Metz Christmas Market Travel Guide

Metz Christmas Market Travel Guide 2025: Dates, Times & Locations

The Metz Christmas Market is an event taking place between 21st November and 30th December 2025, as well as a group of themed markets that are located on historic squares.

• Place de la République, place d’Armes, place Saint-Jacques & place Saint-Louis: 11am-9pm (Sun-Thu), 11am-10pm (Fri-Sat)

1. Place de la Comedie: 5pm-11pm (Mon-Fri), 11am-11pm (Sat-Sun)

The markets are free to view, and navigation between different locations is not very hard due to the proximity between each facility. Normally, cold winter air runs through Metz during this period, and warm drinks, a red scarf, and sweat gloves are very useful. 

It is best to visit towards the end of the afternoon, reaching there during daylight and remaining there until the magical night lights.

A map of the Christmas Market will generally display all the major locations, including:

1. Place de la Republique
2. Place d’Armes
3. Place Saint-Louis
4. Place Saint-Jacques
5. Place de la Comedie
6. Trail of Lanterns

Christmas Market Locations in Metz

Place de la Republique: The Main Market

This is a colorful square that is at the center of the Metz Christmas Market. The tall Christmas tree with its bright lights is located in the middle with the spectacularly decorated chalets that include foods, talent crafts and many more.

Highlights include:

1. The Skyliner of the City provides amazing 360-degree views.
2. Glittering pyramids of Christmas.
3. A ride on a Christmas tree with children.
4. Rolling open fires to roast marshmallows.
5. Custom artisan boutique chalets that have inside shopping.

Place de la Republique is gorgeous by day, and magical by night: the trees stand, the giant tree glitters, and the lights used by the festival have a warm reflection on the nearby buildings.

Site d’Armes: Place Des Lumières

When you put Places d’Armes next to the great Metz Cathedral, it seems like a Christmas novel. Implementing food nests around the square and hot drinks run in a cavalry.

The Ferris wheel, 60 meters high above the ground, is the center of attraction. The Gothic architecture of the cathedral seems even higher towards the top and is glorified by the golden lights. There is a small carousel that contributes to an additional dose of festive candy to the area.

Place Saint-Louis: Square of the Middle Ages

The market is surrounded by ancient houses that are a result of 13th-century construction, which gives it a pleasant old-world background. Wooden chalets are located in the middle in two rows to sell such handcrafted products, sweets, and holiday decorations.

There is a beautiful carousel that rotates very slowly at one side; this gives the square a warm and nostalgic effect, especially to a person who is fond of history mixed with the magic of Christmas.

Place Saint-Jacques: Local “Qualité MOSL” Market

Place Saint-Jacques is one of the small but elite markets, and is dedicated to local products of high quality. All the chalets contain the Qualité MOSL label, which means the work of Moselle. Look forward to exquisite home-made products, exquisite food, and local high-end products.

Place de la Comédie: Luxurious Market

This Sybaritic quarter of Metz borders on the Temple Neuf, and is one of the most pleasant of the Christmas meals. Nine gourmet chalets cater to:

1. Oysters
2. Cheese-topped pasta
3. Shrimp dishes
4. Quiche Lorraine
5. Crepes, waffles, tourtes

Having the river on the side of the marketplace and a huge lighted-up Santa drifting around, Place de la Comedie leaves an ideal scene of a festival.

Trail of Lanterns (Sentier des Lanternes)

This magic path illuminates the nighttime in winter with more than 2,000 lanterns of light. The sections are all imaginative scenes: animals, fairy-tale characters, forests, stars, and a walk of magic that everyone can greatly enjoy.

Special Christmas Attractions in Metz

Floating Sleigh and Father Christmas

A floating sleigh is sailing down the river, giving a light-hearted sight of the city lights. It is as authentic as a Christmas fairy tale experience.

Saint-Nicolas Day

During 6th-7th December, Metz commemorates the Saint-Nicolas celebrations through the arrangement of parades, performances, and celebrations around town.

