Strasbourg Part II : Exploring the World's Christmas Capital!

Hello Hivers! I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year!

You can check out my previous Strasbourg post here : Strasbourg Part I - Notre-dame: A Cathedral That Took My Breath Away

The entire purpose of visiting Strasbourg was to experience the amazing Christmas markets. And yes, its plural because there just isnt one or two or even 5. There thirteen christmas markets in total! Which is crazy honestly. No wonder it's known as the Christmas capital of the world.

First off, let me just say, these markets are ridiculously close in proximity. In fact, so close it's sometimes even tricky to tell where one ends and another begins. You could literally be wandering from one to the next without even realizing it. And if your goal is to tick off all 13 in a single day, start early. We are talking breakfast-early, because by mid-morning these markets get quite crowded and you need as much of a head start as you can manage. This wasn't an option for me since I was going to be in Strasbourg just for a day. So I spent half the day exploring the city and then headed towrads the market area around 3pm. Most of the markets are located in the Grand Île, with the rest tucked into the charming Petite France area.

Christkindelsmärik at Place Broglie

I started off at the oldest Christmas market in France, fancy right? Walking into Christkindelsmärik is like you have just stepped out of a storybook. There are wooden stalls, there are twinkling lights, festive decorations, just like you envisioned an authentic European Christmas market in your head. I felt that I needed some jingle bells playing as I walked down to just match this vibe. Honestly, this alone could get you feeling the holiday spirit for weeks.

Kléber Place

The Place Kléber was next in line, right in the heart of the city. And, my goodness-this is where the famous Grand Sapin, the Great Christmas Tree, was located. Imagine a tall tree with thousands of lights and ornaments that just make your eyes sparkle. And apparently, they do a music and light show on the Christmas tree every hour! I did not know this beforehand. But fortunately, I was there 10 minutes before the show was supposed to start. I noticed people gathering around the tree, eagerly waiting for something. I figured I should definitely join in, even though I did not know what was happening. Clearly an amazing decision. The lights on the Christmas tree danced along with the music and it was beautiful to watch. The show lasted about 6-7mins and it was unmissable.

Place du Temple Neuf

From there, I meandered to Place du Temple Neuf. This market has a slightly more quirky vibe going on. I came across one vendor selling gold-plated bookmarks in any design you can imagine. I mean, who knew bookmarks could be so fancy? If that's not your thing, there's a shop selling loose Christmas tea that smells like cinnamon and cloves. Oh! There was also a stall selling all soaps with every shape imaginable. Cupcakes, ice creams, chocolate bars and so on.

Place de la Cathédrale

Next, I roamed around Place de la Cathédrale. Honestly, I'll be real, this one felt skippable. But the giant, gorgeous carousel was worth a view and wandering through the square near the iconic Cathédrale Notre-Dame is worth it just for the atmosphere. The lights, the architecture, the general festive buzz, it's all very "classic European Christmas postcard."

Château Square

Now, the Place du Château is small. It is cozy, yes, but seriously packed. I had to wade my way through a sea of mini Santa hats and twinkling lights to get to the stalls.

Rohan Terrace & Market Fishmongers Square

From Place du Château, a short wander down the street brings one to the grand Palais Rohan. Also a part of the famous Petit France. During Christmas, the palace’s terrace comes into its own, transforming into the Marche des Delices d’Alsace, the Alsace Delights Market. It's pretty much a foodie paradise. Think local pastries, chocolates, and mulled wine that warms you every sip.

But the main attraction here is obviously the river. The lights from the surrounding stalls and trees reflect beautifully on the water, giving it a magical glow. There’s even a boat you can hop on for a little river cruise. Definitely one of my favorite markets!

Honestly, covering the seven markets felt like a mini-adventure in itself. Juggling My bag, The bulky jacket (bcz duh its cold!), a cup of mulled wine, and my phone WITH the powerbank, because obviously. Handling all of this while not being swept by the crowd. But that is half the fun, isn't it? Each market has its own vibe, its own little quirks, and tiny surprises that make you pause and say, "Wow, this is Christmas."

A couple of things I learned along the way: pace yourself, as there's so much to see, eat, and sip on. Be certain that your feet will protest if you go full speed from market to market. Honestly, they are gonna hurt no matter what. There's a lot of walking and cobblestoned streets are not your friends.

If you haven't been to Strasbourg before, definitely add it to your holiday destinations list for next year. If you already have visited, GO AGAIN! Because you know it's amazing enough for another repeat. I know I'm gonna find myself there next Christmas too.

Ah, Strasbourg, you beautiful, chaotic, magical Christmas wonderland! Thief of my heart for everything relating to the holiday season.✨