The Downside with Alsace Christmas Markets in France

If you wish to expertise one of the best Christmas markets in France, there needs to be one vacation spot on the high of your itinerary: Alsace. This German-flavored area in northeast France is house to one of the best Christmas markets within the nation.

And boy, does Alsace go all out at Christmas! You’re going to like it right here. When you can deal with the crowds.

I’ve been masking Christmas markets in Europe as a journey blogger since 2016, and in that near-decade, I’ve seen Europe’s Christmas market tourism develop enormously. And as is at all times the case with tourism, that’s each an excellent and a nasty factor.

On high of that, river cruises have actually taken off throughout the identical time interval, and some of the fashionable river cruise stops alongside the Rhine is the Alsatian metropolis of Strasbourg. It’s simpler than ever to go to Alsace at Christmas — and the streets have by no means been extra crowded.

Whereas I first visited Alsace on a September journey some years in the past, final yr my husband Charlie and I highway tripped from Prague to take pleasure in Christmas in Alsace. We visited 5 totally different Alsatian cities — Strasbourg, Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Kayserberg-Vignoble.

And whereas we loved our journey, there may be one BIG factor we have to discuss: overtourism. Alsace’s Christmas markets are flooded with vacationers from throughout France, in addition to all the world.

And when you don’t plan appropriately, you would possibly hate your journey right here. Learn on for easy methods to plan it nicely!

This submit was printed in November 2025.

Why go to Alsace?

Alsace is German-flavored in nature, which makes it an attention-grabbing place to go to, particularly when you’ve been to totally different elements of France earlier than. This area has been volleyed forwards and backwards between French and German management over the centuries.

Right here, sausages and pretzels are as widespread as pains au chocolat and escargots, and lots of locals converse Alsatian as their first language.

(Curiously, whereas the Alsatian language has been in decline, I came upon that new Alsatian language immersion applications started in faculties in 2023! Let’s hope that Alsatian goes the way in which of Welsh and turns into a thriving language as soon as once more!)

And whereas the cities of Alsace are a whole lot of enjoyable, the small cities critically are gorgeous, colourful, and forgive the cliché, however straight out of a fairy story. The Alsatian cities of Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr reportedly impressed the setting for Belle’s village in Disney’s Magnificence and the Beast.

And due to this German affect, Alsace has an unimaginable array of Christmas markets. Strasbourg even calls itself La Captitale de Noël (Capital of Christmas).

But though Alsace is German-influenced, that is nonetheless very a lot France. France is a really aesthetics-driven nation, and it doesn’t shock me that Alsace has the prettiest Christmas decorations of wherever I’ve been in Europe.

And other people are usually a bit extra dressed up on the markets in France than in Germany, for instance. You are likely to see extra good scarves, hats and boots on locals, and fewer athletic outfits.

The meals right here? As a substitute of German gluhwein, you’ll be ingesting vin chaud, or sizzling wine. And whereas I choose mulled crimson wine general, Alsace has some pretty white wines that make a terrific base for vin chaud blanc.

After which there’s the meals. Tarte flambé, choucroute garnie, and loads of hearty but refined French dishes that can fill you with heat on a cold winter day. I discover the meals in Alsace way more scrumptious and diverse than German Christmas market fare.

After which there’s the cheese. SO a lot cheese. If you wish to eat cheese at Christmas markets, imagine me, you’ll need to come to Alsace.

The Motive for Alsace Christmas Overtourism

Nonetheless, you may’t discuss concerning the Christmas markets in Alsace with out speaking concerning the overtourism. It’s extreme.

Think about heading to what you suppose shall be a pleasant Christmas market expertise, and as an alternative you might be packed to the gills with different vacationers.

Seeking to get some meals from a stall? You’ll be ready in a wraparound line. Obtained your wine and need to seize a desk? Prepare to face in place, as a result of they’re all taken. Really feel like taking a stroll? You’ll be shuffling alongside at a snail’s tempo as you progress with the horde.

And within the case of Strasbourg, you’ll be herded by means of fences as women and men with huge weapons patrol the town.

