Christmas Market Trip to Colmar & Strasbourg From Basel!

Are you thinking about taking a day trip from Basel to the iconic French Christmas markets of Colmar and Strasbourg?

When I was planning my Christmas-themed 30th birthday trip to Switzerland, I knew I wanted to squeeze in a trip to both Colmar and Strasbourg to see their legendary Christmas markets too!

But because we were short on time, instead of staying in these cities, we decided to visit them as a day trip from Basel!

Basel was the perfect home base for our trip since it has its own Christmas markets too but is way less popular than other European cities. Plus, it’s only 45 minutes away from Colmar and just over 1 hour away from Strasbourg by train – perfect for a day trip!

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know to plan your own day trip to the Colmar and Strasbourg Christmas markets from Basel, including how to book train tickets, timing of your day, and what to see in each city!

Map for Basel to Colmar and Strasbourg Day Trip!

To help you plan your day, I’ve put together the below map with all of the spots mentioned in this guide. To add this to your own Google maps, hit the star next to the map’s name!

Traveling to Colmar and Strasbourg from Basel

Car vs Bus vs Train

You have a few different options when it comes to getting to Colmar and Strasbourg from Basel: taking a train, driving yourself, or taking a bus.

Here are the approximate travel times for each option:

Of course, there are pros and cons to each option. In terms of cost, which option is cheapest will depend on how many people you have!

For example, renting a car for one day will cost around $150 USD. If you’re traveling by yourself, that can feel a little pricey. However, if you’re traveling with 2+ people, that brings the cost down significantly.

In general, train tickets for Basel -> Colmar -> Strasbourg -> Basel will typically cost around $8o for the entire route (though you may be able to find a promotional rate that is even cheaper). There are a few different train options, but I recommend booking direct trains on the SNCF TER line, if possible!

Lana’s Tip: I prefer to book my train tickets on Omio thanks to their flexible cancellation policy and easy-to-use app! 🚆

And lastly, taking the bus is the slowest option but can be low cost. You can expect bus tickets to cost between $25-40 for the entire route, depending on which journey you book. (Some routes are slower but cheaper).

We personally decided to take the train for our day trip to Colmar and Strasbourg! Our primary reason for this was because the train is the fastest option, and we wanted to maximize our time in each city.

Renting a car may have been cheaper, but we had 6 people, so it would’ve been harder (and more expensive) to find a rental car big enough to fit all of us. Plus, we didn’t want to have to worry about driving in a foreign country and wasting time looking for parking in each city.

Overall, choose whichever option fits best for your group! However, this guide will cover taking the train in more detail, since that is what we did!

Taking the Train from Basel

TER Train Tickets

In case you decide to take the train for your day trip too, I wanted to provide some more details on what tickets to buy, where to go, etc.!

Although you are boarding your train in Switzerland, you’ll be using the French rail system, operated by SNCF.

SNCF operates a few different types of train, but the most common for the journey from Basel to Colmar/Strasbourg is the TER (Transport Express Régional), France’s regional train network.

TER trains are very affordable and typically don’t require advanced reservations. Seats are not assigned and are on a first-come, first-serve basis when you board the train. If all seats are full, you may have to stand.

Also, when buying a standard TER ticket, you are able to take any TER train for that route that day. For example, we booked a 9:00am train for our trip from Basel to Colmar. Our train ended up being cancelled, so we had to take the next one. But we could’ve taken any TER train running from Basel to Colmar that day!

The SNCF website often has promotional rates for certain train routes when booked far enough in advance that can significantly reduce the cost (often by over half). However, these promotional rates are non-exchangeable, non-refundable, and only apply to the specific train time you book.

So, while you can save money this way, if your plans change at all, you’ll be out of a ticket!

Personally, I recommend buying a standard ticket, either through SNCF directly or through Omio, whichever you prefer!

We personally booked round-trip TER train tickets from Basel to Strasbourg, and then just got off at the Colmar station because it is a stop on the same route. After our trip, however, I found out that this is technically not allowed. Oops!

Instead, you should buy a train ticket from Basel to Colmar, then Colmar to Strasbourg, then Strasbourg back to Basel. The price ends up being the same either way!

The Journey From Basel to France

All trains from Basel to Colmar & Strasbourg leave from Basel’s SBB train station, one of two stations in the city. The SBB station is located on the south side of the city and is easily accessible via the Basel tram system.

Once you arrive at the SBB station, the TER trains to France typically leave from Platforms 30 through 35. However, be sure to check the exact platform number from the large display board when you arrive.

I recommend arriving early to give yourself plenty of time to find your platform!

There are a few different places to eat upstairs at the Basel train station. We visited the vegan Bakery Bakery and had the most adorable bread man, matcha scones, and more!

