Colmar or Strasbourg Christmas market: which should you visit?
Now, ideally, you’d visit both if you can! I’ve visited both and stayed in both places to enjoy the markets and cities. They’re both great!
The problem lies with time. If you’re short on time, I don’t recommend going to both in a single day.
The question then is which one to visit, and this greatly depends on you and what you’d like to experience during your Christmas market extravaganza!
Colmar offers a dreamy fairytale-like atmosphere that is a bit more intimate. The half-timbered colorful houses are the thing of dreams, especially when they’re lit up and decorated for the holidays.
Strasbourg, on the other hand, has larger markets spread out across the historic center. The historic area is covered in gorgeous lighting and decorations, and there are more options for shopping.
So which is best for you? Let’s dive into each market more including the size, atmosphere, markets, and potential downsides to each place.
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Colmar or Strasbourg: My Quick Take
Now if you want my opinion, I personally prefer the Colmar Christmas market. It’s smaller, the city itself is super charming, and everything is very walkable. It has a cozier atmosphere too versus the grandeur of Strasbourg. Don’t get me wrong–I loved the Strasbourg Christmas market! But I prefer Colmar.
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Strasbourg Christmas Market
Why is it Special?
For starters, the Strasbourg Christmas market is world-famous! Strasbourg is the Capital of Christmas, or Capitale de Noël in French!
Its historic Christkindelsmarik dates back to 1570–making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe!
There are several markets dotted around the historic center, and you can even enjoy the lights and markets around Petite France, where you’ll be enchanted by the canals.
I also love the large tree that lights up in the evenings at Place Kleber, and just how dreamy the booths below the towering cathedral are on a moody day.
Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are nothing short of delightful!
Best Christmas Markets in Strasbourg
Now I won’t dive into each and every market as I have a full Strasbourg Christmas market guide that does just that! But I’ll let you know some notable ones to check out here!
Strasbourg has 8 official Christmas markets around the city!
Here are great ones to see:
- Christkindelsmarik at Place Broglie: This is the original Christmas market from 1570 (although it moved around until being established here in 1871). This has the iconic Christkindelsmarik sign and delightful lights and food.
- Place Kleber AKA At the Food of the Grand Sapin: This is the one with the giant Christmas tree that lights up and has a show at night. This is also the largest market in Strasbourg!
- Around the Cathedral Christmas Market: This sits below the lovely Strasbourg Cathedral and is enchanting both in the day and in the evening.
- La Petite France (Place Benjamin Zix & Place Saint Thomas): This is along the River in Petite France with gorgeous half-timbered buildings and lovely lighting!
- Carre d’Or Market (Place du Temple Neuf): This smaller market has delightful treats, but the main draw are the window displays and lights!
What I Love About the Strasbourg Christmas Market
My first experience with the Alsace Christmas markets was in Strasbourg. We took the train in from Paris and wandered around the markets the rest of the day.
Even amongst the subtle mist of rain, this place quickly captured my heart. It’s grand with the imposing markets full of vin chaud, cheesy delights, and excitement from passersby.
Just wandering the streets is a feast for the eyes with teddy bears precariously perched on buildings, twinkling lights overhead, and markets at seemingly every corner.
I love the history, the dramatic cathedral and giant Christmas tree, and the buzz that comes from a city with an extensive Christmas market.
If you love the grandeur of a historic city with its Christmas market, this is the place for you!
I also love that it’s a quick train ride to the smaller town of Obernai, which turned out to be one of my favorite Christmas markets of my trip!
Downsides of the Strasbourg Christmas Market
Now, while I do love the Strasbourg Christmas market, it isn’t perfect.
The biggest issue is crowds. It’s an easy city to reach, and a very easy day trip from Paris. It even has an airport and major train station. Combine that with its “Capital of Christmas” fame, and it can be busy.
That being said, we were there during the week in early December and didn’t have issues with tons of crowds. So if you want to go, I recommend mid-week earlier in the season versus closer to Christmas or on a weekend.
It’s also grand and a larger city compared to Colmar. It’s not as cozy and doesn’t feel like a tiny Christmas village-it’s distinctly a city.
