48 Hours in Strasbourg at Christmas: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary
If you’re planning to visit Strasbourg at Christmas, then two days is really the perfect amount of time. For those of us already based in Europe, it’s also the most typical amount of time we would spend – a quick weekend visit to the Capital of Christmas before going back to work on Monday.
Obviously, if you’re going to Strasbourg at Christmas, you’re going for the markets – and how could you not? They’re some of the most famous in Europe. But, unless you’re a real market stall afficionado, you probably want to know how exactly to structure your time so you get the most out of this weekend.
I’ve written this itinerary for a 48 hour visit, whether you are getting in on the Ryanair flight from London, or if you’re travelling in from within France. Here’s how to get the most out of Strasbourg at Christmas, and get your fill of festive cheer (or vin chaud, I don’t judge).
Why visit Strasbourg at Christmas?
Strasbourg is a beautiful city at any time of year. I’ve been in both summer and winter and loved it each time. But there’s just something magical about Strasbourg at Christmas. The city calls itself the “Capital of Christmas”, and when the whole city is festooned in decorations, fairy lights, Christmas trees, and hundreds of market chalets, it’s hard to argue with.
Because it’s so famous as a Christmas destination, it does get busy, and that means accommodation prices go up quickly and book out just as fast. If you’re reading this ahead of your trip and don’t already have your stay booked, check out my post on Strasbourg Christmas stays here, or just go straight to Booking.com and get that locked in.
I’ll also admit that I’m not someone who actually loves Christmas day, but I find the run up to it absolutely wonderful. Everyone is in good spirits, work feels a bit lighter as everyone pushes everything to the New Year, pubs are cosy and inviting, windows are decorated, and the whole world just feels a bit nicer. If you’re someone who finds the Christmas period tough, then I would completely support you in avoiding the whole thing. Equally, it can be kind of nice to reclaim a bit of the festivities for yourself and go to some markets, either solo or with people who make you happy.
Getting to Strasbourg
Need to Know
- By rail: Strasbourg is very well connected by rail, including direct high-speed services from Paris and other French cities.
- From the airport: Strasbourg Airport has its own train station, with trains connecting to Strasbourg station in around 8–10 minutes
- By air: Strasbourg Airport (SXB) has a range of European connections, with the next nearest airport being Basel (BSL) in Switzerland.
Day 1: Arrive and Experience Strasbourg After Dark
Check In and Explore Petite France
If you’re only in town for a long weekend, then chances are you’re getting into Strasbourg in the late afternoon or evening. After you check in, your first stop should be Petite France. This neighbourhood on Strasbourg’s Grand Île is beautiful all year, but at Christmas it’s particularly atmospheric. Wander through the narrow streets, see the half-timbered houses, cross the Ponts Couverts and take your time getting lost.
Early Evening: Place Kléber and the Grand Sapin
Okay so it’s your first night in Strasbourg at Christmas, you have to go get in the spirit of things by visiting one of the biggest market squares, Place Kléber. This is where you’ll find Le Grand Sapin, Strasbourg’s enormous Christmas tree. It really is the centrepiece of Christmas in the city, and the lights come into their own after dark.
Evening: Christmas Markets and Vin Chaud
Spend the evening wandering between some of the main Christmas markets around:
- Place Kléber
- Place Broglie
- Cathedral area
Don’t try to see every market as a box checking exercise. Just enjoy the atmosphere, grab a hot drink and take in the lights. Strasbourg is at its most magical after the sun goes down and the lights come up.
Get dinner in one of the cosy restaurants around the city, or grab some supermarket food to take back to your apartment. If you’re into wine, Alsace is a great region for it, and I recommend a nice bottle with your evening meal.
Day 2: See More of Strasbourg
If you’re visiting Strasbourg at Christmas, then obviously you’re there for the markets, but since you’ve got the whole weekend, it’s worth exploring some other sights of the city too.
Morning: Explore the City on Foot
One of my absolute top things to do in a new city is a walking tour. Exploring independently is a great way to get a feel for a place, but having a local show you what you’re actually looking at adds a whole other layer of appreciation. You’re going to start your day with a walking tour at 10am.
