Alsace
Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets 2026: dates, trains and where to stay
The Capital of Christmas and its fairy-tale neighbour, half an hour apart by train. These are the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets in 2026, with dates, how to get there from the UK and the hotels to book in each.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets 2026
Strasbourg: 27 November to 24 December 2026, with the Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie and the big Christmas tree on Place Kléber.
Colmar: five traditional markets from 23 November to 29 December 2026, with the food market and the big wheel open until 3 January 2027.
Between the two: the train takes about 30 minutes.
Entry: free in both cities.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at Maison Rouge Strasbourg
Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas and has held a Christmas market since 1570. Colmar, half an hour away by train, is smaller and more fairy-tale, with timber-framed houses along the canals. Stay in one and visit the other for a day, and you get the best of Alsace at Christmas in one long weekend.
Strasbourg: the Capital of Christmas
The Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie is the historic heart of the Strasbourg Christmas market. The stalls spread to the square around the cathedral and several other sites in the old town on the Grande Île. The big Christmas tree stands on Place Kléber. Mulled wine here is often white, vin chaud blanc, and the local bredele biscuits are sold by the bag.
Opening times, according to the tourist office, are 11.30am to 9pm every day, from 2pm on the opening day and until 6pm on 24 December.
Colmar: five markets among the canals
Colmar spreads its Christmas over five traditional markets: Place des Dominicains, the Ancienne Douane (the old customs house), Place Jeanne-d'Arc, Little Venice and the Koïfhus. The Little Venice market, by the canals, is aimed at children. The markets open from 11am to 7pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 8pm Friday to Sunday, with shorter hours on 24 December.
Colmar is small enough to walk from one end to the other in about 20 minutes. That makes it an easy day trip from Strasbourg or a quiet base of its own.
Christmas lights and timber-framed houses at the Christmas market in Colmar.
Getting there from the UK
The train is the easiest option. Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, about two hours and 20 minutes, then the TGV from Paris Est to Strasbourg, about an hour and 50 minutes. From Strasbourg, regional trains to Colmar take about 30 minutes.
If you prefer to fly, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg has flights from several UK airports. A shuttle bus and train take you on to Colmar in about an hour and to Strasbourg in about an hour and a half. Train times are on SNCF Connect.
Flight and hotel together: See flight and hotel packages to Strasbourg from UK airports
Where to stay for the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets
Maison Rouge Strasbourg Hotel & Spa
Maison Rouge is in the old town, within about ten minutes' walk of Place Kléber and the Christkindelsmärik, with a tram stop right outside. It has a spa with massages and a hot tub, a restaurant and a bar, and guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.4.
Check availability and prices at Maison Rouge Strasbourg
voco Strasbourg Centre The Garden
voco Strasbourg Centre is about 15 minutes on foot from the Christmas market and close to the railway station, which suits a day trip to Colmar. It has an indoor pool, a spa and a sauna, and more than 850 guests rate it 9.0.
Check availability and prices at voco Strasbourg Centre
L'Esquisse Hotel & Spa, Colmar
L'Esquisse is about ten minutes on foot from Colmar's Christmas markets and Little Venice, with an indoor pool, a spa and a restaurant. Guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.8, which makes it the strongest choice if you want to base yourself in Colmar.
The indoor pool at voco Strasbourg Centre, a short walk from the station for the train to Colmar.
The indoor pool at L'Esquisse Hotel & Spa in Colmar, about ten minutes from the Christmas markets.
Our recommendation
Maison Rouge: Strasbourg's Christmas on the doorstep
Maison Rouge Strasbourg is in the old town, within about ten minutes' walk of Place Kléber, where the big Christmas tree stands, and the Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie. The Langstross Grand'Rue tram stop is right outside. After the markets, the spa offers massages and a hot tub, and guests on Hotels.com rate the hotel 9.4.
What Picolo would choose
What Picolo would choose: Maison Rouge for a weekend in Strasbourg with the markets on foot, L'Esquisse for a quieter base in Colmar. If you plan to take the train to Colmar, choose voco Strasbourg Centre.
Why: Maison Rouge is within about ten minutes of Place Kléber and Place Broglie and has a spa. L'Esquisse has the highest guest rating of the three, at 9.8, and is about ten minutes from Colmar's markets. voco is close to the station and has an indoor pool.
The trade-off: Strasbourg has more markets and more life in the evening. Colmar is calmer but quieter after dark. voco is about 15 minutes from the Strasbourg market, the furthest of the three.
Frequently asked questions about the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets
When are the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets in 2026?
The Strasbourg Christmas market runs from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026. In Colmar, the five traditional markets run from Monday 23 November to Tuesday 29 December 2026, and the food market and the big wheel stay open until 3 January 2027. Confirm the dates on the official sites before you book.
Strasbourg or Colmar: which is better for a Christmas market break?
Strasbourg is bigger, with more markets, the cathedral and more restaurants and bars, so it suits a full weekend. Colmar is smaller and more fairy-tale, with timber-framed houses along the canals, and it is quieter in the evening. Many visitors stay in Strasbourg and spend a day in Colmar, about 30 minutes away by train.
Are the Alsace Christmas markets free?
Yes. Entry to the Christmas markets in both Strasbourg and Colmar is free, and you only pay for food, drink and what you buy at the stalls. Mulled wine is usually served in a souvenir cup with a deposit, which you get back when you return the cup or can keep as a souvenir.
How do you get from the UK to Strasbourg for the Christmas market?
The train is the simplest option: the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris takes about two hours and 20 minutes. The TGV from Paris Est to Strasbourg about an hour and 50 minutes. You can also fly to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg from several UK airports and continue by bus and train.
When should you book a hotel for the Strasbourg Christmas market?
Book as soon as you know your dates. Strasbourg is one of the most visited Christmas markets in Europe, and hotels in the old town are in high demand on December weekends. Midweek stays are calmer and easier to book, and many rates on Hotels.com can be cancelled free of charge.
Sources
Strasbourg dates and opening times come from the Strasbourg tourist office and the City of Strasbourg. The Colmar dates and times come from the Colmar Christmas site and the city's announcements, last checked 2 November 2026. Train times are from SNCF Connect and Eurostar. Room facilities and guest ratings come from Hotels.com and the hotels' own websites. Walking times are estimates, and the comparisons and picks are Picolo's own.
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Picolo Editorial