We will be in Strasbourg early Dec over a 3 day weekend. Would like to visit 2-3 Christmas market towns. We are 2 couples; should we train everywhere or rent car? Hesitant to rent car due to winter road conditions. Can you provide pros and cons other than that for either option? Colmar is a must. Open to other suggestions.
Posted by
Boston
124 posts
It's easy enough to train from Strasbourg to Colmar. The trains run about every 30 minutes or so all day. And they're very inexpensive.
I don't know about Strasbourg, because I stayed in Strasbourg and didn't venture out, but there are navettes (small buses) that make loops to Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Kayserberg on weekends from Colmar. They all have charming Christmas markets. There are also regular buses from Colmar but they're fairly slow and not particularly convenient for visiting for the Christmas markets.
Posted by
Sweden
6470 posts
Which towns? As always it usually better to first find out where you want to go and then find out the best way to get there.
But for Strasbourg to Colmar:
Advantages for the train:
- Cheaper
- Faster
- No need to find (and pay for) parking
- You can have some glühwein at the market
Advantages for a car:
- Easier to transport your stuff if you plan to do a lot of shopping like buying furniture.
Posted by
OP
33 posts
If we don’t rent car, and want to visit Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé would it be easy to train to Colmar then taxi to those towns?
Posted by
Boston
124 posts
It would. There are usually taxis outside the train station. Think about how you're going to get home though. Not sure there are many taxis in the villages. And, if there aren't, the taxi driver will likely start the meter when he leaves Colmar, if he'll go at all.
Perhaps a local can chime in with info regarding Uber, Bolt etc and if it exists in the villages.
Posted by
New Orleans
93 posts
Honestly not sure why everyone just parrots the same travel destinations! Alsace has so many beautiful towns why limit yourself to Colmar which is now packed with tourists? I recommend Obernai Barr Riquewihr and smaller towns. Also Metz is a beautiful city in Lorraine region (not the same as Alsace). The Vosges mountains has also many beautiful CHristmassy towns e.g Gerardmer. Not many tourists go so English will be limited.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4452 posts
If I may, Strasbourg had at least two Christmas markets when I was there. Even halfway through the first, I was seeing the same ornaments over and over and there's only so much mulled wine a person can drink. Are you sure the markets are going to be different enough to justify the adventure? I would think you could happily spend 3 days just in Strasbourg (I did only a day trip on the TGV from Paris).
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8526 posts
phred, thank you for speaking the truth.
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2332 posts
We stayed in Colmar in June, with a car, and visited Eguisheim, Requiwihr, Turckheim and Kaysersberg. We loved it so much we’re returning in December for the Christmas markets. This time we’ll be staying in Strasbourg and we’ll be using the train and the shuttles between the villages. Parking is extremely limited in the villages. I’ve watched a ton of videos in my research, and parking seems to be a nightmare during the markets.
Turckheim has a train station. It doesn’t seem as popular as some of the other villages, but we loved it. Seems like it might be easier to get to than some of the others, due to the station.