Strasbourg

Atmosphere: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

The biggest appeal of Strasbourg is its medieval feel and impressive lighting, and it delivers. The historic center of Strasbourg is a small island called Île de France and is strewn with winding cobblestone streets through medieval facades and alleys. This city served as an inspiration for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and I’d say it’s a pretty faithful recreation even in winter time (due to the proximity to the river, it is cold here). There are several markets across the various plazas in the old town, with the biggest ones in front of the Cathedral and in Kléber Plaza. Each road connecting these markets is lit up with its own unique “theme” of lights so that you can’t get lost (you can see everything from angels to barrels to gingerbread men to chandeliers in lit-up boxes…cool stuff).

Whether you’re roaming around with a vin chaud in your hands or taking a cruise down through the canals of Petite France, the city has the time-machine effect of transporting you to a different time and place. Of all the markets I visited, this felt the most magical and picturesque. And most importantly, the French people here are much friendlier than they are in Paris.

Food: 🥘🥘

This really surprised me, since I was in France, but the food at the Strasbourg markets was mostly bad. Crepes and waffles seemed to have been mass-produced and pre-made. Sausages and other warm dishes tasted like they had come from a package rather than the butcher and grocer. Hot chocolate and vin chaud tasted watery and thin. And even under different branding, all the tents sold the same kinds of food and drink, to the point where it seemed like one or two providers had cornered the market and supplied everyone. Save your money, don’t waste it on food and drink at these markets.

Crafts: 🛠️🛠️

Like the food, there wasn’t much originality or handmade-ness here. The goods were mostly low-quality, imported tourist “crap” (magnets, t-shirts, etc.) that held no appeal for me. I don’t think I saw a single vendor selling local products here.

Affordability: 💶💶💶

Strasbourg has become a major tourist attraction for Christmas travelers, and the locals have recognized it. Prices in the markets aren’t low—5 or 6 euros for a drink, 6 to 8 for a snack. The city itself is more moderately priced than e.g. Zurich, but there is still a seasonal premium applied to pretty much everything here.

Extras: ⭐⭐⭐

Every hour during the peak hours of the market, the massive Christmas tree at the center of the Kléber Plaza plays a light show set to Christmas carols (broadcast over speakers). It’s coordinated with all the lights around the market. On the whole, it’s nice, but nothing you couldn’t see anywhere else.

Additionally, one of the markets (OFF) had a soundstage with performances (mostly music concerts) featuring local musicians every night. I got the chance to hear an up-and-coming French artist sing (not Christmas music) and it was a nice way to experience local culture.

Overall: 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼

Strasbourg, heralded as the “Capital of Christmas”, was a bit disappointing. While the city and its lights were quite picturesque, on the whole I found the actual substance of the markets to be low-quality and the prices to be far too high. My advice here would be “look, but don’t touch”.