I will also point out that it’ll take longer to see the markets and you’ll likely walk around more. And lastly, it can be expensive to visit because it’s so popular this time of year. Hotel prices go way up, and they even get booked up–so book well in advance!
Colmar Christmas Market
Why is it So Special?
I mean Colmar is magical year-round. In fact, I was recently there in April during their springtime market and was enchanted.
But something about their Christmas market feels cozy and nostalgic for a place I had never been to before except in my holiday dreams.
It has cobblestone streets, pastel buildings, smaller intimate markets, a whole market dedicated to local food and drinks, half-timbered buildings, and the beautiful canals in Petite Venise.
Even the Place Jeanne d’Arc market is meant to feel like a cozy Alsatian village.
It’s a Christmas fairytale if there ever was one!
Best Christmas Markets in Colmar
Again, I’ve got a full guide to the Colmar Christmas market, so you can check that out for all the details about this place!
Colmar only has 6 markets in a smaller area, making it easy to explore in a day!
Here are the markets to check out:
- Place des Dominicains: This is the largest market in Colmar with 60 stands around the 14th century Dominican church.
- Place Jeanne d’Arc: This is the one that is meant to mimic the vibes of a cozy Alsatian village.
- Place de l’Ancienne Douane: This has 50 booths around the Schwendi Fountain and along the river. It has fun decorations for sale and treats.
- Koifus Christmas Market: This is located inside the old customs house (Koifus) and where you’ll see local vendors selling crafts.
- Petite Venise: This is along the canal and is a children’s market with rides for kids!
- Marché Gourmand: This is just food and drinks from restaurants in the area!
- Bonus: Christmas Fair at Place Rapp: This is a festive fair with rides and a carousel bar.
What I Love About the Colmar Christmas Market
I love the Colmar Christmas market so much! It has the fairytale village vibes in the historic center (even though it’s technically a city), it has smaller, charming markets, and it’s so easy to explore.
You can pop over to 1 market, peruse, then stroll to the next and so on and so forth. It’s easy to see all of it in a day. I also love that Colmar is in the heart of the Alsace Wine Route, meaning there are wineries to visit and enjoy in town and you’re not far from the charming villages.
Another bonus is that you can take the Navettes de Noël bus mostly on weekends (book in advance-tickets go live on November 12, 2026 at 12 pm local time!) to many of the surrounding Alsace villages and their Christmas markets like Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, or even Eguisheim.
Downsides of the Colmar Christmas Market
As with Strasbourg, it can be busy. Again, we were here on a weekday (Friday) and took the Navettes de Noël on Saturday so we were largely not there that day. During the week and earlier in the season it’s not that bad. It didn’t get busier until Friday evening.
However, if you’re here on a weekend or closer to Christmas, it’ll be busy. And because it’s smaller, it feels busier.
Being smaller than Strasbourg, this are also fewer hotels which will likely be full and expensive–book early!
And, because Colmar is smaller, there are fewer things to do than visiting Christmas markets (although there are some great museums)!
But, because you’re probably shorter on time, you’ll likely mostly be at Christmas markets anyway!
Colmar vs. Strasbourg: Which Has the Better Christmas Atmosphere?
- Strasbourg: For holiday grandeur and lighting.
- Colmar: For intimate markets and fairytale vibes
Neither is better or worse than the other, just different! It depends on the Christmas market atmosphere that you’re after!
While I love both atmospheres, I do love the fairytale charm of Colmar.
Which Christmas Market Has Better Decorations?
Both are fabulous and tend to put themselves on display, but here are some highlights of each:
- Strasbourg: Larger displays, twinkling lights over streets in the historic city, grand decorations on buildings, and the giant Christmas tree on Place Kleber. I also enjoyed the animation projected on the City Hall at Place Broglie and the Teddy Bear covered building on Rue du Maroquin.
- Colmar: Charming canals, smaller markets with cute decorations, and lovely decor on buildings scattered around town. I also loved the moving projects on buildings along the canal on weekends.
For decorations, personally, I think Strasbourg nails it.
Which Has Better Christmas Markets?
- Strasbourg: Bigger markets, more stalls, more decorations, a mix of local artisan goods (especially at smaller markets) and more imported things. Also has a second-hand market.
- Colmar: More local products and artisan goods and smaller, more intimate markets. They also have a children’s market with rides. It’s also easier to navigate.
