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France in December Itinerary Critique

Posted by on

I am planning a trip with my wife and then to be 8 month old to visit Christmas Markets in France early this December. I was originally planning on Austria but the deals on flights from Paris are too good to pass up. Currently I am considering the following itinerary:

  • Arrive in Paris and stay for three nights. Visit versaille, which I haven't done despite two previous visits to Paris
  • Train to Dijon. Stay in Dijon or Beaune for two nights. Beaune gets a lot of love around here, but should I pick it over Dijion as we aren't likely to return.
  • Get rental car and drive to Colmar. Stay in Colmar one night.
  • Drive to Strasbourg, stopping at villages along the way. Drop off car and stay for two nights
  • Early train to Paris for flight home

I'm really having a hard time on splitting the days between Burgundy and towns in Alsace. Should I drop Dijon down to one night and spend two each in Strasbourg and Colmar? Two nights in Colmar and only one in Strasbourg? Or should I consider one night each in Colmar, a village like Ribeauvillé, and then Strasbourg. I've also considered whether it would be worth allotting time to go to Heidelberg, but that's probably too much.

I understand that it'll be cold, but we're there to see the beautiful towns and enjoy the Christmas decoration. We both enjoy food and architecture if that helps. The baby travels well so I'm not t worried about her, but I would like to not have her spend the entire trip in the car seat.

Thanks!
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Posted by
27166 posts

I find changing hotels a big drag. I can only assume it will be even more of a pain when you have to deal with gear for a young child. Colmar and Strasbourg are less than 50 miles apart. I'd stay in one or the other, and I certainly wouldn't add a third hotel in one of the nearby small towns.

Posted by
8889 posts

Stay in Dijon or Beaune for two nights. . . . . Get rental car and drive to Colmar. Stay in Colmar one night.

There is a good high speed train service from Dijon to Colmar (change trains in Mulhouse). You don't want to be driving long distances in December, when you can do it by train at twice the speed.

two each in Strasbourg and Colmar? Two nights in Colmar and only one in Strasbourg?

Again, choose Colmar or Strasbourg and do the other as a day trip by train. A lot easier than splitting it.
The "villages" are presumably the Alsace wine villages (including Ribeauville). These are not on the main road from Colmar to Strasbourg, but easy to visit with a car. If you are having a car, Colmar is probably better to stay in as Strasbourg is a big city and not car friendly (neither is Colmar, but it is smaller).

Strasbourg Christmas is one of the best there is, not to be missed. Colmar has a good one too.
If you have a day spare, take the train to Basel. Good Christmas market and nice old town.
Freiburg im Breisgau is also good, but public transport from Colmar is bad.

Don't forget the days are short. Mid-December, sunrise 08:15, sunset 16:35, dark about 17:00. Makes the Christmas markets more magical after dark, but you don't want to be driving.

Posted by
4132 posts

Beaune is a great base for exploring Burgundy by car. Is that what you have in mind, in December? Otherwise you may exhaust its charms.

I would think carefully about where you want to have a car and why. If it's really just for exploring the wine route in Alsace for a few days, just rent for a few days. The trains are very good, and a car is a pain in the city.

I think you might also consider visiting Lyon that time of year, though of course you would have to forego someplace else to fit that it. Still the rail connections from Paris are excellent.

Posted by
3122 posts

Beaune is charming, but I'd say visit it as a day trip from Dijon. I agree with the other comment about not changing hotels too often; stay 2 nights in Dijon would be my advice.

Posted by
10208 posts

Winter in Burgundy countryside is gray and drab. There's not enough in Beaune in winter to fill your time with an 8-month old. You should go to Dijon. My in-laws lived in Burgundy, so I've spent decades in all seasons. I think your plan is good but would keep the car due to the baby and all it's paraphernalia, napping....

Posted by
2466 posts

You could probably find a hotel more easily in Colmar, rather than Strasbourg.
Ribeauville is very similar to both Strasbourg and Colmar, so I think I'd skip it.
I'd spend two days in Dijon, if you are interested in history and food.

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