Alsace Christmas Markets 2026: dates, villages and how to see several in one day
Every December, Alsace turns into one long Christmas market. Strasbourg has the oldest and biggest, Colmar has six markets spread through its old town, and the wine villages between them, such as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, each have their own smaller market in streets lined with half-timbered houses.
The hard part is not finding a market. It is choosing which ones to visit, on which day, and getting between them in winter without a car or a parking space. This guide gives you the 2026 dates we have verified on official sites, the days each market is closed, and practical ways to combine several markets in a day with a private driver.
At the time of writing (October 2026), Colmar, the wine villages, Obernai and Sélestat have published their 2026 dates. Strasbourg has announced its opening day (Friday 27 November 2026) but not yet its closing date or opening hours. We note this wherever it applies and will update the page when they are published.
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2026 calendar at a glance
| Market | 2026 dates | Opening hours | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strasbourg | Opens Fri 27 Nov 2026. Closing date not yet published (2025 edition: 26 Nov – 24 Dec) | 2026 not yet published (2025: daily 11:30–21:00, 24 Dec until 18:00) | Car traffic banned on the Grande Île during market hours |
| Colmar | Mon 23 Nov – Tue 29 Dec 2026 | Mon–Thu 11:00–19:00; Fri–Sun 10:00–20:00; 24 Dec 11:00–17:00; 25 & 26 Dec 10:00–20:00 | Gourmet market and Ferris wheel open until 3 Jan 2027 |
| Riquewihr | Fri 27 Nov – Sun 20 Dec 2026 | Mon–Fri 10:00–18:30; Sat–Sun 10:00–19:00 | Closes before Christmas |
| Kaysersberg | Fri–Sun only: 27–29 Nov, 4–6 Dec, 11–13 Dec, 18–20 Dec 2026 | 10:00–20:00 | Closed Monday to Thursday |
| Ribeauvillé (medieval market) | Two weekends only: 5–6 and 12–13 Dec 2026 | Sat 10:00–19:00; Sun 10:00–18:00 | Only four days in total |
| Eguisheim | 27 Nov – 30 Dec 2026 | Fri–Sun 10:00–19:00; Mon–Thu 12:00–19:00 until 10 Dec, then 10:00–19:00 from 14 Dec | Closed 24, 25 and 26 Dec |
| Obernai | Fri 27 Nov – Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Sun–Thu 10:00–20:00; Fri–Sat 10:00–21:00; 24 & 31 Dec 10:00–16:00 | Closed 25 Dec |
| Sélestat | 20 Nov – 27 Dec 2026 | Not confirmed by the official site | Christmas tree history exhibitions until 3 Jan 2027 |
| Bergheim | 27–29 Nov and 2–6 Dec 2026 | Not yet published | Short season |
Sources: official sites listed at the top of this page. Always check the organiser’s website a few days before you travel; hours can change.
The big two: Strasbourg and Colmar
Strasbourg, the “Capital of Christmas”
Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik dates back to 1570 and is widely described as the oldest Christmas market in France. Today it is not one market but around eight, spread across the Grande Île, the UNESCO-listed island at the heart of the city: Place Broglie (the historic market), Place Kléber with the Great Christmas Tree, the cathedral square, Petite France, the Quai des Délices by the Palais Rohan, the local producers’ market on Place Louise-Weiss, the Carré d’Or and the alternative “OFF” market on Place Grimmeissen.
It is big and it is busy. The city reported more than 3.4 million visitors in 2024. During market hours the Grande Île is closed to private cars, and in 2025 bags were checked at the entrances. The official advice is simple: Mondays, Tuesdays and mornings are the calmest times; Wednesday afternoons, Friday evenings and weekends are the busiest.
Read our full guide: Strasbourg Christmas Market 2026.
Colmar, six markets in a fairytale old town
Colmar runs from 23 November to 29 December 2026, a few days longer than Strasbourg’s market usually lasts and, unusually, open on 25 and 26 December. Its six markets each have a theme: Place des Dominicains around the Gothic church, Place de l’Ancienne-Douane by the Koïfhus, Place Jeanne-d’Arc with its Alsatian village set-up and regional food, the children’s market in Little Venice, the indoor craft market inside the Koïfhus, and the gourmet market on Rue de la Montagne-Verte. Colmar welcomed around 1.6 million visitors in 2025.
From Strasbourg, Colmar is roughly 75 km south. Read: Colmar Christmas Market 2026 and how to get there from Strasbourg.
Strasbourg or Colmar?
If you only have one day, pick based on what you want:
- Strasbourg if you want the big-city version: the cathedral, the giant tree, many markets within walking distance, and a lot of people.
- Colmar if you prefer a smaller old town where markets are spread along picturesque streets and canals, and if you travel late in December (it stays open after Christmas).
- Both, if you have a driver: Colmar in the daytime, Strasbourg in the evening, or the reverse.
The wine villages: smaller, older, and closer together than you think
Between Strasbourg and Colmar, the Alsace Wine Route runs through dozens of villages. Several hold Christmas markets, and because they are only a few kilometres apart, you can see three or four in a day.
- Riquewihr: a walled village with its main street climbing to the Dolder tower. Market every day from 27 November to 20 December 2026.
- Kaysersberg: market in the Cour de l’Arsenal and behind the Sainte-Croix church, focused on crafts. Voted “best Christmas market in France 2022” according to the official tourism site. Open Friday to Sunday only, four weekends.
