Christmas in Alsace is something I never get tired of.
I have visited this part of France many times, but during the Christmas season it feels completely different. Tiny medieval streets smell of gingerbread and mulled wine, and almost every town seems to have its own market.
Colmar and Strasbourg may be the most famous, but some of my favourite Christmas experiences have been in the smaller villages along the Wine Route: Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr. I would make time for those before adding another big city.
These are the ten places I would put on your list for Christmas 2026, with the dates that matter, places to stay and maps to help you get around. Leave enough time to see the lights come on. The villages may look close together on a map, but this is a trip for walking slowly.
Plan your Alsace Christmas trip
For a first trip, I would stay in Colmar. Its historic centre has six Christmas markets, and the Christmas shuttles make several of the Wine Route villages reachable without a car. Strasbourg deserves an overnight stay too; it is a much larger Christmas experience, and I wouldn’t want to leave before seeing it after dark.
The first two weeks of December are my preferred window. If Ribeauvillé is a priority, build the trip around 5–6 or 12–13 December. Its medieval market opens for only those two weekends. Kaysersberg’s main artisan market also runs on selected Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
A weekday is a good choice for Colmar or Strasbourg. Save a weekend morning for Kaysersberg, and arrive early at Ribeauvillé. I would rather have fewer stops and time for lunch than spend the afternoon moving through a wall of people.
The overview map follows the ten places in the article. The transport and parking maps further down help with the practical part of the trip.
Alsace Christmas market dates for 2026
Use the calendar icon beside a market’s dates to add them to Google or Apple Calendar. These are all-day markers for open dates; check the programme for opening hours. Strasbourg includes its opening day only.
| Market | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Colmar | 23 November–29 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Strasbourg | Opens 27 NovemberAdd to calendar |
| Kaysersberg | 27–29 November; 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Eguisheim | 27 November–23 December; 27–30 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Riquewihr | 27 November–20 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Ribeauvillé | 5–6 and 12–13 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Turckheim | 27 November–30 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Obernai | 27 November–31 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Sélestat | 20 November–27 DecemberAdd to calendar |
| Mulhouse | 20 November–27 DecemberAdd to calendar |
Strasbourg’s closing date is still to be announced. Eguisheim closes on 24–26 December; Turckheim, Obernai, Sélestat and Mulhouse close on 25 December. Shorter opening hours apply on 24 and 30 December in Turckheim, and 24 and 31 December in Obernai. Mulhouse has a special schedule on 24, 26 and 27 December. Some of Colmar’s food and festive areas continue into January.
Colmar Christmas markets
If you are visiting Alsace at Christmas for the first time, start with Colmar. I have visited outside the Christmas season too, but December is when the city feels most special.
There are six markets around the historic centre, so you keep discovering another Christmas square as you walk. Give Colmar at least a full day. Two is better if you are staying here as your base: one for the city itself, with room to return to your favourite places after dark.
What I would see
Place des Dominicains has one of the finest settings, beneath the Dominican Church. Place de l’Ancienne Douane, around the Schwendi fountain, is another favourite of mine, especially after dark. Go inside the Koïfhus as well: potters, glassmakers, woodworkers and other craftspeople fill its rooms.
For regional food, try Place Jeanne d’Arc. The children’s market is at Place des Six Montagnes Noires, in Petite Venise, while the gourmet market is on Rue de la Montagne Verte. I would see Little Venice in daylight, then return once the houses and bridges are illuminated.
Between the markets, look for Pfister House, Maison des Têtes and Saint Martin’s Church. The covered market is another useful food stop. If you want a proper art visit, make time for the Unterlinden Museum, where the Isenheim Altarpiece brings a very different kind of intensity to the day. The museum closes on Tuesdays and on Christmas Day.
Staying and arriving
For atmosphere, I would look at Hôtel Le Maréchal, in a house dating from 1565 in Little Venice. Hôtel Saint-Martin is another old-town address, with a courtyard; James Boutique Hôtel gives you a more contemporary option with underground and outdoor parking.
