Which Alsace Christmas markets are worth your time in 2026?

Updated on October 7, 2026

In brief

Strasbourg's Christmas market (Christkindelsmärik) dates back to 1570, which makes it one of the oldest in Europe, and for a long time it was the only one in France.
Colmar is about 30 minutes from Strasbourg by TER regional train (32 minutes on the fastest direct trains).
Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim are each within about 15 to 25 minutes' drive of Colmar.
Most Alsace Christmas markets open in late November 2026. Colmar runs from November 23 to December 29, 2026, but Riquewihr and Kaysersberg close on December 20, and Strasbourg opens on Friday, November 27, 2026.

Why an Alsace Christmas market trip is worth your time

An Alsace Christmas market trip gives you a dense cluster of historic markets in one small region. Strasbourg, Colmar and a string of wine villages each run their own market, and most sit less than an hour apart by road or rail. You can see a big city market and two village markets in a single day, which few regions in Europe allow.

The markets also feel different from each other. Strasbourg is large and busy, Colmar spreads across several squares, and the villages are small and decorated house by house. Start with Strasbourg and Colmar, then add a few of the village Christmas markets.

Which Alsace Christmas markets should you know, in one sentence each?

The main Christmas markets in Alsace fall into three groups: the two big city markets in Strasbourg and Colmar, the wine villages around Colmar, and a handful of towns with their own theme. Each sentence below stands on its own, so you can use the list to shortlist two or three markets for a single day.

Strasbourg Christmas market (Christkindelsmärik) is the largest in Alsace, with more than 300 chalets spread over the squares and streets of the Grande Île, the historic city center.
Colmar Christmas market is split into six markets across the old town, including a children's market in the Petite Venise district, and runs from November 23 to December 29, 2026.
Riquewihr Christmas market lines the main street inside the medieval walls, up to the Dolder Tower (Tour du Dolder), a gate built in 1291, and it is open every day from November 27 to December 20, 2026.
Kaysersberg Christmas market fills the old town below the castle ruins, and in 2026 it opens only Friday to Sunday on the four Advent weekends, 10:00 to 20:00.
Eguisheim Christmas market sits in a village built in rings around its castle, so one loop of its streets takes about 20 minutes on foot, and most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours there with the market.
Ribeauvillé holds a medieval Christmas market with costumed stallholders, musicians and period food on two December weekends only: December 5 and 6, and December 12 and 13, 2026.
Obernai Christmas market, about 30 minutes by road from Strasbourg and open from November 27 to December 31, 2026, is the closest village-style market to the city.
Sélestat, which holds a 1521 archive entry about Christmas trees, hangs decorated trees from the vaults of St. George's Church (Église Saint-Georges) from November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
Mulhouse Christmas market on Place de la Réunion is decorated with a new printed fabric each year, the Étoffe de Noël, a nod to the city's textile past; the 2026 market runs from November 20 to December 27.
Turckheim runs a smaller Christmas market inside its old town gates, about 15 minutes by road from Colmar, from November 27 to December 30, 2026 (closed December 25).

How do you get to the Alsace Christmas markets?

Strasbourg, Colmar, Sélestat, Obernai and Mulhouse all have a TER regional train station, so the city and town markets are easy to reach without a car. The wine villages (Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé) have no station in the village, so reaching them means a regional bus from Colmar, a rental car, a shared group tour or a private driver.

Ways to reach the Alsace Christmas markets from Strasbourg
Option	Travel time	Cost	Best for	Limits
TER regional train	About 30 min to Colmar	Regional fare, check SNCF Connect for the current price	Couples or solo travelers visiting city markets	No station in the wine villages
Regional bus from Colmar	About 15 to 45 min per village	4 euros per single ticket	Budget travelers with a full day	Few departures, little or no Sunday service
Rental car	About 1 h to Colmar by road	Daily rental, fuel and parking	Confident winter drivers	Full village car parks, possible ice, no mulled wine for the driver
Shared group tour	Fixed full or half day	Per person, often the cheapest way to see villages	Solo travelers and couples on a budget	Fixed stops and timing, larger groups
Private driver (FJ13)	Door to door from your hotel	Per van, 1 to 7 passengers	Families, groups, tight schedules	Costs more than train or shared tour for 1 or 2 people

FJ13 is not the best option for everyone. For two people staying in Strasbourg who only want the Strasbourg and Colmar markets, the TER train is faster and far cheaper. For a solo traveler, a shared group tour is better value. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 27 to December 20, 2026, Christmas shuttle buses also link Colmar with Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé and Kaysersberg for 17 euros per person per day.

When should you go to the Alsace Christmas markets?

In 2026, most Alsace Christmas markets open between November 20 and November 27. Colmar runs until December 29 and Eguisheim until December 30 (closed December 24 to 26), while Riquewihr and Kaysersberg close on December 20. Strasbourg opens on November 27 (closing date not announced yet). Early December weekdays are the calmest; December Saturdays are the busiest, especially in Strasbourg, Colmar and Riquewihr.

Start early: village markets fill up from the late morning, once coach groups and day visitors arrive, and weekends are far busier than weekdays. Crowds build again around 17:00, when the lights come on and locals arrive after work. Sunset is around 16:35 in mid-December, so a late afternoon stop gives you both daylight and lights. Kaysersberg opens only Friday to Sunday on the four Advent weekends, and the Ribeauvillé medieval market runs on two weekends only (December 5 and 6, and December 12 and 13, 2026).

Alsace Christmas markets with FJ13 private driver

FJ13 is a private transport company with driver, based in Entzheim next to Strasbourg, that runs Christmas market days across Alsace. Your FJ13 driver picks you up at your hotel in Strasbourg, drives you from market to market, and adjusts the plan on the day if a village is too crowded. The price is per van, for 1 to 7 passengers.

The Alsace Christmas markets private tour links Colmar and wine villages in a full day of about 10 hours. The France and Germany Christmas markets day adds a market across the Rhine. For a shorter outing, the Alsace villages half-day tour fits into 4 to 5 hours.

Tolls, parking and bottled water are included; food, drinks and purchases are not. Your driver shares local tips along the way, and you keep self-guided time in each village. See the price for your own day in the quote configurator.

Frequently asked questions

How many Alsace Christmas markets can you see in one day?

Three is a comfortable maximum, for example Colmar plus two wine villages. Four is possible with a car and an early start, but you spend more time on the road than at the markets.

Which Alsace Christmas market is the least crowded?

Among the well-known markets, Turckheim, Sélestat, Bergheim and Obernai are usually calmer than Strasbourg, Colmar, Riquewihr or Ribeauvillé, which draw the biggest weekend crowds. Any village is quieter on a weekday morning.

Should you stay in Strasbourg or Colmar to visit the Christmas markets?

Stay in Strasbourg for the biggest market, the most hotels and direct trains from Paris. Stay in Colmar if the wine villages are your priority, since they are much closer.

How far ahead should you book hotels for the Alsace Christmas markets?

Book as early as you can, ideally by the summer. December weekends in Strasbourg and Colmar sell out first. The markets themselves need no booking.

Can you add a German Christmas market to an Alsace trip?

Yes. Freiburg, in Germany, is about 1 hour by road from Colmar. There is no direct train: the trip needs at least one change, usually in Mulhouse.

What should you wear to the Christmas markets in Alsace?

Dress for cold, damp weather, with December averages of about 1 to 6 C (34 to 43 F). Wear waterproof shoes with good grip: village streets are cobbled and can be icy.