My partner and I spent 10 days in France in December 2025, splitting our time between Paris, Strasbourg, Colmar, and the tiny village of Eguisheim. The goal was simple: experience the best Christmas markets in France while actually enjoying the trip — not sprinting through a checklist.
Here’s the honest version of our itinerary. What worked, what we’d change, and everything you need to steal this trip for yourself.
Why Paris + Alsace (And Why This Combination Works)
Most France Christmas market guides tell you to pick either Paris or the Alsace region. We did both, and I’d do it again.
Paris gives you the world-class museums, iconic landmarks, and a handful of holiday markets scattered across the city. The Alsace — specifically Strasbourg and Colmar — gives you the real Christmas market experience. Half-timbered buildings draped in garlands, mulled wine on every corner, and an atmosphere that feels like someone built a life-size Christmas village and forgot to tear it down.
The logistics are easy. Paris to Strasbourg is under two hours by high-speed train. Strasbourg to Colmar is 30 minutes. You don’t need a car, you don’t need to speak fluent French, and if you have a phone with international data, you’re set.
This itinerary works for couples, friends, or really anyone who wants a mix of Christmas magic and actual sightseeing. If you only care about markets, you could trim the Paris days and spend more time in Alsace. But I think the contrast between the two makes the trip.
The 10-Day Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Date | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Dec 1 | Travel Day | Cleveland → Chicago → Paris (overnight) |
| 2 | Tue, Dec 2 | Paris | Arrive CDG, Rue Cler, Eiffel Tower area, first dinner |
| 3 | Wed, Dec 3 | Paris → Strasbourg | Morning train, Strasbourg Cathedral, first markets |
| 4 | Thu, Dec 4 | Strasbourg | Full market day, neighborhoods, evening stroll |
| 5 | Fri, Dec 5 | Strasbourg → Colmar | Train to Colmar, Christmas market circuit |
| 6 | Sat, Dec 6 | Colmar + Eguisheim | Morning markets, afternoon day trip to Eguisheim |
| 7 | Sun, Dec 7 | Colmar → Paris | Early train, Tuileries market, Eiffel Tower evening |
| 8 | Mon, Dec 8 | Paris | Louvre, Montmartre, Champs-Élysées market |
| 9 | Tue, Dec 9 | Paris | Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, Seine stroll |
| 10 | Wed, Dec 10 | Travel Day | Paris → Toronto → Cleveland |
Days 1–2: Getting There & First Taste of Paris
Day 1 — The Travel Day
We flew United out of Cleveland, connecting through Chicago O’Hare before the overnight flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle. It’s not glamorous — CLE doesn’t have direct flights to Europe — but the routing worked fine and we landed at CDG around 9:15 AM Tuesday.
Day 2 — Arriving in Paris
After landing at CDG, we took a cab (and verified it tooks credit cards) and made our way to Hotel du Cadran at 10 Rue du Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement. The Hotel du Cadran is fantastic.
The hotel’s location is excellent. You’re a short walk from the Eiffel Tower and right next to Rue Cler, which is one of the best market streets in Paris. We spent our first afternoon strolling Rue Cler, fighting jet lag with pastries, and getting our bearings.
By evening, we walked through the Eiffel Tower gardens on the Champ-de-Mars. Even if you’ve seen a thousand photos, watching the tower sparkle at night after an overnight flight hits differently. We had dinner at Tasca, a spot we’d reserved in advance. Highly recommended!
Day 2 tip: Don’t try to do too much on arrival day. You’ve been traveling for 18+ hours. A neighborhood stroll, a good meal, and the Eiffel Tower at night is the perfect low-key first evening. Your body will thank you on Day 3.
Days 3–4: Strasbourg — The Capital of Christmas
Strasbourg was the highlight of our entire trip. I need to say that upfront because it colors everything that follows. If you do nothing else from this itinerary, go to Strasbourg during a weekday in early December.
Day 3 — Paris to Strasbourg by Train
We took a morning train from Paris Gare de l’Est to Strasbourg. The ride is about 1 hour and 45 minutes on the high-speed TGV, and it’s incredibly easy.
Train booking tip: We used Omio to book our train tickets. The platform is straightforward, and having the tickets on your phone is all you need. One thing that saved us repeatedly throughout this trip: Google Fi for international data. Having reliable cell service meant we could pull up GPS directions on the fly, search restaurant reviews when our first choice was packed, and look up market hours in real time. I’d consider it essential for a trip like this.
