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Christmas Day Colmar or Strasbourg

Posted by (Houston, TX) on

My husband and I arrive in Frankfurt on Christmas Day. Per other research, it appears trains will be running, albeit on a limited schedule. Can someone please confirm this?

Should we stay one evening in Frankfurt or travel straight to Strasbourg and stay at a hotel before traveling to Colmar to base our self for a few nights to explore the Alsace area?

We would prefer Colmar; however, our concern is the availability of restaurants open on Christmas Day.

Is most things back to normal on the 26th, i.e. car rental?

Appreciate any advice.

Kristen

Posted by
8889 posts

Christmas Day = Public Holiday = Same train timetable as Sundays.

The annual timetable change is 2nd Sunday in December. Times after that will not be published until late October / early November. Expect them to be 80-90% same as now.

"I arrive in Frankfurt on Christmas Day" - Is that arrive by train, or flying in to Frankfurt airport?
Make sure you book hotels for 25th and 26th early. They will fill up fast.

The question of where you pick up your car depends on where you will be returning it. Both must be in the same country, or it gets very expensive.

Posted by
17 posts

Thanks Chris, appreciate you clearing up the train schedule. We will be flying in late morning to Frankfurt airport. Honestly no desire to stay in Frankfurt, but we were concerned with train schedules and restaurants open on the Holiday. Our best bet is to probably find a hotel in Strasbourg for the night of the 25th, use the next day to explore Strasbourg and then rent a car and drive to our base town (Colmar or another town). Most likely returning the car back in Strasbourg to avoid the outrageous one-way fees!

As another aside, seeing you are from Basel and given the proximity to Colmar, would a day trip Basel be feasible? I understand we will only touch the surface but wanted to get your thoughts?

TIA

Posted by
8889 posts

Day trip Colmar to Basel - yes, highly feasible. Regular trains from Colmar to Basel.

It is different from Colmar, but also a city to wander and discover. There are parts of the old town where it is difficult to say which century you are in. You will miss the Christmas market as that ends on Christmas Eve.

The classic postcard view of Basel Minster from across the Rhine (Click for photo).
See this brochure for some walking tours (and more photos): https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/59825608/5-rundgange-eng_usernameg_username

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