We first got to know the Alsace Christmas markets in Strasbourg: at least 10 trips by now, with family, wandering between the wooden chalets of the Capital of Christmas. Then we wanted to see something else. Off we went to Colmar and Riquewihr, the ones everybody talks about, but also to Ribeauvillé and Kaysersberg, far less famous. Two days on the road, four villages, one real favourite, one small letdown… and a lot of mulled wine!
In this guide you’ll find our honest opinion on each market, the 2026 dates, our 2-day route, our tips for parking and finding somewhere to stay… and everything worth eating along the way. Shall we?
Updated in September 2026 with the 2026 Christmas market dates. We took this road trip in December 2019: the opinions are from our visit, and the practical details are refreshed every year.
✤✤✤
Alsace Christmas markets: our verdict at a glance
No time to read the whole thing? Here’s our verdict after walking these Alsatian Christmas markets:
| Market | 2026 dates | Open | Atmosphere | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribeauvillé | 5-6 and 12-13 December | Two weekends only | Medieval, lots of entertainment | Our favourite |
| Riquewihr | Late November to 20 December | Daily | Storybook village | Gorgeous, but packed |
| Colmar | 23 November to 29 December | Daily | Six markets, big light displays | Beautiful town, underwhelming markets |
| Kaysersberg | 27 November to 20 December | Friday to Sunday | Craft-focused and intimate | Charming, but small |
| Strasbourg | Late November to 24 December (to be confirmed) | Daily | Capital of Christmas, big-city buzz | Best overall |
2026 dates checked in September 2026: always confirm on the official websites before you travel, as they can change.
The Alsace Christmas markets we visited
People say the Christmas markets in Alsace are among the most beautiful in France, maybe even in Europe. We don’t have a huge basis for comparison, but the bar really is high around here. The lights, the decorations, the magic in the air, the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine… Everyone has heard of Strasbourg and Colmar, of course. But we wanted to see more! In two days we did Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Colmar and Kaysersberg. We could have squeezed in a fifth, but we loved Ribeauvillé so much that we went back a second time. Same for Colmar, which we saw first at night, then in daylight.
Ribeauvillé: the medieval Christmas market
It wasn’t even on the plan, and it turned out to be Alcino’s favourite! This little town sits on the Alsace Wine Route and is best known for its three castles. Its Christmas market, the only medieval-themed one in Alsace, pulls the whole town back in time, with plenty of demonstrations and craftspeople in period costume. This is where we ate best, with homemade Alsatian specialties.
We loved the decorations, the half-timbered houses, the lights… The town is surrounded by vineyards we’d like to explore properly next time! We also came across a goose farmer, and the Three Wise Men complete with a camel and dromedaries. Plenty of magic, especially for little ones.
2026 dates: careful, the Ribeauvillé market doesn’t run all December! It only takes place on the weekends of 5-6 and 12-13 December 2026, Saturdays 10am to 7pm and Sundays 10am to 6pm. The town centre is closed to traffic: park at the park-and-ride and take the shuttle.
Riquewihr: a storybook village
This village is so pretty! It’s easy to see why it’s one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages. That said, we found it a bit of a victim of its own success, with crowds everywhere. The Christmas market runs along the main street, and we loved the decorations and the classic Alsatian architecture, along with all the local producers selling cheese, chocolate and more. Mostly it made us want to come back outside the Christmas season!
Our tip: come on a weekday or early in the morning to enjoy the lanes before the crowds arrive.
2026 dates: late November to 20 December 2026, open daily.
Colmar: six markets… and mixed feelings
We’d often heard that Colmar’s Christmas markets were even better than Strasbourg’s, so our expectations were high… and we came away a little disappointed. The town has six markets spread across the old centre (Place des Dominicains, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, Place Jeanne d’Arc, the Koïfhus, Little Venice…), and we found them quite far apart, with some underwhelming stalls. The ones by the Dominican church did win us over, with their lovely little wooden huts. And of course the town itself is stunning, with its architecture, its churches and its canals. We liked the lights and decorations a lot too, but we’d expected a bit more.
