This was the start of our 4 week Christmas market adventure. I say “adventure” because we visited over 13 Christmas market cities over that 4 weeks. Leaving Lyon on Wednesday Nov. 23rd, we headed north into the Alsace region, near France’s borders with Germany and Switzerland. We choose to base ourselves in beautiful Colmar, the inspiration for the village in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Yes, staying here is like living in a fairy tale.

We timed our visit so that we would be there for opening day of the Colmar Christmas Markets, Thursday Nov. 24. While friends and family in the States were celebrating Thanksgiving, we kicked off our month-long Christmas celebration. And yes, we were thankful for the opportunity to do so!

The place we stayed in Colmar was a refurbished Medieval building overlooking the biggest of the 6 Christmas markets in town. We love staying in the center of the action, especially since the markets close by 8 (It gets really quiet there at night.)

Colmar’s Christmas Markets are spread throughout the old town and are somewhat nondescript. What makes the Christmas Markets here special is what surrounds them, namely the narrow lanes and stunning medieval architecture. The town and its residents go all out with their decorations. Just having a wander through the town is like going back in time.

If you’re coming for the Christmas markets we recommend you stay in Colmar instead of Strasbourg. It’s
cheaper, has that fairy tale feel, and the little villages (Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim) that are often recommended as day trips from Strasbourg are all an easy bus ride from Colmar. From Strasbourg, they’re a train and a bus ride. Plus, Colmar is far less crowded and has loads of Christmas charm.

Here are some additional tips for visiting Colmar Christmas Markets

• If you’re rolling luggage into the heart of the village from the train station, go through the Parc du Champ de Mars to Rue des Augustins. This way has far fewer cobblestones than the other paths into town.
• The markets can get crowded on Saturdays.
• The markets open later on Mondays than on other days. Most days they’re open by 10am.
• The markets start closing at about 6:30 pm during the week, about an hour later on the weekend.
• The gourmand market has some great food! It’s less crowded before about 7, which is the usual dinner hour in these parts.
• If you don’t have a reservation, it’s easier to get into restaurants for lunch if you’re at the door right when they open (noon) than later.