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Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022 – A Quick Guide

12/09/2022

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Christmas in Strasbourg, France

If you are visiting France in December and have a couple of extra days, why not jump on a train to explore one of the best Christmas Markets in Alsace? There are beautiful Christmas markets in Paris and other cities in France, but for the quintessential fairytale Christmas Market, Strasbourg is the place to go.

Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region and home to one of the best Christmas Markets in France. The Strasbourg Christmas Market is also the oldest, dating back to 1570!  

Expect over 300 wooden chalets spread around different squares in Strasbourg, offering unique gifts, Christmas decorations, and delicious food in a fairytale atmosphere.

Christmas Markets in Alsace

Colmar or Strasbourg Christmas Market? Both Christmas markets are lovely, but Strasbourg is nicknamed the Christmas Capital for a reason! The Christmas Market in Strasbourg is more extensive, with more sites, chalets, and activities for all ages. Also, Strasbourg is better connected with other cities in Europe than Colmar. If you only have one day available, the Colmar Christmas Market is smaller and easier to visit on a day trip.

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Where to Stay in Strasbourg for the Christmas Market

The Strasbourg Chrismas Market is big, with many locations. Therefore, plan at least one night in Strasbourg if you want to get the most out of it.

The advantage of staying overnight is that you can enjoy the city when the day crowds are gone. Little France or Cathedral Square early in the morning when everybody still sleeps are wonderful. With two days in Strasbourg, you can also visit some of the city’s tourist attractions.

Finding accommodation in Strasbourg during Christmas will not be difficult as long as you book well in advance. Expect higher prices during the weekends, so here’s another reason to visit the Strasbourg Christmas Market on weekdays.

TIP: Hotel Cathédrale is our favorite hotel to explore the Christmas markets in Strasbourg. It is located in Place de la Cathédrale, within walking distance of all the markets, and it has well-equipped rooms and unbeatable views over the famous Strasbourg Cathedral.

If Strasbourg is part of an Alsace road trip, Comfort Hotel Strasbourg – Montagne Verte is the place to go. The hotel is not far from the center and offers free private parking apart from decent rooms and an excellent breakfast.

For more information, check out this post on where to stay in Strasbourg – where we describe the best neighborhoods to stay in Strasbourg for tourists.

Christmas Market in Strasbourg 2022 by Train

Train Station in France

A trip to Strasbourg by train is very easy to plan. The central station (Gare de Strasbourg-Ville) is less than 500 meters from the historic center.

Trains to Strasbourg leave from Paris Gare de l’Est train station, in Paris 10. The distance from Paris to Strasbourg is 438km and most of the trains are direct. Count on taking it 2 hours from Paris to Strasbourg. – Click here to book your train from Paris to Strasbourg

Trains from Lyon to Strasbourg leave from Lyon Part Dieu train station. The distance from Lyon to Strasbourg is 504km and the train journey takes 4 hours – Click here to book your train from Lyon to Strasbourg.

You can travel to Strasbourg with SNCF, InOui, and Deutsche Bahn (from Paris). TGV InOui is SNCF’s low-cost line (lesser space, no internet onboard, only online booking & assistance), while Deutsche Bahn is the German train company. SNCF and Deutsche Bahn offer the same comfort level (I prefer Deutsche Bahn trains, though…) so I would choose based on the price.

Christmas Market in Strasbourg 2022 by Car

Do you want to visit the Christmas Markets in Strasbourg as part of an Alsace road trip? A car in Strasbourg during Christmas is always challenging!

The Grande-Île is entirely pedestrian during the opening hours of the Christmas Market. It is not possible to park in the Old Town during this period either.

TIP: Check out our best tips for renting a car in France.

Thanks to the Relais-Tram car parks, you can park your car inexpensively and use the tram to get to the city center. The tram ticket is valid (both outward and return) for all vehicle occupants up to 7 people.

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Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022 Dates and Opening Hours

This year, the Strasbourg Christmas Markets will open from 25 November to 24 December 2022. Strasbourg is one of the top places to visit in France in winter, especially during the Christmas holidays, so booking everything well in advance is essential.

If possible, try to visit Strasbourg in November, ideally during the week. There are always a lot of people during the weekends in Strasbourg at Christmas time!

Strasbourg Christmas Market Opening Hours 2022

The Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022 hours are from 11 am to 8 pm every day.

Christmas Markets in Strasbourg – Top Sites

Christkindelsmarik - Strasbourg Christmas Market

The Strasbourg Christmas Market is huge: you can easily spend a whole day strolling around, more if you participate in the workshops and activities. Actually, it is made up of different Christmas Markets, set in different locations.

All the Strasbourg Christmas Markets are located on the Grande Île de Strasbourg Strasbourg’s beating heart, set this year in a total of 14 sites hosting more than 310 chalets. But don’t worry, the distances are short, and you can easily walk from one market to another while admiring the Christmas lights and decorations.

The Grande Île de Strasbourg is completely pedestrian throughout the duration of the Christmas Market. Use the tram to reach the Grande Ile (Place Broglie station closed) and then walk.

