Alsace Christmas Markets: Booking Colmar and Strasbourg Ahead

How to navigate the fairytale capital of Christmas without paying €300/night for hotel rooms.

Written by ETH Editorial Team

Published: Aug 12, 2026 • Fact-checked by ETH Editorial Team

• Experiencing the Capital of Christmas

Experiencing the Capital of Christmas

Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmarik dates back to 1570, making it one of the oldest and most atmospheric holiday markets in Europe.

Season Dates: Markets typically open on the last Friday of November and operate daily through December 24.
The Booking Rule: Hotel rooms in Colmar and central Strasbourg sell out 6 to 9 months in advance for December weekends.
Pro Tip: Base in Mulhouse or Basel (Switzerland) and take the direct 30-minute regional train into Colmar to save 50% on lodging.

About the Author

ETH Editorial Team

The ETH (Euro Travel Hacks) Editorial Team researches European travel costs, transport, accommodation, and trip-planning information using official sources and structured Euro Travel Hacks data. Changing prices and travel information are dated and reviewed against cited sources where practical.

Experience: Structured research and verification across official European transport operators, municipal transit authorities, and national tourism offices.

Alsace Christmas Markets: Booking Colmar and Strasbourg Ahead

Experiencing the Capital of Christmas

ETH Editorial Team

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