For the Metz Christmas market, book your train to Metz-Ville, the station in the city. Lorraine TGV is a different station and needs an onward connection, so a cheaper or faster long-distance train only compares properly once that final leg is included. From Metz-Ville you can walk via Saint-Louis and Fournirue to Place d'Armes and the cathedral. Our Metz Christmas markets guide (PDF) has a route that starts right at the station.
Metz-Ville or Lorraine TGV?
The Centre Pompidou-Metz lists the two stations separately, and the guide does the same. Metz-Ville is the arrival point for a city visit. Lorraine TGV is outside the city and requires a connection.
When you search for trains, save the full station name for both the outward and return journey. When you ask for directions or a bus on the way back, say "Metz-Ville" explicitly. The guide's phrase list includes "Ce bus va-t-il à la gare ?" (Does this bus go to the station?).
From the station into the market
The guide suggests two ways to start, depending on your interest.
Art first: the Centre Pompidou-Metz stands on Parvis des Droits de l'Homme near Metz-Ville. Winter hours are 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Tuesdays.
Old town first: the Cour d'Or describes a walk from the station via Saint-Louis, Fournirue and Place d'Armes. Its estimate of about twenty minutes refers to reaching the museum, not to browsing on the way.
Once you stop at stalls, the walk becomes a stroll with a much more flexible duration. The guide's routes are suggestions, not measured walking routes.
Choose your arrival time around the first stop
Work backwards from your first destination. The four market squares open at 11:00, and Place de la Comédie opens at 17:00 on weekdays. The Cour d'Or closes for a midday break from 12:45 to 14:00.
Early train: suits a morning at the cathedral or a museum, then the market from 11:00.
Late morning: start at Saint-Louis and leave a museum for the afternoon.
Afternoon: the guide's Route 1 runs from Metz-Ville to Saint-Louis and Place d'Armes, with a food break and Comédie as an optional evening stop.
Decide before arrival whether to leave your luggage, visit a museum or head to the market first.
Planning the return journey
Market closing times are not your timetable. The four squares close at 21:00 or 22:00 and Comédie at 23:00, but your booked return train sets the end of the day. On 24 December the general finish is 16:00 and on 30 December it is 20:00, so check any holiday timetable for trains as well.
Agree on your final shared stop early, and leave enough time between a meal, an attraction and the walk back to Metz-Ville.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Metz Christmas market from the station?
The Cour d'Or estimates about twenty minutes on foot from Metz-Ville via Saint-Louis, Fournirue and Place d'Armes to reach the museum. Saint-Louis lies on that walk, so you reach the first market square before that.
Should I leave my luggage before visiting the market?
The guide suggests deciding before arrival whether to leave your luggage, visit a museum or go to the market first. If you stay overnight, ask your accommodation for confirmed luggage storage before check-in or after check-out.
Can I use local buses from Metz-Ville?
Yes, LE MET' runs the local network. A single ticket is listed at €1.90 and the VISI PASS at €5.40 for the day. The guide also mentions a free weekend offer with conflicting end dates, so check it with LE MET'.
Research status: 28 October 2026, as stated in the guide. Dates, opening times and prices are planning information and can change, so check the official sources before you travel.