I do know some Christmas Markets are packed, however I discovered Alsace Christmas Markets to be grotesquely crowded throughout the weekend.

Sadly, it is a pretty current improvement, owing to each the takeoffs of Christmas market tourism and river cruise tourism. Final evening I used to be speaking to a pal who used to reside in Freiburg who couldn’t imagine what I used to be telling her about what it’s like at present.

Eight years in the past, she was in a position to stroll up and purchase a Navettes de Noël shuttle bus ticket on a whim in Colmar. These days, these tickets promote out inside hours of the onsale!

So what makes Alsace’s Christmas markets worse than Christmas markets in different international locations?

First off: TONS and TONS of French folks.

On my most up-to-date journey, I seen that there have been a number of vacationers from different elements of France. (Together with a gaggle of older women shocked that they may not validate their Strasbourg tram tickets “à l’interieur” and had been successfully stealing a experience.)

That’s when it hit me — France funnels all of their Christmas vacationers into one area. Whereas, positive, loads of French vacationers go to Paris and Lyon and different locations in December, if French persons are touring of their nation for Christmas markets, they’re virtually actually visiting Alsace.

Let’s check out the map of France with Alsace highlighted:

Alsace is a tiny area, geographically talking. It’s a small sliver of northeast France.

And it’s much more vital whenever you have a look at how little of Alsace is developed:

As you may see, there’s principally one primary highway that runs from north to south, and a lot of the cities in Alsace are positioned off that one highway.

There’s a mountain vary operating alongside Western Alsace, which is a purpose why this area saved being handed forwards and backwards between the French and the Germans over time. Total, most of Alsace is kind of rural, with a small hall of cities operating from north to south.

Not solely are tons and tons of French vacationers descending upon a small area, they’re descending upon the minuscule developed portion of mentioned area.

So French folks flock to Alsace every year. However doesn’t this occur in Germany, the nation with the largest draw for Christmas markets? Completely not! Why? All of Germany goes all out for Christmas.

Each German metropolis and most German small cities have their very own Christmas markets; except you’re very rural, you received’t have to go far to search out one.

And Germans have a tendency to not journey for any Christmas market particularly. Possibly, sometimes, German vacationers will journey to Dresden’s or Nuremberg’s legendary Christmas markets, and generally they’ll go to family and friends in different cities or do a metropolis break throughout December, however more often than not, Germans follow their very own area.

So home tourism in Germany is fairly evenly dispersed throughout the month of December — however France has a large funnel emptying folks from throughout France immediately into Alsace.

The Impression of River Cruises

River cruising has grow to be an extremely fashionable technique to discover Europe over the past decade, particularly for retirees and older of us. (Maybe all these Viking advertisements throughout Dancing with the Stars had an influence.)

And amongst these cruises, Christmas cruises have tremendously grown in recognition and at the moment are dominating the scene in December.

The 2 hottest river cruise routes to journey throughout Christmas are alongside the Rhine and the Danube. The Rhine is the border between Alsace and Germany. Most Rhine cruises have their itinerary run from Amsterdam to Basel, stopping in Strasbourg alongside the way in which.

Because of this, Strasbourg is stuffed to the brim with river cruisers in December. I’m trying on the schedule for December 2025, and most days have 4 to seven cruise ships docked on the town.

Though these are thought of “small cruise ships,” they’re collectively dumping a whole bunch of extra vacationers into the already crowded city.

And Strasbourg shouldn’t be the one vacation spot in Alsace that faces this. Many of the river cruise corporations embody excursions to Colmar; some provide excursions to different cities like Riquewihr. That provides to the crowds in these locations.

The best way to Keep away from the Crowds at Alsace Christmas Markets

That is my most essential piece of recommendation: go to the most well-liked Alsace Christmas markets on weekdays versus weekends. And by weekdays, I imply Monday by means of Thursday.

Weekends are packed to the purpose of being insupportable, and weekdays, although nonetheless busy, are far much less crowded and much more fulfilling.

