Christmas wishes for in-laws USA families love to send at the holidays carry warmth, gratitude, and a little American cheer. Whether you are writing to your mother-in-law in Texas, your father-in-law in Ohio, or your brother-in-law and sister-in-law across the country, the right words can make the family dinner feel even closer. This list brings together heartfelt, funny, and short messages made for American homes, snowy mornings, and long drives home for Christmas. In-laws become family in the truest sense at Christmas. They welcome you to the table, share treasured recipes, cheer for the same football team, and help trim the tree. A thoughtful wish thanks them for that welcome and tells them how much their love means through the year. Use these 45 wishes in a card, a text, a holiday letter, or a toast at the table. Pick one that fits your family, add a personal line about a shared memory, and send it early so it arrives before the turkey is carved and the eggnog is poured. Last up...
Christmas in Metz turns a golden-stone city in Lorraine into one of the most rewarding festive escapes in France. Instead of one crowded market square, Metz spreads its Marché de Noël, the Christmas market, across five historic squares, so you can wander from medieval arcades to a glowing Gothic cathedral at your own pace. Add the lantern trail, a giant Ferris wheel, and some of the best eating in northeastern France, and you have a trip that feels both grand and relaxed.
Metz sits in the Grand Est region of France, close to Luxembourg, Germany, and the Alsace wine route, which makes it an easy add-on to a Strasbourg trip or a rewarding weekend destination in its own right. The compact old town glows under thousands of lights, and the season brings concerts, parades, and family events that go far beyond shopping.
The 2026 season is reported as November 20 to December 30, with the markets closed on Christmas Day and closing early on Christmas Eve. Treat those dates as seasonal and check the official Noël à Metz site before you book. Most squares open late morning and stay lively until 9 or 10 at night.
This guide covers the 15 best things to do at Christmas in Metz, from the prettiest market squares and the lantern trail to Lorraine food, sky-high views, and easy day trips. Joyeux Noël, and welcome to Metz at its most magical.
Last updated: November 6, 2026
Jump to: Explore the Five Market Squares | Cathedral and Lantern Trail | Taste Lorraine at Christmas | Ride, Skate, and Play | Day Trips and Smart Planning | Frequently Asked Questions | More Christmas Inspiration
Explore the Five Squares of the Metz Christmas Market
The Metz Christmas market is not one market but five, each with its own character, spread across a compact old town. When one square feels busy, simply stroll to the next, starting at the cathedral and letting the lights lead you on.
- Soak up the medieval magic of Place Saint-Louis: This is the prettiest square in Metz at Christmas, with 13th-century arcaded houses, wooden chalets tucked beneath the arches, and a carousel glowing at its heart. Come at dusk, when the lights come on and the whole square feels like a Christmas village from another century.
- Find the biggest tree and the Christmas pyramids at Place de la République: The largest square holds the tallest tree, the traditional wooden Christmas pyramids, and the City Skyliner panoramic tower. It is the best place to get your bearings, meet friends, and take in the full scale of the Metz celebrations.
- Browse crafts and local gifts at Place Saint-Jacques: This square leans toward regional producers and handmade gifts, including the Qualité MOSL chalet, which gathers certified Moselle makers under one roof. It is the best square for finding something genuinely local to take home, from honey and charcuterie to ceramics and winter knitwear.
See the Cathedral and the Lantern Trail After Dark
Metz after dark is when the city earns its reputation, as the golden limestone catches the light, the cathedral glows from within, and the lantern trail turns a quiet garden into a storybook. Leave the shopping for the daytime squares.
- Step inside Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, the Good Lord's Lantern: Locals call the cathedral la Lanterne du Bon Dieu because of its vast stained glass, including famous windows by Marc Chagall. Step inside on a winter afternoon to see the colored light fall across the stone, then return after dark to see the facade lit for the season.
- Walk the Sentier des Lanternes at Square Boufflers: The Lantern Trail is the single most loved part of Christmas in Metz, with more than 2,000 glowing lanterns shaped like animals, elves, and characters from Lorraine folklore. Go before 7 in the evening if you can, because the trail gets very busy later at night.
- Admire Temple Neuf and Porte des Allemands in the evening light: Cross to the island church of Temple Neuf, which looks like a small castle on the water, then walk to the fortified bridge-gate of Porte des Allemands. Both look especially beautiful with a touch of frost and festive lighting, and both are an easy stroll from the market squares.
Taste Lorraine at Christmas
Food is the heart of Christmas in Metz, and Lorraine brings its own flavors to the season. The markets lean heavily toward eating and drinking, which suits a city where quiche lorraine was born and where the mirabelle plum stars in everything from tarts to liqueurs. Arrive hungry and save room for something sweet.
- Warm up with vin chaud and pain d'épices: A cup of vin chaud, or mulled wine, is the classic market drink, best enjoyed with a slice of pain d'épices, the spiced gingerbread of the season. Hold the warm cup, watch the lights, and let the cold fade away before you move on to the next square.
- Try mirabelle in every form: Lorraine grows more mirabelle plums than anywhere else on earth, and at Christmas you will find them as tarts, jams, liqueurs, and sweets. Look for tarte aux mirabelles at the food chalets and pick up a jar of mirabelle jam or a bottle of eau-de-vie as a gift.
