Christmas Markets- narrowing the choices [Switzerland, France, Germany]

I have heard wonderful things about Colmar as a charming town with museums and cathedrals to visit as well as amazing Christmas markets. A friend spent 3 nights there last year. I think she flew into Munich from Atlanta, took a train to Stuttgart then to Strasbourg then Colmar. She and her friends continued on to Paris for 4 or 5 nights. You might consider spending time in Munich for their Markets. She lived in Germany for a few years and recommended Rothenburg and Nuremberg for their Christmas markets.

So consider Munich, Rothenburg then on to Strasbourg and Colmar.
I am going on the RS tour to Munich Salzburg Vienna in December and plan to see the Christmas markets! Can’t wait.

I wanted to add Colmar before the tour but didn’t have enough vacation days.

I think you will have a lovely trip, so special with your daughter!

We spent a week in Colmar two December’s ago and used it as our home base. In addition to experiencing Colmar, we visited Basel, Strasbourg, Freiburg and hiked in and around some wine villages in the area on a more seasonably warm day. Enjoyed the trip very much. Colmar was a great home base but felt a bit claustrophobic with all the visitors in town. Finding a place to have dinner was sometimes challenging as restaurants were packed with market goers and then, poof, things closed down pretty early. Enjoyed one day trip by taking a short bus to Freiburg, Germany (it was okay) then, from Freiburg, hopped on the train to Basel for one long, enjoyable 3 country Xmas Market trip. We thoroughly enjoyed Basel and left wondering why it doesn’t seem to be in as many travel guides (RS). We enjoyed Strasbourg quite a bit. If we do this again, we would probably consider basing in Strasbourg or Basel as each would still be centrally located but large enough to not feel squeezed.

I think planning a trip around visiting Basel, Bern, Luzern and then Stuttgart & Esslingen, then heading to Strasbourg and then Colmar would be good. You can certainly spend a couple of days touring the larger cities. I spent 2 days in Colmar and thought it was perfect. Perhaps more days in Strasbourg? Haven't been to Regensburg yet, but it is on my list.
Munich Xmas markets were just ok, nothing special about them and I would avoid Nuremberg. It is so packed you can't enjoy it, plus it is kind of boring looking as all of the stands look the same. Go for the markets where all of the stands look unique. Stuttgart, Mainz, Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin.
Have never heard of anyone going to the markets in Baden-Baden, let alone praise them.
Can you fly out of Strasbourg?

I did a 10 day tour a few years with Gate 1 tours.
Here is a link of a tour for this year:
https://www.gate1travel.com/europe/germany/2019/escorted/central-europe-tours-10dchmade19.aspx

We went to 5 or 6 different markets in Germany and really loved them.
I didn't have to arrange anything and we had at least one full day/night at each market.
Here is a link to several different markets and the hours etc.
I hope you get to go and enjoy several markets.
Cheers

PS I'm sure other companies offer Christmas Market Tours.

Thanks for all of your ideas- pls keep them coming!

Mrs. Jo, you liked the Frankfurt markets much better than the Munich markets- that's great input, thx! I could fly out of Frankfurt.

In Bavaria, my favorite Christkindlmarkt is in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bamberg. As mentioned, the Nuremberg market is overly crowded, very commercial and can be a bit rowdy with the glühwein drinkers. The one in Bamberg is much smaller with unique crafts, local entertainment and a true feeling of gemütlichkeit! And great bratwürst!

I offered my mother a trip next year, Provence at the end of September or Christmas markets. She selected Christmas markets. My plan is fly into Munich, enjoy its and some surrounding towns with train access for 4 nights, 2 nights in Salzburg, 2 nights in Strasbourg, with day trip to Colmar and end in Paris for down time before returning home. I always try and get time in Paris whenever possible.
I hope your trip is successful & enjoyable.

I'm going to give an overall view of Xmas markets in the region that I've personally been to and follow up with places I've got good advice about:

Stuttgart: Yes, it's my home city so I'm biased, but if you look into my history I have recommended people don't visit or stay depending on their itinerary. For a Christmas, I think it's a must. It's absolutely one of the best in Germany - and one of the largest, but not as touristy as Nuremberg. There are two good major markets nearby, the famous Mittlealtermarkt (Middle ages market) in Esslingen and the beautiful Baroque market in Ludwigsburg, both less than 15 minute train ride from the Stuttgart Main Train Station.