I visited Colmar final yr on a Saturday evening and a Sunday evening — and you wouldn’t BELIEVE the distinction of the Colmar Christmas Market. Simply by eyeballing, it seemed like Sunday evening had about one third of the crowds of Saturday evening.

One other instance: on Saturday we needed to squish our automobile into the final accessible spot in our resort’s car parking zone. On Sunday, we had been one among solely three automobiles within the car parking zone.

On Saturday, we waited in line for half-hour to get potato galettes at Colmar’s connoisseur market. On Sunday, there have been by no means greater than two folks in line in entrance of us at any meals vendor.

I’d not suggest visiting the Christmas markets of Alsace on the weekend when you can assist it — with one exception, the Ribeauvillé Christmas Market.

Ribeauvillé’s Christmas market is distinctive and solely takes place on two Saturdays and two Sundays every December. Courageous the crowds for this one, as a result of it’s price it.

Keep away from river cruises when you don’t need crowds. Are river cruises enjoyable? I’m positive they’re a number of enjoyable! But when a vacation spot accommodates river cruises, it means it’s going to be extremely crowded.

That additionally goes for the favored shore excursions from river cruise ports, like Colmar and Riquewihr.

Go to less-popular markets throughout the weekends. Inside Alsace, I’d counsel visiting Mulhouse, the biggest metropolis within the Haut-Rhin (the southern a part of Alsace), which is a bit bit off the principle vacationer path.

One other good possibility is the Obernai Christmas Market. Obernai is a small metropolis southwest of Strasbourg that has a lot of the fantastic thing about the extra fashionable cities, however a fraction of the vacationers.

And when you’re keen to journey a bit, think about Metz. This metropolis is within the Grand Est area of France, it’s a few 48-minute prepare experience from Strasbourg, and has some nice Christmas markets away from the Alsace crowds.

And that’s not all. This information has lists of all of the Christmas markets in Alsace, together with lots I assure you’ve by no means heard of.

Know that “smaller city” doesn’t imply “smaller crowds.” Ooh, that isn’t true within the least! A few of the hottest Christmas markets in Alsace are within the smaller cities: Kayserberg (inhabitants: 4,400), Eguisheim (inhabitants: 1,700) and Riquewihr (inhabitants: 1,000).

So don’t suppose that you just’ll be escaping the crowds by selecting a smaller city — you most likely received’t be.

Contemplate visiting wineries on weekends. The Alsace Wine Route is a well-liked exercise in Alsace, and there are various excursions that can take you to totally different wineries for tastings. I like these excursions as a result of they’ve a built-in designated driver, and wineries are sometimes positioned out of city, removed from the market crowds.

You’ll be able to take this half-day wine tour from Strasbourg, or this half-day wine tour from Colmar. Each excursions embody a number of wine tastings and can present you the wonderful Alsatian countryside.

Plan your parking prematurely — or keep far-off. When you’re touring round Alsace by public transportation, that’s terrific! I extremely encourage that!

When you’re driving, make sure you plan your parking forward of time, otherwise you’ll be spending a whole lot of time in search of hard-to-find parking areas.

Ideas for Visiting the Alsace Christmas Markets

Double-check the dates. Most Alsace Christmas Markets begin in late November and end in late December, however the dates can range from city to city. All the time double-check earlier than reserving your journey.

Contemplate your base rigorously. Strasbourg and Colmar are the 2 extra fashionable locations to base in Alsace, and so they have one of the best alternatives of lodging.

So which one is healthier? Strasbourg is a bit cheaper general than Colmar, with extra selection, and since Strasbourg has a strong public transportation system, you may keep additional away and nonetheless get round simply.

Strasbourg has extra prepare and bus connections, and you’ll simply day journey to different cities on each the French and German sides of the Rhine.

Colmar, against this, is a smaller city. Although the middle is walkable, it’s best to use Google Maps to be sure you’re really inside strolling distance of the middle (suppose La Petite Venise area). And the nearer you might be, the dearer it will get.