Once you’ve had breakfast, try to arrive at your platform at least 15 minutes before your train arrives to get a good spot!

You’ll ride the train to the Colmar station, which should take around 45 minutes to reach.

Colmar Christmas Market: What to See and Do

Arriving in Colmar

Welcome to the Alsace Region of France, right near the border of Germany! The Colmar Christmas Markets open at 10:00am on week days and 11:00am on weekends. I recommend getting there right when they open to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Also, if you can do this day trip on a week day, do it! As expected, the markets tend to be much less crowded during the week.

Once you arrive at the Colmar train station (Gare in French), you can head out on foot to the markets! There are even signs along the way pointing you in the right direction.

There are 5 main Christmas markets in Colmar: Place des Dominicains, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, Place Jeanne d’Arc, The Koïfhus, and Place des Six Montagnes noires (La Petite Venise).

There’s also a bonus market at the Parc du Champ de Mars, which I’ll touch on more below!

La Petite Venise Market

I recommend making your way to the market at La Petite Venise first, as it’s the closest to the train station and best enjoyed with smaller crowds (named Colmar Christmas Market on the map above).

If you’ve seen photos of Colmar, you’ve likely seen photos of La Petite Venise, specifically from the Rue Turenne bridge (like below). This is where you’ll get the iconic view of the gingerbread-like houses along the River Lauch that look like something out of a storybook.

Fun Fact: Did you know the town of Colmar is said to have inspired Belle’s village from Beauty and the Beast? Once you arrive, it’s easy to see why! There’s even a fountain like the one Belles reads at.

The actual Christmas market here is located right next to this famous bridge viewpoint. This market is primarily geared towards children, but as kids at heart, we freaking loved it!

Right next to the bridge, you’ll find a small horse ride for kids, complete with Santa Claus and a giant stuffed teddy bear dressed up as Santa.

Behind this area, there are tons of fun and festive stalls, selling both food and merchandise.

It was very chilly outside when we were visiting, so we warmed up with some delicious hot apple juice (jus de pomme chaud in French), which quickly became an obsession!

Of course, we also had to collect the different Colmar cups with adorable Christmas designs on them!

And if you’re looking for the best photo ops, don’t miss the display in front of the Hotel Le Maréchal, as well as the Christmas photo-op cabin at the end of the market!

Place de l’Ancienne Douane

Once you’ve finished up in the La Petite Venise market, cross back over Rue Turenne and walk north along the river until you reach Pont Rue des Tanneurs, another bridge with great photo op.

From there, walk northwest until you hit Place de l’Ancienne Douane, the next Christmas market area!

This square is basically Colmar’s Christmas centerpiece. Here, you’ll find lots of stalls selling Alsatian ornaments, wooden toys, and handmade gifts, as well as the Schwendi Fountain in the middle that inspired Beauty and the Beast!

And right in the center of the square are the adorable half-timbered buildings that make Colmar famous, all of which are decorated with lights, wreaths, and even teddy bears!

This is also where you’ll find the giant Colmar Christmas tree that is extremely popular on Instagram, with the adorably decorated pink building behind it – the perfect photo op!

We stopped to eat lunch at this market thanks to some mouth-watering sausage and sauerkraut, the perfect example of how Alsatian culture is characterized by a blend of German and French influence. And of course, a vin chaud (the French term for glühwein, aka mulled wine).

Right next to this area, you’ll also spot the Koïfhus, Colmar’s former customs house. During the holidays, this historic building transforms into a mini indoor Christmas market featuring local artisans and craftspeople!

Place des Dominicains & Place Jeanne d’Arc

From the bustling square at Place de l’Ancienne Douane, head northeast toward the Place Jeanne d’Arc Christmas market.

This market focuses specifically on regional products from Alsace, which makes it feel more local and authentic. Here, you’ll find vendors selling traditional gingerbread, foie gras, jars of local honey, and bottles of schnapps and Alsatian wine.

Once you’ve had your fill of regional goodies, head northeast to Place des Dominicains, another beautifully lit square with stalls wrapping around the Dominican Church.

This market has more of a traditional Christmas vibe, with stalls full of hand-painted ornaments, lace decorations, and wintery candles.

Carousel Bar at Parc du Champ de Mars

By now, you’ve explored the official five markets of Colmar. However, you absolutely need to leave time in your itinerary for the market at Place Rapp / Parc du Champ de Mars.

This park is located right outside the Old Town area where the main markets are and will be on your way back to the train station.

This area doesn’t feel like a traditional Christmas market, which is what makes it special, especially after walking the crowded and tiny streets of Colmar all morning.

We arrived to the Parc du Champ de Mars around 1pm and were pleasantly surprised to find it almost completely empty.

