Please sign in to post.

Colmar/Strasbourg Itineray Question

Arriving in Basel Nov.29.

Departing Zurich, Dec. 6

First trip to Alasce. Been to several markets in the past in Germany and Austria, but Colmar and Strasbourg have been on our list for a long time.

Day 1, 2 overnight in Colmar. Visiting Christmas Markets, and on second day taking a half or full day tour from Colmar to the smaller villages in the area, returning back to Colmar.

Day 3, 4 overnight in Strasbourg. Visiting Christmas Markets, walking the city on Day 3. On day 4 plan was to take a trip to Freiburg, Germany for Christmas markets (only takes 1 hour from Strasbourg, vs. 1 .5 hours from Colmar), and while returning to Strasbourg for the evening, stop off in Gengenbach Germany's Christmas Market, then on to Strasbourg for the final evening of markets.

Day 5, 6 overnight in Lucerne. Christmas Market(very small), but change of scenery. Possible trip up local mountains if weather permiting, or boat ride on Lucerne Lake, or even markets in Bern (1 hour away.). Have been to Lucerne a couple of times before and love the city.

Day 7. half day in Zurich, overnighting in Zurich (visiting Zurich markets, old town, etc. )departing 0900 next morning.

I have read a lot of opinions how we should maybe only do Colmar or Strasbourg, and not split between them, but wanted to base in Colmar so we could take the tour on a Friday to the smaller villages in area, and still be able to enjoy 2 evenings in Colmar and the lights at night,(and avoiding the weekend crowds that I would expect) and can have nearly a full day in Strasbourg to walk the island, visit the markets in the daylight, and in evenings, and also be in proximity to Gengabach, and Freiburg day trips.

Anyway, thats our reasoning, would appreciate any other suggestions you might have.

Posted by
8889 posts

You missed out Basel Christmas market! See here: https://www.basel.com/en/Christmas-in-Basel
Since you are changing trains there in both directions, it would be a shame to miss. And in my (possibly biassed) opinion it is better than Luzern or Zürich Christmas markets.

Posted by
5 posts

I appreciate you bringing up Basel. I neglected to mention, we were also planning to stop over in Basel either on the way to Colmar, or on the way to Lucerne for a few hours to visit the Basel market. One of the reasons we are headed to Lucerne is for "a change of scenery". (and they also just happen to have a market :), which is nice), and of course we are departing from Zurich.

Posted by
8889 posts

"* appreciate you bringing up Bern. . . . or on the way to Lucerne for a few hours to visit the Bern market*" - you've confused me now, I didn't mention Bern. Bern is not on your way to or from Luzern, it is further west.
You haven't got room for another town (and you may not have time for Basel)!
One option to save time, is on day 4, when you go to Freiburg, do not double back north to Strasbourg, but continue south to Basel and Luzern. This would involve carrying your bags and storing them in Freiburg. But it would save time.

There are two parallel rail lines on the two sides of the Rhine:
French (West) side: Strasbourg - Colmar - Basel
German (East) side: Offenburg - Freiburg im Breisgau - Basel
From Basel, you then have routes to Zürich or Luzern.
Maybe a map would help: https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=9/48.0147/7.5133

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you. I understand what you are saying. I had a typo on the city name (Basel), since corrected.