Additionally there are a lot of smaller great markets easily accessible via public transit that run during this time, some of them only on weekends. I would try to avoid Stuttgart and especially Esslingen's market on Friday or Saturday evenings though as they are now crowded enough as to be unpleasant if the weather isn't awful.

I would base in Stuttgart or Esslingen for 2-3 days to enjoy the markets, tour the Ludwigsburg palace (the "Swabian Versailles") and hit the Mercedes Museum, perhaps the best auto museum in the world. Hotels are quite expensive in Stuttgart, unfortunately, but I know a lot of people who have had good experiences with AirBnB here.

Some of the other good markets in the general Neckar Valley area are Bad Wimpfen, a really lovely town with a great market, and Beitegheim-Bissingen.

Moving away:

I enjoyed Munich's diversity of markets quite a lot. This might make sense to fly into/out of. Similarly I enjoy Frankfurt and their market(s) so that's also a great city to fly in and out of and spend a couple days basing there if you go that route).

Going west:

I've not been to a single French market that really competes with a German one but Strasbroug comes close and Strasbroug is a wonderful city worth visiting on any trip. They have a gourmand market just past the "Petit France" side that is wonderful if you want to sample cookies and sausage and supposedly Beyonce's favorite gluhwein.

Colmar is a wonderful town I've taken people to many times but their market underwhelmed me. If I was going to do Alsacian markets behind Strasbourg, I'd rent a car and hit the villages. Riquewihr is the Rothenberg of Alsace and just as charming IMO.

Going south:

I've never heard anything about Baden-Baden's market. I like Freiburg but their market was really standard and kinda boring, however it's near the Ravenna Gorge market in the Black Forest which is totally worth going to if you have a car. Stunning setting and fun market.

Going east:

I mentioned Munich but it is a good market. Nuremberg is very famous, I've still yet to make it. Everyone tells me it's very crowded. Bamberg is a wonderful city with amazing beer but their market was pretty standard.

Salzburg has a pretty good market with great scenery. If you go on the right dates you can see the Krampus, which is a sight to behold. They have a great Christmas museum as well. There's also a weekend market that runs for 3 weeks at a palace, accessible outside of town by bus, that I was extremely charmed by - unique and scenic. Further south, Innsbruck is charming, has a series of smallish markets spread throughout the city, none particularly amazing, but the location of the city with easy access via public transit to a mountain makes it something to consider for winter alpine fun.

No real itinerary suggestions, but a few places to consider!

OK time for actual itinerary talk:

You've got 12 days, so 3-4 bases max. I think focus on Swabia/Black Forest/Alsace/Switzerland (possibly flying into Frankfurt?) or Bavaria/Austria (flying into Munich).

For Christmas market trips, I don't know how much I think open jaw is worth it. You're sightseeing but also spending time in the evening at the markets and trust me, if you rush it, they'll all look alike. Plus it's winter! Traveling at a slower pace really makes sense here.

With my druthers here's what I'd do:

Fly into Frankfurt, 2-3 nights base in or near Frankfurt (Jo will tell you where to go)

ICE train to Stuttgart for 3 nights - I can help you with particulars.

Train to Strasbourg for 3 nights. Possibly rent a car or visit smaller markets via tour or public transit (a little harder)

Train to to Basel (I can't help you much with Switzerland stuff but I'm sure others can - 2-3 nights.)

Train to Frankfurt and fly out.

I think this would be a marvelous trip, in addition to markets there'd be a lot to see. The train connections are fast and easy and not too expensive when bought in advance.

Sarah,
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such detailed info. I appreciate that you blocked out an itinerary. It will be put to good use. Now, if I could only order a little snow for the time I'm there. Have a great week!

Just did a marathon booking session for December 2019:
Paris (5)
Colmar (2)
Strasbourg (1)
Stuttgart (3)
Nuremberg (4) with day trips to Rothenberg odT, Bamberg, etc.
Munich (3)
Salzburg (4)
Vienna (8)
Budapest (4)
Berlin (5)
All but Stuttgart and Rothenberg are repeat trips (And DH had visited those two while he was living and working in Germany)

Wow! Laura B, what a fantastic itinerary. Looks like you will be gone for over a month. A dream trip, I know it will be lovely. Hope you post a trip report.