and the surrounding streets have some charming half-timbered houses.

However, Mulhouse’s main attractions are the Museums of the Automobile and Railway. These two top museums reflect the history of the city, strongly marked by industry.

The Mulhouse Christmas Market – the Wianachtsmarkt – is one of the biggest Christmas Markets Alsace has to offer. This is the third most visited Alsace Christmas Market, only after Strasbourg and Colmar, and it is located in the heart of the historic center.

The originality of the Mulhouse Christmas Market is to involve fabrics and textile creation in the decoration of the event. Mulhouse is the cradle of the textile industry in Alsace, also known for producing beautiful Christmas fabric. Each year the city produces this beautiful fabric to decorate facades and pedestrian streets around the Christmas Market.

The Mulhouse Christmas Market and festive events around it attract lots of people so – just like for Strasbourg and Colmar – it is recommended to book your accommodation and transportation well in advance.

Where to sleep in Mulhouse

What to Buy in the Christmas Markets Alsace 2023

The craftsmen who participate in the Alsace Christmas Markets 2023 are carefully selected: ceramists, potters, master glassmakers, cabinet makers, woodcarvers, hatters, and other creators who have inherited the know-how of an entire region.

When you visit the best Christmas Markets in Alsace, expect only original and quality products like Christmas decorations, original gifts, or beautiful jewelry and accessories.

What to Eat & Drink in the Alsatian Christmas Markets

The Christmas Markets in Alsace are great places to taste delicious Alsace food. Look out for tasty local specialties like tarte flambée, pretzels, bredeles (Christmas biscuits), and manele (brioche gingerbread men). Depending on where you go, you will find more local specialties like the wild boar on a spit in Ribeauvillé.

Being a wine region, don’t miss the vin chaud – mulled wine – to warm you up. This hot wine is slightly spicy, smells of cinnamon, and tastes really good!

Beer lovers will be happy to know that there are many microbreweries in Alsace producing excellent beers. Water is drawn from the groundwater, barley malt, yeast, and hops (for the bitter flavor) are the ingredients of Alsace beer, which is mainly lager. There are several types of beer available, including seasonal beer. The Christmas beer, for example, is a slightly darker ale.

And if you need a break from the Christmas crowds, the winegrowers are always open for wine tastings and some shopping. Alsace produces mainly white wines from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot blanc, and Pinot Gris but there are also excellent red wines from Pinot noir. Click here to book the best wine experiences near your favorite Alsace Christmas Markets

And there you have it, the best Christmas Markets in Alsace 2023. Now all you need to do is decide which ones you will visit (but we suggest doing them all!)

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