Steal My France Christmas Market Itinerary: Paris and Strasbourg
France brings romance to the season, and Strasbourg wears the crown. I’ll trace a route through the old town that hits the Cathedral, Rue du Marroquin, and the towering Giant Sapin, with extra stops tucked into side streets where the timbered façades make every photo look like a postcard. In Paris, you’ll feel a different kind of sparkle. I’m linking Tuileries Garden, Hôtel de Ville, and the Eiffel Tower market and viewing platforms so you can snack, shop, and then climb for the view when the lights switch on. I’ll add a short walk for the city’s best Christmas lights, including the windows at Galeries Lafayette and that famous tree under the dome. Then I’m hopping out to Disneyland Paris for Enchanted Christmas with the parade, shows, and fireworks that turn Main Street into pure movie magic.
You can steal my list and run it exactly as is, or mix and match. I’ll note how long each transfer takes by Metro or RER, how far the markets sit from the stations, and which direction to face for the Eiffel photos before the crowds stack. I’ll also flag stalls with sweet treats you’ll actually want to eat when it is cold out and give you a backup café for a proper warm-up. Paris and Strasbourg do the season differently, but together they make the perfect two-chapter story. Follow my loop and you’ll see the big icons while still getting those quiet corners that feel like your own discovery.
Strasbourg Christmas Markets
Place de la Cathédrale + Place du Château
Dates: November 26 – December 24, 2025
Hours: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm daily
Where: around Strasbourg Cathedral and the square behind it.
Nearest tram/bus: Homme-de-Fer (A/D/E) or Broglie (B/C/F) then 6–10 min walk; note Broglie may not be served during market hours. Rome2Rio+2Moovit+2
Vibe: the “postcard” market with timbered stalls, choirs, and craft booths wrapped around the cathedral.
Place Broglie (Christkindelsmärik)
Dates & Hours: Opening day (Nov 26): 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m..
Nov 27 to Dec 23: 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m..
Christmas Eve (Dec 24): 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..
Where: along Place Broglie (by Opéra).
Nearest tram: Broglie (B/C/F) when open; otherwise Homme-de-Fer hub and walk. Wikipedia+1
Don’t miss: traditional Alsatian food stalls and a long ribbon of chalets.
Place Kléber (Grand Sapin + Village du Partage)
Dates & Hours: Opening day (Nov 26): 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Nov 27 to Dec 23: 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve (Dec 24): 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Place Kléber (central square).
Nearest tram: Homme-de-Fer (A/D/E) 3-min walk. Moovit
Vibe: the 30-meter Grand Sapin and charity “Village du Partage.” Bon Traveler
Pl. du Temple-Neuf + Rue du Fossé-des-Tanneurs
Dates & Hours: Opening day (Nov 26): 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Nov 27 to Dec 23: 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve (Dec 24): 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: south-central Grande-Île by Langstross-Grand’Rue.
Nearest tram: Langstross-Grand’Rue (C/D) then 3–5 min walk; stop not served during market hours, so approach on foot from Homme-de-Fer. Moovit+1
Vibe: pretty lanes for sweets, ornaments, and quick snacks.
Strasbourg City Sights
Place Kléber Arcades + Rue des Grandes Arcades – Tree Views & Shops
Dates & hours: shops keep standard retail hours; lights nightly.
Nearest tram: Homme-de-Fer (A/D/E).
What to expect: Great angles on the Grand Sapin through the arcades; lots of giftable boutiques and bakeries. Use the arcades for rain cover while you frame the tree.
Rue du Maroquin – “Teddy Bear” Facades
Dates & hours: nightly illumination through the season.
Nearest tram: walk from Homme-de-Fer via Cathédrale area.
What to expect: Famous whimsical storefronts with oversized teddy-bear displays and garlands—right by the cathedral. Visit mid-evening when the crowd flow steadies for easier photos. Airial
Rue des Orfèvres & Rue du Chaudron – Window-Shopping Lights
Dates & hours: nightly décor; shops keep standard hours.
Nearest tram: Homme-de-Fer (walk 5–8 min).
What to expect: Two of the most lavishly dressed streets—sparkling garlands and statement façades that change year to year. Ideal for a slow loop and close-up detail shots. Bon Traveler
Pâtisserie Christian
Dates & hours: Typical opening (shop/tea room): Tue–Sat ~08:30–18:30; some listings show Mon–Sat ~07:30/09:00–18:30, closed Sunday. Hours can vary by location and season, so confirm day-of in the official pages or Google listing. Patisserie Christian Strasbourg+2Arrival Guides+2
Locations: 12 Rue de l’Outre, 67000 – boutique + tea room on a quieter street a few minutes from Place Kléber.
Nearest tram / bus: Homme-de-Fer (A/D/E) – main hub for both addresses; 5–8 minutes on foot. Wanderlog
Broglie (B/C/F) – closest to Rue de l’Outre and the Cathedral axis when served; note that during Christmas market hours some central stops are curtailed, so plan to walk in from Homme-de-Fer. Arrival Guides
Paris Department Stores
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann (windows + dome tree)
Dates / hours: Windows and the indoor tree usually run mid-Nov to Dec 31; store hours commonly 10:00–20:30 (Sun to 20:00).
Where: 40 Blvd Haussmann, 9th.
Metro/RER: Chaussée d’Antin–La Fayette (M7, M9), Opéra (M3, M7, M8), Auber (RER A). Buses 20, 21, 22, 53, 66.