We couldn’t check into our hotel until after 10 AM, so we dropped our bags and walked straight into the Grande Île, Strasbourg’s UNESCO-listed historic center.
We stayed in the Residence Le Moon and quite enjoyed it. It was an apartment style hotel and we were within five minutes of the first Christmas market and right next to the canal.
Strasbourg Cathedral & First Market Impressions
The Strasbourg Cathedral is the first thing you see, and it’s stunning. We went inside to see the rose window and the famous astronomical clock. From there, it’s a 2–3 minute walk to Rue des Orfèvres, where you’ll find the Teddy Bear House (Maison aux Ours) — one of those spots that looks exactly like the photos.
We continued down Rue Mercière for the classic postcard photo angle of the cathedral framed by half-timbered buildings, then looped through the main Christmas market areas:
- Place de la Cathédrale — the largest market, right at the base of the cathedral
- Place Broglie — home to the Christkindelsmärik, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe (running since 1570)
- Place Kléber — where you’ll find the massive Christmas tree that anchors the whole scene
That evening, we had dinner at Mama Bubbele, a spot specializing in tarte flambée (Alsatian flatbread — essentially the region’s answer to pizza). It was delicious!
We spent the rest of the night walking through the markets after dark. Place Kléber lit up, the cathedral glowing, Rue des Orfèvres packed with wooden stalls — it was the first moment the trip went from “cool vacation” to something genuinely special.
Day 4 — The Day Strasbourg Became Our Favorite Place
This is the day I tell everyone about.
We woke up with no strict agenda and just walked. The Carré d’Or boutique district, the Krutenau neighborhood markets, side streets we hadn’t explored yet. Strasbourg during a weekday in early December is not crowded. We could actually stop, look at things, talk to vendors, and sit down at a market stall without fighting through a wall of people.
But the moment that made Strasbourg our favorite part of the entire trip? One eening walking past the Petite France area along the canals and stumbling into a smaller Christmas village set up behind the main Petite France district. There was caroling, small market stalls, and decorations on the buildings that felt like they’d been there for centuries. No crowds. No rush. Just the canal, the lights, and the sound of Christmas music echoing off the water.
What struck me most about Strasbourg was the building decorations throughout the entire city. Every façade seemed to have something — garlands, lights, wreaths, window displays. It wasn’t just the market squares that were festive. The entire city committed to it.
We spent the evening doing one more pass through the markets — Place Kléber at night, back through Rue des Orfèvres to see the cathedral lit up, then through the Saint-Étienne area where some of the buildings were illuminated by candlelight, and finally through Petite France one more time.
The honest take on Strasbourg: Go during the week if you can. We were there Wednesday and Thursday, and it was perfect — lively but not suffocating. You could actually enjoy the markets rather than just surviving them. (More on this when we get to Colmar on a Saturday.)
Days 5–6: Colmar & Eguisheim — Fairytale Villages (With a Crowd Warning)
Day 5 — Strasbourg to Colmar
The train from Strasbourg to Colmar takes about 30 minutes. Easy, cheap, again we bought our tickets on Omio. We arrived mid-morning and started the market circuit.
Colmar has six distinct Christmas markets spread through its old town, each with a slightly different focus:
- Place des Dominicains — Arts and crafts under a historic church
- Place de l’Ancienne Douane — The central hub, biggest concentration of stalls
- Place Jeanne d’Arc — The culinary market (this was a highlight)
- Koifhus / Old Customs House — Artisan goods
- Children’s Market at Petite Venise — Family-friendly, right on the canals
- Place de la Cathédrale — Gourmet food market
The town itself is absurdly photogenic–early in the morning after that you will not have a shot without a massive crowd. Colmar’s colored half-timbered buildings look like they were designed by someone who thought Strasbourg wasn’t festive enough.
But here’s the thing — we arrived on a Friday, and by Saturday, Colmar became a different experience entirely.
The Crowd Reality
Saturday in Colmar during Christmas market season was like being at a concert. There were spots where you physically could not move through the crowd. The narrow streets that look so charming in photos become bottlenecks when thousands of people are funneling through them at the same time.
Strasbourg, with its wider streets and more spread-out market squares, handled the crowds much better during our weekday visit. Colmar’s compact size is both its charm and its biggest problem during peak times.