Our tip: go at dusk, when the lights and Little Venice are at their best.
2026 dates: 23 November to 29 December 2026, open daily. Full details on the official Colmar Christmas website.
Kaysersberg: a small, craft-focused market
The moment we arrived in the village, we were smitten! Everything is beautiful, with gorgeous decorations and so much charm: the river, the bridge, the architecture, the colourful houses… Then, half an hour after we got there, it started absolutely pouring. We kept exploring, but it quickly became difficult. We also found there were very few stalls at this Christmas market. We stopped for dinner and the traders started packing up… The rain never let up all evening, and we ended up hurrying back to the car. Such a shame!
Looking back, we’d suggest going during the day: the market is small and very craft-focused, and the village deserves a proper wander, all the way up to the castle.
2026 dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 27 November to 20 December 2026, 10am to 8pm.
Strasbourg: still our favourite
We didn’t go on this particular trip, but Strasbourg is still our favourite when it comes to Christmas markets. My family in Germany lives just over an hour away, so we’ve spent several weekends at theirs and then all headed to the markets together on the Sunday.
Even after visiting these other Alsace Christmas markets, I still prefer Strasbourg. Maybe it’s habit, maybe the cathedral, maybe the way a bigger city organises everything. Either way, that’s the one that works best for us. Possibly we just feel less hemmed in there, because the small villages were seriously crowded.
Have a look at our article on the Strasbourg Christmas markets for more.
2026 dates: traditionally late November to 24 December. Official dates are published in the autumn on the official Strasbourg Capital of Christmas website.
More Alsace Christmas markets worth knowing about
There are so many Christmas markets in Alsace! In two days we obviously couldn’t do them all. Here are the ones on our list for next time. We haven’t been yet, but we’ll report back!
➺ Eguisheim: one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, built in concentric rings around its castle, minutes from Colmar.
➺ Turckheim: a small fortified town known for its night watchman, which we’d love to see under the Christmas lights.
➺ Obernai: at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile, a lovely stop between Strasbourg and Colmar.
➺ Sélestat: the town claims the oldest written mention of a Christmas tree, dating back to 1521.
➺ Mulhouse: its market on Place de la Réunion is known for its Christmas fabric, a new design created each year that dresses the whole town.
➺ Gertwiller: not a market, but the Alsatian capital of gingerbread, perfect for a sweet detour!
There are other Christmas markets in France and across Europe tempting us too, like Arras, or the one in Valkenburg in the Netherlands, held inside a cave. We’ve been to that one since, and it really was a one-of-a-kind experience!
A 2-day Alsace Christmas market itinerary
Here’s the route we’d recommend, based on our own trip and the mistakes we made along the way. Since Ribeauvillé and Kaysersberg only open at weekends, plan it for a Saturday and Sunday in December.
➺ Day 1: Ribeauvillé from 10am, to enjoy the medieval market before the crowds, with lunch there. In the afternoon, head to Riquewihr, about fifteen minutes away. Finish the day in Colmar at dusk, for the lights.
➺ Day 2: Kaysersberg in the morning, around twenty minutes from Colmar, in daylight so you avoid our soggy evening! Then back to Colmar to see the town by day. And if you fall for Ribeauvillé the way we did, swing by again.
To add Strasbourg, allow an extra day: it’s about thirty minutes from Colmar by train.
What to eat at Alsatian Christmas markets
As usual, we’d rather eat on the go at the markets themselves! In Ribeauvillé we stumbled on a stall selling local produce, including wild boar sausages and raclaflette (a tartiflette made with raclette cheese). It’s also the perfect chance to try Alsatian specialities. Here’s what we’d recommend:
➺ Mulled wine, red or white: in Alsace it’s also made with white wine, which is well worth trying.
➺ Bredele, the little Christmas biscuits every family has their own recipes for (cinnamon stars, buttery shortbread…).
➺ Mannele, a small brioche shaped like a little man, traditionally eaten around St Nicholas’ Day.
➺ Gingerbread, in all its forms.
➺ Tarte flambée (flammekueche), flambéed baguettes, pretzels and, if you’re really hungry, sauerkraut.
