Just a heads up: some posts on this site contain affiliate links. If you happen to book or buy something through them, I’ll earn a tiny commission (don’t worry, it won’t cost you a penny extra). Think of it as buying me a virtual coffee! 

 Thanks for the support!

It’s December, and you all know what that means: Christmas markets around the world are officially open! There’s something undeniably enchanting about this time of year—twinkling fairy lights, the scent of mulled wine drifting through crisp winter air, and the hum of festive chatter echoing through cobbled streets. My recent weekend getaway to France was the epitome of yuletide delight. I packed in visits to Strasbourg, Colmar, Sélestat, and Paris, experiencing Christmas magic in its purest form. If you’re considering a French festive break this season, let me walk you through my merry adventure—from the travel planning woes to the magical discoveries—and hopefully inspire you to take the plunge yourself.

Getting There: From London to Paris & Beyond
Originally, my partner Piotr and I considered booking a ferry and driving through France. By the way, DFDS has a great promotions now. We pictured a hassle-free road trip, but as the days grew colder and busier, the notion of an stress-free city break appealed more. After doing our research, we figured out the cheapest and easiest option for us. We hopped on a Flix Bus to London for just £6 each (yes, really!), and from there, we caught the Eurostar to Paris for £36 each. Bargain, right?

But hold your Christmas crackers: the journey from Paris to Strasbourg was another story altogether. My initial idea was to take a FlixBus from Paris to Strasbourg. It would have cost about €45 each, which didn’t seem too bad at first glance. The only problem? The journey was predicted to take over five hours. Five hours on a bus when all I wanted was to be sipping mulled wine under a Christmas tree in Strasbourg felt like a big, fat “Non, merci!”

The faster option was the TGV high-speed train, taking just one hour and forty minutes. Perfect, except for one tiny issue: the price. It was over £200 each, one way! I nearly spat out my hot chocolate when I saw the price tag. There we were, travel and accommodation all booked, staring at an astronomical cost just to get from A to B. But I’m nothing if not resourceful. Determined to find a better solution, I scoured the internet and finally stumbled upon the Interrail Pass through the Deutsche Bahn (DB) site.

The Interrail Pass: A Festive Game-Changer
The Interrail Pass turned out to be our holiday hero. For a flat rate, you get access to explore over 10,000 destinations across Europe and travel through 40,000 different stations by train. Whether you want to focus on one country or hop around several, there are options to suit. Since we were only travelling around France, the 3-day pass sounded perfect. It cost €108 per person, plus €40 per person for seat reservations to and from Strasbourg. That worked out far cheaper than the single, eye-watering TGV tickets.

What’s more, the pass gave us freedom. Since we had three days’ worth of train travel included, we could explore other destinations without worrying about extra costs. Armed with our passes, we glided effortlessly through France’s scenic landscapes, arriving quickly and comfortably at our chosen cities. Crisis averted. Let the Christmas magic begin!

Before You Go 

• Insurance: You may never need it, but if you do and do not have it, you will be in hot water. Healthcare can be extremely expensive, and you definitely do not want unexpected bills to add even more to your holiday costs. Consider VisitorsCoverage, which provides travel insurance in over 175 countries. 

• Staying Connected: Think about how you will stay in touch with friends and family back home. Yesim is a premier eSim provider, offering global solutions to keep you connected wherever you roam. 
• Book your accommodation: we usually are using a  Booking.com, clutching our suitcases and brimming with excitement. You can also check a Hostelworld for an alternative accommodation.  

Alternative Ways to Travel 

• Kiwi.com: Offers booking services for flights, trains, and bus tickets with unique “virtual interlining.” 

• Rail Europe: Perfect for train travel enthusiasts—it provides routes, inspiration, and tools to help you navigate Europe by rail. 

• GetTransfer.com: Ideal for booking transfers, long-distance trips, and taxi rides at attractive prices. 

• AutoEurope: For the brave souls who fancy driving in a foreign country—this service compares prices and lets you book cars from various providers. 