What to expect: Animated windows on Blvd Haussmann and a massive themed tree under the Art-Nouveau dome with hourly “sparkle” moments. Rooftop terrace for skyline photos.
Printemps Haussmann (windows)
Dates / hours: mid-Nov to early Jan, store hours around 10:00–20:00.
Where: 64 Blvd Haussmann, 9th (next door to Galeries Lafayette).
Metro/RER: Havre–Caumartin (M3, M9), Auber (RER A). Buses 20, 21, 27, 29, 53, 66, 95.
What to expect: Couture-driven animated windows and elegant façade lighting. Great combined stop with Galeries Lafayette.
Le BHV Marais (windows + façade)
Dates / hours: mid-Nov to Dec 31; typical hours 10:00–20:00 (Sun to 19:00).
Where: 52 Rue de Rivoli, 4th (Hôtel de Ville).
Metro: Hôtel de Ville (M1, M11). Buses 69, 76, 96.
What to expect: Festive façade projection and themed windows; smaller pop-ups around Rue de Rivoli.
La Samaritaine (riverside windows)
Dates / hours: mid-Nov to early Jan; 11:00–20:00 most days.
Where: 9 Rue de la Monnaie, 1st (near Pont Neuf).
Metro: Pont Neuf (M7), Châtelet–Les Halles (M1/4/7/11/14, RER A/B/D). Buses 24, 67, 69, 76.
What to expect: Artful riverside windows, interior light pieces, and a photogenic staircase.
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche (Left Bank décor)
Dates / hours: late Nov to early Jan; 10:00–20:00 (Thur/Fri later).
Where: 24 Rue de Sèvres, 7th.
Metro: Sèvres–Babylone (M10, M12). Buses 39, 63, 68, 70, 87, 94.
What to expect: Refined Left Bank displays and tasteful indoor installations; calmer than Haussmann.
Paris Landmarks, Squares & Avenues
Avenue des Champs-Élysées (street lights)
Dates / hours: Switch-on mid-Nov; lights nightly dusk–~23:45 (later Fri/Sat/holidays) through early Jan.
Where: Arc de Triomphe ↔ Place de la Concorde.
Metro/RER: George V (M1), Franklin D. Roosevelt (M1, M9), Charles-de-Gaulle–Étoile (M1/2/6, RER A).
What to expect: Long light canopy along the avenue; best framed from the median islands or the Arc’s terrace.
Place Vendôme (luxury façades + trees)
Dates / hours: late Nov–early Jan, lights nightly.
Where: 1st arrondissement between Opéra and Tuileries.
Metro: Opéra (M3/7/8), Tuileries (M1), Madeleine (M8/12/14).
What to expect: Elegant conical trees, jewel-box storefronts (Cartier, etc.), and golden hour magic.
Eiffel Tower + Trocadéro views
Dates / hours: Tower sparkle at top of each hour after dusk (5 mins).
Where: Champ-de-Mars & Trocadéro.
Metro/RER: Bir-Hakeim (M6), Trocadéro (M6/9), Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel (RER C). Buses 30, 42, 69, 72, 82, 86.
What to expect: Classic sparkle shots; seasonal market pop-ups sometimes run mid-Dec near Quai Branly/Champ-de-Mars (confirm that year).
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur (village glow)
Dates / hours: Lights nightly late Nov–early Jan.
Where: Butte Montmartre, around Place du Tertre and Rue Norvins.
Metro: Anvers (M2) or Abbesses (M12), then funicular or stairs. Buses 30, 80, 85.
What to expect: Romantic village streets, carousels some years, and panoramic city views.
Paris City-run Displays, Gardens & Light Trails
Bercy Village (Cour Saint-Émilion lights)
Dates / hours: late Nov–early Jan, lights nightly. Shops ~10:00–20:00, restaurants later.
Where: Cour Saint-Émilion, 12th.
Metro: Cour Saint-Émilion (M14).
What to expect: A charming pedestrian laneway of fairy lights among stone wine warehouses; cozy cafés and restaurants.
Jardin des Plantes – Night Illumination Trail
Dates / hours: Typically mid-Nov–mid-Jan, 17:30–22:00 timed entries.
Where: 2 Rue Buffon, 5th.
Metro/RER: Gare d’Austerlitz (M5/10, RER C), Jussieu (M7/10). Buses 24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 89.
What to expect: Ticketed light sculptures through the botanical gardens; themes change yearly (oceans, evolution, etc.). Warm drinks stands inside.
Parc Floral de Paris – Light Trail (select seasons)
Dates / hours: Some years late Nov–early Jan, evenings only (ticketed).
Where: Bois de Vincennes, 12th.
Metro: Château de Vincennes (M1), then bus 46 or short walk.
What to expect: Immersive woodland illumination path; calm alternative to central crowds.
Paris- Covered Passages (Rainy-night Winners)
Galerie Vivienne & Galerie Véro-Dodat
Dates / hours: Décor mid-Nov–early Jan; shops generally 11:00–19:00.
Where: 2nd/1st arrondissements (Vivienne near Palais Royal).
Metro: Bourse (M3), Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (M1/7).
What to expect: Glass-roofed passages with vintage mosaics and elegant garlands—perfect when it rains.
Passage Jouffroy & Passage des Panoramas
Dates / hours: Décor mid-Nov–early Jan; shops/cafés vary.
Where: Grands Boulevards, 9th/2nd.
Metro: Grands Boulevards (M8/9).
What to expect: Lively arcades with toy shops, bookstores, and classic cafés; festive but less crowded than outside streets.
