I am booked for a week in Paris begining December 1, and am considering a train trip to the Strasbourg Christmas market. If you've been, I would love to hear about it...also any other outstanding markets in the area! Thanks!

I've been to the Strasbourg Christmas market a few times. It's a good one, very much like the German ones. Nothing much of substance is sold - lots of candy and sweets and glüg and potato-apple fritters and ornaments and little kitschy items, but it's festive and a pleasant way to pass an afternoon or evening amid the smell of the Christmas trees with Christmas carols piped in.

I was at both places last christmas and I would say that I don't think that a trip to Strasbourg for the market would be worth it. There are more markets in Paris that are just as nice. We kept going to the one at lesHalles among others. If you are going to Strasbourg for more than the markets then go and have fun but a LONG daytrip or even an overnight trip is really not worth it. I could spend a week in Paris without any problem. Email me with any questions.

If you plan to go all the way to Strasbourg then I would stay at least a couple of days and take in the wine road as well. Its a long train ride for just a day trip or an over night stay and there is so much that is interesting to see.

The Christmas decorations are a sight to be seen in Strasbourg. Last year they had Baccarat crystal chandeliers overhead the length of one pedestrian street. The market is magical and captures the Christmas spirit. Keep in mind that it is throughout the city, not only in front of the cathedral. Each market area offers a variety of different products so they are all worth visiting.

I suggest doing the market in the AM or later in the PM if you dont like crowds. You will also find nice markets in the wine road villages as well as Colmar. Christmas in Alsace is on of my most memorable trips in France.

....well, actually we were going to do it as a day trip, taking the train in early and going back to Paris late, but now from reading your replies, I am wondering if we should. We don't have the time to spend more than a day there, since there is much more I want to see in Paris, but could you tell me where the "other" markets are that would be closer to Paris that would give us the "flavor" without the spending all the time going?

Thanks for asking the question about the Strasbourg Christmas Market. My husband and I are are going to be in Paris the same week and we were trying to decide whether or not to take the daytrip to Strasbourg,also. Aside from that did you find any good deals on hotels in Paris. We have not booked ours yet.
Also a question for MorganB, what is the wine road? and how many days would you suggest?

I'm not Morgan, but the Route du Vin is a 180-km route between Marlenheim and Thann that takes you through picturesque wine villages and vineyards. Lots of medieval cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, pretty village squares, etc.

Yeah what St Cirq said. I have only done the part between Strasbourg and Colmar. I had no idea it was that long. There are several small villages between Strasbourg and Colmar. Kayserberg is my favorite. Riquewihr is nice also but can be very over run with tourists. Haut-Koenigsbourg, a heavily restored fortifed castle, is also just off the wine road and worth a look.

Here is what I do when I go to Strasbourg: 1 full day in Strasbourg, 1 day for the wine road villages and 1 day for Colmar and Haut-Koenigsbourg. So 3 nights basically. You can expect every village to be decorated for christmas. We had fun wandering in the Kayserberg and drinking hot spiced wine that was sold in stands in the streets.

dmkujat:

Since you're going in winter, you may want to taste the Eiswein (literally "ice wine&quot, which is wine made from grapes that have been allowed to freeze to some extent on the vine.

...nice tip on the ice wine...I've seen it here in northern Michigan, but $75.00 a bottle is too steep for me! And to kbob, my friend, who is a "French Travel Specialist" is making all of our arrangements, but I believe she has us set up at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris...they are running some kind of deal, and its a 5 star I believe in the St. Germain section...all I know is it is near Bon Marche, which is a fabulous department store we visited in April. Also, if you check the NWA website, they were running a fly/hotel deal with the Lutetia....I thought is was around $1234. for 4 nights(?). We did get airfare with NWA for just $545. roundrip Nov 30-Dec 6 from Detroit and it was non-stop!

...still looking for more suggestions on visiting Strasbourg...we are still very much wondering if we should take the day trip!

There also was a small market near the Centre Pompidou in December. It had food, mulled wine and small gifts. Prices are much cheaper on the weekdays. I bought a Moroccan lamp for about 15 euro less on a Monday than the price on Sunday.

....thanks to all of you for the suggestions...still looking for other market locations in December!!!!

I'm going to Alsace in October, so have done alot of recent research re hotels, transportation, etc. It's an awfully long way just for a daytrip! I would stay in Paris if I were you, and do Strasbourg and the Routes des Vins when you have more time. Maybe you can find a nice town or village closer to Paris with a Christmas market.

I,m also going to STrasboug. Is the wine rd. only accessable by car? Any train access? How long does the trip take? thanks all.

The wine road is not accessible by train. You can take as long as you like to see it. I usually do it in a day, leaving Strasbourg in the AM and returning in the PM. That will allow time to visit two to 3 villages between Strasbourg and Colmar. Of course there is more to see and you could devote two days to it if you want to do a more indepth visit.

We will be in Freiburg (in the Black Forest) for several days and I was also looking into other Christmas markets that would be a day trip away. Does anyone know anything specific about the markets in Colmar, Basel, Zurich or Lucerne?