Please sign in to post.

Need help with Alsace itinerary!

Hi, my friend and I are planning a trip to Alsace in December to celebrate our 65th birthdays visiting Christmas markets and tasting wine. We only have 10 days to spend there. We’re flying into Paris, arriving early morning, and plan to take a train stop in Reims for a couple of nights before heading to Strasbourg. I’ve been to Strasbourg and Colmar a few times before and though I love them I was hoping to spend at least a night in one of the adorable wine villages. Any suggestions on how we might arrange that? We don’t plan to rent a car but it’s not out of the question.

Posted by
11169 posts

After several days in Strasbourg we rented a car and headed to the wine villages and stayed in charming Riquewehr. We particularly also enjoyed Eguishsheim and Kaysersburg. We went to Colmar, saw the Altarpiece and left. We much preferred the wine villages. We always rent cars and I imagine it would be difficult to visit the wine villages without a car.

Posted by
5615 posts

I enjoyed Colmar, but I thought the villages were so much more charming. We stayed in Eguisheim at a darling BnB. This is a recent post with a suggestion for Eguisheim as well as my comment recommending Le Hammeau.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france-reviews/les-chambres-d-hotes-du-domaine-joseph-freudenreich-in-eguisheim

We rented a car when we left Colmar after a one night stay. I do know there are buses in the area. I was in the area in September. I can't speak to a December visit.

Posted by
1439 posts

In addition to Barr, which a lot of posters here have enjoyed, a 30-minute train can also take you from Strasbourg to Obernai in the northern portion of the valley. Further south you can get to Ribeauville and Riquewihr- two of those adorable villages you want to see—by
taking a train from Strasbourg to Selestat in 20 minutes and then a short bus or taxi ride the final 10 miles to Ribeauville. Ribeauville has castle ruins above the town and a fantastic wine co-op that pours wine samples and sells wines of dozens of local vintners. Riquewihr, the town where the term “gourmet” originated, is only 3 miles from Ribeauville.

Posted by
8 posts

That sounds good. I’m thinking that after Reims we should head to Strasbourg, stay a few nights, and then as you suggest head out to Selestat and bus yo the small villages where we might spend a night or two before heading to Colmar. Thank you for the suggestion.