My advice: If you can, visit Colmar on a weekday. If you’re there on a weekend, get to the markets early (they open around 10 AM) and focus on the less central squares first. By early afternoon on a Saturday, the main areas are shoulder-to-shoulder.
Day 6 — Morning Markets & Afternoon in Eguisheim
We spent the morning revisiting some of Colmar’s markets — including two hidden courtyards that are worth seeking out:
- Cour d’Adventus — a secret courtyard behind Maison des Têtes, accessible through a narrow alley on Rue des Têtes
- Cour du Koifhus — behind the Old Customs House, at the corner of Rue des Marchands and Rue des Têtes
These feel like discovering a private party. Smaller, quieter, and with a completely different atmosphere than the main market squares.
The Eguisheim Day Trip
In the afternoon, we took a short trip to Eguisheim, a tiny village about 15 minutes from Colmar that’s officially designated as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France.”
We took an Uber which took longer, about 30 minutes, to get the Uber than it did to get there — which was about 20 minutes.
Eguisheim is built in concentric circles, with a circular street (Rue des Remparts) tracing the path of the old medieval walls. The Christmas market is small — about 30 stalls in the central square — but the setting is unreal. Colorful half-timbered houses, cobblestone lanes strung with lights, and a fraction of the crowds you’ll find in Colmar.
If Colmar is the fairytale, Eguisheim is the quiet epilogue. It’s worth two to three hours, and it pairs perfectly with a morning in Colmar. I’d recommend booking your Uber from Equisheim well before you leave. It took our car 50 minutes to get to us — it had to come from Colmar just to pick us up and drive back there.
That evening back in Colmar we walked the streets again, but the crowds wore us out.
We also had plans for Le Jardin de l’Apothicaire, an evening event with candles and accordion music at 6 Rue des Boulanges. And dinner was at Wishtub de la Petite Venise.
Day 7: Colmar to Paris (A Transit Day Done Right)
We took the 7:35 AM train from Colmar back to Paris. Early, yes. But it gave us a full day in the city.
After checking back into Hotel du Cadran, we headed to the Marché de Noël des Tuileries — the biggest Christmas market in Paris, set up right next to the Louvre in the Tuileries Garden. It felt more like a county fair in the United States than a Christmas Market. It didn’t have the same fairytale charm of the previous markets.
That evening, we went to the Eiffel Tower around 5 PM and had dinner at Tasca again.
Transit day tip: Don’t write off travel days. That early train gave us a full afternoon and evening in Paris. Build in a market visit or a landmark you haven’t hit yet, and the day doesn’t feel wasted.
Days 8–9: Paris — Museums, Markets & Montmartre
Day 8 — The Louvre, Montmartre & Champs-Élysées
Morning started at the Louvre — we had a reserved 10 AM entry, which I’d strongly recommend. Even with a reservation, the Louvre is massive and you’ll want at least 2–3 hours.
In the afternoon, we did a Montmartre walking tour at 2:30 PM, then explored the Marché de Noël des Abbesses nearby.
Evening: Marché de Noël des Champs-Élysées and a walk along Avenue de Friedland. We wrapped up with a stop at the Arc de Triomphe and walked back along the Champs-Élysées.
We had dinner at Little Nonna. It was spectacular.
Day 9 — Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame & Last Night in Paris
We started at the Musée d’Orsay at 10 AM. If the Louvre is overwhelming, Orsay is the antidote — smaller, more focused, and the Impressionist collection is world-class.
At 3 PM, we did a Notre-Dame tour. The cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the fire restoration, so we were visiting within its first year back.
We hit the Marché de Noël Notre-Dame and grabbed a snack at La Crème de Paris nearby, then explored the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Christmas Market.
Our last evening included a Seine stroll and dinner at Thaisil (Thai food — reserved at 7 PM).
Day 10: The Journey Home
We had brunch at Loulou before heading to the airport for our afternoon flights: Paris to Toronto, then Toronto to Cleveland, arriving around 5:30 PM.
Return flight note: Our routing went through Toronto on the way home rather than Chicago. It worked fine — just something to be aware of when booking. Flying out of smaller US airports like Cleveland often means creative connections, but the savings and convenience of not having to drive to a hub airport are worth it. And Toronto was an absolute breeze. I have never transferred in Toronto but would definitely do it again — it was literally less than five minutes through security.
Logistics & Planning Tips
Flights from the US
We flew United from Cleveland, connecting through Chicago on the way out and Toronto on the way home. If you’re flying from a smaller US city, expect connections. Book early and watch for fare drops — we found that booking two months in advance was the sweet spot.
