Christmas in Quebec City: The German Christmas Market and Old Quebec at Night
4 min read
Quebec City’s German Christmas Market takes over parts of Old Québec in the weeks before Christmas, and it is free to enter. If your trip falls in late November or December, the sensible plan is to see the market yourself and decide whether a guided tour adds anything.
Dates, hours and sites for 2026
According to the Québec City tourism office, the market runs from 19 November to 23 December 2026. From 19 November to 20 December it is open Thursday to Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm and on Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. From 21 to 23 December the hours are Monday and Tuesday 11 am to 9 pm and Wednesday 11 am to 8 pm. Admission is free.
It spreads across six sites in Old Québec: Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, the Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, Place d’Armes, rue Sainte-Anne, Place D’Youville and the rear courtyard of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Dates and hours can change, so look at the tourism office page again before you travel. Outside those weeks there is no market, which matters for anyone arriving in early November or after Christmas.
Two guided options
The Christmas Magic walking tour lasts two hours and costs €24.85, with 146 reviews and a rating of 4.7/5. A guide in period costume takes you past the Château Frontenac, Dufferin Terrace, the Notre-Dame-de-Québec Basilica and Place Royale and explains the city’s Christmas traditions. The booking page includes a small hot chocolate, and the walk starts at the tourist information centre at 12 rue Sainte-Anne. It is about the city and its history, not about shopping, so see the market stalls separately.
The German Christmas Market tasting tour is a 90-minute guided walk through the market with three tastings of typical German products: mulled wine (Glühwein), a pretzel and stollen. Because one of the three is wine, ask the operator about an alternative before you book for children. It costs €30.58 and has 15 reviews so far, so there is little feedback to lean on. It only makes sense while the market is open, so confirm the available dates on the booking page.
| Tour | Focus | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Magic walking tour | Traditions and history | 2 hours | €24.85 |
| German Christmas Market tasting tour | Market and tastings | 1.5 hours | €30.58 |
Planning the rest of the day
Old Québec’s streets are the attraction after dark as well as in the day, so combine the market with a regular Old Quebec walking tour or a meal. Food-minded visitors can read our Quebec City food tour guide. More winter ideas are on the winter activities page.
The market is outdoors in a Québec winter, so dress warmly.
Our verdict
For most visitors the market itself is enough, since it is free and open to everyone. Add the Christmas Magic tour if you want the story of the city’s traditions, and the tasting tour only if the samples matter more than the stalls. If you visit in January or February, you will have no market, but the ice hotel is due to open on 26 December 2026, weather permitting.