➺ And of course roasted chestnuts, plus hot apple juice for the kids!
Alsace Christmas markets: practical tips
Getting there and getting around
➺ The handiest airports are Basel-Mulhouse, about 45 minutes from Colmar, and Strasbourg. You can also fly into Paris and take the TGV to Strasbourg in around two hours.
➺ For Strasbourg and Colmar you can easily come by train and do the markets on foot.
➺ For the villages, we’d recommend a car, which makes a mini road trip much easier. As we said earlier, we managed four towns in two days.
➺ We also saw a lot of coaches shuttling between the markets, which is a good option if you’d rather not drive. There are also the Navettes de Noël, shuttle buses running from Colmar station out to the villages, though only Friday to Sunday, and tickets sell out fast. One thing to note: Ribeauvillé no longer accepts tour coaches during its medieval market.
➺ Something important nobody had told us: allow time for parking! We thought we’d breeze from one market to the next, until we spent 45 minutes hunting for a space. In Ribeauvillé and Kaysersberg the centre is pedestrianised during the market, so head straight for the park-and-ride and the shuttles.
➺ Try to reach your first market very early, and you’ll have a much better chance of parking nearby.
➺ Double-check dates and opening hours: Kaysersberg only opens Friday to Sunday, Ribeauvillé for just two weekends, and in 2026 both Riquewihr and Kaysersberg close as early as 20 December.
➺ Avoid Saturday afternoons in mid-December if you can, as they’re by far the busiest. On weekdays, Colmar, Riquewihr and Strasbourg are far more enjoyable.
➺ Pack properly warm clothes and waterproof shoes: December temperatures often hover around freezing, and the cobbles get slippery.
Where to stay
➺ Even booking well ahead, finding somewhere to stay was a real struggle! I saw some eye-watering prices (€3,000 or €9,000 for two nights!), so we ended up quite far from Colmar. We booked a huge apartment in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines called la Clé d’Alsace. It was a lovely place and the host was really kind, though it was a fair way from the markets. The apartment works well for a longer stay, with a full kitchen and plenty of street parking.
➺ For our Strasbourg Christmas market weekends over the years, we often went for accommodation over the border in Germany, where the rates were far better value.
➺ Our advice: book in September or October. Colmar is the most convenient base but also the priciest; the surrounding villages or Sélestat are good compromises.
FAQ: Alsace Christmas markets
Click to show the FAQ.
Which is the best Christmas market in Alsace?
It depends what you’re after. For us, Strasbourg is still the most complete and the best organised, Ribeauvillé the most original thanks to its medieval theme, and Riquewihr has the prettiest village setting.
When are the Alsace Christmas markets in 2026?
Most open in late November and close around Christmas: 23 November to 29 December 2026 in Colmar, until 20 December in Riquewihr and Kaysersberg, and traditionally until 24 December in Strasbourg. Ribeauvillé only opens on the weekends of 5-6 and 12-13 December 2026.
How many days do you need for the Alsace Christmas markets?
Two days are enough for four markets around Colmar, as we did. Allow an extra day if you want to add Strasbourg.
Can you visit several Christmas markets in one day?
Yes, two or three nearby markets (Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Colmar) combine easily, as long as you set off early and factor in how long parking takes.
Can you visit the Alsace Christmas markets without a car?
Yes for Strasbourg and Colmar, both easy to reach by train. For the villages you’ll need local buses, the Navettes de Noël shuttle buses from Colmar (Friday to Sunday) or an organised day tour.
When should you go to avoid the crowds?
On weekdays, and right at opening time. Saturday afternoons in mid-December are the busiest by far. For Ribeauvillé and Kaysersberg, open only at weekends, arrive at 10am.
Are the Alsace Christmas markets free?
Yes, entry to the markets is free. You only pay for what you buy, plus a few activities such as the ice rinks or carousels.
✤✤✤
We loved discovering the Alsace Christmas markets! Strasbourg is still our favourite, but we really enjoyed the atmosphere in these little villages: the decorations, the lights, the smells… and that magic you only ever find at a Christmas market. Which Alsatian Christmas market is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!
