When the first snow fell on Montreal, we went for a walk along the stone streets of the Old Port. We passed under the gas streetlamps of rue Sainte-Hélène, heard the murmur of a Christmas carol in the distance and said to ourselves: the season has begun.
We thought of Little Women‘s ribbons, London Love, Actually and European Christmases in books and movies (and with our grandmothers who live in the hills of old Europe). It’s a feeling of nostalgia for something that may never have existed, for snow-capped mountains and wooden clogs, and for a simplicity we yearn for when the festive season arrives.
Fortunately, there’s a great European-style Christmas market to be found on some of the region’s most charming streets – in Old Quebec. It’s at Quebec City’s German Market, and to add even more romance to the experience, you can get there by train…
Quebec City German Christmas Market
The Quebec City German Christmas Market is divided into 5 locations in Quebec City;
- Alpine Village – Bergdorf
- Place du Marché – Marktplatz
- Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville – Rathausgarten
- Church alley – Kirchgasse
- Christmas Castle – Weihnachtsscholss
This is an excellent (and by far the most magical) way to visit Quebec City. You can walk to all 5 markets.
There are more than 125 exhibitors with handcrafted creations, local Quebec products (but still) and German classics.
There are pretzels, giant puppets of Saint-Nicolas – the Santa Claus of old Europe – and Krampus on Rue Saint-Jean and Côte de la Fabrique, and hundreds of liters of glühwein (mulled wine).
There’s also a (funky) concert by Krampus Fantastischer Wunderfunk on November 27 at 5:30 p.m., for the naughtiest among us…
…and a train trip
To get from Quebec City to Montreal, we’re going to avoid the icy highway, the screaming kids in the back seat and the nausea that rises after the third morning coffee when the heater overheats and there’s still two hours to go.
Instead, and to prolong the nostalgic pleasure of a trip to visit an old-fashioned Christmas market, you can take the train.
For around $90 per person, we spend three hours reading, listening to music and watching the region’s snow-covered fields roll by.
Practical info
Where? Quebec City, in five locations
- Alpine Village – Bergdorf – Place d’Youville
- Place du Marché – Marktplatz – Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville
- Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville – Rathausgarten – jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville
- Ruelle de l’Église – Kirchgasse – backyard of Holy Trinity Cathedral, and on Rue Sainte-Anne
- Christmas Castle – Weihnachtsscholss – Place d’Armes
When? Until December 23, 2025
How? freeadmission
Frohe Weihnachten!