- Eguisheim: a village built in concentric circles around its castle, with about thirty artisans along the Grand’Rue. Open until 30 December, but closed 24–26 December.
- Ribeauvillé: a medieval-themed market with costumed performers and spit-roasted wild boar, only on 5–6 and 12–13 December 2026.
- Obernai: 45 chalets on five squares, open until 31 December (closed on Christmas Day). Only about 30 km from Strasbourg, so it fits easily into a half-day.
- Sélestat: the town where the oldest written mention of a decorated Christmas tree (1521) was found. In 2026 it hosts exhibitions about the history of the Christmas tree, in addition to its market (20 November to 27 December).
Full itinerary and timings: Alsace wine-village Christmas tour.
How to combine several markets in one day
Here are three combinations that work well. Times are indicative; your driver adjusts them on the day.
Option 1: Wine villages by day, Colmar at dusk (best on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday)
Morning in Riquewihr before the crowds, lunch and early afternoon in Kaysersberg, then Colmar when the lights come on. Back in Strasbourg in the evening. This is the classic “postcard” day.
Option 2: Obernai and Strasbourg (shorter day, good for families)
Obernai in the late morning, when it is quieter, then back to Strasbourg for the evening markets. Little driving, lots of market time.
Option 3: Colmar by day, Strasbourg at night
Colmar’s markets open earlier than Strasbourg’s (10:00 at weekends). Spend the day there, drive back, and walk into Strasbourg’s illuminated streets after dark.
How long to plan? As a rule of thumb, allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a village market, 3 to 4 hours for Colmar, and at least half a day for Strasbourg if you want to see more than two or three squares.
Without traffic, allow about 50 minutes from Strasbourg to Colmar (75 km), about 20 minutes from Colmar to Riquewihr, 10 to 15 minutes from Riquewihr to Kaysersberg and about 10 minutes from Colmar to Eguisheim. Allow extra margin on December Saturdays.
Getting around: train, Christmas shuttles or a private van?
We would rather you choose the right option than book us for the wrong trip, so here is an honest comparison.
Regional train (TER). Strasbourg and Colmar are both on the main regional line and trains are frequent. If you only want to go from Strasbourg to Colmar and back, the train is a reasonable choice. The wine villages, however, are not on the railway line.
Christmas shuttles from Colmar (“Navettes de Noël”). From 27 November to 20 December 2026, buses leave Colmar station for Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Eguisheim and other towns. A day ticket costs €17 per person at weekends (Eguisheim line €8 Monday to Thursday), children under 12 travel free but need a reservation. Tickets are sold online only, go on sale on Thursday 12 November 2026 at noon, and daily numbers are limited.
Driving yourself. Possible, but at weekends village car parks fill up and several villages use park-and-ride car parks with shuttle buses. In Strasbourg, the city centre is closed to traffic during market hours.
Private van with driver. Useful when you are a family or group (up to 8 passengers in our Mercedes van), when you want to visit villages the train does not reach, when you arrive from an airport, or when you simply want to stay warm between markets and not watch the clock for the last bus. You are dropped off as close as access rules allow and picked up where you agree with the driver.
How much does a private van cost?
Price for the whole vehicle (up to 8 passengers):
- Strasbourg → Colmar: about €190
- Strasbourg ↔ Colmar return: about €360
- Evening at the Strasbourg Christmas market (return from your hotel): from €105
- Day in the Wine Route villages: price on request
Your exact price in 30 seconds with the simulator, or call us on +33 3 88 26 13 13 (WhatsApp).
Practical tips from a local driver
- Go early in the week. Strasbourg officially recommends Mondays and Tuesdays. But check the calendar: Kaysersberg is closed Monday to Thursday, and the Ribeauvillé medieval market only runs two weekends.
- Christmas week is a different map. On 24 December many markets close early; on 25 December most villages and Obernai are closed, but Colmar is open (10:00–20:00). Eguisheim is closed from 24 to 26 December.
- Dress for standing outside. You will spend hours on cobblestones in the cold. Warm, waterproof shoes matter more than an extra jumper.
- Bring a small bag. In 2025, large bags were systematically searched at the entrances to Strasbourg’s Grande Île. Small bags mean shorter queues.
- What to try: vin chaud (mulled wine, red or white), bredele (small Alsatian Christmas biscuits), pain d’épices (spiced gingerbread), bretzels, kougelhopf, and flammekueche (thin tarte flambée) in a winstub for dinner.
- Book ahead for weekends in December. Restaurants, hotels and drivers fill up first on Saturdays.
Travelling with children? Child seats are available free of charge on request, and pushchairs are welcome, even with 8 passengers on board.
Arriving from an airport
Many visitors land in Frankfurt, Basel-Mulhouse (EuroAirport), Zurich or Strasbourg-Entzheim and want to start their Christmas trip straight away. A private transfer can take you to your hotel, or straight to a first market with your luggage safely in the van. Tell us your flight number and we will follow your arrival.
From Frankfurt Airport allow about 2 h 15 to Strasbourg (about 220 km), and from Zurich Airport about 2 h (about 220 km). EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse is about 50 minutes from Colmar and about 1 h 30 from Strasbourg, so Basel-Mulhouse, Colmar and then Strasbourg on arrival day is feasible, with a few hours in Colmar. Allow extra margin on Fridays in December.
Plan your Christmas day in Alsace
Tell us your dates, how many you are and which markets you would like to see. We will suggest a route that matches the opening days and quote a price for the vehicle, calculated in advance.
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