The best Christmas markets in France for 2026 stretch from Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik, trading since 1570, to lakeside chalets in Annecy, with champagne in Reims, Flemish squares in Arras and a driftwood village in Évian along the way. In this guide to all the best 17 Christmas markets in France, you will find 2026 dates checked against official city, tourist office and organiser sources, the exact square or street where each one sets up, and the quickest route from the UK by Eurostar, ferry or flight. The comparison table shows at a glance which markets open in mid-November, which close on Christmas Eve and which stay open after Christmas, so you can pick the right one for your trip. Here are the best and most popular Christmas markets in France that can be visited in 2026
Best Christmas Markets in France 2026 at a Glance
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Market & Destination |
2026 Dates |
Best For |
|---|---|---|
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27 Nov – 24 Dec (tentative) |
History, scale and a first visit |
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20 Nov – 30 Dec |
Five markets in one walkable centre |
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23 Nov – 29 Dec |
Half-timbered old town; base for Alsace villages |
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25 Nov – 27 Dec |
Champagne and an easy add-on to Paris |
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20 Nov – 30 Dec |
Families; a big market close to Calais |
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18 Nov – 30 Dec (tentative) |
Fastest trip from London |
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Notre-Dame 26 Nov – 27 Dec; La Défense 12 Nov – 31 Dec |
A city break with landmarks |
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20 Nov – 27 Dec |
Textile tradition and local crafts |
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27 Nov – 27 Dec (tentative) |
Flemish squares, Ferris wheel and ice rink |
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21 Nov – 24 Dec |
Quality crafts and illuminations |
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27 Nov – 23 Dec and 27 – 30 Dec |
Intimate wine-village atmosphere |
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26 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 |
Couples; lake and mountain setting |
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20 Nov – 24 Dec |
Food lovers; Fête des Lumières weekend |
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26 Nov – 27 Dec |
South-west food specialities |
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11 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027 |
Young families; something different |
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Fri–Sun only: 27–29 Nov, 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20 Dec |
Hand-picked artisan crafts |
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25 Nov – 27 Dec |
Gothic cathedral setting; ferry access |
Which French Christmas Market Should You Choose?
- Best for first-time visitors: Strasbourg, France’s oldest Christmas market, spread across eight market areas.
- Best for traditional Christmas markets: Colmar, with six small markets among half-timbered houses and canals.
- Best for families: Amiens and Arras for rides and ice rinks, or Évian for storytelling.
- Best for couples: Annecy, with evening walks between the old town and the lake.
- Best for food and drink: Lyon for gourmet food, or Reims for champagne.
- Best for visiting several markets in one trip: Colmar, with Eguisheim and Kaysersberg minutes away.
- Best for visiting after Christmas: Annecy and Évian (into January), or Metz, Amiens and Eguisheim (until 30 December).
- Best for an easy break from the UK: Lille, 1 hour 22 minutes from London by Eurostar.
17 Best Christmas Markets in France for 2026
1. Strasbourg Christmas Markets — Strasbourg, Alsace
2026 dates: Friday 27 November – Thursday 24 December 2026 (closing date tentative)
Main location: Place Broglie (Christkindelsmärik) plus seven more market areas across the Grande Île, including Place Kléber and Place de la Cathédrale
Best for: First-time visitors and history lovers
From the UK: Direct flights with easyJet from London Luton and Bristol, or Jet2’s seasonal Christmas flights from Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh (about 1 hour 30 minutes). By rail, Eurostar to Paris then TGV (1 hour 46 minutes).
The Strasbourg Christmas market, known as the Christkindelsmärik, dates back to 1570 and is the oldest in France. What sets it apart today is scale: rather than one square, Strasbourg Capitale de Noël spreads across the UNESCO-listed Grande Île. In recent editions, the original Christkindelsmärik has filled Place Broglie, the Grand Sapin (the city’s giant Christmas tree) and the charity Village du Partage have stood on Place Kléber, and the Marché OFF has sold vintage and eco-friendly gifts from shipping containers on Place Grimmeissen. Square Louise Weiss in Petite France hosts local producers and the Village de l’Avent, with free storytelling and workshops for children. Look out for bredele biscuits and pain d’épices.