For a visit by car, Rapp and Montagne Verte are substantial central garages. During the four Advent weekends, Parc des Expositions offers a separate city park-and-ride, with a shuttle to Rue Saint-Eloi. This is different from the village shuttles departing beside Colmar station. The Parc Expo shuttle does not run on 26–27 December.
Colmar’s market programme and access information
Strasbourg Christmas market
Strasbourg is bigger, busier and more dramatic than Colmar. The city calls itself the Capital of Christmas, and the celebration spreads through its historic centre.
I would give it a full day and stay overnight. A few hours in the afternoon would miss one of the best parts: seeing the city once everything lights up.
Place Broglie, the historic home of the Christkindelsmärik, Place Kléber, with the Grand Sapin, and the streets around the cathedral are the places I would start. Then walk into Petite France and along the canals, with time for Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban.
The Gothic cathedral deserves more than a photograph between stalls. The Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame, beside it, holds original cathedral sculpture and medieval and Renaissance art from the Upper Rhine. It gives the architecture outside another dimension; plan it for a day other than Monday, when the museum closes.
For a hotel with a sense of the city’s history, Cour du Corbeau would be high on my list: a sixteenth-century residence around a courtyard. Maison Rouge is the more urban choice, with Art Deco interiors and a spa.
If you are driving, I would use the established Elsau or Rotonde park-and-ride rather than aim for a garage on Grande Île. Elsau connects with tram B; Rotonde with A and D. The full Christmas 2026 traffic arrangements are still being finalised, so check the CTS park-and-ride information before setting out.
The confirmed opening is 27 November. Keep an eye on Strasbourg’s Christmas programme for its closing date and the final market layout.
Kaysersberg Christmas market
Kaysersberg is one of the villages I would absolutely include. Its river, fortified bridge and castle ruins make the walk through town worth taking at any time of year. Christmas suits it particularly well.
The main artisan market runs 27–29 November, 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20 December, from 10am to 8pm. Don’t arrive on a Tuesday expecting that full market.
The exhibitors are selected, with handmade decorations, ceramics, textiles and traditional food. I like its smaller scale and emphasis on artisans. Cross the bridge over the Weiss, explore the historic centre and, if the weather is good, walk towards the castle ruins for the view over the village and vineyards.
Half a day works well. An overnight stay gives you the quieter streets once the day visitors have left. For a special hotel stop, I would consider Le Chambard, with its spa, winstub and La Table d’Olivier Nasti. The restaurant holds two Michelin stars; check its calendar if dinner is part of your plan, as its announced winter closure begins on 24 December.
There is an important arrival detail: the regional Christmas shuttle stops at Parking de la 5e DB in Kientzheim, about 20 minutes’ walk from the market. It does not drop you beside Kaysersberg’s chalets. Porte Basse is a closer car park, while the town also uses western overflow parking with a local shuttle on busy market weekends. Check the Kaysersberg parking arrangements for the final 2026 local service details.
Eguisheim Christmas market
Eguisheim is one of my personal favourites in Alsace. It is tiny, with narrow streets circling the centre, and it still feels like a village when the Christmas stalls arrive.
The market runs 27 November–23 December, then 27–30 December. It closes for 24–26 December.
You don’t need a complicated itinerary here. Follow the circular streets, wander between Place du Marché aux Saules and Place Monseigneur Stumpf, and take time over the village itself. I find this more atmospheric than a huge open-square market.
Allow two to four hours. The Colmar–Eguisheim Christmas shuttle is the line to use on a weekday, when the other village routes are not running. It stops at the mairie parking area, about five minutes’ walk from the market.
For drivers, Parking de la Mairie is the straightforward choice. Parking du Millénaire is a free alternative, about eight minutes’ walk from the market. Hostellerie du Château would be an address to consider if you prefer to stay in the village and enjoy it early and late in the day.
