Strasbourg and neighboring towns - Dec 23-26th

I would enter "Alsace Christmas markets" in the above search bar. There are several threads that answer your questions and provide good info. I believe you will find it difficult to shop at Christmas markets on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. People will be at home celebrating the holiday with their families (unlike Las Vegas and like-minded cities).
Also, be sure to make a reservation for your dinner on the 24th and 25th. Many restaurants close for the holiday (see reason above). When you find one that appeals to you, be sure to reserve in plenty of time. Also, it may be a prix-fixe meal on the 25th, just like lots of restaurants in the states on Thanksgiving. You will surely eat well. Have fun!

I'm showing the Strasbourg markets ending on the 24th, which means noon-ish that day as almost nothing is open after 1300. All the smaller towns will be done also (Riquewihr, for example, closes on the 21st.) Colmar is showing their markets open until the 29th this year. You need to re-think the idea of Colmar (or any other) markets in the evening of the 24th, or at all on the 25th.

Places to eat will be very limited, and you'll need reservations. Understand you'll be competing for a table against every other tourist, as well as the locals, who will also be on holiday. As for renting a vehicle, you'll need to plan on doing that on the 23rd, and returning it on the 26th. Expect to pay 50 euro a day to park it.

I don't have a specific recommendation for meals, I usually just read the boards and see what looks good. I also tend to walk away from the tourist areas. Last Thursday I had a tarte flambe and beer in Colmar for 15 euro, which is good for me. (I'd spent more than that on some smoked duck I found in the Marche Couvee.)

I would not recommend a boat ride in late December. There will be ice on the water. The last couple years the temperatures around Christmas were in the high 20's (f).

Oh - looks like I missed the Dec 24th date. We will get Dec 23rd in Strasbourg.

Re: Colmar - the markets are open until Dec 29th. Even though that's the case, are you saying that on Dec 24th & 25th the vendors dont show up? Basically, the market could be dead on Dec 24th and definitely on Dec 25th?

This is not the US. NOBODY works on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Even the trains and other public transport are minimized. Taxis will not be available. The markets will be CLOSED, along with everything but hotels and some eating places with very limited hours. And those cute little towns will all be shut down.

Over the border, in Germany, the 26th is also a holiday.

What KGC said. The holidays will be spent "en famille". Maybe in a big city like London or Paris there will be more options for meals, but even in those places most restaurants will be closed. The holidays are not considered a chance to make money as in the US.
I would spend the afternoon of the 23rd at the markets, and also buy some things you may need to have on hand for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Scope out restaurants open for those two days now, and reserve them as soon as they take reservations.

Neel,
P.S. Markets may be open until the 29th, but they WILL be closed at least from noon on the 24th until the 26th or 27th, THEN reopened until the 29th. It is not continuous.

Wasn't hard to find online, and Neel, you were correct. They will be open. Have a blast.

Opening hours of the Colmar Christmas Markets

From 25th November to 29th December 2025
Monday to Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 24 December: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, 25 December: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday, 26 December: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

https://www.noel-colmar.com/en/colmar-the-magic-of-christmas/practical

I stand corrected Mr. E. You are way better at scoping these things out than I am. It looks like they just need to find restaurants for those days. It will be the Christmas they want after all! Good on them!

This is indeed a relief! Really appreciate all your feedback. Might be a good time to make restaurant reservations for the 24th and 25th.

Judy, had you been correct, I would not have been surprised. But this had a signficant impact on the OP so I thought it was worth the research. I thought there might be a chance because in recent years some of the markets here in Budapest have begun keeping similar hours (closing about 4pm on the 24th and opening mid afternoon on the 25th). Possibly KGC is correct and they keep the markets open by hiring the Mr. and Mrs Nobody and family from the U.S.

A lot more restaurants stayiing open in recent years. Generally, the better "tourist" dependent restaurants pick a day to close. Either the 24th, 25th or 26th. Rarely are the closed more than one day. Still the truly local places are generally closed all 3 days so there pickings are thinner.

I have to admit I've not seen that anywhere else. I may just have to drive down on Christmas. My experience has been that everything shuts down, even Nuremberg and Strasbourg which are the most elaborate ones I've been to.