A Guide to the Strasbourg, France Christmas Market
There’s something incredibly romantic about Christmas in Europe, and nowhere is that feeling stronger than at the Strasbourg Christmas market. This French city is often referred to as “The Capital of Christmas.” And every December, its half-timbered buildings, winding canals, and grand cathedral seem to glow under twinkling lights as the entire city transforms into one of the most magical holiday destinations in the world.
The Strasbourg Christmas Market, known locally as Christkindelsmärik, dates all the way back to 1570, making it the oldest Christmas market in France and one of the oldest in Europe. The history of the Christmas market is amazing. Dating back centuries, artisans, bakers, and craftsmen have gathered each winter to celebrate the season, share their work, and bring a bit of warmth and wonder that can only be found in Europe. Despite how long it’s been around, the market still feels fresh and alive, buzzing with music, the smell of spiced wine, and the joy of people gathering from around the world.
What makes Strasbourg feel so especially romantic at Christmastime is the way tradition and charm blend naturally. Many doorways are decorated with evergreen garlands and oversized ornaments. Shop windows glow with candlelight. Streets feel like they are straight out of a storybook. And as you wander through the market from the cathedral square to the small, tucked-away courtyards, you can truly feel the spirit of an old-world European Christmas.
A brief history of the Strasbourg Christmas market
Strasbourg’s Christmas market, known as the Christkindelsmärik, is one of the oldest in all of Europe. Its origins trace back to when Strasbourg was part of the Holy Roman Empire and followed many Germanic traditions. Before the Christkindelsmärik existed, the city held a “Saint Nicholas Market”, but as the region shifted toward Protestantism, the celebration was refocused around the Christ Child, or Christkindel, and the modern market was born.
What began as a small gathering of merchants selling holiday essentials has grown over more than four centuries into a citywide celebration. Yet the heart of the market remains wonderfully unchanged. The same spirit of craftsmanship, community, and winter cheer that filled the streets in the 16th century still shapes the experience today. Walking through the stalls, you can almost imagine the early vendors selling gingerbread, candles, and hand-carved toys to families bundled against the cold.
The market’s longevity is part of what makes it so enchanting. Strasbourg has celebrated Christmas in this way through centuries of history — through wars, border shifts, and political changes — and still the city returns each December to its traditions. There’s a comforting sense of continuity here: generations of artisans, bakers, and makers preserving the customs that make Alsace feel unmistakably magical at Christmastime.
The romance of Christmas in Europe
There’s a special kind of romance to Christmas in Europe — a feeling that’s hard to describe but unmistakable when you’re standing in the middle of a cobblestone square lit by thousands of warm white lights. Strasbourg captures this spirit perfectly. Its half-timbered houses look like something lifted from a fairy tale, each one dressed for the season with evergreen garlands, glowing stars, and oversized ornaments that spill out onto the streets.
What makes Strasbourg feel so charming is the way the holiday atmosphere becomes a part of everyday life. Window shutters are adorned with wreaths and ribbons. Bakeries scent the air with cinnamon, citrus, and fresh brioche. Even the quiet moments — crossing a small footbridge over the canal or hearing church bells echo between medieval buildings — feel heightened and nostalgic. It’s the kind of place where you can’t help but slow down, look up, and take it all in.
The decorations are elaborate. Originally, all decorations had to be natural. But we did see some faux garland into the decorations. But the city’s commitment to tradition is still evident everywhere you look. Ordinary people stroll through Petite France, families gather around steaming cups of vin chaud, and musicians play carols that echo off the cathedral’s stone façade. It all feels wonderfully old-world. Standing in the middle of it all, it’s easy to understand why so many people dream of spending the holidays in Europe.
As much as we enjoyed the Christmas markets, the real beauty we found was wandering through neighborhoods off the beaten path. There were still decorations, but they were different. Simple decorations in real neighborhoods with real people and not for tourism is what we found most charming.
What to eat and drink at the Strasbourg Christmas market
One of my favorite things about the Strasbourg Christmas Market is the food and drink. It’s warm, comforting, and distinctly Alsatian. And it’s perfect for enjoying as you wander from square to square. Make sure you arrive hungry and start with a mug of vin chaud, the classic mulled wine scented with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus. It’s served piping hot in collectible plastic cups that change each year. If you prefer something non-alcoholic, look for jus de pomme chaud, a spiced hot apple cider that’s just as festive.
When it comes to food, the market has a lot of regional specialties that reflect Strasbourg’s blend of French and German heritage. You’ll find flammekueche, a thin, crisp flatbread topped with crème fraîche, onions, and lardons. It’s simple, salty, and delicious. For something heartier, the vendors also have choucroute garnie, which are bowls of creamy potatoes or noodles topped with sausages or other meats. Or, you can also grab a bretzel (the Alsatian twist on a pretzel), sometimes brushed with butter, cheese, or herbs.
For something sweet, don’t miss the pain d’épices, a spiced gingerbread that’s a Christmas staple in Alsace. You’ll also see stalls selling bredele, the traditional cookies baked in almost every Alsatian home during the holidays. They come in all shapes and flavors—cinnamon, almond, lemon, and buttery sablé varieties, which are usually little biscuits. And if you love chocolate, you’ll have no trouble finding beautifully wrapped chocolates from local chocolatiers.
Eating at the Strasbourg Christmas Market is all about following the smells, tasting as you go, and trying something a little different at each square. It’s impossible to make a bad decision. Every stall feels like its own little piece of holiday celebration.
Don’t miss the iconic Baccarat Chandeliers on Rue des Hallebardes
One detail you won’t want to miss during the Strasbourg Christmas market is the row of nine Baccarat chandeliers suspended above Rue des Hallebardes. They’re elegant, sparkling, and almost surreal against the backdrop of medieval timbered buildings.
Last year, these chandeliers temporarily moved to Paris for the opening of a new Baccarat boutique, but this season they’ve returned home to Strasbourg, where they feel especially fitting. Seeing them glowing above the street as you walk toward the cathedral is one of those unforgettable moments that captures the romance and refinement of Christmas in Europe. It’s worth timing your stroll for dusk, when the crystals catch the evening light, and the entire street is glowing.
Where is Strasbourg located?
Strasbourg is about a 2-hour train ride from Paris. It is located in the Alsace region of northeastern France, right along the border with Germany. You can see and feel that blend of cultures everywhere you go. The city sits on the Rhine River and has changed hands between France and Germany several times throughout history, which is why Alsace has such a unique mix of architectural styles, food traditions, and charming half-timbered houses.
Surrounded by vineyards, rolling hills, and picturesque villages, Strasbourg feels both distinctly French and subtly German, creating a character all its own. It’s this blend of French/German that makes Strasbourg the perfect setting for one of Europe’s best Christmas markets.
Final thoughts
Visiting the Strasbourg Christmas Market is like stepping into a world filled with history, tradition, romance, and holiday magic. Whether you’re sipping vin chaud under the glow of the cathedral, wandering through Petite France at dusk, or discovering a quiet street strung with lights and garlands, Strasbourg is Christmas. If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing a European Christmas, this is the place to start.
While we enjoyed exploring the town and various markets throughout the afternoon, we would recommend visiting for the evening. The entire city lights up with a beautiful Christmas glow.
