A holiday time bucket list trip to magical Strasbourg and Colmar in the Alsace Region of France to experience two of Europe's best & largest Christmas Markets -- crossing the Rhine River to nearby Freiburg, Germany to experience a traditional German Black Forest Christmas Market -- then to holiday decorated & festive Paris for two spectacular days and nights!

 

What a magical and memorable Christmas Markets trip this will be!

 

We'll spend the first four nights based in Strasbourg, known as the "Capital of Christmas," to experience Strasbourg's Christkindelmarik, Europe's oldest Christmas Market dating back to 1570.

 

We'll meander through the town squares in Strasbourg's old town with our local guide... having personal time for exploring the 300 plus outdoor wooden market stalls filled with Christmas artisan goods, decorations and local products for sale... we'll see the majestic great Christmas tree (among Europe's tallest) in Place Kléber... marvel at the historic buildings with their beautiful colors and festive lights... listen to Christmas carols... taste Alsatian holiday food delicacies... sip hot chocolate and Strasbourg's famous muld wine.

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With our local guide we'll visit Strasbourg's city-center squares and streets where Christmas markets are located, including -- Place de la Cathédrale, Place du Château, Place de la Grande Boucherie, Place du Marché aux Poissons, and rue du Palais Rohan.

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Strasbourg is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, a UNSECO World Heritage Site protected city with historic storybook architecture and the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral, constructed from 1176-1439, that rises from the center of the city and is the sixth tallest church in the world. There will personal free time for guests to take a boat ride on the Ill river that divides the city... or visit a museum... or do holiday browsing and shopping on your own.

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Known as an European gastronomic capital, Strasbourg has many wonderful restaurants offering the delicious Alsatian, German and French cuisine.

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We'll take a day trip crossing the the Rhine River to visit a nearby Freiburg, Germany on the edge of the Black Forest to experience a German Christmas Market... taking in the aroma of mulled wine, candles and biscuits and marveling at the festive Christmas decorations. 

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And on the day trip we'll also visit Colmar, France, home of Alsace's 2nd largest Christmas market, with its wood framed building, picturesque streets, succession of stalls, Christmas decorations and lights, that will sweep you up in the magic of the Christmas season. Colmar is truly the place to be for a genuinely exceptional Christmas experience!

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On Friday morning we'll travel by high-speed train, traveling 1st-class from Strasbourg to Paris where we'll stay the next two nights in holiday decorated Central Paris. 

 

Being in Paris at Christmas time is a special holiday treat!

 

We’ll stay two nights in a personally-selected premiere historic charming boutique hotel in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, located a short distance from Paris's major attractions, shopping, restaurants, and famous Left Bank sidewalk cafes. 

 

In Paris we'll take a Paris Holiday Decorations Walking Tour... starting at Paris's famous Galeries Lafayette department store, seeing the store's spectacular Christmas lights, decorated windows, massive Christmas tree under the dome and viewing Paris from the rooftop...  then walking to Madeline, passing by L'Olympia, stopping to have a macron at Pâtisserie E. Ladurée's 1st shop... strolling down Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris's famous luxury fashion street, to see the Chrismas lights at the decorated Dior and Chanel stores... finishing at the Christmas Market in The Tuileries. On our walk we'll learn about Paris Christmas traditions from our local guide... and stop a long way for hot chocolate and muld wine traditional holiday beverages.

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Saturday morning we'll take a Paris Holiday Food Tour, led by a culinary expert, to learn about Paris Christmas traditions and taste many French delicacies. We'll stop at a variety of confectionery shops and spend time in a small neighborhood Parisan Christmas Market.

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Afternoons are free for personal holiday shopping... at Paris's grand department stores: Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Le Bon Marché - all festive, glittering and decorated for Christmas... or at the luxury designer stores on Rue du Faubourg, Saint Honoré, Ave des Champs-Élysées, Ave Montaigne and Ave Georges V -- Chanel, Hermès, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Guerlain... or at the small fashion, fabric and antiques boutiques in Sevres Bayylone and Saint-Germain-des-Prés... or at the specialty gourmet food shops by Place de la Madeleine: Hediard, Fauchon, Maille, and Ladurée.

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So many choices... what fun it will be to do your holiday shopping for family and friends in Paris!

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Plus free time to explore Paris on your own... see the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de Concorde... visit a Paris art museum - The Louvre, Musse, d'Orsay, Musee d'Orangerie, Centre George Pompidou,  Musee Picasso or Musee Rodin... admire the architecture and stain-glass in Saint Chappelle, Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis or Church of Saint-Sulpice... relax in a green garden chair in Luxembourg Gardens or The Tuileries... enjoy an apéritif and people watching at a sidewalk cafe.

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We'll take a late-afternoon river cruise on The Seine to view Paris during "golden hour" -- traveling past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and Pont Neuf.

 

We'll enjoy group dinners at local bistros... take an after-dinner stroll along the Seine River.

 

Optional before breakfast group pleasure walks are offered through through Luxembourg Gardens and along The Seine. 

 

The Alsace-Germany Christmas Markets & Paris Holiday Time Tour Is Designed To Provide:

• A fabulous pre-Christmas vacation visiting world-renowned Christmas Markets and staying in two extraordinary European cities.

• A friendly and fun small group environment. 

• Many activities -- including tours with local guides in Strasbourg, Germany, and Paris... and free time for personal  sightseeing, exploring, shopping and relaxing. 

• Optional before breakfast morning pleasure walks.

• Recommendations of local restaurants, bistros and cafes to explore on your own... yet everyone is invited to join local cuisine group meals (at own expense) at personal-selected restaurants.

• Concierge service & support – fully escorted tour, personal & customized service for a WORRY-FREE vacation!​ 

 

What's Included:

• 7 Days / 6 nights, in personally-selected premiere/signature/luxury hotels.​​​

• Daily hotel breakfasts.

• Strasbourg:

  • Welcome Reception for guests to meet everyone and review the week's itinerary. 

  • Strasbourg Christmas Market Tour with local guide.

  • Day trip to Germany to visit a historic Black Forest Christmas Market.

  • Boat ride on the Ill River.

  • Evening strolls to see the lights and listen to the Christmas carols.

  • Free time for personal exploring, sightseeing and holiday shopping.

  • Optional before breakfast pleasure walks through Strasbourg.

• Paris Activities:​

  • Paris Holiday Food Tour with local food expert guide.

  • Paris Decorations and Markets Tour with local expert guide

  • Afternoon cruise on the Seine River to view the "City of Light" at during "golden hour".

  • Free time for personal exploring, sightseeing, shopping & relaxing.

  • Optional before breakfast pleasure walks through Paris neighborhoods, gardens and along The Seine.

  • Farewell Dinner with tradition French cuisine and French wines.

• Palace, cathedral, museum and garden entrance fees for all group activities and day trips.

• France TGV Train 1st-Class Transportation - high-speed train from Strasbourg to Paris

• Train Station Hotel Transfers – transfer from Strasbourg hotel to Strasbourg train station and from Paris train station to Paris hotel.

• Concierge service & support.

 

Arrival/Departure Cities: 

Arrival City: Strasbourg, France

Departure City: Paris, France

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Trip Cost:  

• $6,975 – 7 days / 6 nights per person in double occupancy shared hotel room. Tour cost does not include airfare.

• Added cost for private single room hotel accommodation option - $1,975

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Space Is Limited -- Reserve Early!

Small Group Tour. Limited to 15 Guests.