However Colmar can also be nearer to essentially the most well-known small villages within the area, and the Navettes de Noël shuttle buses run from Colmar.

Total, Strasbourg and Colmar are about an hour’s drive aside, however simply half-hour aside by prepare. Hooray for efficient public transit! You’ll be able to simply keep in a single city and go to the opposite, so long as you retain monitor of the prepare schedule (and so they do get busy throughout the festive season).

We selected to remain on the Ibis Finances Centre Ville in Colmar, which was a primary resort for an honest value, had its personal car parking zone, and was inside a 15-minute stroll of most Christmas Markets in Colmar.

E book your lodging EARLY. I can’t emphasize this sufficient. The preferred spots with one of the best offers are likely to e-book up months prematurely, and I don’t suppose you’re overreacting when you e-book your keep as early as January!

Discover offers on locations to remain in Strasbourg right here and discover offers on locations to remain in Colmar right here.

E book the Navettes de Noël from Colmar. That is the Christmas shuttle, and it runs a number of routes across the Colmar area in Alsace. A single weekend ticket prices 17 EUR ($19.50 USD).

I took the route that takes you from Colmar to Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Kayserberg, and it runs in each instructions. In addition they have a route from Colmar to the beautiful wine city of Eguisheim; from Colmar to the cities of Turckheim and Munster; and on choose weekends, from Colmar to the city of Neuf-Brisach.

I discovered the Navettes de Noël to be well-organized, operating continuously, with pleasant workers. And after I noticed all of the automobiles that parked haphazardly for miles surrounding the cities, BOY was I glad we selected to take the shuttle!

It’s best to know that tickets are likely to promote out VERY shortly, particularly on the weekend, and particularly particularly on the 2 weekends of the Ribeauvillé Christmas Market. Test the onsale date on the web site and e-book the second they go on sale.

If not, you may e-book a multi-market tour from Strasbourg or Colmar. Excursions are dearer than the Navettes de Noël, however they’re an excellent possibility in the event that they’re offered out.

This tour from Strasbourg visits a number of cities in Alsace — Colmar, and probably Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Egusheim, or Berghaim, relying on the day.

This different tour from Strasbourg visits Colmar, Eguisheim, and Riquewihr, in addition to making a go to to Haut-Koenigsbourg fortress.

This tour from Colmar visits Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kayserberg, and probably Ribeauvillé relying on the day.

This worldwide tour from Colmar visits Christmas Markets in three international locations in a day: Basel, Switzerland; Freiburg, Germany; and Neuf-Brisach, France!

Eat all of the Alsatian specialties. After all, Alsace has so many scrumptious meals you could hardly ever discover outdoors the area! So what do you have to be consuming?

Tarte flambée. Additionally referred to as flammekueche in Alsatian and flammkuchen in German, that is THE dish of Alsace, and maybe the most well-liked meals to purchase at Alsatian Christmas markets. It’s a skinny flatbread topped with creme fraiche, bacon lardons, and onions, cooked in a wood-fired oven.

Whereas most individuals stick to the traditional, you may also discover varieties with gratinated Gruyere cheese, Muenster cheese or mushrooms. No matter you select, eat it shortly. It’s such a skinny piece of bread that it will get chilly quick!

Choucroute garnie. One other fashionable Alsatian dish that can follow your ribs, it is a mixture of sauerkraut and meats — usually knack sausages and ham — with potatoes and generally different greens.

Bouchée à la Reine. Also referred to as the vol-au-vent, these little bowls of pastry are sometimes stuffed with rooster and/or veal in Alsace.

Coq au riesling. You might have heard of coq au vin, a well-liked French stew made with rooster, crimson wine, mushrooms, and lardons. In Alsace, it’s normally made with white wine, and both listed as coq au vin blanc or coq au riesling if made with riesling!

Kougelhopf. You’ll see mini bundt-shaped muffins in every single place. These are yeasted muffins, usually flavored with vanilla and lemon zest, or chocolate, or a marbled combination of the 2. They’re tiny and lovely!