If you’re a real early bird, this tour has an 8am start as an alternative.
Noon: Lunch
If you chose the 10am walking tour, you’ll be wrapping up around lunchtime. Your local guide is a great person to ask for tips on where to eat (seriously, I had one of my favourite meals in Belgium based on a guide’s suggestion).
Or, if you booked an apartment rental, you could use this time to head back there, make yourself something to eat and take a bit of time to regroup or grab extra layers for the afternoon.
Afternoon: Choose Your Own Adventure
One Afternoon, Three Options
If you’ve read any of my Uzbekistan itineraries, you’ll know I love a “choose your own adventure”, especially in the afternoon part of the itinerary. I like giving you a few options to decide which sounds good to you, rather than getting overly prescriptive with a checkbox list of “things to do in Strasbourg”.
Option 1: Alsace Wine Tour
The Alsace region is famous for wine, and this tour has a 2pm option that fits nicely into your afternoon. You’ll spend four hours getting out of the city into the countryside, learning about the local wines, and visiting 2 wineries. The timing is perfect too, as it’ll have you back in the city just in time for dinner and the markets at night.
Option 2: Relax at Bains Municipaux de Strasbourg
The city baths are a nice option if you’re coming from a stressful period at work or travel has got you exhausted. You might not immediately think “Christmassy city” and “Roman baths”, but Strasbourg is a city that’ll surprise you.
The Bains Municipaux de Strasbourg (or City Baths in English), a beautifully restored historic swimming and wellness complex in the Neustadt. The building dates back to 1908 and is now home to swimming pools, Roman baths, a sauna and an outdoor balneotherapy pool, making it a good way to warm up and relax after a morning exploring the city. The wellness area is available to visitors aged 16 and over, and you’ll need to bring your own towel. You’ll also need flip flops, and swim shorts are prohibited (proper fitted swim briefs/swimming trunks are fine).
A pass for the baths covers the whole day, so you can stay as long as you like.
Option 3: Explore Strasbourg’s Museums
If wine tours and swimming aren’t your thing, spend the afternoon exploring one of Strasbourg’s museums instead. The Palais Rohan is a particularly convenient option in the heart of the historic centre, right beside the Cathedral. This 18th-century palace houses three museums: Fine Arts, Decorative Arts and Archaeology. You can easily spend a few hours here without having to trek across the city.
Evening: One Last Evening at the Christmas Markets
Once you’ve finished whichever activity you picked for the afternoon, it’s time to go back to the reason you came: The Christmas Markets. You’ve seen them during daylight as you wandered the city today, so you can concentrate on the things that are best after dark: the lights, decorations and atmosphere.
The markets typically operate until 9pm, but it’s not uncommon to see stalls starting to wrap up an hour early. I made this mistake in Bolzano and got to the markets, thinking I had an extra hour, only to find the stalls winding down for the night.
This is also your chance to do any last minute shopping – whether that’s for gifts, decorations, or some local goods like jams or wines.
As for dinner, rather than rushing off to a restaurant reservation, I’d actually recommend staying in the markets tonight. Pick up something that looks good, find a vin chaud (or hot apple juice), and just enjoy being there. Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are as much about wandering around under the lights as they are about buying things.
If you really want a proper sit-down meal, make a reservation, particularly if you’re visiting on a weekend. But otherwise, I’d save the restaurant meal for your first night and embrace the Christmas-market experience.
Day 3: One Last Wander Before You Leave
Depending on what time your train or flight leaves, take one last slow wander through Strasbourg before heading home. You could spend your morning grabbing any last minute souvenirs or gifts, or revisiting a place you particularly liked.
For me, however, if I’ve got an hour or two before I need to head to the airport, my favourite thing to do is to grab a coffee or other beverage and just sit and observe the city. After a couple of days spent exploring and getting to know the place, taking the time to reflect back on the last couple of days and feel still for a moment is the nicest way for me to say goodbye.
If you’ve got extra time and your onward travel isn’t until the evening, you can probably fit in a musuem, or even a visit to see the interior of Strasbourg Cathedral.
Then it’s time to collect your bags and head to the station. Hopefully you’ve left a little room in your suitcase for those Christmas-market purchases!
