If you’re planning a trip to France this holiday season, tired of overcrowded markets, and searching for an authentic experience away from the touristy hustle, the Arras Christmas Market is your perfect escape.
During my time living in Northern France, I quickly discovered that Arras is one of those hidden gems that most travelers miss—yet it offers so much more than you’d expect. It became a favorite weekend spot, so much so that I returned multiple times with friends and family. And during my last visit to the Arras Christmas Market, I was blown away by how much more authentic and enjoyable it felt compared to bigger markets like in Lille or Paris.
While it might not be completely crowd-free, Arras is where you’ll find locals embracing the festive season, giving you a more intimate and authentic holiday experience. In this guide, I’ll share not only tips for visiting the Christmas Market but also my favorite year-round activities in Arras to make your trip truly memorable.
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Arras Christmas Market FAQs
When does the Arras Christmas Market open?
In 2024, the Arras Christmas Market—one of the most underrated Christmas markets in France—will open on November 29th and remain open until December 29th. During the week, the market is open from noon to 7:30 pm. On weekends, it opens at 10 am and on Saturdays, it closes at 9 pm and on Sundays, it closes at 7:30 pm.
PRO TIP: Christmas markets in France close earlier than you would expect! Keep this in mind when visiting Arras and other hidden gems in France—arriving early means more time to visit!
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Where do the activities take place?
The main squares in Arras – the Grand Place and the Place des Héros – are completely transformed into a magical Christmas Village! This isn’t just any market; it’s one of the largest Christmas markets in Northern France, so prepare to be wowed!
When we visited, I was surprised by how spacious and inviting it felt. Unlike the Lille Christmas Market, there were no long lines to enter; we walked right in! The best part? It’s not just a line of holiday stalls. The market truly feels like a village, with a mixture of rides, twinkling trees, festive decorations, food stalls, and local vendors.
How to get to Arras?
From Lille: The easiest way to get to Arras from Lille is by car – just a quick 45-minute drive. If you don’t have access to a car, the train is your next best bet! You can catch one from Lille Flandres and the journey should take you roughly 30 minutes!
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From Paris: If you’re coming from Paris, the train ride to Arras is also super simple. The journey takes roughly 50 minutes from Gare du Nord station, and once you arrive, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the main squares where the Christmas Markets are located!
PRO TIP: I always book my car rentals with rentalcars.com and train tickets through Omio. You can find the best prices and we’ve found the best deals this way!
Where to stay
I believe Arras is the perfect day trip destination from Lille or Paris. Requiring less than an hour train ride, it’s incredibly convenient for a quick visit for the day. The city isn’t too large either, so you won’t need hours to explore its main attractions.
However, if you want to make the most of your visit and fully immerse yourself in this historic area of France, consider extending your stay! Here are some recommended accommodations around the Arras town center:
Is the Arras Christmas Market worth visiting?
I may be a bit biased, as Arras is one of my favorite hidden gems in France, but I truly believe the Arras Christmas Market is worth the visit! Hosting one of the largest Christmas markets in the North of France, Arras is an incredibly unique place to visit with an extensive history to discover. Any excuse to pay Arras a visit is great in my books!
While Arras may not be the most touristy destination in France, its charm and character make it well worth a visit. I consider it a perfect day trip and a must-add to your France bucket list!
What to do at the Arras Christmas Market?
Enjoy the attractions
While it’s common to find a Ferris wheel, skating rink, and carousel in most Christmas markets in France, the Arras Christmas Market offers even more! Beyond these classic attractions, you’ll find unique attractions, slides and other fun activities. Everything felt more elaborate and detailed which really brought out the festive atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for the whole family.
Go Christmas shopping
No visit to a Christmas market is complete without a little shopping! With over 140 stalls and cabins from local vendors, the Arras Christmas Market is filled with hand-made jewelry, decorations, crafts, and delicious food. One stall that stood out during our visit featured old photographs of different French cities and villages. It was touching to see locals searching for their hometowns, curious of how they looked 100 years ago!
And don’t forget to look for some Rats of Arras—one of my favorite souvenirs, which you won’t find at the Christmas market! (I’ll share more about that below, so keep reading!)
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Grab a snack
Of course, what’s a Christmas market without some holiday foods? At the Arras Christmas Market, you’ll find all the classic favorites, including tartiflette (my personal favorite), vin chaud, and gingerbread, alongside specialties from regions like Normandy, Alsace and the North of France.
To keep in mind: Remember that Christmas markets in France tend to close earlier than you might expect. It’s really common to come for lunch, a snack or for an after work drink. You can definitely enjoy a meal in the Arras Christmas Market (the foods are often very filling) but it’ll probably consist of snacking on different market foods rather than a standard meal!
Enjoy a show
If you visit after sunset, be sure to stop by the Place des Héros to see the square lit up in colorful light projections! Throughout December, there are many events that take place at the Arras Christmas market including children’s shows at Elve’s village in the Place du Theatre and local bands performing every Friday.
One event that cannot be missed is Santa climbing down the bell tower! Every year on December 6th, Santa Claus make his grand entrance by climbing down the belfry in the Place des Héros and gives away some candy and sweets from the town hall!