- Eat your way around Place de la Comédie and Place Saint-Jacques: These two squares are where the serious eating happens, from quiche lorraine and pâté lorrain to flammekueche, raclette, and warm Mannele brioche figures sold around Saint Nicolas. The Village des Gourmets on Place de la Comédie stays open late, so it is the natural last stop of the evening.
Ride, Skate, and Play Through the Festive Season
Metz pairs its markets with big, joyful attractions that lift the trip above a simple shopping walk. Ride high above the rooftops for the best view in the city, then come back down to the carousels.
- Ride the Grande Roue beside the cathedral: The giant Ferris wheel on Place d'Armes stands in the shadow of Cathédrale Saint-Étienne and offers the finest panoramic view of festive Metz. Ride at dusk, when the squares light up below you and the cathedral glows beside the wheel.
- Soar above the city on the City Skyliner: The 81-meter panoramic tower at Place de la République carries you above the rooftops for a slow, sweeping look across the old town, the river, and the market lights. It is a gentler ride than the wheel and a wonderful choice if you want photos without the spin.
- Enjoy seasonal skating, carousels, and a floating sleigh: Place Saint-Louis hosts a charming carousel under its medieval arcades, while Place de la République hosts the season's winter attractions, including skating when the rink returns for the year. Look out too for the free river shuttle carrying Père Noël, which gives you the illuminations from the water. Because seasonal attractions can vary from year to year, check the official Noël à Metz program before your visit to confirm what is running.
Day Trips and Smart Planning for Every Traveler
Metz works beautifully as a base for exploring the wider region, and its position on fast rail lines makes day trips easy. Strasbourg is as little as 47 minutes away by train, while Nancy, Luxembourg City, and Trier are all within comfortable reach.
- Pair Metz with Strasbourg for the ultimate Alsace-Lorraine weekend: Spend a day in Metz, then take the train to Strasbourg for its famous cathedral market and half-timbered streets. The contrast is the reward: Metz feels calm and spacious, while Strasbourg delivers the classic Alsace spectacle.
- Take a day trip to Nancy for Saint Nicolas: Lorraine builds its season around Saint Nicolas, celebrated on December 6 and 7, and Nancy hosts one of the great Saint Nicolas festivals, with a parade and a grand festive atmosphere. If your dates line up, it is the most rewarding day trip of the season.
- Cross into Luxembourg or Germany for a second market: Luxembourg City is a short train ride away and adds a different language, cuisine, and market style to your trip, while Trier in Germany offers Roman history alongside its own Christmas market. Either one turns a Metz weekend into a three-country festive tour.
For Families
Families should start at Place d'Armes, where the Ferris wheel and the cathedral give children an instant sense of wonder, then walk the lantern trail before the evening crowds build. The carousel at Place Saint-Louis, the floating sleigh, and the Saint Nicolas parade are the moments children remember most.
For Couples
Couples should save Metz for the evening, when the crowds thin in the smaller squares and the golden stone glows. Share a vin chaud at Place Saint-Louis, ride the Grande Roue at dusk, and finish with a late dinner around Place de la Comédie.
For First-Timers
First-timers should pick up a market map at the tourist office near the cathedral, then walk the five squares in one unhurried loop. Metz rewards a slow pace and time to sit with a warm drink and watch the city glow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Metz
When is the Metz Christmas market in 2026?
The 2026 season is reported as November 20 to December 30, closed on Christmas Day and closing early on Christmas Eve. Confirm these seasonal dates on the official Noël à Metz site before you book travel.
Where is the Metz Christmas market held?
The market spreads across five squares in the compact old town: Place de la République, Place d'Armes, Place Saint-Jacques, Place Saint-Louis, and Place de la Comédie. All five sit within a few minutes walk of each other and the cathedral.
Is the Metz Christmas market free to enter?
Yes, entry to all five market squares is free. You only pay for food, drinks, gifts, and rides such as the Grande Roue and the City Skyliner, which makes Metz an affordable festive trip even for families.
What is the Sentier des Lanternes?
The Sentier des Lanternes, or Lantern Trail, is a glowing walk at Square Boufflers filled with more than 2,000 lanterns shaped like animals, elves, and figures from Lorraine folklore. It is the highlight of Christmas in Metz, best visited early in the evening before the crowds build.
What food should I try at Christmas in Metz?
Start with vin chaud and pain d'épices, then try quiche lorraine, pâté lorrain, and flammekueche at the food chalets. Do not leave without tasting mirabelle as a tart, a jam, or a liqueur, and look for warm Mannele brioche figures around Saint Nicolas.
Is Metz worth visiting at Christmas compared with Strasbourg?
Yes, especially if you prefer a calmer, more spacious market experience. Metz offers five squares, a superb cathedral, the lantern trail, and excellent food without the intense crowds of Strasbourg, and the two pair beautifully on one weekend by train.
More Christmas Inspiration
If Metz has you dreaming of more French Christmas markets, keep exploring with our guides to other great festive cities across France.
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