Trains Between Cities
Trains were one of the best parts of this trip. Everything was easy, on time, and comfortable:
- Paris → Strasbourg: ~1 hour 45 minutes, TGV high-speed train from Gare de l’Est
- Strasbourg → Colmar: ~30 minutes, regional train
- Colmar → Paris: ~2.5 hours (with a connection through Strasbourg, or direct on some routes)
We booked everything through Omio, which lets you compare schedules and prices in English. Having tickets on your phone worked seamlessly every time.
Phone & Data
I cannot stress this enough: get international phone service before you go. I used Google Fi, which gives you international data at no extra charge in most countries. It was indispensable — looking up restaurant reviews on the fly, navigating unfamiliar train stations, finding our hotel, checking market hours. There were multiple times a restaurant we’d planned on was packed, and having cell service meant we could quickly find an alternative instead of wandering around hungry.
[CHARLIE NOTE: Did your partner also use Fi, or just you? Any connectivity issues in smaller towns like Eguisheim?]Weather in Early December
We went the first 10 days of December, and the weather was cold but manageable. Only one day of rain during the whole trip. Temperatures hovered in the 30s–40s°F (roughly 1–8°C), which is typical for that time of year.
Packing essentials: A warm coat, layers underneath, a good scarf, gloves, and waterproof shoes. You’ll be outside walking for hours, and the cobblestone streets in Alsace are unforgiving if your shoes aren’t up to the task.
Timing: Why Early December Is the Sweet Spot
The Christmas markets in Alsace typically run from late November through late December. We went during the first full week of December, and here’s why I’d recommend that window:
- Strasbourg midweek was perfectly lively without being overwhelming. Vendors were friendly, lines were short, and we could actually stop and enjoy things.
- Colmar on the weekend was a different story — packed to the point of being uncomfortable in some areas. This told us that even a week later (closer to Christmas), the crowds would be significantly worse everywhere.
- Paris markets were busy but manageable any day we went.
If I could design the perfect schedule, I’d do Strasbourg and Colmar during the week (Monday through Thursday) and save Paris for the weekend, since Paris crowds don’t fluctuate as dramatically.
What We’d Change Next Time
No trip is perfect. Here’s what I’d adjust:
Spend one more night in Strasbourg. It was our favorite place, and we could have used another half-day to explore at a slower pace. Two nights felt slightly rushed given how much we loved it.
Visit Colmar during the week. The weekend crowds genuinely impacted our enjoyment. If we’d swapped our schedule — doing Colmar on Thursday/Friday and Strasbourg on Saturday — we might have had a different experience. But honestly, Strasbourg handles weekend crowds better than Colmar does because of the wider streets and more spread-out markets.
Book more restaurant reservations in advance. We had some reservations, but there were a few times we showed up to a place and it was completely full. Having Google Fi meant we could pivot quickly, but planning ahead would have been less stressful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for French Christmas markets? We did 10 days covering Paris, Strasbourg, Colmar, and Eguisheim. If you only care about markets, you could do Strasbourg + Colmar in 4–5 days. Adding Paris makes it a more complete trip, and I’d recommend 8–10 days for the full experience.
Is it worth going to both Strasbourg and Colmar? Absolutely, but they’re very different experiences. Strasbourg is larger with more spread-out markets and a major cathedral as the centerpiece. Colmar is compact, more photogenic, and feels like a Christmas village come to life. Together, they give you the full range of what Alsace offers.
Can you do Eguisheim as a day trip from Colmar? Yes — it’s only about 15 minutes away. Plan for 2–3 hours in Eguisheim. The village is small but incredibly charming, and the Christmas market has about 30 stalls focused on local craftspeople and authentic Alsatian goods.
Do you need a car for this itinerary? No. We did the entire trip by train, foot, and a short taxi/bus ride to Eguisheim. Trains between Paris, Strasbourg, and Colmar are frequent, fast, and affordable.
What’s the best time to visit the French Christmas markets? Early December, during the week. Markets are open, decorations are up, but the peak holiday crowds haven’t arrived. Weekends in popular spots like Colmar can be uncomfortably packed.
Do the Christmas markets accept credit cards? Many stalls are cash-only, especially smaller vendors selling food and drinks. Restaurants and larger shops usually take cards. Bring cash — we used ATMs when we arrived in each city.
