We are looking to take a two week family vacation with our kids (6, 8 at time of travel) in December 2025. We are interested in Germany, Switzerland, and Alsace, FR areas. We are skiers but would like only ski 1-2 days out of the trip. Ideally we would travel by train (versus renting a car). I would love recommendations on what cities to include on our trip (and in which order!), favorite recommendations, and things not to miss. This is a first European trip for me and the kids. My husband is fluent in German and has been to many German cities but not this Black Forest area before. Thank you!
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1759 posts
I travel the Alsace/Black Forest area every now and then. Last December I was in Zurich for 4 days and while I don't ski any more a number of people on the local trains were going to and from the slopes from there. The Christmas markets were up and running, although many were strictly evening affairs. A friend with kids the age of yours was also there the same time and they had a good time.
Strasbourg has the most elaborate Christmas markets in that area. You can easily spend a couple days just seeing them all.
Colmar is highly rated, but I have not been there in years. Frieburg also, which I like very much in good weather, is said to be nice.
Further North both Nancy and Metz have good Christmas markets, which are very different than those on the German side of the border. These are both cities with much to see other than the seasonal affairs.
Trier and Heidelberg are also good, but maybe too far north. Karlsruhe isn't very festive, Stuttgart more so. Basel is nice, Konstanz is good.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34620 posts
Hi klm0319, welcome to the Forums
I see you mention the Black Forest, and you mention Alsace, Germany and Switzerland.
Can we try to narrow down your two week December trip? By Germany do you intend to limit yourselves to pretty much the Black Forest area of Baden-Württemberg, or will you travel further, either north following the Rhine or east into Bavaria?
Similar question for Switzerland. What did you have in mind? Just to find a mountain for your little skiing, or do you want to visit places like the Berner Oberland for the full immersion?
Is Alsace just for the Christmas Markets? The wine country will be pretty drab in December, and many attractions like the bird shows will be closed for the winter....
A touch more of what you are, and your husband is, hoping to see and do would be great and allow us to more clearly answer your questions.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for the replies. After digging into it a littlemore I'm thinking we will do Colmar for the Christmas markets, Freiburg im Breisgau, and somewhere in the Lauterbrunnen area. I'm more interested in smaller cities than large cities. What is a good breakdown of days in each place? Anywhere else we should add on? We have 2+ weeks of time available.