The park only has a handful of stalls, but the real highlight is the rotating carousel bar.

Seriously, we stayed here for over an hour because we loved it so much. Even better, we had the whole place to ourselves for most of that time!

The bar served several festive drinks we didn’t see anywhere else, including raspberry and reindeer mulled wine, Christmas punch, and many different spiked hot chocolates.

And the best part: you could order your drinks in these adorable red boot mugs!! We bought wayyy too many of these!

As you head north through the park, you’ll also find a large Christmas pyramid that served the most delicious French fries! And don’t miss the giant “COLMAR” sign for a photo op in the Place Rapp square.

Once you’re finished here, head back to the Colmar station and catch your train to Strasbourg! I recommend departing Colmar no later than 3:00pm to give yourself plenty of time in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg Christmas Markets: What to See and Do

Arriving in Strasbourg

After soaking up the charm of Colmar, it’s time to head to Strasbourg, affectionately known as the “Capitale de Noël” – aka the Capital of Christmas!

Trains between Colmar and Strasbourg run frequently and take about 30 minutes, so you can easily squeeze in both cities in one magical day.

Important Note: Our train from Colmar to Strasbourg was delayed about 15 minutes. I recommend heading to the train station to check the train status even if Google Maps says your train is delayed, as we found Google Maps wasn’t 100% accurate. Remember, you can board any TER train from Colmar to Strasbourg with your ticket.

Once you arrive at the Strasbourg train station, it’s just a short 10-15 minute walk into the historic city center, where all the Christmas magic begins!

The Strasbourg Christmas markets are some of the oldest in Europe (dating back to 1570!) and also some of the biggest, with over 300 stalls spread across multiple squares.

Strasbourg is much bigger than Colmar and feels more like a traditional European city rather than just a cute fairytale town like Colmar!

While it can be a bit overwhelming at first, all the markets are within walking distance of each other, so it’s easy to explore them at your own pace (and they start to all blend together).

I recommend doing a big loop around the city center, starting at the Petite France markets and ending at the famous Place Kéber.

Petite France Markets

Start your Strasbourg stroll in the Petite France district, one of the most picturesque parts of the city. This area is just a 10-minnute walk south of the Strasbourg train station.

Here, you’ll find cobblestone streets, timber-framed houses, and canals that look straight out of a fairy tale. In fact, it looks very similar to Colmar!

There are a couple of small Christmas markets tucked into this area, particularly around Place Grimmeissen, Place Benjamin Zix, and Place Saint-Thomas slightly up the river.

Grab a hot vin chaud and take your time wandering through the decorated alleyways, stopping at whichever stalls catch your eye (or nose!).

From Petite France, make your way southeast towards Passerelle des Anciennes-Glacières, a pedestrian bridge that runs along the canal, and then up to the markets at Place Saint-Thomas and Place du Marché aux Poissons.

Strasbourg Cathedral & Central Markets

Next, make your way toward the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, the centerpiece of the Strasbourg!

This Gothic cathedral is massive! In fact, it was the world’s tallest building for over 200 years! Besides just admiring it from the outside, I highly recommend making a point to go inside the Cathedral too.

The line might look long, but I promise it goes quickly! Not only is it a great break from the cold, but it’s free to enter. The inside of the church is absolutely breathtaking.

Surrounding the cathedral are several of the most iconic Strasbourg markets, including Place de la Cathédral and Place du Château.

We spent most of our time in Strasbourg in this area, as it was packed with stalls selling delicious varieties of spiced cider and lots and lots of food! We had crepes, raclette, sausages, and more!

This is also where we found the adorable red Strasbourg mug, as well as some cute plastic Strasbourg cups too!

There was also a large carousel here, which looked particularly beautiful lit up with the cathedral looming behind it.

But my favorite part of this area was the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop – a German company that sells handmade Christmas decorations. The store was packed with beautiful Christmas ornaments, and I wanted to buy all of them.

Place Kléber & the Strasbourg Christmas Tree

Your final stop of the day will be Place Kléber, Strasbourg’s largest square and home to the famous Grand Sapin – aka the Great Christmas Tree!

It’s usually around 100 feet tall and fully decked out in glowing lights and oversized ornaments. It’s worth waiting until night falls to come here so you can see the tree fully illuminated.

On the way to Place Kléber, make sure to walk down Rue Mercière for a beautiful final view of the Cathedral with sparkling angels above the street! This street goes all out for Christmas.

Overall, the Place Kléber area gets very crowded, especially once the sun sets, but it’s worth braving the crowds for, at least for a little while.

The market here is much larger and more spread out than the others, which does help with the crowds! We were full by the time we reached this market, but they did have plenty of food and drink options.