Eguisheim’s official Christmas programme
Riquewihr Christmas market
Riquewihr is another classic Wine Route village. It becomes very popular at Christmas, but I still think it deserves a place on a first trip.
The traditional market runs 27 November–20 December. Walk through the village towards the Dolder, then turn into the side streets rather than follow only the main shopping street. Being on the Wine Route is also a good excuse for a glass of local wine.
I would allow three or four hours. Riquewihr combines well with Kaysersberg on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday during the Christmas shuttle season, provided you leave time for the walk at Kientzheim and check the return bus.
If you are driving on an Advent weekend, consider the NaturOparC park-and-ride near Hunawihr: 220 spaces, with the transfer included in the parking fee. It runs on 28–29 November and 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20 December. The closer Vignoble car park is another mapped option; availability is a different matter on a busy afternoon.
Hôtel de la Couronne is inside the historic village and has private parking. That is useful if you want to stay within the ramparts without spending the evening searching for a space.
Riquewihr’s market and access information
Ribeauvillé medieval Christmas market
For a Christmas market that feels different, make it Ribeauvillé. The town turns the celebration into a medieval market, with performers, dancers and street entertainment woven through it.
The market takes place on 5–6 and 12–13 December. Four days concentrate a lot of visitors, so come early. Food is part of the theme too, including spit-roasted wild boar alongside the Christmas treats.
Allow half a day. You could combine Ribeauvillé with Riquewihr, but I wouldn’t try to squeeze both and Kaysersberg into a few rushed hours. The street entertainment is a reason to linger.
The Cordon-Schmidt park-and-ride, on the eastern approach, provides 430 spaces and a local shuttle on all four market days. On the map, use the temporary parking marker rather than the company’s business entrance. The regional Colmar Christmas shuttle is a separate service, stopping near Place du Général de Gaulle.
Ribeauvillé’s market programme and park-and-ride information
Turckheim Christmas market
Turckheim is smaller and less famous internationally, which is precisely why I think it is worth adding. I like the village scale of its Christmas celebration.
The Marché de Noël des Lutins runs 27 November–30 December, closing on 25 December. Its little huts cluster around the town hall. The giant Advent calendar is another reason to come in the late afternoon: a window opens each day at 5pm, from 1 to 24 December.
Two or three hours is enough. Pair Turckheim with Colmar, or with Eguisheim on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, when the Turckheim–Munster Christmas shuttle is operating. On a weekday, check the regular train service instead of assuming the Christmas bus will run.
Place de la République is the local parking and shuttle arrival area, about three minutes’ walk from the market. I would stay for the lights rather than make this another hurried daytime stop.
Turckheim’s 2026 Christmas programme
Obernai Christmas market
Obernai is often overlooked by visitors going straight to Strasbourg and Colmar. I think that is a mistake.
Food is a big part of its Christmas market. The white mulled wine, made with Alsatian wine and spices and served from the winegrowers’ cauldron, is what I would look for here.
The market runs 27 November–31 December, closing on Christmas Day. Walk between Place du Marché, Place du Beffroi, Place de l’Étoile and Place Neher, with time for the town hall and Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
For 2026, Les fenêtres de l’avent brings projections to the town hall façade on 1–24 December, at 6pm and 7pm. Half a day is enough for the town, but I would plan it so I can stay after dark.
If you are travelling by car, Parking des Remparts has 335 free spaces. It is a sensible arrival point outside the historic centre. Hôtel Le Colombier is a central address to consider for a quieter base than Strasbourg.
Obernai’s Rêvez Noël programme
Sélestat Christmas market
Sélestat earns its place in this guide for the Christmas tree. A town account book records a reference to the tradition in 1521, and the Christmas programme gives that history something more interesting than a footnote.
The markets run 20 November–27 December, closing on 25 December, at Place du Dr Maurice Kubler, Place d’Armes and Place de la Victoire.