Manalas. Neglect gingerbread males — these are brioche formed like males which are an Alsatian specialty for St. Nicholas Day on December 6, however yow will discover all through the Christmas season. And don’t overlook ache d’épices (gingerbread!).

Bretzels. Nicely, pretzels. They’re in every single place. I’m personally not a giant pretzel-eater in my common life, however the cheese-covered pretzels of Alsace had been completely stupendous! Don’t knock them till you strive them!

And don’t overlook to strive the Alsatian wines! The wines listed here are predominantly whites; if you need a crimson, it’s Pinot Noir or nothing. They make glorious Rieslings (together with dry Rieslings) and Pinot Blancs. However my absolute favourite is the Crémant d’Alsace, a glowing wine that I feel can go toe to toe with champagne any day!

Contemplate making advance reservations at eating places. Between you and me, Christmas market meals will get outdated quick, particularly whenever you’re consuming it each day. Making a reservation at an Asian restaurant is a superb palate-cleanser!

Say bonjour whenever you stroll as much as a vendor. I do know, this sounds very primary, however imagine me, in France you might be thought of extraordinarily rude when you don’t say bonjour whenever you stroll right into a retailer, bakery, or perhaps a market stand. Simply say it. Or say bonsoir if it’s after darkish.

Score the Alsace Christmas Markets

Strasbourg

When you’re visiting Alsace, you’ll most likely start in Strasbourg. This main metropolis has a small airport with restricted flights, however is linked nicely internationally by prepare and bus. (There’s even a bus from my house metropolis of Prague, which takes about seven hours!)

Strasbourg calls itself La Capitale de Noël, or Capital of Christmas, in addition to La Magie de Noël (the Magic of Christmas). The Strasbourg Christmas Market is ready on La Grande-Île de Strasbourg, the geographic heart of the town that occurs to be a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

(A fast be aware: there was a terror assault on the Strasbourg Christmas Markets in 2018. Since then, the markets have had heightened safety. You will notice safety officers patrolling the markets with huge weapons, which most likely received’t section you when you’re from the US, however will be jarring to others. Simply remember that it is a factor right here.)

You’ll discover loads of traditional markets in entrance of the Cathedral de Notre-Dame and round Place Kléber, in addition to an enormous Christmas tree. I actually wasn’t the largest fan of those markets; they had been very crowded and didn’t appear to be that includes authentic works, solely the mass-produced tchotchkes that yow will discover at any Christmas market.

BUT there have been two Christmas markets in Strasbourg that I particularly beloved.

First, the meals market on Place du Marché aux Poissons was such an excellent place to eat! I beloved that it was solely meals stalls. We had a wonderful tarte flambée right here, in addition to a dégustacion plate of tasty charcuterie. The vin chaud with Alsatian white wine was so good. And if you need some foie gras…nicely, you’ve obtained loads of choices.

The opposite good market was the OFF market, a nontraditional Christmas market at Place Grimmeissen. This sq. was coated with delivery containers, every that includes works by native artists — cute artworks, like artwork prints, Christmas decorations, and all types of house decor and native merchandise. It felt very homey and SO a lot better than the mass-produced junk that the central markets had been promoting.

Attending to Strasbourg: If coming by public transportation, Strasbourg has direct trains from Paris, and is accessible by bus from a number of cities in Germany and Switzerland (Frankfurt and Basel are the 2 closest airports).

Due to the safety state of affairs and crowds, when you’re driving, I like to recommend parking away from the town heart. In Strasbourg, we initially deliberate to park at a P&R (Park & Trip) for our Friday go to. These are parking tons which have quick access to public transportation taking you into the town. On this case, Strasbourg’s glorious tram system.

Nicely. We arrived simply earlier than midday and the automobile in entrance of us was the final automobile allowed into the lot!! After ready a bit for somebody to go away and realizing it wasn’t going to occur, we seemed up close by parking tons and truly discovered a free lot.

