15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Linz (2026) Planning the best things to do at Christmas in Linz? Austria's third-largest city is one of Europe's most underrated Advent destinations. The Christkindlmarkt Linz turns the grand baroque Hauptplatz into a glowing village of wooden stalls, framed by the towering Dreifaltigkeitssäule (Trinity Column) and some of the finest handmade crafts in Upper Austria. Unlike Vienna or Salzburg, where Christmas markets can feel like a beautiful crush of crowds, Linz keeps things calm and genuinely local. Families ride the historic Pöstlingbergbahn up to the hilltop basilica, couples stroll the Danube riverside at dusk, and everyone eats far too much Linzer Torte. The city brands itself as Linz: Christmas of Lights, and on a snowy evening it earns the name. This guide rounds up the 15 best experiences across the city's markets, hilltop, old town and riverside — plus two easy day trips and a proper food trail. The Linz Christmas market...
15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Reims (2026)
Christmas in Reims is France at its most elegant. The champagne capital pairs one of the country's largest Christmas markets with a Gothic cathedral that glows every night, cellar tours where the finest bubbles are born, and a food culture built for winter feasting. Just 45 minutes from Paris by TGV, it is one of the easiest Christmas escapes in northern France.
This guide covers the 15 best things to do at Christmas in Reims in 2026 — from the Marché de Noël chalets on the cathedral promenades to champagne house tastings, the nightly cathedral light show, the Ferris wheel, and the family fair that keeps the kids happy after dark. You will also find honest practical advice on market dates, getting there from Paris, and whether to stay overnight.
Say Joyeux Noël — Merry Christmas — the Reims way: a glass of vin chaud in one hand, a pink biscuit dipped in champagne in the other.
Last updated: October 8, 2026
Jump to: Markets & the Cathedral | Champagne & Cellars | Food & Drink | Family Fun | Light, Music & Night | Who This Trip Suits Best | FAQs | More Christmas Inspiration
Markets & the Cathedral
The heart of Christmas in Reims beats on the Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter, in front of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims. Thirty-three French kings were crowned in this cathedral, and at Christmas its forecourt fills with well over 100 wooden chalets.
1. Wander the Marché de Noël chalets. The main market typically runs late November to late December — expect roughly November 25 to December 27 or 28, 2026, but treat this as provisional and confirm on reims.fr or reims-tourisme before you book. Browse artisan jewelry, wooden toys, Champagne-region honey, and hand-cut crystal. Mondays open around 2pm, weekends run 10am to 8pm, closed Christmas Day.
2. Watch the Régalia light show on the cathedral. Every evening during the festive season, the façade becomes a giant screen. The Régalia sound-and-light spectacle projects the story of the coronations across the Gothic towers and rose window — free, nightly, and the city's most magical sight. Arrive early for a front spot on the parvis.
3. Step inside the cathedral for the crèche and concerts. The interior holds a traditional Nativity scene, and December brings choral concerts and organ recitals beneath some of the finest stained glass in France.
Champagne & Cellars
No Christmas in Reims is complete without descending into the chalk cellars where champagne ages — the great houses sit minutes from the market.
4. Tour Veuve Clicquot's cellars. The house of the Grand Dame runs guided tours through its chalk caves (crayères) beneath the city, ending with a tasting of the iconic yellow-label brut. Book ahead — December slots sell out weeks early.
5. Descend into the Taittinger cellars. Taittinger's vaults were carved from fourth-century Gallo-Roman chalk quarries — the most atmospheric tour in town, and the tasting of prestige cuvées feels like a Christmas gift to yourself.
6. Sip champagne on Place d'Erlon. Reims' grand café boulevard lines up pop-up champagne tasting bars at Christmas. Order a flute of blanc de blancs and find a heated terrace. For an extra treat, try the local ritual: dip a biscuit rose — the city's famous pink biscuit — into your champagne.
Food & Drink
Champagne's winter cuisine is built for celebration: rich, warm, and unapologetically festive.