I would make time for the Bibliothèque Humaniste exhibition, 1521: la tradition de l’arbre de Noël. It uses facsimiles of the old account books to tell the story. In Saint-Georges, ten suspended trees trace changes in Christmas decoration; Sainte-Foy has a hanging arrangement of Meisenthal glass ornaments. These are reasons to step inside, beyond a break from the cold.
Allow three or four hours, especially if you want the library as well as the markets. Check its opening calendar: the library closes on Mondays and on 25–26 December, even though the market opens on the 26th. Drivers can use the municipal Tanzmatten or Schweisguth car parks, both free. Sélestat is also a useful stop on the railway between Colmar and Strasbourg.
Sélestat’s first 2026 Christmas announcements
Mulhouse Christmas market
Mulhouse has a different character from the little Wine Route villages. Its Christmas celebration draws on the city’s textile history: a new fabric is designed each year and used around the market and town centre.
The 2026 fabric is Jardin d’hiver, by Manon During and Julie Fouilland. Look for it around Place de la Réunion, then in the Boutique aux Étoffes in the town hall. This is a good place to look for a Christmas souvenir that belongs to the city.
The market runs 20 November–27 December, closing on 25 December. I would allow half a day. If you want to go further into the textile story, the Musée de l’Impression sur étoffes follows the history and techniques of printed fabrics. It closes on 25–26 December, so don’t save that visit for Boxing Day.
For an evening or Sunday visit by car, I would use a central garage such as Centre or Porte Jeune. Mulhouse’s Nouveau Bassin and Université park-and-tram sites are useful during their operating hours, but the normal rules close them in the evening and on Sundays and public holidays. Don’t build a late-night market plan around them until any Christmas extension is confirmed.
Hôtel Bristol, with its enclosed parking, is a practical hotel option if your trip continues south towards Switzerland.
Mulhouse’s 2026 Christmas market announcement
Getting between the markets without a car
A Colmar base, trains for the cities and Christmas shuttles for the villages are a realistic way to make this trip. A car helps with rural stays and travel outside the shuttle season; during the busiest market weekends, I would be quite happy to leave it parked.
The Colmar Christmas shuttles
The 2026 Navettes de Noël season runs 27 November–20 December. The regional buses depart on the west side of Colmar station, opposite Parking Bleylé.
- Lines 1 and 2, Friday–Sunday: the same loop in opposite directions, linking Colmar, Kaysersberg/Kientzheim, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé.
- Line 3, daily: Colmar–Eguisheim.
- Line 4, Friday–Sunday: Colmar–Turckheim–Munster.
- Line 5, 12–13 December only: Colmar–Neuf-Brisach, an additional option beyond these ten places.
Tickets are sold online only, with limited availability. Sales open at noon on 12 November 2026. Children under 12 travel free but still need a free ticket reservation. A day ticket allows repeated journeys on the lines included in that ticket; check the coverage when choosing it.
The organiser’s map below shows the network, stops and local parking. Its connecting lines are schematic: use them to understand which places a bus serves, and use the timetable for departures and the last return. The official site is still refreshing some timetable details for 2026.
Shuttle routes and current timetables · Buy Christmas shuttle tickets
A trip with room to linger
With four or five nights, I would spend three in Colmar and one or two in Strasbourg. That gives Colmar a day of its own, another outing to Kaysersberg and Riquewihr on an Advent weekend, and time for Eguisheim. Add Turckheim when its afternoon and transport fit, then move north through Obernai or Sélestat before settling into Strasbourg.
If Ribeauvillé matters most, give one of its four market days to that visit. I would swap another outing rather than keep adding stops. Mulhouse makes more sense as a southern extension than as something to squeeze into the journey north.
For three days, I would keep Colmar, one village outing and Strasbourg. Choose Kaysersberg with Riquewihr when the weekend dates work, or Eguisheim on a weekday. You don’t need all ten to have a good trip.
