Forget the city of lights, this Christmas Brits are opting for the city of fairy lights – with an amazing festive trip on offer in a different part of France.
Instead of hopping to Paris, Christmas mad tourists are heading for Strasbourg to enjoy its increasingly popular Christmas markets.
Strasbourg is home to the oldest Christmas market in France, dating back to 1570, which has earned the city the moniker of ‘Capital of Christmas’.
The Christmas market is made up of smaller, individual markets in different squares and streets across the Grand Ile, but the largest of them all is the Christkindelsmärik. Focused around Cathedral Square and Place Brogile, it is renowned as one of the most famous Christmas markets in Europe and attracts around two million visitors every year.
This year the market will take place from November 27 to December 27, giving tourists plenty of time to take a trip and soak up all the festive delights. It is free to visit and boasts around 300 chalet stalls to explore selling everything from ornaments and toys, to local fare and mulled wine.
Visitors will want to take advantage of the local cuisine on offer at the wealth of food stands, including bretzels (soft pretzels), bredeles (spiced biscuits in the shape of stars), knacks (sausages of all sizes), pain d’epices (gingerbread), and vin chaud (mulled wine perfumed with spices and fruit).
But it’s not just the Christmas market that visitors can enjoy as Strasbourg truly embraces the festive season to offer a truly magical winter break. Shop windows are adorned with sparkling Christmas displays, while the streets are beautifully lit up with lights, and smells of cinnamon and spices linger in the air.
Strasbourg is one of the most illuminated cities in Europe during December, with lights glittering from the streets, houses and balconies around the city. The Christkindelsmärik’s Christmas tree, on Place Kléber, is one of the key sights to behold in winter, with the bauble adored tree typically towering above 30 metres on Place Kléber.
Of course there’s plenty of other sites to see during a visit to the city. A trip to the cathedral district should definitely be on your to-do list, with its charming sho-lined narrow streets and its famous ‘winstubs’ – traditional restaurants and wine bars serving Alsatian specialties.
Visitors should also pay a visit to the ‘Petite France’ quarter, a quaint and picturesque district of old Strasbourg. It’s where fishermen, millers and tanners once lived and worked, and where the streets have been built level with the waterways.
With its winding waterways and attractive half-timbered horses, it’s a peaceful and pretty spot to enjoy a quiet stroll before enjoying a bite to eat in one of the many Alsation eateries in the area.
And what’s even better is UK tourists don’t have far to travel to soak up the sights of Strasbourg. A flight from London to Strasbourg takes around one hour 34 minutes on average, according to SkyScanner, and costs around £44.
The cheapest month to fly is November and the most popular airline to get you there is EasyJet. There are an average of five flights per week flying from London to Strasbourg, and both easyJet and Volotea fly direct from London.
Alternatively, you could take the train but this will take slightly longer at around four hours 50 minutes from London to Strasbourg. You can take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du nord, and then board a TGV train from Gare de l’Est to Strasbourg station. Gare de l’Est is easily reachable from Gare du nord by foot in about seven minutes.
According to Trainline, the price of train tickets from London to Strasbourg starts at £65.52 for a one-way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. Booking on the day is usually more expensive and prices will vary depending on the time of day, route and class of travel.