A Guide To Christmas in Strasbourg & Basel 🎄
Strasbourg & Basel
Travel:
📅 How Long to Stay?
Both cities offer similar amounts of things to see and do outside the markets. Visitors should plan for 1-2 full days in both cities, potentially a 3rd day in Strasbourg to fully experience the "Capitale de Noël".
✈️ Plane
Both destinations are adjacent to major airports, but not directly connected.
Strasbourg does not have a large list of European destinations, with just a handful of daily flights, mostly within France.
When flying transatlantic, you will likely need to fly into either Paris or Frankfurt as both are major hubs and from either airport, it is about a 2-hour train into Strasbourg.
Basel on the other hand is well-connected within Europe. A lot of flights will be with a low-cost carrier and to more 'Vacation destinations' but it's not hard to find regular service to larger cities like Vienna, London, or Amsterdam.
Zurich will likely be the airport visitors fly into. Less than an hour away, and connected by the very efficient Swiss train network. Tourists should have no problem with the hour-long train trip into Basel after their Transatlantic flight.
🚆 Train
Train travel between the two cities is effortless, with over 30+ trains per day, and trips costing as little as €10. SNCF runs the service and you can find tickets and timetables below:
A tip to maximize your time, catch a train after checkout from the hotel, around noon, and the 1h:30min travel will use up the time between checkout and check-in.
You can also use that time to grab lunch, either at a restaurant or buy some snacks from a local market on the train! (Carrefour City - Strasbourg. Migros or Coop in Basil).
🇫🇷 Strasbourg
Open from November 27th, 2024, until Christmas Eve on December 24th. The city hosts over 300 different stalls which are open from 11am-9pm.
The Christkindelsmärik dates back to 1570, making it one of the oldest active markets in Europe. Strasbourg is unique in the fact that the entire old town comes alive as one Christmas Village every December. Hosting a staggering 15 different market areas, and drawing over 2 million visitors each Christmas Season.
The main location for the market square is Place Kléber, where you'll also find the famous tree, standing 30m high decorated differently each year in a theme, last year, 2023, the theme was 'Snowflakes'. It is the largest naturally decorated tree in all of Europe!
Hosted since 1871, it is the oldest location in Strasbourg. You'll be greeted with the iconic 'Christkindelsmärik' sign at the entrance. A symbol of Strasbourg's markets.
This location frequently hosts markets during the summer months.
It's located on a square next to the Opera and City Hall, between a line of trees which adds to the charm of the market.
The third major market location is situated at the base of the Cathedral Notre Dame. The few rows of stalls are a perfect place to find local crafts, and jewelry, with the backdrop of the Cathedral looming over the market.
What to Try
🍷 Vin Chaud
Translating to 'Hot Wine' it's also known as mulled wine. The French version is different than its German counterpart. It tends to be less sweet with more citrus notes.
Hot White Wine is also popular here, however, the traditional way is still Red.
Christmas Beer 'Bière de Noël' can also be found around the market, both cold, and 'Bière Chaude' which is warmed for the cold nights.
If warm drinks aren't your taste, typical French wines and champagne can be found throughout the markets.
🍝 Spätzle
The dish spätzle originates from Hungary and uses short egg noodles as the base. In Strasbourg, they top it with Munster cheese. Who doesn't love a giant bowl of cheesy pasta?
🍞 Gingerbread
Gingerbread can be found in all shapes and sizes. Not like the traditional cookies you think of when 'Gingerbread' gets mentioned, these are actual loaves of bread, some topped with chocolate, others a sugar glaze.
Different types of fruit-bread are a must-try as well. Hutzelbrot and Bärewecke and dense breads stuffed with soft, dried fruits such as raisins and pears.
The last bread to recommend is Mannele. A brioche-style bread is shaped and baked to resemble a man. They are typically filled with chocolate chips, and raisins or simply glazed with sugar.
Souvenirs
🎄 Christmas Ornaments
What better place to buy a Christmas ornament for your own tree than at the 'capital of Christmas'. Baubles, Garlands, Bretzels, and candles are all common ornaments you can find here.
Things to See
Looming over the island, the Cathedral dates back to the 1200s and holds a 16th-century Astronomical Clock. Admission is free, but for a few euros, you can walk up 300 stairs to the viewing platform atop the cathedral, for a view over the entire city.
The collection of buildings over the river dates back to the 17th century. The bridge is built with pink sandstone, has 13 arches, and is 120m in length. Originally built as a dam, in the event of an attack the water level could be raised, flooding out the enemy.
The city is famous for its network of canals, which the Barrage Vauban is an important focal point of.
Where to Stay
🇫🇷 Colmar
A bonus stop midway between Strasbourg and Basel is Colmar. Six Christmas markets radiate warmth around the city, inviting you to experience their individual themes and cozy illuminated streets and alleys.
Colmar is located along the train line, making it an easily accessible stop en route, it's well worth stopping in to check out the city and visit a few of the markets around town.
🇨🇭 Basel
Barfüsserplatz & Münsterplatz
Basel offers a similar, yet quieter experience than up the river in Strasbourg. There are just two markets located a 5-minute walk apart, Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz. With the smaller markets, there is less to experience and significantly fewer people.
Officially the best Christmas market in Switzerland, and voted best in all of Europe in 2021. Visitors can tour around the old town and explore what each of the roughly 140 stalls has to offer. The markets perfectly blend into the small streets and gorgeous architecture of the Old Town, sitting above the Rhine.
Although they are smaller in size, both offer a fantastic mix of food and drink, as well as local arts and crafts which make perfect gifts.
In Basel, the markets are typically open from the last week in November, until the last Sunday prior to Christmas. For 2024, this is November 27th - December 22nd.
What to Try
🧀 Raclette Cheese
As the Swiss are known for their cheese, you'll be able to find no shortage of dishes serving cheese at the Market. You can pick up a plate of Raclette, which is a slice of melted cheese served with potatoes, pickles, and onions.
Depending on the stall, you can also get the cheese on top of a sandwich.
🥖 Chäsbängel
It's a staple of Christmas across Switzerland, but the original location is here at the Basel market (Barfüsserplatz). It’s a baguette that has been hollowed out and filled with melted Swiss Cheese, giving you fondue-on-the-go
🍎 Öpfelchüechli
Fried apple donuts, fully known as Zürcher Öpfelchüechli. Unlike a typical donut, they are a freshly deep-fried apple slice, coated in cinnamon sugar and traditionally topped with a thin vanilla custard.
Things to See
On the opposite side of the river, there is a third Christmas Market location, which is drastically different from any other in Europe. It puts a modern flair on the traditional market style. Instead of traditional style stalls, stalls are made up of fun old vehicles which serve a more diverse style of food from different cultures around the world.
Take a walk down the Rhine River and come to the intersecting point of France, Germany and Switzerland. Which is marked by the Dreiländereck Monument. Since it is far from the city center (3.4km) the Kleinhüniengen Bus station is nearby, which you can then walk through a industrial area for about 1 km, before reaching the end of the peninsula and getting to the meeting point of all three countries.
If you've had to much food, or need a break from the outdoor markets. The Basel Fine Arts Museum is home to one of the oldest and largest public museum collections in Europe, with works dating back to the 15th century.
Where to Stay
The Best Christmas Markets In Europe 🎄
The home for unique & authentic travel