It’s referred to as Parking P7 Stade de la Meinau and that is its location on Google Maps. It was a five-minute stroll from the Krimmeri Stade de la Meinau station, which is only a nine-minute, four-stop experience on the A tram to Homme de Fer, proper within the metropolis heart. I can’t promise that it’ll nonetheless be free whenever you go to, however simply throwing it on the market…

You’ll be able to at all times discover a car parking zone close to a tram cease and head into the town that method.

Colmar

Colmar is a small, strikingly stunning metropolis. It doesn’t matter what time of yr you go to, you’ll be delighted by its magnificence — however the vacation season brings a number of the most great lights and decorations I noticed in Alsace.

This metropolis is extraordinarily fashionable for Christmas Markets, and also you’ll should navigate vital crowds. For this weekend, I urge you to go to Colmar midweek relatively than throughout the weekend.

We stayed on the Ibis Finances Centre Ville, which was primary however had parking and wasn’t too far a stroll from the markets.

Colmar can also be the house base for the Navettes de Noël, the shuttle buses taking you to varied cities round Alsace. There are a number of routes departing from Colmar, which makes it a straightforward technique to go to.

The spotlight of Colmar’s Christmas markets, for me, was the culinary market on Rue de la Montagne. A number of cooks arrange cubicles surrounding tables and so they dish out their treats, each Alsatian and traditional French specialties.

(As beforehand talked about, I discovered it a lot better to go to the culinary market on a Sunday relatively than a Saturday — there have been two folks relatively than 10 folks in every line, and it was a lot simpler to get a desk.)

There may be additionally a carnival on Colmar’s Champs de Mars, full with enjoyable rides and an precise carousel bar!

An sudden pleasure of Colmar was one of the best quiche lorraine of my life at a spot referred to as Pâtisserie Charles Schmitt on Avenue de la Republique. It’s pretty near the Navettes de Noël cease. Charlie and I beloved it a lot, we drove to their second location to have it once more the subsequent day.

Attending to Colmar: The prepare from Strasbourg to Colmar takes simply half-hour.

Colmar can also be the bottom of the Navettes de Noël Christmas shuttle buses, which makes it potential to go to when you’re staying in one other city.

Ribeauvillé

If there may be any Christmas market in Alsace price touring to see, it’s the Ribeauvillé Christmas market. Ribeauvillé (RI-bo-vee-AY) places on a novel medieval Christmas market that solely takes place on two weekends throughout December.

There are many medieval Christmas markets round Europe, however what makes this one particular? The employees are all in costume as medieval characters, and so they work together with everybody!

Jokers and royalty placed on mini skits on levels. Townspeople put guests within the shares and jokingly flog them. Devils wander city on stilts and seize folks. Males randomly lead a herd of geese by means of crowds! The place else can you discover this?!

I used to be delighted by all the environment in Ribeauvillé, which added a lot childlike marvel to my journey. And it didn’t damage that Ribeauvillé is among the most stunning villages I’ve seen in France. Critically — I feel it’s the prettiest of the 5 cities I’ve visited in Alsace.

Ribeauvillé is principally one lengthy road that twists and turns, totally different colourful homes at each angle.

One different factor I seen was that all the folks working on the market gave the impression to be in a jolly, cheerful temper. Maybe that’s the impact of the market solely going down for 4 days every year. Individuals are nonetheless into the enjoyment and novelty of the early days.

Ribeauvillé was extraordinarily crowded, though we arrived on the primary Navettes de Noël Christmas shuttle of the day. And you recognize what? IT WAS WORTH THE CROWDS. It was price EVERY MINUTE.

Actually, if you wish to expertise one thing actually particular in Alsace, come to the Ribeauvillé Christmas Market. This was my favourite.

One factor to be cautious about: there’s a cheese store on the left aspect of the road as you stroll into city. The cheeses look and odor SO good, so we purchased some, and practically keeled over after we had been charged one thing like 80 euros. Don’t get roped into shopping for costly cheese like we did!