CÉLESTE 360° Light Show

CÉLESTE is a music, architecture, and projection art immersion, hosted at the Temple Neuf, a beautiful 40-minute piece. Every year the new visions with the motive of history and space, poetry are offered.

Lighting up of Streets and Decorations

All the streets of the Old Town are ablaze with lights, suspended stars, illuminated arches, and inventive decorations.

What to Eat and Drink in Metz During Christmas?

Festive Foods to Try

The Christmas markets of Metz are an acknowledged reunion of warm winter food and a specialty of the country that makes it a feast to go around between stalls. Every single marketplace accentuates something different, thus flavors change between rich and cheesy dishes to freshly baked treats.

Best food to look forward to in the markets:

1. Tartiflette: A hearty Alpine dish prepared with sliced potatoes, cream, bacon various kinds of melted cheese. All the time hot and ideal on cold evenings.
2. Quiche Lorraine: This is one of the local dishes known in the Lorraine area, whose crust is made of butter and has a savoury filling.
3. Raclette bowls: Hot melted raclette cheese over vegetables, bread or potatoes.
4. Pretzels and cheese: Freshly made pretzels in a thick and cheesy sauce.
5. Carbonara within a cheese ball: Fresh pasta cooked right within a huge ball of cheese and peeling off creamy layers with each turn.
6. Saucisses with choucroute: Rich sausages will be served with fermented cabbage.
7. Tarte flambee: Alsatian skin-dish, cream, onion and bacon
8. Sweet desserts: Churros, waffles, and crepes with different accompanying toppings such as Nutella, caramel, sugar, or fresh fruits.
9. Seafood choices: Crab rolls, shrimp plates and an oyster bar are also common in the Gourmet Market.

All the dishes are made fresh before the visitors, and the whole market is stinking with melted cheese, warm bread, and sweet desserts, which occupy a great portion of the festivity atmosphere.

Popular Drinks

Hot beverages are also an important part of the Christmas spirit because they can counter the cold winter wind and introduce the cozy side of the experience.

Favorites include:

1. Vin chaud (mulled wine) is one of the traditional Christmas cocktails, which is mulled wine with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and citrus.
2. Hot chocolate is rich and creamy and commonly garnished with whipped cream or marshmallows.
3. Spiced apple juice (jus de pomme chaud) is a non-alcoholic drink to get cozy.
4. Champagne is a classy drink that transmits the spirit of celebration in Grand Est.
5. Local beer, the brew used in the region, provides a local touch to the beer drinkers.

The beverages will be served in reusable Christmas cups that will be illustrated with festive graphics of Metz. They end up with them as souvenirs by many visitors rather than giving back the EUR1 that they are supposed to get the deposit back.

Best Gifts to Buy for Your Loved Ones

The Christmas markets of Metz are particularly glamorous as far as shopping during the holidays is concerned. Numerous stands are representatives of the Moselle, where people can find something personal, homemade and sincere.

Shoppers can find:

1. Ornaments and holiday decorations: Homemade baubles, pieces carved of wood, and Christmas stars.
2. Leather journals and paper stars: Some artistic works that can be handmade and used as gifts.
3. Santos (miniatures): Classic figures that were used to design the Christmas villages.
4. Local soaps and spreads: Sweet-smelling soaps, honey, jams and local tastes.
5. Dried apples and decoration fruits: Basic, any tasty snacks to give out as a present.
6. Winter accessories: Homemade caps, hats and scarves.
7. Sweets: Chocolates, nougat, gingerbread, marshmallows covered with chocolate.

Nothing is cold or bureaucratic, and it is effortless to locate the gifts that are not mass-produced.

Best Areas and Hotels: Where to Stay in Metz?

It is even better when one is near the Christmas celebrations. Metz is small, and therefore, many neighborhoods are easy to access the markets.