7. Feast on market food. Beyond vin chaud, the chalets serve tartiflette, raclette scraped onto potatoes, roasted chestnuts, truffled sausages, and pain d'épices — the spiced honey bread that is a northern French Christmas staple.
8. Book a Réveillon dinner. Réveillon is the long French Christmas Eve feast, and Reims' brasseries craft special multi-course menus around it — foie gras, capon or roast goose, oysters, and a proper bûche de Noël (Yule log) for dessert. Reserve early.
9. Shop for champagne Christmas gifts. Bring home magnums, vintage cuvées, and champagne-infused treats — chocolate truffles, mustards, and biscuits — from the houses' boutiques and the market's gourmet chalets. They pack bottles for travel if you ask.
Family Fun
Reims is one of the most family-friendly Christmas cities in France, with a dedicated children's zone next to the main market.
10. Explore the Children's Kingdom at the Palais du Tau. The former archbishops' palace hosts the Royaume des Enfants: an artisans' village, a small train, a traditional crèche, and visits from Père Noël. Charming rather than commercial — parents will enjoy the palace's tapestries too.
11. Ride the Christmas fun fair. The Foire de Noël et des Rois — the Christmas and Kings' Fair — sets up dozens of rides, from gentle merry-go-rounds to big thrill rides, usually running from early December into January.
12. Ride the Grande Roue at dusk. The giant Ferris wheel near Place d'Erlon has heated cabins and climbs high above the rooftops. Time your ride for twilight: the cathedral, the lit market, and the sparkling city spread below you.
Who This Trip Suits Best
Families with Kids: The Children's Kingdom, the fun fair, the small train, and Père Noël appearances make Reims a standout family pick — far calmer than Strasbourg's crowds but just as magical.
Couples: A cellar tour at Taittinger, dinner on Place d'Erlon, and the Régalia show under a cold clear sky is a weekend made for two.
Budget Travelers: The market, the light show, and the cathedral are all free. Book the TGV from Paris early for cheap fares, and market food plus one cellar tour makes a rich day trip without a big bill.
Light, Music & Night
When the sun sets around 5pm, Reims switches on — the whole center becomes an evening attraction in its own right.
13. Walk the illuminations trail. Follow the balls of light and glowing installations through the city center — from the cathedral square to Place Royale and the Hôtel de Ville. The decorations on Place d'Erlon are especially photogenic.
14. Catch a Christmas concert. December fills Reims' churches and concert halls with choral singing, gospel choirs, and classical performances. Check the program at the tourist office on arrival — many are free or very cheap.
15. End the night with champagne on the Grande Roue. Ride again after dark: some evenings the Ferris wheel cabins become the city's most unusual champagne bar, gliding above a sea of Christmas lights. The perfect final toast — "Joyeux Noël et à la vôtre!"
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Reims Christmas market in 2026? Based on recent years' patterns, expect around November 25 to late December 2026 (sources cite December 27 or 28 as closing). These dates are provisional — always confirm on reims.fr or reims-tourisme before booking travel.
How do I get to Reims from Paris? The TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est takes about 45 minutes to Reims Centre station, within walking distance of the cathedral and market. Book early for the best fares.
Which champagne houses should I visit? Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, and Pommery are the classic trio, all within easy reach of the center. Taittinger has the most historic cellars; Veuve Clicquot is the most famous name. Book tastings online before you travel.
Is Reims good for kids at Christmas? Yes — the Children's Kingdom at the Palais du Tau, the fun fair, the small train, and Père Noël visits make it one of France's best Christmas cities for families.
Where should I stay in Reims? Stay near the cathedral or Place d'Erlon to walk to everything. December weekends fill fast, so book as early as possible — hotels near the market are the first to sell out.
Is Reims a day trip or an overnight stay? It genuinely works as a day trip from Paris — cathedral, market, and light show fit one afternoon and evening. But the overnight wins if champagne matters to you: late-afternoon cellar tours flow naturally into dinner, and a quiet morning at the cathedral before the crowds is a different, better trip.
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