Personally, I think Colmar has the better markets based on their vibes and more local products. That being said, I had no issues finding locally made products in Strasbourg too. I purchased a lovely nativity scene and a holiday serving plate in Strasbourg!
This is tough, because Strasbourg has a lot more options for shopping and food because it’s larger!
Which Has Better Food?
Some things to look out for at both markets include things like vin chaud (mulled wine-both red and white), bredele (Christmas cookies), pain d’epices (literal ginger bread), choucroute (sauerkraut), tarte flambée (flatbread with cheese/creme fraiche, onion, and lardons), Kougelhopf (brioche-type cake shapes like a bundt cake), local beer and wine, and hot chocolate.
- Strasbourg: More options and a great brewery selection.
- Colmar: Great wine and vin chaud, plus lovely baked items and pain d’epices. Plus, they have an entire market dedicated to just food and drink.
Overall, Strasbourg has a bigger selection between their local artisan markets and larger markets. I also love that they had local brewers selling their holiday beers! However, I think Colmar wins here because it literally has a market dedicated to local food.
Which is Better For Shopping?
- Strasbourg: Second-hand goods/antique shopping at Marché OFF, local vendors and imported goods, great food & drink options, and beautiful holiday decorations to buy. There are more vendors and variety here.
- Colmar: More local crafts, but smaller and less options.
I think Strasbourg is better for shopping, particularly because it has a lot more vendors and variety. That being said, there is something to be said about the smaller markets and more local goods in Colmar.
But Strasbourg also has great local goods too! Again, I purchased some great artisan goods at the market around the cathedral, and I particularly enjoyed the smaller markets in Strasbourg. But also, Strasbourg has a second-hand and antique market.
Which is Better For Families?
Both markets have something for families!
- Strasbourg: Advent Village offers a lot of activities and workshops, and the lights are magical for all ages! Note workshops and activities are most likely in French.
- Colmar: The Petite Venise market offers rides for kids and is where to leave letters for Santa. They also have a Christmas Fair!
I think Colmar is likely better for little kids because of the Petite Venise market with fun rides! Plus, the decor is lovely in Colmar, and it is more walkable for little legs!
Which is Better For Couples?
- Strasbourg: Grand, big lights and decorations, and stunning strolls along Petite France.
- Colmar: Charming, intimate, with a lovely canal.
Personally, Colmar wins this one. The more charming smaller atmosphere is great for couples!
Which is Better as a Day Trip?
I’ll just say that because Strasbourg is bigger and more spread out, Colmar is better as a day trip because it’s easy to see all of Colmar’s markets and get the festive feel in just a day.
Colmar or Strasbourg: Which Should You Stay in?
- Strasbourg: More hotel options, easy to take the train to other places nearby like Obernai, and you can easily take a day trip to the Alsace Wine Route.
- Colmar: Fewer hotel options, but great for a slower trip. You can also use this as a base and use the Navettes de Noël to explore the nearby smaller towns! Again, this mostly runs on weekends.
This really does depend on how long you have and where you’re going next. I think Strasbourg is likely the better option overall for lodging options, and it’s easier to get around and on to the next destination.
Can You Visit Both Colmar & Strasbourg?
If you only have a day I wouldn’t recommend trying to see both. They have a lot to offer on their own that I recommend not rushing through both–and you certainly won’t have time to enjoy most of the markets in each place with only a day!
However, if you’ve got more time, you can certainly see both! That’s what I did! We spent 3 nights in Strasbourg and 2 in Colmar and got the best of both worlds!
But if you have 2 days, I’d do one in each if you really want to see both. If you have 3 days, I’d do 2 in Strasbourg and 1 in Colmar, and if you have 4 days, I’d do 3 nights in Strasbourg (with a day trip to the Alsace wine villages) and 1 in Colmar OR split 2 days in each and perhaps take the Navettes de Noël to smaller villages from Colmar.
And here is a great Alsace Christmas market itinerary in 5 days!
Which is Best to Visit: My Opinion
Again, ideally you’d visit both! They’re so different in what they offer and their overall vibes, that a visit to both is great if you’ve got time!