Top areas to stay near:

1. The Cathedral District: Ideal when one wants a fairytale location, near the Place d’Armes market and Ferris wheel.
2. Locality Saint-Louis Area: With all the charms of the Middle Ages and a stone’s throw away from a couple of marketplaces.
3. Place de la Republique Surroundings: The best walkable distance to the single main market and all the majors.

The spectrum of accommodation includes both boutique and mid-rate accommodation, to cheaper ones. The season, Christmas, is well-known in Metz, so it is best to make the bookings beforehand in order to obtain the favorable prices and places.

Getting to Metz

Metz does not take much time to reach due to its good rail networks in Europe. Divers can reach the destination within quite a short distance of a number of major cities:

1. 45 minutes by a cross-border train: Metz has been the ideal day-trip destination of Luxembourg City by a short/smooth cross-border train ride.
2. Strasbourg: It takes 1.5 hours to do a trip through the picturesque Grand Est part, and the trip is enjoyable.
3. 1.5 hours out of Paris: Paris has direct high-speed trains that help the people of Paris to reach Metz without any hassle, with which they can enjoy a quick Christmas break.
4. 2 hrs off Reims: There are easy regional train connections between Reims and Metz, and this could be a good destination for travelers touring the northeast of France.
5. 3 hours since Lille: The trains on their route to the north of France provide a comfortable route to those in the Hauts-de-France region.
6. Basel: Switzerland. Visitors in Switzerland can now take a relaxing, picturesque rail ride of 3.5 hours to Metz, following beautiful landscapes.
7. Only 4 hours away from Brussels: The proximity of Metz is part of the strong incentive to consider using a direct flight into Metz to make it a destination during a weekend trip, as a Christmas market.
8. It takes 4 hours to Frankfurt: The efficient rail system in Germany means that it is easy to get to Metz for those travellers coming from major cities such as Frankfurt.

It is equally easy to move about after arrival in Metz. Various local buses and trams run regularly, which will take the train station and reach the Old Town and every venue of the Christmas market.

For vehicles coming by car, the traffic may be crowded, especially towards the city center on the weekends. This is why it is strongly suggested to use the Park and Ride (P+R) facilities, which would enable visitors not to leave their cars inside the congested areas but rather use the rapid transportation means into the city.

Tips for First-Time Travelers

A day is sufficient to visit every possible market, eat the food, see the key attractions, and walk around Old Town.

The following tips should come in handy:

1. Arrive in the afternoon. This will allow time to shop during the day and to see magical lights during the evening.
2. Carry some cash. Most of the stalls do accept cards, but not all.
3. The English language is highly covered, particularly among the vendors dealing with tourists.
4. Pet-friendly markets. Dogs are acceptable, but during the quieter days (afternoons or weekdays), it is more comfortable.
5. Accessibility is good. Marketplaces are level and simple to work in.
6. Metz is a relaxed and easy-to-handle environment even in rush times.

Final Thoughts

Metz provides a Christmas party that is full of adorning, wonder and warmth. The city is something that wins the heart in a very comforting manner with magical marketplaces, glowing lanterns, beautiful historic places and delicious food. Each of the corners is hiding a small slice of pleasure, which makes Metz a place where the memories of the holidays are going to be acquired naturally, warm, and beautiful.

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FAQs

Is Metz, France, worth visiting?

Yes, Metz is exquisite in Christmas and any festive markets, lights, and old architecture.

Why is Metz famous?

Metz is also characterized by its one gorgeous Gothic cathedral, which is the Pompidou Centre branch, as well as Christmas markets.

How much time do you need in Metz?

The total amount of time needed to visit all the Christmas markets and Old Town is one full day.

When is the Christmas market in Metz in 2025?

Between 21st November and 30th December 2025.

What are the opening hours of the 2025 Metz Christmas market?

11 am-7 pm, open on Christmas Day.

Christmas Market in Nancy or Metz: which Christmas market is more beautiful?

Metz is not packed with people as Nancy is, but more market and festive lights.