Metz Christmas Market: Your Ultimate Guide

Metz is a really charming Christmas city in the Grand Est region of Eastern France. The whole city really gets into the Christmas spirit in a way that reminds me a little bit of Strasbourg and Colmar, but without the half-timbered houses or the crowds.

Case in point – we were in Metz on a Sunday and the crowds were manageable, whereas weekends in the two Alsace cities are absolutely nutso.

So, what makes Metz special? Metz has 5 different Christmas markets, each with its own flair and offerings. Lights fill the streets of Old Town, often a swooping blanket of lights interspersed with a large lit decoration above the streets.

Since every market is no more than a 5 minute walk from the next, the Old Town feels like one big Christmas celebration, with twinkling lights and decorations tying everything together.

Metz was given third place for “Best Christmas Market in Europe” and winner of the “Best Christmas Market for Families” in 2024 – and honestly, once you’ve visited, it’s easy to see why!

Christmas Markets in Metz

There is a lot of overlap with gifts for sale and food to offer at the different markets – many of these things could be found in multiple places. I’ll give an overview of what each market is like, and then the types of food, drink, and gifts available at the markets in Metz.

1. Place de la Republique Market

This is the largest and most developed market in Metz, which sits at the end of the large Jardins de l’Esplanade. We loved this market – the chalets were cute and cozy, the decorations were really nice, there were a lot of food options, and a lot of interesting and unique things to see and do.

First off, Place de la Republique is home to the largest Christmas tree in Metz, an enormous lit fir tree in the middle of the market. There are also several Christmas pyramids – always a charming addition to the markets.

One unique feature is City Skyliner, a a ride similar to a Ferris wheel, except you stand on an observation deck as it rises up a tall pole for 360 panoramic views.

Besides numerous traditional chalets, interestingly, this market also had two small “boutiques”, where you could actually go into an enclosed building to peruse different artisan crafts.

Other fun features inclue a Christmas tree ride where you ride on the ornaments (a little kid ride), as well as an open firepit where you could buy sticks of marshmallows to roast.

This is a nice spot to stop by during the day, but definitely swing by again at night, as the trees and decorations look amazing lit up against the night sky.

2.Place de la Comedie Gourmet Market

The Temple Neuf is one of the most charming spots in Metz, where an old church sits at the end of an island in the Moselle River. While this angle is perhaps the most iconic view in Metz, you’ll also need to visit the other side.

Here you’ll find the Gourmet Market. This small market has about 15 chalets – all of them filled with delicious food and drink options, such as:

An oyster bar
Chalet de Fromages – different pastas topped with cheese
Shrimp
Quiche lorraine
Savory tourtes
Crepes

Besides being a great place to grab something yummy to eat, the Gourmet Market is a very pretty setting with the Temple Neuf in the background.

There’s also a large lit decoration by the market entrance, and a lit Santa decoration in the river next to the market.

3. Place d’Armes Market – “Féérie des Lumieres”

Place d’Armes is in the shadow of the Metz Cathedral, one of France’s most incredible Gothic churches. The market here is on the smaller side and has mostly food and drink, with just a few gift stalls. It’s a popular meet up spot among locals for evening drinks or a meal.

Besides food and drink, the Place d’Armes market is also the location of the Grand Roue de Metz Ferris wheel, and a small carousel. The Ferris wheel is really fun – it’s right next to the cathedral and you can admire its beautiful architecture from 60 meters (200 feet) above ground!

Speaking of the Metz Cathedral, it’s definitely worth going inside, both to admire the masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and also to see the Nativity display.

In 2024, the cathedral has an “evolving nativity” scene. Each week leading up to Epiphany the nativity changes from one scene to another in the story.

We saw the Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, then the next weeks would bring Joseph’s dream, the visit of Mary to Elisabeth, the path to Behtlehem, the Nativity, the Mages, etc. It’s a cool concept.

4. Place Saint Louis Market

Dozens of historic 13th century homes fill Place Saint Louis, the location of the next Christmas market in Metz, and the second biggest after Place de la Republique.

This long, skinny square hosts two rows of stalls, a lovely Christmas pyramid, and a beautiful carousel.

5. Place Saint Jacques Market

The market at Place Saint Jacques is quite small, but it has some of the best quality gifts in Metz. All of the chalets in this market are “Qualité MOSL” which means “Moselle sans limites” – a label that indicates quality products from local producers in the Moselle departement, of which Metz is a part.

Drinks at the Metz Christmas Market

As with all Christmas markets in France, you can get vin chaud (mulled wine), champagne, beer, chocolat chaud (hot chocolate), jus de pomme chaud (hot spiced apple juice), champagne, and a variety of other alcoholic drinks at all the markets.

Also like the rest of markets in France, Metz serves all drinks in reusable plastic cups. Most stalls had 4 different cup varieties they were using and giving to customers, and they were actually quite cute.

You can return the cup when you’re done for 1 euro back, or you can keep it as a souvenir. We love collecting market cups, so we kept 2 varieties of the Metz cups.

Food at the Christmas Markets in Metz

Metz’s markets are full of delicious, varied food options. This is a sampling of some of the foods you can find at the Christmas markets:

Tartiflette – sliced potatoes cooked with cream, cheese, and bacon

Pasta Carbonara- mixed in a wheel of cheese, with chunks of the fresh cheese being scraped into the serving

Tarte Flambée — Tarte flambée (thin crust topped with a cream sauce, onions, and bacon)

And a few other options include:

Burgers
Fries
Fruit on a stick
Paninis
Raclette bowl

Gifts and Shopping at the Metz Christmas Market

While certainly not a comprehensive list, this is a sampling of the types of things you can find at the markets in Metz.

Santons (traditional miniatures from Provence, used by families to create village scenes)

Chocolate covered marshmallows (these are really good)

Practical Information

How to Get to Metz at Christmastime

Metz is very well-connected to other major European cities, making it easy to travel by train to come to the market.

By train, it’s:

1.5 hours from Strasbourg
1.5 hours from Paris
2 hours from Reims
3 hours from Lille
4 hours from Brussels
45 minutes from Luxembourg City
4 hours from Frankfurt
3.5 hours from Basel

Dates and Hours for the Metz Christmas Market

The 2024 Christmas Market opens on Friday, the 22th of November, and runs through Monday, the 30th of December.

Hours for the markets:

Place de la Republique, Place Saint-Jacques, & Place Saint-Louis: 11am-9pm Sun-Thurs, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat
Place de la Comedie: 5pm-11pm Mon-Fri, 11am-11pm Sat-Sun, closed 24 Dec
Place d’Armes: 11am-9pm Sun-Thurs, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. Opens 29 Nov

How Much Time Do You Need in Metz?

I’d recommend a full day to see and experience the Christmas festivities in Metz. This should also give you some time to to do a little sightseeing as well.

Other Helpful Tips

There are no entrance fees to visit the Christmas markets.
People in Metz speak French, but you will find that most people interacting with tourists speak at least some English.
There are some stands that will accept card, but many places will just take cash, so make sure you have cash on hand.