Attending to Ribeauvillé: It is advisable e-book the Navettes de Noël, the shuttle bus from Colmar. The parking state of affairs is horrendous, with automobiles parked on high of one another in a large radius, and public transportation is extraordinarily restricted from larger hubs.

Some Christmas market excursions from Strasbourg and some Christmas market excursions from Colmar go to Ribeauvillé, however be mindful the Christmas Markets solely happen on 4 dates in December.

Riquewihr

I’ll be sincere — whereas Riquewihr (REEK-veer) is among the smaller villages and a feast for the eyes, it was most likely my least favourite of the 5 Christmas markets we visited in Alsace. It was extremely crowded, the small market space didn’t have something significantly attention-grabbing to share, and there was a stunning lack of meals distributors.

I’d not go to Riquewihr on the weekend once more; I solely visited then as a result of it was a part of the shuttle path to Ribeauvillé Christmas market, which solely takes place on the weekend.

That mentioned, this was clearly a really stunning city to {photograph}…although not as twisty and turny and delightful as Ribeauvillé, I need to admit.

And we did have a stunning lunch at Restaurant au View Riquewihr. This restaurant has a number of ranges and is greater than it appears, and we simply obtained a desk at 2:00 PM, regardless of the crowds outdoors.

Charlie had their bouchée à la reine with veal and rooster, and I had their signature rösti with lardons, smoked sausages, and leek cream. Good home wine, too. Extremely really helpful!

Attending to Riquewihr: As soon as once more, I like to recommend reserving the Navettes de Noël, the shuttle bus from Colmar. The parking state of affairs is horrendous, with automobiles parked on high of one another in a large radius, and public transportation is extraordinarily restricted from larger hubs.

Some Christmas market excursions from Strasbourg and some Christmas market excursions from Colmar go to Riquewihr. It appears to be an everyday cease on all of the excursions, although be mindful locations can change last-minute.

Kayserberg

Kayserberg (KY-zer-berg), also referred to as Kayserberg-Vignoble, is one other small and wonderful city near Colmar. What makes it particular throughout Christmas time? Its arts custom.

Kayserberg has a glass-blowing studio the place you may watch reside glass-blowing demonstrations, in addition to a gallery with skilled items of artwork on the market. I additionally discovered there have been a number of attention-grabbing, artsy stalls in Kayserberg, a lot of them set again a bit from the busy streets.

The weekend crowds in Kayserberg had been fairly intense — although actually, there have been a whole lot of huge squares right here with more room to unfold out, which made a distinction from the slim alleys of Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. I’d suggest not visiting on the weekend when you can assist it, but when you need to, go for it.

Attending to Kayserberg: As soon as extra, it is advisable to e-book the Navettes de Noël, the shuttle bus from Colmar. The parking state of affairs is horrendous, with automobiles parked on high of one another in a large radius, and public transportation is extraordinarily restricted from larger hubs.

Some Christmas market excursions from Colmar go to Kayserberg, but it surely’s one of many lesser-visited tour stops.

Don’t Neglect Christmas Markets Close to Alsace!

As a lot as I loved visiting the Alsace Christmas markets final yr, they weren’t my general favourite. My favourite was Heidelberg! This metropolis in southwest Germany is just 90 minutes from Strasbourg, and I used to be immediately smitten with each the town and its markets.

What was so nice about Heidelberg? It was busy, however to not the purpose of any of the Alsace Christmas markets we visited. (My hunch? As a result of no river cruises cease there or day journey there.)

There have been a number of totally different markets alongside a single highway. The meals was actually nice (I keep in mind their donuts and pierogis with fondness!) and there have been so many sorts of gluhwein.

And better of all, it felt native, however welcoming.

Right here was our general schedule:

• Day 1: Drive from Prague to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (4.5 hours) for lunch and exploration; drive to Heidelberg (2 hours); evening in Heidelberg.
• Day 2: Drive from Heidelberg to Strasbourg (1.5 hours) for lunch and exploration; drive to Colmar (one hour); evening in Colmar.
• Day 3: Take the Navettes de Noel to Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Kayserberg; evening in Colmar.
• Day 4: Drive from Colmar to Prague (8 hours).

