With children in tow, a Christmas market weekend becomes a project to plan: the right destination, family-friendly accommodation, and a schedule that heads off meltdowns in the middle of the crowds. This guide sets out what works, by age of the children and length of the stay.
Which market to choose by age
With a baby or toddler (0-2 years)
Go for markets with open spaces and wide walkways. Amiens, Metz, Reims or Lille suit better than the Alsatian markets, where the narrow streets clog up fast. Choose a baby carrier over a pushchair for getting around the town centre, especially at the weekend.
With a child aged 3 to 6
The ideal age for Christmas markets. Vintage carousels, the ice rink (children's skate hire from 24 months in some towns), Father Christmas's house and the Lantern Trail in Metz all work wonderfully. Strasbourg and Lille have a particularly rich programme for children.
With a child aged 7 to 12
You can widen the programme: the big wheel, a boat trip in Strasbourg, the cathedral light show in Reims, a craft workshop in Mulhouse. The storytelling tours run by tourist offices start to appeal. Allow 2 to 3 hours of market per outing to keep everyone comfortable.
With teenagers
The challenge: avoiding the “standard market” that bores them. Favour markets with an experience built in (light shows, boat trips, a Christmas escape game in Strasbourg or Mulhouse). Pair the market with something that is not a market at all (an interactive museum, or a day's skiing if you are near the Alps or the Vosges).
The best markets for families
| Market | Family strengths | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Lille | Big wheel, ice sculptures, ice rink | No spectacular light show |
| Metz | Lantern Trail, Saint Nicholas parade | Town-centre parking full at weekends |
| Amiens | 130 stalls, free ice rink for children | Cold wind across the esplanade |
| Strasbourg | 12 sites, storytelling tours, boat trips | Extreme crowds at weekends |
| Mulhouse | Father Christmas's house, craft workshops | Limited accommodation |
| Paris Tuileries | Vintage carousels, large ice rink | Pricey, access jammed on Saturdays |
A sample weekend with children
Friday evening
Arrive late afternoon, settle into the hotel, have a light dinner near where you are staying. A first wander round the market between 6pm and 8pm to enjoy the lights without Saturday's crowds. Early to bed: the children will be tired from the journey.
Saturday morning
A hearty breakfast at the hotel or a bakery. An indoor activity from 10am to 12pm (interactive museum, craft workshop, children's guided tour). That sidesteps the morning crush at the market and tires the little ones out before nap time.
Saturday afternoon
A nap for the youngest, or quiet time at the hotel. Back to the market around 4pm for the ice rink or the big wheel, where the queues are shorter before the 5pm-7pm peak. An afternoon snack at the market: a crêpe, mulled wine for the parents, hot chocolate for the children.
Saturday evening
Dinner before 7pm at a restaurant close to the hotel, so you are not walking late with the children. For older ones (8 years and up), head back to the market in the evening for the cathedral light show (Reims) or the full illuminations.
Sunday
The market in the morning (10am-12pm), the quietest slot. A photo with Father Christmas, souvenir shopping, a last few rides on the carousel. Lunch at the market or in a restaurant, then set off early in the afternoon to get home at a sensible hour.
Family-friendly accommodation
Family suite or connecting rooms
More and more hotels offer family rooms (1 double bed plus 1 or 2 singles) or connecting rooms. Expect to pay €30 to €80 more than a standard double. The Adagio, Citadines and Appart'City brands specialise in this format.
Short-term rental
Often the best compromise for a family: a flat with 2 to 4 bedrooms, a fitted kitchen for home-made breakfasts and snacks, and space to play. Expect €100 to €200 a night for a two-bedroom flat in the town centre.
Hotels with children's services
Some upmarket hotels (Sofitel, Mercure, Best Western Premier) offer a baby kit (travel cot, baby bath, bottle warmer). Check when you book: it is usually free, but numbers are limited.
A typical family budget (2 adults + 2 children, 2 nights)
| Item | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Family TGV fares, Paris-Strasbourg return | €240 to €380 |
| Accommodation | 3-star family suite in the centre, 2 nights | €320 to €480 |
| Meals | 3 restaurant meals + 3 market meals, 4 people | €280 to €400 |
| Children's activities | Carousels, big wheel, ice rink, reduced rates | €50 to €100 |
| At the market | Mulled wine for the adults, hot chocolate for the children, tastings | €40 to €80 |
| Extra activities | 1 museum, 1 children's guided tour | €40 to €80 |
| Total for a family of 4 | €970 to €1,520 |
What to pack
Clothing
- A hat, scarf and gloves for each child: markets in the north and east often drop below 0 °C in the evening
- Boots or waterproof shoes: the ground is sometimes wet or snowy
- A warm fleece-lined jacket: standing still in queues makes the cold bite harder
- Warm pyjamas for the night: older hotels are sometimes poorly insulated
For babies and toddlers
- A warm blanket for the pushchair or carrier
- A portable bottle warmer if you use bottles
- Wipes and nappy bags (public toilets get overrun)
- A spare comforter and dummy
Extras
- A small snack and a water bottle: so you are not giving in at every stall
- A head torch or pocket torch: handy for crossing the road after 5pm in winter
- A paper map of the town: the mobile network sometimes struggles in the centre
- A small first-aid kit: paracetamol, plasters, throat lozenges
Practical tips to head off trouble
Managing tiredness
2 to 3 hours of market per outing is the comfortable maximum for a child of 3 to 7 years. Beyond that, crankiness, hunger and fatigue lead to difficult moments. Two short visits beat one long one.
Planning for the basics
Locate the public toilets and water points in advance. Most markets have them, but they are often tucked out of the way. In Strasbourg, the toilets on Place Broglie and Place Kléber stay open throughout the market.
Plan B for bad weather
Freezing rain or a snowstorm: do not push on regardless. Retreat to an interactive museum or a local cinema. The children will remember a cosy afternoon in a café with a hot chocolate far more fondly than an hour shivering, soaked through, in an empty market.
Where to go next
Our top family-friendly markets lists the 10 destinations best suited to children. For the overall cost, the budget guide breaks down every item of spending.