Chalets open daily from 11:30 am to 9 pm (from 2 pm on opening day and until 6 pm on Christmas Eve). Travellers’ reviews agree on the crowds: weekends, Wednesday afternoons and Friday evenings are busiest, and large bags are checked at the entrances. Visit on a Monday or Tuesday morning with a small bag, and book hotels early. Visitors who find it too busy often say the nearby Alsace villages feel more authentic.
2. Metz Christmas Market – Noël à Metz
2026 dates: Friday 20 November – Wednesday 30 December 2026 (closed 25 December)
Main location: Five squares: Place de la République, Place Saint-Jacques, Place Saint-Louis, Place de la Comédie and Place d’Armes
Best for: Families, and a compact city break with several markets in one walk
From the UK: Fly to Luxembourg with British Airways (Heathrow) or Luxair (London City), about 1 hour 15 minutes, then 45 minutes by train. By rail, Eurostar to Paris then TGV (about 1 hour 24 minutes).
The Metz Christmas market, Noël à Metz – Le Marché merveilleux, spreads around 130 chalets across five walkable squares, and was voted third-best Christmas market in Europe and best for families in a 2024 public poll, according to the tourist office. Place Saint-Louis, under medieval arcades, is the most photogenic, Place de la Comédie is given over to food, and Place d’Armes sits beside the Gothic cathedral. Look out for mirabelle plum treats and hand-blown baubles from Meisenthal, the village credited with the glass Christmas bauble.
Chalets open from 11 am to 9 pm Sunday to Thursday and until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and the Sentier des Lanternes light trail usually runs in nearby Square Boufflers. Visitors single out the food and children’s rides, and because it runs until 30 December, the Metz Christmas Market 2026 suits a trip between Christmas and New Year.
3. Colmar Christmas Market
2026 dates: Monday 23 November – Tuesday 29 December 2026. The gourmet market and big wheel stay open until 3 January 2027.
Main location: Place des Dominicains, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, Place Jeanne d’Arc, Petite Venise, the Koïfhus (29 Grand’Rue) and the gourmet market
Best for: A half-timbered old town and a base for touring Alsace villages
From the UK: Fly to Strasbourg (easyJet or Jet2) and take the train to Colmar (about 35 min), or fly to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse with easyJet (Gatwick) or British Airways (Heathrow), about 1 hour 30 minutes, then around an hour by bus and train.
Where Strasbourg impresses with size, the Colmar Christmas markets win on setting. Six small markets sit minutes apart among half-timbered houses: Place Jeanne d’Arc recreates an Alsatian village with sheep and stalls of foie gras, wine and bredele; the Koïfhus, the old customs house, holds an indoor craft market; and Petite Venise has a children’s market by the canal, where children’s choirs sing from boats on selected evenings.
The Colmar Christmas Markets 2026 open 11 am to 7 pm Monday to Thursday and 10 am to 8 pm Friday to Sunday, and unusually stay open on 25 and 26 December. Visitors warn that weekend afternoons are packed, so arrive before 11 am. Drivers can use the €5 (about £4.25)
weekend park-and-ride, and the official Christmas Shuttle from Colmar station serves Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé.
Read Also: All about Colmar Christmas Market
4. Reims Christmas Market
2026 dates: Wednesday 25 November – Sunday 27 December 2026 (closes 6pm on 24 December; closed 25 December)
Main location: Hautes Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter and the Esplanade de la Porte de Mars
Best for: Champagne lovers and an easy add-on to a Paris break
From the UK: No direct flights. Eurostar to Paris, then TGV from Paris Est (45 minutes), or under three hours’ drive from Calais.