Where to park for the Christmas markets
The parking map brings the ten destinations, the Colmar shuttle stops and the recommended car parks together. Permanent garages and seasonal park-and-ride sites are separate layers, so you can choose an arrival that suits your date.
I would use the seasonal park-and-ride for a busy village weekend, then take the local shuttle. In Colmar and Mulhouse, a central garage can be more useful when you want to stay out late. In Strasbourg, the permanent park-and-ride sites keep the car outside the historic centre.
For quick reference:
- Colmar: Rapp or Montagne Verte for central parking; Parc Expo for its confirmed Advent-weekend shuttle.
- Strasbourg: Elsau or Rotonde, then tram into town.
- Kaysersberg: Porte Basse for a close approach; western overflow sites when the local park-and-ride is operating.
- Eguisheim: Mairie, or the free Millénaire car park.
- Riquewihr: Vignoble for a close approach; NaturOparC park-and-ride on the four Advent weekends.
- Ribeauvillé: Cordon-Schmidt temporary park-and-ride on its two market weekends.
- Turckheim: Place de la République.
- Obernai: the free Remparts car park.
- Sélestat: Tanzmatten or Schweisguth, both free.
- Mulhouse: Centre or Porte Jeune for evening and Sunday visits; P+Tram only within its confirmed opening hours.
Follow signs for the seasonal parking entrance on arrival. The map identifies an arrival option, not a reserved space, and local traffic arrangements can change during the markets.
What I would eat and pack
Food is one of my favourite parts of Christmas in Alsace. There is vin chaud, red or white, and bredle, the small Christmas biscuits with almost endless variations. Look for pain d’épices, kougelhopf, sweet or savoury, and the little brioche figures called mannala around Saint Nicholas Day.
For something more substantial, there is tarte flambée, with its thin base, crème fraîche, onions and bacon; baeckeoffe, a slow-cooked dish of meat, potatoes and vegetables; or choucroute garnie, sauerkraut with sausages and other meats. Christmas in Strasbourg is a very good excuse to forget about eating lightly.
Bring warm waterproof shoes, thick socks and layers, gloves, a scarf and a hat. Hours of standing outside can feel colder than simply walking between indoor attractions. I would also bring a small umbrella and a portable charger; the maps and photographs will use your phone.
Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else. The cobbles are not the place for uncomfortable boots.
If I had to choose, Colmar, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Strasbourg would still lead my list. Add Ribeauvillé when its dates match. Then stop trying to fit another town into the afternoon, and stay long enough to see the lights come on.
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blonde.travel Save this list for your Christmas trip to Alsace ✨ Christmas market season is almost here 🎄 Here are 7 beautiful Christmas markets to add to your Alsace itinerary in 2026: 📌 2026 Christmas Market Dates: 1 — Colmar: Nov 23 – Dec 29 2 — Mulhouse: Nov 20 – Dec 27 3 — Riquewihr: Nov 27 – Dec 20 4 — Kaysersberg: Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, Dec 11–13 & Dec 18–20 5 — Eguisheim: Nov 27 – Dec 23 & Dec 27–30 6 — Obernai: Nov 27 – Dec 31 7 — Strasbourg: from Nov 27 From tiny wine villages filled with lights to some of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets, Alsace is hard to beat during the festive season ✨ Which one would you visit first? 🎄 #christmas2026 #travelinspiration #alsace
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angelaadto Charming… such a sweet time of year
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anntranfashion soon 🎄🤶🎅🏻
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thetalesofatraveler Love the recommendations
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sarahdegheselle They all look amazing 😍
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sarahhww Ahhhh it’s almost tht time of year 😍
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yvsyarkyb והיכן זה?
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dario_xx90 Total überlaufen von Touristen, kannst dich kaum bewegen, war früher nicht so
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lee.chonglin .I like local white wine 🍷😄
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lmbmn99 French lol. Maybe Muslim market
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aaron.jhudo J'ai hâte de voir Noël 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
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miles.to.get Magic😍
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butterfly_chay Mmm trop hâte 😍
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