TIP: if you visit Strasbourg for the day, a Strasbourg Christmas Market tour is a good idea. Discover the main secrets of the Christmas Markets in Strasbourg with a local guide, and listen to fun and unusual anecdotes and local traditions as you explore the city

Here are the main places where the Strasbourg Christmas Markets are located, the whole historic center is celebrating!  

Place Broglie. This square hosted the very first Christkindelsmärik in 1871, and since then, it has been Strasbourg Christmas Market’s beating heart. Place Broglie is also the square where Strasbourg’s Hotel de Ville is located. This year, its façade will light up every day to tell visitors about the characters who inhabit the tales and legends associated with the Christkindelsmärik (from 5 pm, every 40 minutes).

Place de la Cathédrale. This Christmas market is located in front of the Strasbourg Cathedral, one of France’s best Gothic cathedrals. It is gorgeous to explore at night.

Place Kléber. One of the main squares in Strasbourg, it hosts the famous Grand Sapin every year. Thirty meters high, Strasbourg’s Christmas tree is the tallest decorated Christmas tree in Europe, and it is stunning!  You will also find numerous chalets, the Village du Partage, and an ice rink.

Place Gutenberg. Strasbourg features a different country every year, and you will find the chalets dedicated to the guest country in this square.

In front of the Palais des Rohan and Place du Marché aux Poissons. Here, you will find the Marché des Délices, with local specialties and food workshops for the little ones. It is the place to taste the traditional bredele, mannele, and gingerbread made in Alsace.

Place Benjamin Zix. Located in famous Petite France, this is one of the most picturesque Christmas markets.

Place des Meuniers. Also located in picturesque Petite France, this market is dedicated to the small, Alsatian producers, with unique, quality handmade gifts ad excellent local products (cheese, beer, honey, sweets).

Place Gayot. This is one of the prettiest squares in Strasbourg. Here, there’s an original Christmas tree and many free workshops for children to create their own Christmas decorations and more.

Place Grimmeisen. You will find the Marché Off, Strasbourg’s social and solidarity market here. Discover thirty or so local companies involved in responsible purchasing have united to offer an original, festive, and committed market. This market is aimed mainly at locals, but of course, you will be most welcome.

Strasbourg at Christmas Time – What to Expect

After two unusual years because of the pandemic, the Christmas Market in Strasbourg is back with more locations so people can circulate better.

Wearing a mask that covers the mouth and nose is not compulsory but highly recommended in public transportation.

Expect a unique and magical atmosphere, where streets, houses, bridges, church facades, and the most iconic monuments in the city are beautifully dressed with Christmas lights and decorations.

This year, don’t miss Strasbourg’s ‘Star Walk,‘ a light path from Place Louise Weiss to Quai des Bateliers with more than 600 stars hung here and there, highlighting Strasbourg’s historical and architectural heritage. These stars will also guide you through the different Strasbourg Christmas Markets.

In the Strasbourg Christmas Market, there’s something to see everywhere, but don’t miss the Christmas illuminations in these places:

  • Rue du VieuxMarché-aux-Poissons. Go through the Porte des Lumières to enter the magic of Strasbourg Capitale de Noël.
  • Intersection Rue du VieuxMarché-aux-Poissons /Rue Mercière
  • Place de la Cathédrale
  • Rue des Tonneliers
  • Rue des Hallebardes
  • Rue de la Mésange
  • Grand’ Rue
  • Rue du 22 Novembre
  • Place des Halles

What to Do in the Strasbourg Christmas Markets 2022

Apart from strolling around the different Strasbourg Christmas Markets and soaking up the city’s unique atmosphere, here are the things you don’t want to miss in Strasbourg at Christmas time. Ask at the Strasbourg Tourism Office (17 Place de la Cathédrale) for the full program and times.

  • Saint-Nicolas at the Iceberg (rink) on 7 December 2022
  • Bach concerts, on 3, 10, and 17 December 2022
  • Ice-skating, on the rink at Place Kléber
  • Guided visits, with different topics related to Christmas in Strasbourg
  • Family show “Pain d’Epices,” on 17 December 2022
  • The Christmas Tale by the Théâtre Alsacien de Strasbourg, from 22 to 29 December 2022
  • Advent shows, every Saturday at the Village de l’Advent (Place Louise Weiss)
  • Christmas Concert by Virginie Schaeffer at Saint-Joseph Church, on 18 December 2022
  • The Cathedral’s Christmas crib. Presented over 18 meters long, this nativity scene dating from 1907 is a pure marvel.

From the city, you can also visit other Christmas Markets in Alsace on day trips from Strasbourg.

From here, the Alsace Christmas Markets in Obernai, Sélestat, and Colmar are easy to visit by train. If you visit the Alsace by car, you can venture to other Christmas markets in Riquewihr, Eguisheim, or Kaysersberg.

You can also take a Christmas guided tour with transportation and spend a fabulous full day visiting beautiful villages and towns decorated for Christmas.

So there you have it, the guide to the Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022 with everything you need to know to plan your trip to Strasbourg at Christmas time.

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