The Reims Christmas market is the third-largest in France, according to the city’s tourist office, with around 150 chalets on the Hautes Promenades, a tree-lined boulevard a minute’s walk from Reims Centre station. It is no longer on the cathedral square, which makes the Reims Christmas market 2026 one of the easiest markets to visit without a car.
The difference here is champagne: pair the market with a cellar tour and try biscuits roses de Reims, the pink biscuits locals dip in a glass of fizz. In the evening, watch Regalia, a free sound-and-light show on the façade of the Basilica of Saint-Remi, and see the cathedral where French kings were crowned. Chalets open daily, from 2 pm on Mondays, and stay open until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
5. Amiens Christmas Market – Amiens, Hauts-de-France
2026 dates: Friday 20 November – Wednesday 30 December 2026 (closed 25 December; closes 5 pm on 24 and 30 December)
Main location: A 2 km route from Place René Goblet to Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, via Rue des Trois-Cailloux
Best for: Families, and a large market without travelling far into France
From the UK: No direct flights. Under two hours’ drive from Calais, or Eurostar to Paris then train from Gare du Nord (about 1 hour 10 minutes).
The Amiens Christmas market is the largest in northern France, with more than 100 red chalets along 2 km of pedestrianised streets. This Christmas market has been in place since 1997, run by the city centre’s traders and laid out as one long stroll rather than a single square. Try macarons d’Amiens, a soft almond biscuit from the city.
Visitors consistently recommend coming in the evening, when Notre-Dame d’Amiens, France’s largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forms the backdrop; in recent editions it has been lit by the Chroma light show. Chalets open from 11 am to 7:30 pm Sunday to Thursday and until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The route starts near the station, so the Amiens Christmas Market works as a day trip from Paris or a stop on a Somme battlefields visit.
6. Lille Christmas Market (Village de Noël)
2026 dates: Wednesday 18 November – Wednesday 30 December 2026 (tentative; closes 6 pm on 24 December; closed 25 December)
Main location: Place Rihour, with the Ferris wheel on the neighbouring Grand’Place
Best for: The quickest Christmas market break from London, including day trips
From the UK: No direct flights. Eurostar from London St Pancras in 1 hour 22 minutes, or about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Calais.
The Lille Christmas market sets up on Place Rihour, five minutes’ walk from both Lille stations, with around 90 chalets. This is one of those markets in the country that offers a blend of French and Flemish traditions in a picturesque setting. Expect waffles, regional cheeses, foie gras and crafts in wood, leather and metal, with the big Ferris wheel on the Grand’Place next door.
Chalets open from 11 am to 8:30 pm Sunday to Thursday and until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors often note that the market itself is compact, so add Vieux-Lille’s cobbled streets and a waffle from Meert, the city’s best-known patisserie. With Eurostar just 1 hour 22 minutes from London, the Lille Christmas Market 2026 is the easiest day trip in this guide.
7. Paris Christmas Markets
2026 dates: Notre-Dame: Thursday 26 November – Sunday 27 December 2026. La Défense: Thursday 12 November – Thursday 31 December 2026. Tuileries: usually mid-November to early January (tentative).
Main location: Square René Viviani (5th arrondissement), across the Seine from Notre-Dame; the Parvis de La Défense; the Jardin des Tuileries
Best for: Combining Christmas markets with a city break
From the UK: Eurostar to Gare du Nord (about 2 hours 20 minutes), or fly with British Airways, Air France or easyJet (about 1 hour 15 minutes).
There is no single main market: the Paris Christmas markets are spread across the city, so choose by location. The Marché de Noël Paris Notre-Dame, in Square René Viviani opposite the restored cathedral, focuses on French artisans and regional food (metro: Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame). For scale, La Défense fills the esplanade below the Grande Arche from 12 November, while the Tuileries market, La Magie de Noël, is half market and half fairground.
