Good evening. My wife and I would love to travel to Strasbourg for the Christmas markets. Having done abit of research, flying to Stuttgart appears to be a viable and cheap option. I’m just undecided on whether to hire a car and drive from Stuttgart, or get the train. I am only considering driving as the flight and train times mean we would have to wait in Stuttgart for a few hours before boarding the train. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posted by
Green Bay
20090 posts
Then when you get to Strasbourg, finding an expensive parking spot. What time do you land at Stuttgart? BTW, Stuttgart has got a pretty nice Christmas Market of its own.
https://www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de/en/home/
Not to mention, you will be driving jet-lagged on a very stau-prone Autobahn between Stuttgart and Strasbourg.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23268 posts
I would take the train. A car would be a problem once you are there. The train is in the center of the train. We used the tram and walked to hotel from station.
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3049 posts
Stuttgart has one of the top 10 best Christmas markets in Germany and the direct train ride is very relaxing, albeit a little expensive. (Buy your tickets now to save some money). Better yet the market starts just 7 minutes walk from the train station and there are easy lockers for your luggage at the train station.
I may be biased, but I'd even recommend trying to lengthen the layover in Stuttgart so you could visit Esslingen's unique "Middle Ages" market, it's just over 10 minutes by train from the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (Main train station).
Adding to the convenience is that Stuttgart's airport is small and efficient so it's a great place to fly in and out of. I've become quiet spoiled with the ease of customs and security here.
Another reason to avoid driving is that Stuttgart is famous for it's traffic, and there can be serious slowdowns any time of day on the route to Strasbourg.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4044 posts
You can fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle and catch the fast train to Strasbourg from the airport.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Purchasing a last-minute ticket on the direct, reserved train from Stuttgart (center) to Strasbourg won't cost more than 56 euros in 2nd class, but from Charles de Gaulle airport to Strasbourg a similar ticket costs 115 euros. (Charles de Gaulle is also a huge airport that's not my first choice unless my destination is Paris.) Advance train tickets are cheaper, but become useless if you miss the scheduled departure.
Posted by
Paris
9572 posts
Forget CDG, I like the idea of Stuttgart, and also seeing Stuttgart and Esslingen. I would take the train as others have suggested.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Train is better both for ease of use and to skip any traffic (and weather) that might make your trip more difficult.
I really like Sarah's advice on both Stuttgart and Esslingen.
Posted by
Florida
338 posts
Go to bahn.de and select the English option (if that’s the language you need). You can check rail schedules for all of Europe and some schedules even include prices. It looks like there are trains from Stuttgart to Strasbourg every hour. I would suggest one overnight in Stuttgart for their Christmas market before traveling onward to France. I’m going to the small market in Rudesheim before heading to Strasbourg. All the markets are beautiful and festive.