Bonus Tip: Book Ahead & Research 

I highly suggest booking your entry tickets to any major attractions in advance. Paris is such a popular destination that you really do not want to spend half your holiday waiting in queues—you want to explore and, most importantly, have an amazing experience. 

• GetYourGuide helps you discover the best things to do, including niche offerings you will not find anywhere else. 

• Tiqets lets you book mobile tickets for attractions around the world (no printing required!). 

• Viator boasts over 300,000 experiences, ranging from wine tastings and walking tours to cooking classes and catamaran rides. 

• GoCity offers multi-attraction passes for top tourist spots worldwide, saving you up to 65% off the usual cost. 

And finally, I always suggest doing a bit of pre-travel sleuthing on Tripadvisor. Reading other travellers’ reviews can help you refine your plans and avoid any hidden pitfalls. 

Strasbourg: The Capital of Christmas
Strasbourg’s claim to fame as the “Capital of Christmas” is well-earned. This city takes festive spirit to a whole new level. Picture around three hundred stalls scattered across multiple Christmas markets, each brimming with handcrafted ornaments, steaming mugs of vin chaud, and indulgent treats. Every single street is adorned with dazzling lights, turning the city into an open-air fairy-tale.

If you’re the type who likes a perfect Instagram shot, prepare for a challenge. At peak times, the crowds can be intense. Think weaving through a sea of cosy coats and bobbing woolly hats. But let’s face it, the hustle and bustle are part of the charm. Everyone is there for the same reason—to soak up that yuletide cheer.

Don’t Miss the Nativity Scene of Notre-Dame Cathedral
One of the must-see attractions is the Nativity Scene located inside the Strasbourg Cathedral. Dating back to 1907 and stretching over 18 metres long, this scene beautifully illustrates the story from the Annunciation to the Presentation in the Temple. Set against the grandeur of the cathedral’s architecture, it provides a profound and peaceful moment amid the festive frenzy.

The Grand Sapin at Place Kléber
The towering Christmas tree at Place Kléber is the city’s proud symbol of Christmas. Standing a breathtaking 30 metres high, it takes an incredible amount of effort from the forestry team (ONF) to prepare. They spend about 120 hours ensuring it’s in top form, adding up to 180 extra branches, and draping it in 7 kilometres of fairy lights! Adorned with 240 illuminated cherubs, 200 twinkling bouquets, and 400 gold and red baubles, it’s a showstopper. Make sure to catch the light show; we saw it on Friday at 8 p.m. and again on Saturday at 5 p.m. It seems to happen every hour once it’s dark, adding an extra sprinkle of sparkle to your evening.

Strasbourg is, without doubt, an immersive Christmas wonderland. Each corner seems to whisper festive secrets, and even if you only have limited time, you can’t help but be caught up in its magic.

Colmar: A Fairy-Tale Gem
Just a 30-minute train ride from Strasbourg sits Colmar, a smaller but equally enchanting town. Despite its modest size, it’s every bit as crowded, though I found it felt a touch more intimate and cosy than its larger neighbour. Its half-timbered houses and narrow lanes remind me of something out of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Adding Christmas into that already charming setting results in pure magic.

In Colmar, you’ll find a similar setup of Christmas markets and decorations, but the scale is more manageable. The lights, the warm spiced cider, the local Alsatian treats—all come together to create a welcoming atmosphere. It quickly became the highlight of our trip. Colmar felt like stepping straight into a living storybook, complete with twinkling lights and gentle carols drifting from nearby stalls.

Sélestat: Where the Christmas Tree Was Born
When you need a break from the crowds, hop on a train to Sélestat, located conveniently between Strasbourg and Colmar. This small town is often overlooked, but it has a special claim to fame: it’s here that the first written mention of a decorated Christmas tree appeared in 1521. Inside St. Georges Church, you can marvel at a Christmas Tree Exhibition that showcases the evolution of tree decorations through the centuries. From simple apples and nuts tied to branches in the 16th century to the gleaming baubles of today, it’s a fascinating walk through history—and it makes you appreciate how far our festive traditions have come.