If we had one other day primarily based in Colmar, I’d have appreciated to go to the markets of Egusheim or maybe Mulhouse.

We didn’t cease wherever else on Day 4 as a result of it was raining fairly exhausting and we determined we’d relatively simply head house.

But when the climate had been nicer, we might have been up for visiting the markets in Stuttgart (2.5 hours from Colmar) or the encircling cities of Ludwigsburg or Esslingen, that are each identified for his or her glorious markets. Ludwigsburg has a Baroque Christmas market!

An alternative choice would have been visiting Nuremberg, which has among the finest Christmas Markets in Germany and is a handy cease on the drive from Colmar to Prague. I visited a couple of years in the past; you may see some photographs right here. Sadly it’s additionally extraordinarily crowded as of late because of being a river cruise cease.

And if we had room for another, we might have stopped in Plz?n, Czech Republic, which is correct off the freeway and has a small however good market.

What to Pack for Alsace Christmas Markets

Packing for a Christmas market journey is totally different from what you would possibly ordinarily pack for a winter metropolis break in Europe. You will be outdoor and standing nonetheless for a lot of the day. It’s essential to decorate for heat.

Listed here are my favourite necessities for Christmas market journeys:

Base layers (thermal underwear). I’m an enormous fan of the Uniqlo heat-teach scoop-neck high and leggings, that are very heat, inexpensive, and I put on on a regular basis. I discover that base layers are important for Christmas market journeys in winter or any winter journey the place you’re outdoors a lot of the day as a result of they provide you an additional layer of heat.

Heat sweater. Sweaters (or jumpers, Brits!) make the right mid-layer between your base layer and your outerwear. Do you know that Uniqlo makes inexpensive cashmere sweaters in a ton of colours?

Heat winter coat. If it’s not waterproof, that’s okay, however ensure that to convey a journey umbrella.

Boots. Waterproof winter boots are superb, as anybody who’s stepped right into a deep slushy puddle can inform you. You won’t want them, however they’re an excellent merchandise to have in your wardrobe for winter journey. If not, you may follow sneakers, which I did for this explicit journey.

Heat socks. I’m a giant fan of merino wool socks, which I put on throughout the winter and for mountain climbing year-round.

Hat. I’m not a hat particular person; nonetheless, I rocked a beanie all through this chilly winter journey.

Speakeasy journey provide scarf. I like these scarves, which are available in quite a lot of patterns and supplies, and so they include a hidden zip-up pocket that’s excellent on your valuables!

Are Alsace Christmas Markets price it?

So, the BIG query — are Alsace’s Christmas Markets price it, contemplating how horrific the crowds are as of late?

For me, they had been price it, however I don’t suppose they’d be price it when you’re the form of one that will get nervous or irritated in huge crowds. I’m glad I visited, but when I returned, I’d do a couple of issues in another way.

I used to be pleased with my choice to base in Colmar (and keep at Ibis Finances Centre Ville), and my choice to make use of the Navettes de Noël to go to Ribeauvillé.

However in another way, I’d time my go to for mid-week relatively than the weekend. Nonetheless, Ribeauvillé’s markets had been my absolute favourite, and so they solely happen on two Saturdays and two Sundays every December. So a bit little bit of weekend time would have been essential.

I’d have pushed Strasbourg, most market time in Colmar, Riquewihr, and Kayserberg to mid-week. I’d have accomplished Ribeauvillé one weekend day and an Alsace wine route tour from Colmar one other weekend day. And if I had extra time, I’d have beloved to go to the markets in Obernai and Mulhouse.

I stay steadfast in my choice to not e-book a Christmas markets river cruise — that’s the epitome of being a part of the issue, not the answer.

However general, I actually loved the decorations, the decadent meals, the vin chaud, and the general merriment that Christmas brings to Alsace. And that was positively price it!

Extra on Christmas Markets in Europe:

Extra on France:

Have you ever been to the Alsace Christmas markets? What suggestions do you need to share?