But if you’re short on time, personally, I think Colmar is best. It’s easy to visit in a short amount of time and has the classic fairytale holiday atmosphere.
However, based on what you what, here is what to pick:
Go to the Strasbourg Christmas market if you want:
- Grand decorations
- Several markets and options
- Christmas city feel
- Gorgeous cathedral
- Larger markets
- More things to do outside of visiting Christmas markets
Go to the Colmar Christmas market if you want:
- Picturesque, fairytale holiday atmosphere
- Smaller, more intimate markets
- Charming buildings
- More walkability
- More quintessential Alsace Christmas market vibe
Practical Tips For Visiting the Christmas Markets in Colmar And/Or Strasbourg:
Here are some expert tips to make the most of your visit, whichever place you choose to go!
1. When to Visit the Alsace Christmas Markets.
Both of these markets are no stranger to crowds. They are not hidden gems by any means, and with Christmas market trips getting more popular than ever, I can’t imagine it’ll get better.
However, going mid-week earlier in the season is much better than on weekends or closer to the holiday. That is because during the week you have fewer people traveling within Europe and it’s before school holidays, which begin around the weekend before Christmas.
2. How Crowded Can These Markets Get?
In short, very. Now that being said, when we went early in the season and during the week, it wasn’t bad at all! Even Colmar during the day on Friday wasn’t bad compared to the evening. Colmar or Strasbourg on a Tuesday in early December is far different than the Saturday before Christmas.
Even in Strasbourg, though, because there are so many markets, if you go to the smaller markets versus the large popular ones, you’ll likely have an easier time. Colmar can also feel more crowded because it’s smaller. So again, early in the season and/or midweek is best.
3. Where to Stay in Colmar or Strasbourg
Strasbourg:
Hannong Hotel & Wine Bar: This is where we stayed and loved it! It was walkable to the markets and is on a lovely street full of light displays!
Hotel Beaucour: This is a cute hotel outside the city center.
Maison Rouges Strasbourg Hotel & Spa: This is in the heart of the city and steps from Place Kleber! Some rooms even have cathedral views!
Colmar:
Hotel Turenne: This is where we stayed, and it was great! It wasn’t far from the Petite Venise market and was lovely.
Hotel Colomier Suites: This charming hotel is also in the Petite Venise area.
La Maison des Têtes: This is a boutique hotel with 21 rooms and is in a historic building known for its 106 small stone heads on the facade.
4. How to Get to Colmar or Strasbourg
Thankfully, you can get to both via train! It’s about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Paris to Strasbourg via the high-speed train, and about 2.5 hours to Colmar from Paris.
You can also fly into Strasbourg and take the train into town. It’s about 25 minutes to Strasbourg or just over an hour to Colmar from the airport (usually with a change for Colmar).
Lastly, people also fly into Frankfurt and take the train to Strasbourg. That is about a 2-hour, 15 minute train or so, typically with a change. From Strasbourg, it’s about a 30-minute train to Colmar.
5. Parking
Parking can be a challenge in both cities around the holidays, because the Christmas markets are popular. If you can find a hotel with parking, book that for sure!
I go into detail on parking for Strasbourg and Colmar on their respective Christmas market posts. If you are visiting for the day with a car, get here early for parking (like before 9 am or earlier if it’s a weekend)!
6. What to Wear to the Christmas Markets
I will say that layers are key! I personally wear my boots and a thick jacket like a parka or wool coat.
I also recommend an umbrella in case of rain, and if it is really cold, wool under layers can be helpful!
Sweaters are also great! As are gloves and a scarf because it can get cold!
Check out my full guide on what to wear in Europe in winter!
7. Bring Cash!
Many vendors do accept credit cards these days, but it can be helpful to bring cash with you! Cash is always good to have on hand for markets in France. You may also want cash for the next point below!
8. Christmas Market Mugs
I hate to disappoint, but Christmas market mugs aren’t as popular here as they are in places like Germany. That being said, I have found them in both Strasbourg and Colmar in 2022, and I will be going back this year to see if they still sell them.
Now if you do get a mug, you’ll likely pay a little extra (like a few euros) for the mug. This is a deposit. So if you return the mug, you’ll get that money back. However, if you choose to keep the mug, you just forgo the deposit! These days, you may also get a plastic cup versus a mug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alright, let’s wrap up this Strasbourg or Colmar Christmas market debate with answers to your questions!