Parisian Christmas markets also often feature carousels, ice skating rinks, and live performances, making them a delightful mix of French culture and holiday tradition. Reviewers often say many Paris stalls sell similar food and gifts, so treat the markets as part of a wider festive break, and pair Notre-Dame with an evening walk past the department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann and the Champs-Élysées illuminations.
8. Mulhouse Christmas Market
2026 dates: Friday 20 November – Sunday 27 December 2026
Main location: The historic centre around Place de la Réunion and the Temple Saint-Étienne
Best for: Something different from the Strasbourg-Colmar circuit
From the UK: Fly to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse with easyJet (Gatwick) or British Airways (Heathrow), about 1 hour 30 minutes; the city is 25 kilometres away.
The Christmas market in Mulhouse is truly special because it celebrates the city’s rich textile history. Every year, the market is draped in a unique fabric, specially designed to reflect local traditions. For 2026, it is “Jardin d’hiver” (Winter Garden) by Alsatian design duo Vois là, continuing a tradition the city has kept since 1998. You can buy it by the metre or as tablecloths at the Boutique aux Étoffes in the Hôtel de Ville.
The 36th edition of the Mulhouse Christmas Market 2026 focuses on authenticity, with around 100 chalets, fewer food stalls than before, a new winter-garden space on Place de la Réunion and three late openings until 10 pm. Textile fans should add the Musée de l’Impression sur Étoffes, families the Cité de l’Automobile, and the city makes an easy half-day trip from Colmar.
9. Arras Christmas Market
2026 dates: Friday 27 November – Sunday 27 December 2026 (tentative; usually closes 5 pm on 24 December and stays closed on Christmas Day)
Main location: Grand’Place and Place des Héros
Best for: Families, and a lively market on two grand Flemish-style squares
From the UK: No direct flights. About 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Calais, or Eurostar to Lille plus a regional train (around two hours from London).
The Arras Christmas market is one of the busiest in France, drawing more than 1.8 million visitors in 2025, according to the city. The market in this city is located around the Flemish Baroque architecture of the Grand’Place. More than 140 chalets fill the square, and almost half the stallholders come from the Hauts-de-France region, so look for local cheese, honey, chicory and chocolate. A 35-metre Ferris wheel, ice rink, sledge run and carousel make it a strong choice for families.
Traditionally, a light show plays on the UNESCO-listed belfry at dusk and Father Christmas has a village on Place Ipswich. Leave time for the Wellington Quarry, the First World War tunnels used by British troops before the 1917 Battle of Arras.
10. Lumières de Noël – Montbéliard, Franche-Comté
2026 dates: Saturday 21 November – Thursday 24 December 2026 (closes 6 pm on 24 December)
Main location: The historic centre, around the Temple Saint-Martin, Square Sponeck and Place Velotte
Best for: Quality crafts, illuminations and this year’s Swiss theme
From the UK: Fly to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse with easyJet or British Airways (about 1 hour 30 minutes), then about an hour by car. By rail, TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Belfort-Montbéliard TGV.
The Montbéliard Christmas market, Les Lumières de Noël, celebrates its 40th edition in 2026 with Switzerland as guest of honour, bringing a Swiss village of fondue, chocolate and watchmaking. What sets it apart is the market’s close ties to its Württemberg heritage, giving it a unique Germanic twist. Around 170 selected artisans set up at the foot of the Temple Saint-Martin, while about 110,000 LEDs light the old town each evening.
Look out for Comté cheese and Montbéliard sausage, the local smoked speciality. With more than half a million visitors a year, regulars recommend a weekday visit at dusk, when the lights come on before the weekend crowds arrive. Chalets close early, at 6 pm, on Christmas Eve.
11. Eguisheim Christmas Market
2026 dates: Friday 27 November – Wednesday 23 December 2026, then Sunday 27 – Wednesday 30 December 2026 (closed 24–26 December)
Main location: The ring-shaped lanes around Place du Château Saint-Léon
Best for: An intimate village market, ideal for couples
From the UK: Fly to Strasbourg (easyJet, Jet2) or EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (easyJet, British Airways), about 1 hour 30 minutes, then continue via Colmar, 5 km away, on the Christmas Shuttle.
The Eguisheim Christmas market is small by design: around 30 artisans set up in the circular lanes of a village voted France’s favourite in 2013 and listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and it holds the Alsace “Villes et Villages de Noël” label for authenticity. The market focuses on local crafts, handmade ornaments, and delicious regional treats like mulled wine and bredele cookies.
Known as the cradle of Alsace wine, Eguisheim is a good place for a tasting at a family wine cellar. Visitors often say it feels more authentic than Strasbourg, although the lanes fill up on weekend afternoons. Until 10 December it opens 12 pm to 7 pm Monday to Thursday and 10 am to 7 pm Friday to Sunday, then daily from 10 am to 7 pm, reopening from 27 to 30 December. The Christmas Shuttle runs from Colmar station.
12. Annecy Christmas Markets — Noël des Alpes
2026 dates: Thursday 26 November 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027
Main location: The old town, the lakeside quays and the Jardins de l’Europe
Best for: Couples, and a Christmas or New Year break in the Alps
From the UK: Fly to Geneva with easyJet, British Airways, SWISS or Jet2 (about 1 hour 45 minutes), then about 45 minutes by road.
The Annecy Christmas market stands out for its setting: close to 200 chalets of local artisans and producers run from the canal-lined old town, often called the Venice of the Alps, along the quays to the lakeside Jardins de l’Europe where there is an ice rink by the water. What makes it unique is the blend of French and Savoyard traditions, featuring local treats like raclette, tartiflette, and wine.
Historic buildings are lit up from 28 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, and the market is at its best after dark. Local forum users warn that the old-town lanes get crowded at weekends, so aim for a weekday. Running until 3 January, the Annecy Christmas Market 2026 is one of France’s best options for a New Year trip, and it pairs well with Évian’s Fabuleux Village.
13. Lyon Christmas Market
2026 dates: Friday 20 November 2026 – Thursday 24 December 2026
Main location: Place Carnot (2nd arrondissement), next to Perrache station
Best for: Food lovers, and timing a trip with the Fête des Lumières
From the UK: Direct flights with easyJet (Gatwick, Luton) and British Airways (Heathrow), about 1 hour 45 minutes. By rail, Eurostar to Paris then TGV (about 2 hours).
The Lyon Christmas market is the biggest in the region, with more than 100 chalets on Place Carnot and around 500,000 visitors per edition, according to the city. Set in the heart of the city, it is known for its wooden chalets offering handcrafted gifts, local delicacies, and gourmet food like cheese, sausages and mulled wine. A dedicated chalet showcases “Fabriqué à Lyon” (Made in Lyon) products.
The market is not part of the Fête des Lumières, but the festival of lights runs from 5 to 8 December 2026, when the market closes early (6 pm, and 5 pm on 8 December). Otherwise it is open until 8 pm on most days and 10 pm on Saturdays. Book accommodation months ahead if you are coming for the festival, and save time for a meal in a traditional bouchon in the city often called France’s food capital.
14. Toulouse Christmas Market
2026 dates: Thursday 26 November 2026 – Sunday 27 December 2026
Main location: Place du Capitole, with smaller markets on Square Charles-de-Gaulle and the Ramblas of the Allées Jean-Jaurès
Best for: South-west French food and a city break in the south
From the UK: Direct flights with British Airways (Heathrow) and Ryanair (Stansted), about 1 hour 50 minutes.
The Toulouse Christmas market fills Place du Capitole, in front of the city hall, with rows of white chalets. You will find specialities like foie gras, cassoulet, and fine chocolates, all while sipping wine. Don’t leave without trying aligot, the cheesy mashed potato from neighbouring Aveyron, and take in the pink brick buildings that give Toulouse its nickname, La Ville Rose.
Families can use the ice rink on Place du Capitole, which stays open until 3 January 2027, after the market closes. For more original gifts, walk to the Ramblas market on the Allées Jean-Jaurès, which focuses on designers and local producers, or to Les Allées Enchantées, a craft and social-enterprise market on the Allées Jules Guesde (28 November to 23 December 2026).
15. Évian Christmas Market (Le Fabuleux Village des Flottins)
2026 dates: Friday 11 December 2026 – Saturday 2 January 2027 (daily, 3 pm to 7 pm)
Main location: The town centre and Place Charles de Gaulle, on the shore of Lake Geneva
Best for: Young families, and anyone who wants something different from a chalet market
From the UK: Fly to Geneva with easyJet, British Airways, SWISS or Jet2 (about 1 hour 45 minutes), then about an hour by road or on the Léman Express train.
Évian offers a different take on the Christmas market: instead of rows of chalets, the town builds the Fabuleux Village, or Legend of the Flottins: a village of driftwood sculptures and houses, home to the goblin-like characters of a local fairy tale. Created by the Théâtre de la Toupine, it brings storytellers, actors, musicians and workshops to the town centre, and Father Christmas stays for several days.
The 20th edition in 2026 has a night-time theme, with lanterns revealing new characters after dusk. Entry is free and the village opens daily from 3 pm to 7 pm. Parents rate it one of the best festive outings for children in the region, and if you also want chalets, Thonon-les-Bains, about 10 km away, holds its own Christmas market, Les Féeriques.
16. Kaysersberg Christmas Market
2026 dates: Weekends only (Friday to Sunday): 27–29 November, 4–6 December, 11–13 December and 18–20 December 2026
Main location: Cour de l’Arsenal and the streets behind the Église Sainte-Croix; farmers’ market on Place de la Mairie
Best for: Handmade crafts in a wine village
From the UK: Fly to Strasbourg (easyJet, Jet2) or EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (easyJet, British Airways), about 1 hour 30 minutes, then continue via Colmar, 11 km away, on the Christmas Shuttle.
The Kaysersberg Christmas market stands out for its strict selection: since 1987, the Association de Noël à Kaysersberg has hand-picked around 30 artisans, whose chalets sit in the Cour de l’Arsenal and behind the Église Sainte-Croix, below the ruins of the imperial castle. The local artisans showcase crafts, and cosy stalls offer festive treats. A farmers’ market on Place de la Mairie adds cheese and charcuterie from the valley.
It opens only on the four weekends of Advent, from 10 am to 8 pm, which catches out many midweek visitors. The village, birthplace of Albert Schweitzer and voted France’s favourite in 2017, is pedestrianised during the market, so take the Christmas Shuttle from Colmar (every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays, hourly on Fridays). Visitors find Friday mornings the calmest time to come.
17. Rouen Christmas Market
2026 dates: Wednesday 25 November – Sunday 27 December 2026
Main location: The forecourt (parvis) of Notre-Dame de Rouen cathedral
Best for: A Gothic cathedral backdrop and an easy ferry trip
From the UK: No direct flights. DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, then about an hour by road, or Eurostar to Paris and a train from Saint-Lazare (about 1 hour 15 minutes).
The Rouen Christmas market sets up around 50 chalets in front of Notre-Dame de Rouen, the Gothic cathedral Claude Monet painted more than 30 times, as the centrepiece of Rouen Givrée, the city’s winter festival, now in its 18th year. Wander through charming wooden chalets offering handcrafted gifts, artisanal decorations, cosy winter treats, and local delicacies like mulled wine and gingerbread.
Chalets open from 11 am (2 pm on Mondays, 10 am on Saturdays) and close at 8 pm, or 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. As the market is fairly small, make a day of it by walking Rue du Gros-Horloge to Place du Vieux-Marché, where Joan of Arc was executed. For UK drivers, the Rouen Christmas Market 2026 is the closest in this guide to the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing.
Conclusion
For a first visit, Strasbourg and Colmar remain the benchmark, and they are close enough to combine with Eguisheim and Kaysersberg in one Alsace trip. If time is short, Lille, Arras and Amiens are the quickest to reach from the UK, while Reims pairs well with Paris on a Eurostar break. For a trip after Christmas, look to Annecy, Évian, Metz and Amiens. Whichever you choose, book your hotel early, as December weekends are the busiest time at every French Christmas market.
Read Also: Best Christmas Markets in the World | Christmas Markets in Germany
Best Christmas markets in Europe | Christmas holiday destinations | Bruges Christmas market
Ghent Christmas market guide | Budapest Christmas market guide
FAQs
Where is France's oldest Christmas market?
France’s oldest Christmas market is in Strasbourg. Established in 1570, the Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik is a cherished tradition that has grown into one of the most famous Christmas markets in Europe. Located in the heart of the city’s historic centre, this market features beautifully decorated stalls selling a variety of festive goods, from handcrafted ornaments to delicious local treats. The market’s rich history and vibrant atmosphere make it a must-visit destination for experiencing the true spirit of Christmas. France’s oldest Christmas market is in Strasbourg
When do Christmas markets in France start in 2026?
Most French Christmas markets open in the second half of November 2026. La Défense in Paris opens first on 12 November, and Lille on 18 November (tentative). Metz, Amiens, Lyon and Mulhouse follow on 20 November, Montbéliard on 21 November and Colmar on 23 November. Reims and Rouen open on 25 November, Annecy, Toulouse and Paris Notre-Dame on 26 November, and Strasbourg, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg on 27 November. Arras is tentatively set for 27 November, and Évian’s Fabuleux Village opens last, on 11 December.
Which Christmas markets in France stay open after Christmas?
Annecy (until 3 January 2027) and Évian (until 2 January 2027) run the latest, and La Défense in Paris stays open until 31 December. Metz, Amiens and Eguisheim stay open until 30 December (Eguisheim reopens on 27 December after a short Christmas break), as does Lille (tentative). Colmar runs until 29 December and is open on Christmas Day, with its gourmet market and big wheel open until 3 January. Mulhouse, Reims, Rouen, Toulouse and Paris Notre-Dame close on 27 December. Lyon and Montbéliard close on 24 December, Strasbourg usually does the same, and Kaysersberg’s last weekend ends on 20 December.
Which French Christmas markets are easiest to reach from the UK?
Lille is the easiest: Eurostar takes under 1 hour 30 minutes from London St Pancras, and the market is a short walk from the station. Paris is around 2 hours 20 minutes by Eurostar, and Reims is 45 minutes beyond it by TGV. If you are driving, Lille, Arras and Amiens are all within about two hours of Calais, and Rouen is about an hour from the Dieppe ferry port. For the Alsace markets, fly to Strasbourg (easyJet, Jet2) or EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (easyJet, British Airways); for Annecy and Évian, fly to Geneva; and Lyon and Toulouse have direct flights from the UK.
How many days do you need for a Christmas market break in France?
One day is enough for Lille, Arras or Amiens from London or the Channel ports. Allow two to three nights to combine two cities, such as Paris and Reims or Lille and Arras. For Alsace, three to four days lets you see Strasbourg and Colmar plus Eguisheim and Kaysersberg; if you want Kaysersberg, make sure your trip includes a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Which is the oldest and biggest Christmas market in France?
France’s oldest Christmas market is in Strasbourg. Established in 1570, the Strasbourg Christmas market is a cherished tradition that has grown into one of the most famous Christmas markets in Europe. Strasbourg is also widely regarded as the biggest, because its chalets spread across eight market areas in the historic centre rather than one square. In the north, both Amiens and Arras describe theirs as the largest in the region, and Reims is often described as the third-largest market in France.
