Christmas market setting at night, in the streets of Strasbourg. A high tree with ornaments and lights, a crowded market and buildings in the back. Christmas market setting at night, in the streets of Strasbourg. A high tree with ornaments and lights, a crowded market and buildings in the back. Explore

Top 3 Christmas Markets to Visit in Strasbourg

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A total of eight Christmas markets take place in central Strasbourg (within the Grand Île). Between late November and Christmas Eve, these markets light up the streets of Strasbourg and captivate visitors with their festive charm. Here are my top three favourites.

Market around the Strasbourg Cathedral

At Place de la Cathédrale and at Place du Château

  • Strasbourg's Cathedral at daylight with a Christmas market surrounding it.
  • Christmas market wooded stands with the Cathedral of Strasbourg behind it.
  • A hand with a brown glove holding a sweet in front of the Strasbourg Cathedral.
  • A green window of a store, with a Christmas tree and adornments on the inside.

The market around the cathedral offers a mix of the typical tree and home Christmas decorations, souvenirs from Strasbourg and Alsace, local produce and artisanal products, as well as plenty of food and beverage stalls. What makes this market particularly special, besides the deep festive atmosphere, is the strong presence of the imposing Gothic Cathedral, as if it were a mother protectively looking over all its children down below. Additionally, the façades of the buildings all around the square, most of them beautifully decorated, make it a truly dreamy Christmas scenery.

Market at Petite France

At Place Saint-Thomas and Place Benjamin Zix

Christmas tree with written wooden hearts and other ornaments.

In the charming Petite France, you can find two locations with smaller Christmas markets. The one at Place Saint-Thomas is a bit larger and more spacious; however, I prefer the one at Place Benjamin Zix, right by the river Ill, and very close to the Écluse, where you can see one of the most famous views of Petite France. The stalls sell a bit of everything, from freshly baked goodies to local artisanal products and plenty of beautiful Christmas tree decorations.

Christmas market wood stand with plastic wrapped candies and cookies.
Christmas market wood stand with plastic wrapped cakes and cookies.
Picturesque village by the water, with charming pastel cottages and a small boat with people passing through.

Market by the Grand Sapin

At Place Kléber

  • White and beige wooden toys, on a Christmas market stand.
  • Christmas market outdoor setting. A brown bear sitting next to wooden gifts, next to a Christmas tree, facing the city's buildings.
  • Christmas market setting at night, in the streets of Strasbourg. A high tree with ornaments and lights, a crowded market and buildings in the back.
  • Chocolate boards of different kinds, placed on a stand, behind a glass divider at a Christmas market.

Probably the main focal point of the Strasbourg Christmas markets, owing much to the Grand Sapin (the Big Christmas Tree) of Strasbourg, where every hour you will be presented with a 6+ minute light and music show. Throughout the whole square, you will find a large Christmas market with rows of wooden stalls selling festive food and beverages, and all sorts of Christmasy products. One of my favorite finds from all the markets of Strasbourg is the Brin d'Ours stall, where you can find the sweetest wooden figures of animals and complete sets with backdrop landscapes.

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A Guide to Alsace, Christmas Edition - the cover page, by Simply Slow Traveler

Alsace takes on the perfect dress code for the Christmas festivities every year. From the magical street lights to the endlessly charming markets, this is a region that lives the holiday season in every little square of the big cities and in the heart of every small town.

Learn more about the magical Alsatian Christmas markets, and discover all the information about more than 20 markets throughout the whole region, in my Alsace Digital Travel Guide!

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