Spending Christmas in Alsace is probably one of the best holiday decisions you’ll ever make. Alsace at Christmas is absolutely magical, with its picture-perfect villages, festive decorations, and charming markets. You won’t find many other places in the world that make you feel like you’ve walked into a Christmas store in real life.
During my very first Christmas in France, I knew a visit to Alsace at Christmas was needed to fully get into the holiday spirit. Over the course of four days, we explored the adorable villages, explored the iconic Christmas markets, and visited all the best spots in this picturesque corner of France.
To help you make the most of your holiday season, I’ve put together my Christmas in Alsace bucket list! These are my top five things to do in Alsace during the Christmas season, ensuring you get the full experience while also deeply exploring this beautiful region of France.
For a complete itinerary, including recommendations on where to stay in Alsace and tips on how to get around, check out my Holiday Getaway to the Christmas Markets in Alsace Itinerary! (Pssst, there’s also a car-free version!)
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5 Things to do in Alsace at Christmas
Visit the Christmas Capital of Europe
No Christmas trip to Alsace is complete without visiting Strasbourg, the region’s capital city and proud “Christmas Capital of Europe.” Strasbourg has earned this title because it hosts some of the oldest Christmas markets in France, dating back to 1570! During the holiday season, the city is transformed into a holiday wonderland with 11 Christmas markets and countless festive events.
Be sure to visit Place Kléber to see the impressive 30-meter-tall Christmas tree, or head to Place Broglie for some delicious festive foods. While in Strasbourg, don’t miss the iconic Strasbourg Cathedral and its famous astronomical clock, which you can watch come to life at everyday at 12:30 pm.
✨The Strasbourg Christmas Markets (2024) run from Nov 27th to Dec 27th from 11:30 am to 9 pm!
Try Alsatian Food
I highly recommend when visiting Alsace at Christmas to enjoy some of your meals in the Christmas markets. It’s the best way to get into the spirit of things and a great moment to try some local cuisine! Many of the best meals can be enjoyed in the Christmas markets, where Alsace’s unique blend of French and German cultures comes to life. You will notice a lot of similarities between the types of food and even the names sounding a bit more German.
Here are some traditional foods to keep an eye out for:
🍝 Spaetzel: Soft egg noodles found in many central European countries
🍕 Flammekeuken: Also known as a tarte flambée, is like a German pizza with a thin dough, cream, onions, and lardons.
🎄 Gingerbread (Pain d’Epice): You can find gingerbread everywhere in Alsace, not just in the form of cookies but as a loaf of bread as well – perfect for the holiday season!
🧀 Munster Cheese: The regional cheese with a strong, distinct flavour – I find it yummy!
Explore the small traditional markets
Larger cities, like Strasbourg and Colmar, are perfect places to base yourself when visiting Alsace – both are easily accessible by train from Paris! However, don’t miss out on the charming villages scattered throughout Alsace. Known for their colorful, half-timbered houses, these towns are the definition of a fairytale Christmas. Each village has its own market, often offering a more authentic and traditional experience compared to the bigger cities.
Ribeauvillé, for example, hosts a medieval Christmas market which only runs two weekends in December every year. This market features traditional events, artisans, live performances, and more, making it feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
✨The Ribeauvillé Christmas Market (2024) will take place December 7-8 and December 14-15! They are open from 10 am – 7 pm (6pm on Sundays)!
Drive along the wine route
Alsace isn’t just famous for its Christmas markets—it’s also home to one of the most beautiful wine regions in France. The Alsatian wine route – which just so happens to be my favourite wine region in France – stretches for 170 km and passes through 119 picturesque villages, many of which are perfect holiday spots as well. Even though it’s winter, the sight of the rolling hills and vineyards draped in snow is magical!
PRO TIP: We’ve been using rentalcars.com for our last several road trips and we’ve found the best deals through them – they’re now our road trip go-to!
Of course the winter months aren’t necessarily wine season but visiting the French countryside and witnessing the the rolling hills covered in vineyards is worth the detour! I believe the Wine Route is best enjoyed with a car rental, so you can explore as much as you’d like at your own pace, however, there are many wine tours available from cities like Colmar – check out my article below for more details!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The BEST Colmar wine tours to explore the Alsace region
Hunt for the cutest decorations
As you can guess by now, Christmas in Alsace is a big deal. They go all out! So not only should you be grabbing traditional foods, exploring the smaller villages, and visiting the Christmas capital of Europe – you also need appreciate the amount of decorations EVERYWHERE!
Christmas decorations in Alsace go far beyond the markets. Throughout the region, you’ll find buildings, shops, and entire streets decked out in twinkling lights, garlands, and whimsical ornaments. A quirky tradition you’ll notice everywhere is stuffed teddy bears—these adorable decorations hang from storefronts, balconies, and windows, adding charm to the already festive atmosphere.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: AMAZING spots to see Christmas Lights in London
Tips for spending Christmas in Alsace
🏨 Book your accommodations and travel ASAP. It goes without saying but Christmas in Alsace is HUGE! It is the time to visit the region! Because of its popularity, accommodations and transportation fill up fast. To secure the best deals and spots, make sure to book your accommodations and travel well in advance. This is also the peak season, so flights and train tickets can increase in price quickly.
PRO TIP: My go-to platform I use for train travel in Europe is Omio— it makes it easy to book your tickets and find the best deals.
🗺️ Plan your visit wisely. The Christmas festivities in Alsace varies depending on when and where you go. Some markets and events only run on certain weekends, so it’s essential to check dates in advance to avoid missing out. I’ve included updated 2024 dates and hours for all the major events and markets in my Holiday Getaway to the Christmas in Alsace Itinerary, so you can ensure you’re hitting all the right spots at the right time.
⏰ Check market hours ahead of time. Don’t assume markets stay open late into the night—many close earlier than expected! We learned this the hard way; after dinner we had planned to visit some more markets but they had already shut down. Be sure to check the operating hours of the markets you plan to visit so you don’t miss out on the evening festivities.
🚗 Decide in advance how you want to get around and plan accordingly. To get the most out of your visit in Alsace, I’d recommend renting a car. This allows you the freedom to explore as many local villages as you like without being restricted by train or bus schedules. If a car rental isn’t an option for you, there are still public transportation options available. Trains run regularly between Strasbourg and Colmar, and there are shuttle services that connect to smaller villages during the holiday season.
If you want more tips on how to visit the Christmas markets without a car, check out my Car-Free Holiday Getaway Itinerary!
Ready for the best Christmas in Alsace?
Christmas in Alsace is one of the most magical experiences I’ve had in France to date, and I truly believe visiting during the holiday season should be on everyone’s bucket list! From the tasty, feel-good food to the half-timbered houses, you’ll feel like you’re walking straight into a Hallmark Christmas movie—in the best way possible!
The key takeaway from this post is to plan ahead for your visit. Alsace is a popular destination during the holidays, so expect plenty of crowds. To get the most out of your trip, plan your travel and accommodation well in advance, make sure your dates align with any markets or events you’re excited about, and don’t forget to pack your coziest Christmas sweater!
Other Holiday Resources to Explore:
