The Best Christmas Markets in Europe: Germany, Alsace and Switzerland, 2026 Dates
Confirmed 2026 dates and hours for Strasbourg, Colmar, Nuremberg, Munich, Dresden, Basel and Montreux, the best week to go, and three routes by train.
Free guide · PDF · 17 pages
Christmas Markets 2026: France, Germany & Switzerland planner
Expected 2026 dates for the markets worth the trip, two train itineraries (Alsace and Bavaria), the hotels to book by September, and the mistakes that ruin a Christmas trip.
- Expected 2026 dates for 12 markets
- Two itineraries by train, Alsace and Bavaria
- Which hotels to book by September
Rated 4.8/5 on Kimkim · 273 verified reviews
A look inside
17 pages, written and checked each season by our designers in France.
The 2026 market calendar 
Alsace by train in 5 days 
Where to stay, and when to book
What you will find in it
- The 2026 calendar: Strasbourg, Colmar, Nuremberg, Munich, Dresden, Cologne, Basel, Montreux
- Alsace by train in 5 days
- Bavaria and Saxony by train in 9 days
- Where to stay, and why it must be booked by September
- What to eat and drink at each market
- Snow, ski and the Alps after the markets
- Packing for 0 °C and cobblestones
Christmas markets are the most seasonal trip we sell and the one most often booked too late. Hotels in Strasbourg and Nuremberg fill by early autumn for the first two weekends of December. This planner gives you the dates as cities publish them, two itineraries we run every year, and the booking order.
Written by
Aurélie
Travel Designer · Based in Villefranche-sur-Saône
Born in Alsace, lived seven years in Belgium; designs our Christmas market, Alsace and Belgium itineraries.
More about AurélieTravelers who planned with us
Wonderful trip, handled expertly by Mathilde
Wonderful trip! Everything was handled expertly by Mathilda! Our guides in Nuremberg, Justina, and Munich, Renata, were absolutely fantastic. We had a fantastic time, enjoyed every place we visited. Hotels and arrangements were hassle free. Overall beautiful and care free experience. Will most assuredly do again!!
Mathilde provided incredible service
Mathilda provided incredible service! The detailed itinerary was perfect. So easy to travel with this as our written guide. When we had a question, she was responsive.
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Frequently asked questions
When do the Christmas markets open in 2026?
Most open in the last week of November and close on December 23 or 24. Exact 2026 dates are confirmed by each city in late summer; the guide is updated as they are published and lists the usual pattern for each market.
Which is better, Alsace or Germany?
Alsace (Strasbourg, Colmar, the villages) for the setting and the food; Germany (Nuremberg, Dresden, Munich) for scale and tradition. Our 10-day German Christmas markets by train trip covers the big ones; the 7-day Magic of French Christmas combines Alsace with the Alps.
Is it cold?
Zero to five degrees Celsius (32 to 41 °F) in the afternoon, often below freezing after dark. Good shoes for cobblestones matter more than a thick coat.
Itineraries built on this guide
Germany Christmas Markets by Train: Munich to Berlin in 9 Days
Eight nights by first-class train from Munich to Berlin in December: a day in Salzburg, Rothenburg, Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt and Dresden's Striezelmarkt. Old-town 4-star hotels within walking distance of the stalls.
From €2,299 per person
French Christmas in 7 Days: Alsace Markets, Lyon & Val d'Isère Skiing
Six nights in December: two in Colmar for the markets and wine villages, one at the Hôtel-Dieu in Lyon with dinner at Paul Bocuse, three in Val d'Isère with two full ski days. First-class train, 4- and 5-star hotels.
From €2,099 per person
Belgium, Alsace & Switzerland by Train in 10 Days: Brussels to Zermatt
Nine nights in three bases, Brussels, Strasbourg and Basel, with guided day trips to Ghent, Bruges, Colmar, Zermatt, Mount Pilatus and Bern. First-class trains and 3-star hotels by the station; a lot of ground covered in one trip.
From €2,999 per person
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