If you still have time before your train leaves, you can also walk over to the Christkindelsmärik at Place Broglie, the most historic market in Strasbourg! Unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit this one, since it was the opposite direction of the train station.

And make sure to give yourself plenty of time to catch the train back to Basel! Depending on the day, the last train typically leaves between 8:30pm – 9:30pm.

However, I’d recommend taking an earlier train, just in case something happens. If you miss your train, you’ll be stuck in Strasbourg!

Colmar vs Strasbourg Christmas Market

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably thinking, wow that’s a long day!

And you’re not wrong! Visiting both Colmar and Strasbourg from Basel as a day trip is not for the faint of heart.

But after spending 3 days in Zermatt and 2 days in Basel, we didn’t have enough time left in our trip to visit Colmar and Strasbourg on their own. If you do have time for this, go for it!

However, if you are interested in only visiting one of these places as a day trip from Basel, that works too! So, which should you choose? Well, it depends.

Overall, we liked the town of Colmar better. Maybe it was because we visited early in the day, so the crowds were far fewer, but Colmar stole our hearts. The streets feel like a fairytale town, the markets were cozy, and we were obsessed with the carousel bar!

However, if you are visiting only one of these as a day trip, I would probably choose Strasbourg, since it’s much larger and there is much more to see. You could easily fill your whole day exploring Strasbourg’s markets and other famous landmarks.

Colmar, on the other hand, is much smaller than Strasbourg and doesn’t really require a full day to explore it!

But my recommendation is still to try to see both in one day!

What to Wear at the Christmas Markets

If you’re wondering what to wear to the Christmas markets, I get it!

You’ll be spending hours outside, walking cobblestone streets and exploring in winter weather, so staying warm and comfy is key (without sacrificing style, of course!).

When we visited Colmar, Strasbourg, and Basel in December, the temperatures hovered around the mid-30s to upper 40s (ºF). While this sounded warm on paper compared to the winter weather in Zermatt, it was still very very cold!

Again, exploring the Christmas markets means you’ll be outside pretty much all day, so it’s important to dress extra warm. Being cold is a quick way to ruin your experience!

Here’s what I recommend wearing! And for specific outfit recommendations, check out my full guide on What to Wear at the European Christmas Markets!

• Thermal Base Layers: A must! Wear a heat-retaining top and leggings under your clothes for insulation.
• Insulated Winter Coat: A long, lined coat with a hood will keep you extra toasty, especially at night. I recommend one that goes past your knees for extra warmth!
• Hat, Scarf & Gloves: Don’t forget these! They’re arguably the most important for keeping you warm. I opted for fuzzy ear muffs and these incredibly warm mittens.
• Waterproof Boots: Choose comfy, insulated boots with good grip for walking on cobblestones and possibly snow. I bought these SOREL snow boots for our trip, and they kept my feet soo warm.
• Wool Socks: Also important for keeping your feet toasty (but not stinky).
• Crossbody or Belt Bag: A secure, hands-free option for carrying your phone, wallet, and essentials. I don’t recommend a backpack for theft reasons.
• Reusable Shopping Bag: Great for any ornaments, mugs, or souvenirs you pick up along the way. We forgot this, and our husbands had the honor of carrying all our mugs lol.
• Hand Warmers: These little lifesavers are perfect to stash in your coat pockets! You can get the traditional paper ones or these electric ones!

Shop My Switzerland Winter Essentials Here!

Final Thoughts

Taking a day trip from Basel to explore the Christmas markets of Colmar and Strasbourg was one of the most magical parts of my Switzerland birthday trip! The twinkling lights, cozy drinks, charming stalls, and festive atmosphere made it feel like we were walking through a real-life Christmas village.

While it was definitely a packed day, visiting both cities in one day is 100% doable with a bit of planning, and so worth it if you want to soak up as much holiday spirit as possible in a short time!

And since you’ll be outside all day (in some very chilly temps), make sure you’re dressed for the occasion. Check out my guide on What to Wear to the European Christmas Markets next!

Check out all of my Switzerland blog posts below! 🇨🇭❄️🫕
A Magical One Week Switzerland Winter Itinerary!
Visiting Zermatt in the Winter: Everything to Know Before You Go
3 Perfect Days In Zermatt, Switzerland In The Winter!
Where to Stay in Zermatt, Switzerland in Winter (with Map!)
15 Bucket List Things to Do in Zermatt in the Winter!
A Complete Guide to Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland
What To Wear In Zermatt In Winter: Detailed Packing Guide!
Visiting Basel In December: Christmas Markets & Beyond
Basel Christmas Itinerary: 2 Days In Basel In December
Christmas Market Trip To Colmar & Strasbourg From Basel!
What To Wear To European Christmas Markets (Packing Guide)