Strasbourg Christmas Market

Strasbourg Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market France

Strasbourg Christmas Market in Alsace

Alsace is well known for it’s beautiful Christmas Markets. The Strasbourg Christmas Market is the oldest Christmas market in France. Way back in 1570 at Place Broglie. The Christmas Market takes place every year around the end of November to the end of December. The best way to avoid crowds is to come on weekdays in the first half of December. The last week before Christmas is when you’ll see the biggest crowds.

To visit the entire market requires a lot of walking. The entire city center is ornately decorated. You will find Christmas lights illuminate every street. I just can’t stop taking pictures everywhere I go! This is just winter-wonderland overload.

Christmas Tree in Place Kleber

The Strasbourg Christmas market is very widespread throughout the public squares of the central island. The best attraction would be the large Christmas tree in the town square (Place Kléber). Place Kléber is the largest open square in Strasbourg. It is full of historic buildings and fine architecture.

We walked by Place Kléber numerous times during our 2 night stay in Strasbourg. The tree was decorated with blinking lights and stars. The surrounding buildings with lighting looked spectacular too. It is beautiful in the evening when all the lights are on. Spectacular at night for photos.

Strasbourg-Christmas-Market

The Carré d’Or Market

The Carré d’Or Market is located in Place du Temple-Neuf.

Very Festive Atmosphere

This city has been running Christmas market since the 16th century. There are around 11 markets (called Christkindelsmärik) with 300 stalls today.

It’s worth spending time walking around the streets and the market during the day to see all of the decorations, and then again at night for the lights.

Nearly every shop and building is excessively decorated with a theme for the holidays.

The main markets are at:

  • Place de la Cathédrale
  • Place Kléber
  • Place Gutenberg
  • Place Broglie
  • Place du Château

There are six smaller ones at:

  • Place du Marché aux Poisson
  • Place du Temple Neuf
  • Place Saint Thomas
  • Place des Meuniers
  • Place Benjamin-Zix
  • Place Grimmeissen

Batorama Boat Tour

This is the most delightful way of viewing Strasbourg. The views from the canals are great. Each seat has its own personal headset for the audio tour and you can select your language.

Discover Strasbourg on a boat trip

Petite France, Strasbourg

Colmar Christmas Market

Colmar Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

The city feels like it was pulled straight from the 16th century. The fairy-tale setting of the old town is even more magical at Christmas. The whole town is decorated like in a dream. The old town of Colmar hosts 5 magical Christmas markets with a variety of food , trinkets, wines and rides for children.

Another big reason to visit Colmar is the incredible food options throughout the city. There are lots wooden stalls are dedicated to local produce, such as foie gras, Christmas sweets, and Alsatian wines.

It is a great place to take postcard-like pictures, in the storybook-like towns along the colorful tinted houses. The houses are decorated and lit up. You could easily spend a few days here wandering the cobbled streets from market to market especially at night.

Aachen Christmas Market

Aachen Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

The location of Aachen is very accessible from the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Try their Punsch or Glühwein (the local mulled wine). Aachen’s Cathedral is the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Germany. Aachen’s main Christmas market is concentrated on the large squares around the cathedral in the old town area. There are around 120 stalls at the main market.

The local specialty is the Aachener Printen (a type of Lebkuchen with Christmas spices). You will find the giant Printen cookies guard the entryway to the Christmas market.

Zagreb Christmas Market

Zagreb Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market Croatia

Zagreb was voted Best European Christmas Market in 2015 and 2016. It offers a special atmosphere which simply must be experienced by yourself. Christmas market in Zagreb have traditional look and it’s spread out in numerous locations. 

Zagreb’s Christmas decorations are elegant and classy. As the night falls, the city is at its most magical. If you like ice-skating, you can stop at King Tomislav Park. The Ice Park is very nice, offering fun for all ages.

Zagreb Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption)

You can enjoy Live Nativity Scene near the Cathedral. 

Live nativity scene in front of the Zagreb Cathedral

Zrinjevac offers food and drink stands to warm you up during the cold winter days.  Sausage and mulled wine combination has been a Christmas classic for many years.

Germknoedel (sweet fluffy dough dumplings with jam, vanilla and poppy seeds) served with vanilla cream sauce.

Bruges Christmas Market

Bruges Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

Bruges is probably the most beautiful city in Belgium. Christmas markets in Bruges have a festive atmosphere. Beautiful medieval squares lit with colorful lights. The heart of the Christmas markets in Bruges can be found on the Grote Markt. The center is dominated by a huge ice rink. 

The Grote Markt offers about twenty or so stalls of Christmas goodies and food/drink such as Belgian waffles, local beers, hot Chocolate, etc. You will find a lot of festivities and restaurants, cafes, and chocolate shops next-door.

Brussels Christmas Market

Brussels Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

The Brussels Christmas market expands from the Grand Place until Place St. Catherine. It was pretty cold in December here.  The two markets were within walking distance of each other. It includes a Ferris wheel, a huge Christmas tree, an ice-skating rink and the Christmas market with over 200 stands.

 

While mulled wine and traditional Christmas food could be expected almost everywhere, it is the artisan stalls that make all the difference. The Christmas Market offer a wide range of amazing food selections such as sausage, frites, Belgian waffle, artisan cheese, truffles, fresh oysters, snails, cheese fondue, pastries, etc. 

 

Cologne Christmas Market

Cologne Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

Cologne hosts a number of Christmas markets throughout the city. Each has its own special atmosphere and its own program. The biggest one is at Cologne Cathedral. The best way to explore the Christmas markets is by foot. You can also ride on the Christmas-Market-Express train visit the various Christmas Markets directly.

I liked the diversity of each of the markets along with the food. Make sure that you visit the markets at night as well as during the daytime, as they take on a completely different feel.

 

Plenty of superb food and drink but also the stalls sell quality goods and products. All markets have their own individual mug designs which you can get your Gluhwein in.

Prague Christmas Market

Prague Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

The city has 2 main Christmas markets and you can visit both of them in one day. You can hang around for the main tree to be lit up on Old Town Square and then walk to Wenceslas Square (as in Old King Wenceslas). They are about 5 minutes’ walk from each other. 

Beautiful architecture surrounding the square and the wonderful cathedral with its astronomical clock. It was a truly stunning place to visit.

 

Trdelník is my favorite thing to eat in Prague. The dough itself isn’t actually all that sweet, but the outside has a caramelized richness and aromas of burnt sugar. Perfect with hot chocolate or mulled wine. It's one of the reasons you have to come back to Prague again! 

If you are looking for great holiday destinations with beautiful Christmas markets to soak in the festive mood, you have to visit the Prague Old Town Square in December. Very crowded in Christmas season but also very beautiful at night.

Nuremberg Christmas Market

Nuremberg Christmas Market

by Jessie Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in Nuremberg dates back over 450 years. It's one big market spreading practically all over the old town area. The Christmas market mingles well with the architecture which historically spans over hundred years. This was my first introduction to Christmas Markets and was really amazing!

Nothing beats the feeling of walking around a Christmas market in Nuremberg. You can find gorgeous Christmas decorations and traditional toys here. The historic stagecoach takes about 10 minutes to tour around the market. Its a nostalgic way to see this city while all tucked up with warm blankets.

Definitely try the city’s famous Nuremberg Lebkuchen (gingerbread), mulled wine (buy the souvenir mug – it’s worth the few extra $), sweet roasted almonds, and Rostbratwurst (sausages). On the chilly nights and days it is such a treat to sip the hot mulled wine as you peruse the stalls. You can collect the mug from various cities in remembrance of your travels.