I’ve heard the best Christmas Markets in France are the best in the world, so I had to check them out.
If holiday lights, music, and festive food define the spirit of a market, then the very best Christmas Markets in France are in Alsace. Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Ribeauvillé transform into a Christmas wonderland each December.
For five days, my long-time friend Paula and I crammed in as many marketplaces as we could possibly see. It was indeed a tour through Christmas wonderland, and proved to us why Alsace is considered the capital of Christmas in France.
Paula recently moved to Uzés from the US after years of dreaming about living in France. We met each other on a tour of China and now she’s my neighbor! Paula worked in the tourist industry, which means she’s pretty much an expert at figuring out where to go, how to get there, where to stay, and what to do when you get there. She reads many travel blogs and is full of great ideas. We put all that know-how to the test on our Christmas Market tour through Alsace. Now, I’m happy to share it with you.
How to Get to the Best Christmas Markets in France
There’s no doubt about it: if you’re traveling in or through Europe to the best Christmas Markets in France, go by train. During our visit to Alsace, there was rain, sleet, and snow. By car, we could have had problems. By train, there were none. Fortunately, there were no train strikes and only short delays.
Where to stay: Strasbourg and Colmar
Our best decision when planning our tour of the best Christmas Markets in France was to start in Strasbourg, stay there for a couple of days, then take a train to Colmar. Then, we use Colmar as our base to see other villages nearby. Let me warn you, however, if you’re hoping to visit Christmas Markets in Alsace, be smarter than we were and plan your trip more than a month ahead. Finding accommodations in Strasbourg and Colmar wasn’t easy.
Strasbourg: Hôtel des Arts – simple and outdated, but the location is unbeatable and the staff welcoming.
Colmar: Weinhof Court B&B – a gem in the center of town. Thanks to Paula’s foresight in joining the waitlist, we enjoyed a warm and family-like stay with its multinational guests.
Hôtel des Arts in StrasbourgWeinhof Court B&B in Colmar
Guided Tour of Alsace Christmas Markets
Thumbs down, the day-long guided tour of Christmas Markets and villages around Colmar was our best idea. Our guide, Max from Alsace Original Experiences, picked us up in a black Mercedes van at the B&B in Colmar at 9:30am. We lucked out to be the only guests on the tour, so we could do as we pleased. Max was the perfect host and offered cookies and coffee as we started. His agenda for the day included visits to Eguisheim and Riquewihr, with stops at a cheese maker and a winery. It was dusk before we reached Kaysersberg, an added treat because we could see the Christmas lighting at night.
Going to Ribeauville was an added attraction. We teased Max about taking us and all our baggage to the train station in Colmar for our departure the next day. He took us seriously, called his boss, and arranged for us to visit Ribeauville in the morning before depositing us and our baggage on the train. What a treat that was! Not only did we feel like royalty being escorted to our train, but we also loved Ribeauville. It just happened to be the last weekend of their medieval Christmas Market, so with all the trimmings, the village was probably the most colorful of all we visited.
Day-by-Day Alsace Christmas Market Itinerary
Here’s how our trip unfolded:
Day 1–2: Strasbourg Christmas Market – France’s oldest and largest market, with dazzling lights and the iconic cathedral as a backdrop.
Day 3: Train to Colmar – settle in and explore the Colmar Christmas Market, famous for its canals and fairy-tale half-timbered houses.
Day 4: Guided tour of Eguisheim, Riquewihr & Kaysersberg – charming villages with storybook squares, Alsatian specialties, and festive decorations.
Day 5: Ribeauvillé Medieval Market + train departure – a surprise highlight to end the trip in true Christmas style.
Strasbourg Christmas Market
France’s oldest and largest market, with dazzling lights and the iconic cathedral as a backdrop.
There are beautiful Christmas Markets across France, but the very best are without a doubt in Alsace. Strasbourg and Colmar are must-sees, while smaller villages like Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Ribeauvillé make the experience unforgettable.
Where to stay: Strasbourg and Colmar
Thumbs down, the day-long guided tour of Christmas Markets and villages around Colmar was our best idea. Our guide, Max from Alsace Original Experiences, picked us up in a black Mercedes van at the B&B in Colmar at 9:30am. We lucked out to be the only guests on the tour, so we could do as we pleased. Max was the perfect host and offered cookies and coffee as we started. His agenda for the day included visits to Eguisheim and Riquewihr, with stops at a cheese maker and a winery. It was dusk before we reached Kaysersberg, an added treat because we could see the Christmas lighting at night.