Sélestat’s market is small, but it’s big on character. You’ll find local produce, handcrafted ornaments, and a sense of calm that’s sometimes missing in the larger cities. If Strasbourg and Colmar are the bustling main events, Sélestat is that quiet gem that holds secrets of Christmases past.

Paris: A Mixed Festive Bag
Now, let’s talk about Paris. The City of Light conjures images of sparkling shop windows, grand boulevards lined with twinkling fairy lights, and romantic strolls by the Seine. Don’t get me wrong—Paris at Christmas can be all of these things. But after experiencing Strasbourg and Colmar, I found Paris slightly underwhelming in terms of festive spirit.

The bright lights and spectacular displays are there, but you might need to do some detective work to find them. The Tuileries Christmas Market, known as “La Magie de Noël,” is probably the best place to immerse yourself in some Parisian holiday cheer. It’s large, lively, and crammed with stalls selling vin chaud, roasted chestnuts, artisanal gifts, and some pretty spectacular food. Sure, it’s crowded, but so is every Christmas market worth its salt.

You’ll find pockets of festive fun around the city—department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps put on impressive displays, and you can enjoy ice skating at the Grand Palais or catch a Christmas or New Year concert in a historic church. Still, I’d say if you’ve just come from the Christmas capital that is Strasbourg, Paris might leave you wanting more sparkle.

Travel Tips & Festive Reflections
If you’re considering a similar adventure, here are a few tips:

1. Plan Your Travel Smartly: Don’t just settle on the first travel option you find. Consider all modes of transport and look into rail passes. The Interrail Pass saved us both money and time, allowing us to pack more into our short weekend.
2. Beat the Crowds in Strasbourg: Visiting early in the day or going mid-week might help you avoid the busiest times. If you must visit on a weekend, embrace the crowds—make it part of the fun, and don’t stress if you can’t get that perfect solo shot. Christmas is about togetherness, after all.
3. Give Yourself Room for Spontaneity: One of the joys of the Interrail Pass was the freedom it gave us. Because we had three days of travel included, we could decide on a whim to visit Sélestat. You never know which undiscovered gem might become your favourite memory.
4. Don’t Skip the Small Towns: While Strasbourg and Paris are famous, don’t ignore Colmar and Sélestat. Smaller towns often carry the most authentic festive charm and allow for a more relaxed pace.
5. Enjoy the Local Flavours: Whether it’s mulled wine, fresh pretzels, gingerbread, or foie gras, indulge in local specialities. Half the magic of Christmas markets is the sensory feast—smells, tastes, sights, and sounds all come together to create a multi-layered holiday experience.
6. Keep Expectations Realistic: Not every city will be a Christmas postcard. After Strasbourg’s extravagant displays, Paris felt more subdued. But perhaps that’s part of Paris’s charm—it doesn’t try too hard to be something it’s not.

Final Thoughts
Stepping into December in France feels like walking into a world dusted with icing sugar and lit by fairy lights. Strasbourg, with its endless markets and jaw-dropping tree, sets the standard high. Colmar adds a dash of fairy-tale romance, and Sélestat reminds you of the ancient roots of our favourite festive traditions. Even Paris, while a touch underwhelming compared to its Alsatian cousins, offers unique experiences if you know where to look.

My whirlwind weekend was not just about ticking off Christmas markets. It was about understanding how each city embraces the festive season in its own way. From the grandeur of Strasbourg’s cathedral to the cosy corners of Colmar, every stop offered something different.

If you’re dreaming of a Christmas break brimming with atmosphere, twinkling lights, and a good dose of mulled wine, consider following in my footsteps. Just remember to keep an open mind, plan your travel smartly, and always leave room for a surprise or two. After all, that’s where the real Christmas magic happens!