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Other things to do in Arras
HIGHLIGHT: Visit the Carrière Wellington
Just a short distance outside the city lies my thing to do in Arras: the Carrière Wellington, or the Wellington Quarry. This historical site is an extensive tunnel system that played a crucial role during the First World War.
In 1916, a New Zealand mining company was tasked with expanding the tunnels to help move soldiers underground for a surprise attack during the Battle of Arras. The miners worked tirelessly for six months to create over 20 km of tunnels, providing shelter and facilities (ie washrooms, electricity, food storage etc.) for 24,000 soldiers underground for up to a week.
The tour is really well done and extremely engaging featuring an audio guide, projected videos on the limestone walls, accounts from soldiers and miners. It’s the one of the most immersive experiences I’ve done in France, so much so that I found myself feeling very emotional.
To get there, its roughly a 10-minute drive, a 15-minute bus ride, or a 20-minute walk. If you’re visiting the Arras Christmas Market, I’d recommend taking an Uber or the bus to avoid walking in the cold.
To keep in mind: Be sure to book your tickets in advance online. They offer a limited slots per day and only a few in English speaking tours so spots can fill up quickly!
Go rat hunting
Ok, I know this sounds like a quirky thing to do, but trust me! The rat has become an unexpected symbol of the city of Arras. This connection all started from a historic mispronunciation; the name Arras was once spelled ‘Arra’, and was often mispronounced as ‘a rat’. The relationship between the rat and Arras led to the rat symbol being added to the city’s official seal and coat of arms!
As you explore Arras, keep an eye out for rat symbols scattered throughout the city. You’ll find them in various restaurants signs and subtle displays – it can be a fun, quirky scavenger hunt. I loved spotting these little rat symbols; if anything, it allowed us to appreciate the sites we were seeing in much greater detail!!
PRO TIP: My favorite souvenir from Arras? The Chocolate Rats of Arras from Patisserie Thibault! These small chocolates are shaped like rats filled with a creamy center – delicious!
Enjoy the views from the Beffroi
After experiencing Arras from below, don’t miss the chance to see it from above! For 3.50 euros you can ride to the top of the iconic bell tower in the Place des Héros and be gifted with a panoramic view of the city.
The bell tower was originally constructed in 1515, but it completely destroyed in the war. Since then, bell towers across the North of France have been reconstructed to preserve their historical significance as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Whether viewed from the inside, outside, from the ground, and from above, its really a beautiful stop to add to your list!
To keep in mind: As with other attractions, I’d advise reserving your ticket in advance!
Go underground (again) at Les Boves
If you miss the Carrière Wellington, no worries! In the center of the Place des Héros, right beneath the visitors center, you can enter another part of the underground network of tunnels of Arras, called Les Boves.
These tunnels are the oldest part of the tunnel system, dating back to the 900s. Originally they were used to extract the materials to construct the city’s buildings. Eventually, in the First World War these tunnels were connected to the Wellington Quarry to help in the Battle of Arras. And in the Second World War, they acted as bomb shelters for the citizens of Arras.
To keep in mind: I highly recommend reserving your tickets in advance! On two seperate visits to Arras, tickets were sold out for the day! Better to plan ahead than count on walk-ins!
Visit Vimy Ridge on your way
If you’re driving to Arras, I highly recommend a stop at the Canadian Vimy Ridge Memorial, just 15 minutes from the city center. It is located on the battlegrounds where Canadian battalions successfully reclaimed land during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
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This is one of the other most interesting war sites I’ve visited in France and Belgium. The grounds have been preserved exactly as they were left after the war, with craters from left behind from bombings and explosions. Walking around the trenches is both eerie and amazing to see—an experience that I wholeheartedly recommend (and I may be a tad biased as a proud Canadian)!
PRO TIP: If you aren’t driving to Arras, you can still visit Vimy Ridge! You can book round trip transfer from the Arras train station, giving you time to visit the monument and sites in Arras!
Tips for visiting
🧤Dress for the weather. The North of France may not reach freezing temperatures, but the cold can feel quite dry, and it often gets windy and rainy. Be sure to come prepared with hats, scarves, gloves, and an umbrella to stay comfortable during your visit!
🚗 Parking might be challenging. We’ve always visited Arras by car and found parking manageable—until the Christmas Market season. Our usual spot in the underground parking lot at the Grand Place was either closed or full during our visits. Be ready to drive around a bit to find parking, and consider having alternative parking options saved on your phone!
💵 Bring cash for the market, just in case. While most places now accept cards, having cash on hand while traveling in Europe is always wise. You’ll need cash for public restrooms, and some market stalls may only accept cash, so it’s good to have some ready just in case.
Enjoy your visit to Arras!
If you hadn’t heard of Arras before this, I’m thrilled it’s now on your radar! The Arras Christmas Market is one of our favorites, and I genuinely hope you can pay it a visit. While you’re there, don’t forget to explore the many historic sites around the city; they’re sure to impress and you won’t be disappointed!
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