1. Which markets are open Christmas Day?
Surprisingly, most Christmas markets in Europe aren’t open on Christmas Day and tend to close prior to Christmas. Strasbourg closed their market on December 24 last year.
However, Colmar runs past Christmas. They are open on Christmas Eve from 11 am-5 pm and on Christmas Day from 10 am-8 pm. And the Gourmet Market, Ferris Wheel, and Christmas Fair at Place Rapp in Colmar are open from 11 am-10 pm.
So if you’re visiting the Alsace on Christmas day, Colmar is the place to visit!
2. Can you visit Colmar and Strasbourg Christmas markets in one day?
They are only 30 minutes away from each other via train, so could you pop over to a market or two in each place? Sure. Will you get a good feel of the market and enjoy both? I don’t think I would.
Strasbourg has several markets and a ton of decorations to see that it definitely deserves more than a half day. Even Colmar being smaller and more walkable deserves more than half a day if possible.
And who wants to rush around during your Christmas holiday? Savor it instead!
3. How many days do you need for the Colmar Christmas Market?
Colmar is small enough that you could see all the markets in 1 day. If you’ve got more time, definitely explore the smaller Alsace villages outside of Colmar!
Around weekends, you can even take the Navettes de Noël (or every day for Eguisheim)! Just be sure to book early! Tickets go on sale November 12, 2026 at 12 pm local time.
4. How many days do you need for the Strasbourg Christmas Market?
You could probably see most of the Christmas markets in a day in Strasbourg. We saw most of them in a day! However, because there are more and they are larger, I’d opt for 2 days if you can!
5. Which Christmas market is more crowded, Colmar or Strasbourg?
Both can get really crowded on weekends and close to Christmas (especially once school holidays start). Going midweek and early in the season helps a lot. But both can be hard to navigate with crowds depending where you’re going.
Colmar can feel more crowded because it’s smaller. However, you can visit smaller markets in Strasbourg too to escape crowds at the popular markets.
6. Which Christmas market is better for first-time visitors to Alsace?
This is tough because it really depends on what you’re looking for in a Christmas market trip! I answer which is best for various categories! I’d say Colmar gives that quintessential Alsace Christmas market feel, but it’s hard to beat a visit to the Capital of Christmas itself!
7. Can you visit Colmar and Strasbourg without a car?
Yes, you can! I visited on a 5-day Christmas market trip a few years ago and we took trains and the Navettes de Noël to get around the Alsace (again, the navette mostly runs on weekends). We based ourselves in both Strasbourg and Colmar and enjoyed both markets.
However, this year, I’m going back to explore smaller markets and will have a car. So if you want to stick to Colmar or Strabourg or go to villages that are easily accessible either via the Navettes de Noël, bus, or train, you’ll be fine without a car.
But if you want to be on your own time and visit smaller villages, I’d rent a car. Just know that parking can be a struggle, especially in more popular towns.
There you have it! Colmar or Strasbourg Christmas Market: which should you visit? It really depends on you! I hope this guide helps you in your decision making process, and have a lovely Alsace trip!
Want more Christmas market ideas? Check out these posts!
- Best Christmas Markets in the Alsace + 5-Day Itinerary
- Strasbourg Christmas Market Guide
- Colmar Christmas Market Guide
- Obernai Christmas Market Guide
- Riquewihr Christmas Market Guide
- Ribeauville Christmas Market Guide
- Kaysersberg Christmas Market Guide
- Paris at Christmastime Guide
- 1 Day in Strasbourg
- 1 Day in Colmar
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Kat is the France travel expert behind France Voyager. After studying abroad in Grenoble, she fell head over heels for the country. She has since visited many times since 2012 (including visits to 11 of the 13 regions in Metropolitan France) and is sharing all the tips for visiting France in this blog, which she has run for 5 years. Kat shares places she has traveled to and provides tips based on her own personal experiences of traveling and living in France. Aside from France Voyager, Kat also has a couple’s travel blog called World Wide Honeymoon and a podcast that she co-hosts with her husband, Chris, called the World Wide Honeymoon Travel Podcast.