My family and I are planning to visit Europe for two weeks - the first, over the Thanksgiving holiday week, the second week we would like to spend visiting Christmas markets once they are open. We plan to fly into London, spend three days there, then take the train to Paris and also spend three days there (one of them being Thanksgiving day). From there, we plan to take the train to Strasbourg and spend two days there. After Strasbourg, I am unsure how I want to conclude our trip. There are direct flights home out of Paris and Frankfurt (and we are open to leaving out of either city). Can anyone recommend another city that we should visit prior to heading home? I have looked at Colmar, Gengenbach, Heidelberg, etc.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23260 posts
You may be able to catch the beginning of the Christmas markets. Strasbourg, the oldest and one of the largest Christmas markets, starts at the end of Nov, Dec 1, so you may want to stay in Strasbourg a day or two longer. You don't have much time to see other cities. You might consider flying from Strasbourg via Paris to go home.
Posted by
Paris
9560 posts
In Strasbourg, the Christmas market starts this year on November 27th.
Posted by
Chicago
8043 posts
The big Christmas market on the Champs ELysees in Paris is open by THanksgiving but it is really not all that. Mostly overpriced Chinese junk, same old same old, as well as some pretty fair street food and mulled wine.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Well, I thought the Champs Elysees Christmas market was fun. I wasn't really shopping, just enjoying the feeling of it, but I don't remember there being a lot of Chinese junk ... that was three years ago. Maybe it has changed? Anyway, the mulled wine is good and if the weather is fine, so is the market.
We also went to a huge, great Christmas market on the plaza at la Defence but I don't know if it still takes place. Bought some great hand- made jewellery there one year.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you all! We will definitely be in Strasbourg by the time it opens on the 27th. We are thinking we will arrive on the 28th in the afternoon. We plan to stay through Monday, which leaves us part of Tuesday (after travel) -Thursday to visit somewhere else, even if it is just for a day. Any other thoughts on place that is worth a quick visit?