A 7-day Christmas market train itinerary through Europe offers tantalizing choices for travelers who like to roam through culture and history. Whether you’re planning a 1 week Christmas market itinerary for the first time or looking for a new route, Europe’s cross-border rail network makes it easier than you’d expect. Atmospheric old towns shimmer with festive revelry across the continent, and a cross-border rail network invites travelers to visit some of Europe’s best Christmas markets in one slow and easy vacation.
You might be surprised by how much you can see in a week-long vacation. Roll between snow-dusted markets in Alpine countries, blend French and German traditions along the Rhine, or experience the contrasts in imperial cities across Central Europe. It’s Europe at its most sparkling, and a week is enough time to experience the contrasts.
These, and many other wonderful Christmas market train itineraries, can be booked with Rail Escape. Speak with our travel specialists, and we’ll build a complete travel and accommodation package around your dream itinerary.
One journey that consistently delights is a 7-day Christmas market train itinerary stopping at some of Europe’s best Christmas markets in Germany, Switzerland, and France. A seasonal adventure packed with cultural contrasts, best enjoyed with a mug of mulled wine.
The Perfect 1 Week Christmas Market Itinerary: Paris to Nuremberg via Strasbourg, Colmar & Basel
A Christmas market rail trip from Paris to Nuremberg via Strasbourg, Colmar, and Basel is more than a journey around festive traditions in three countries that celebrate in style. This tour marries landmark sights and cultural diversions with several contenders for the title of Europe’s best Christmas market.
Three of these destinations form our Swiss and French Delights tour from Paris to Basel via Strasbourg, a sublime itinerary in any season. Advent sprinkles extra festive magic on this itinerary. Extending the tour to Germany’s biggest Christmas market, Nuremberg, adds a bucketload more.
Despite looping through three countries, this tour comfortably fits a 7-day vacation. These neighboring countries share excellent high-speed rail connections, making the region feel compact.
You also benefit from trains departing and arriving from city centers, often a short distance from Christmas markets. No time is lost in airports, your luggage goes where you go, and the cultural immersion is deeper.
Enriching this Christmas market train itinerary are the moments between destinations, enjoying a greener journey while drinking in the views in first-class comfort.
However, it’s the destinations that truly set this Christmas market train itinerary apart.
Paris (2 Nights): The Perfect Start to Your Christmas Market Train Itinerary
Boasting some of the best rail connections in Europe, the French capital is a star destination on some of Rail Escape’s cross-continental tours, including those featured in our France Christmas market tours by train.
Paris is a bewitching destination for many reasons. The history, museums, gastronomic pedigree, and iconic sights are a few reasons Paris dazzles visitors. Christmas adds festive spice to this heady cocktail, as Christmas markets pop up across the twenty arrondissements.
The scent of mulled wine (vin chaud) and raclette-covered delights fills the Trocadero beneath the Eiffel Tower; the former royal gardens of the Tuileries light up with a festive fun fair. Away from the center, the village vibes of Montmartre contrast with the huge market around the modernist business district, La Defense.
With the Champs Élysées lit up for Advent, window displays bursting with creative energy, and seasonal menus to the fore, the ‘City of Light’ burns even brighter.
After two nights of Parisian revelry, hop on frequent, daily high-speed trains to Strasbourg, the next stop on this 7-day Christmas market train itinerary.
Strasbourg and Colmar (2 Nights): Alsace Traditions and World-Famous Christmas Markets
Strasbourg and Colmar are headline destinations in our complete guide to traveling around France’s Christmas markets by train. No guide to exploring Europe’s best Christmas markets by train would be complete without them.
High-speed trains whisk travelers from Paris to Strasbourg in less than two hours. Colmar is just another 30 minutes from Strasbourg. It’s an enchanting pairing, with storybook markets unfolding on medieval streets curled around waterways and half-timbered houses.
These photogenic destinations sit in the Alsace region bordering Germany. The result is a fusion of French and German culture whose influence feeds into regional Christmas markets, with food taking top billing in a region renowned for local wines and a singular gastronomy.
The biggest is Strasbourg, the self-proclaimed ‘Capital of Christmas’ and France’s oldest. First held in 1570, the sprawling festivities snake around cobbled streets on the atmospheric Grande Île, the island that forms the historic heart of the city.
Colmar is smaller and more intimate, yet unfolds in a gorgeous setting, and it competes with Strasbourg for acclaim.
After a night visiting each, the next stop on this suggested tour of Christmas markets by rail heads across the border and for a Swiss twist on Advent celebrations in Basel.
Basel (1 Night): A Swiss Twist on This Christmas Market Train Itinerary
Frequent high-speed TGV trains zip from Strasbourg to Basel in 1h 20 mins. Basel is the ideal city for a one-night layover.
Scenically perched on the Rhine, the art and cultural capital of Switzerland boasts around 40 museums and a compact, walkable old town.
When Advent gets underway, the charming old town radiates Christmas cheer. The focal point is a Christmas market spread over two characterful squares minutes from the riverbank.
Basel is said to enjoy a Mediterranean climate. You’re not likely to agree during the festive season. But you can warm up with a rosti or an array of hot, gooey Swiss cheeses. And, of course, the essential accessory, a souvenir mug of mulled wine.
Pick up some of Basel’s famous nutty, spiced cookies, Basler läckerli, for the final leg of this multi-country tour of Christmas markets by train, as we’re heading to Germany and the Bavarian capital, Munich.
If Basel wins you over and you find yourself itching to see more of Switzerland on a Christmas market train tour, take a peek at our destination guide for Switzerland. There you’ll find ready-to-go tour packages that head into the Alps and across the beautiful country.
Nuremberg (2 Nights): The Iconic Final Stop on This Christmas Market Itinerary
The next stop on this Christmas market train itinerary brings us to the spiritual home of Christmas markets, Germany. The land where it all began counts the age of Christmas markets in centuries.
The final leg of this 7-day Christmas market itinerary is the longest train ride, taking five to six hours from Basel. But this is a bucket list destination for fans of Christmas markets, widely considered Germany’s biggest and best.
The color and energy of the Nuremberg Christmas market is only outshone by its long history. Although not quite the first – that was Dresden – revelers have gathered here to mark Advent since the early 1600’s.
Like all the stops on this Christmas market rail trip, the festivities fill an historic public square, the Hauptmarkt. An appetite is essential for Nuremberg’s Christmas markets, where sizzling Nürnberger bratwursts and a mouthwatering lineup of Bavarian and German delights form a mouthwatering yuletide buffet.
Steeped in history and Christmas traditions, Nuremberg features on many tours of the best Christmas markets by train. And makes a spectacular conclusion to this 7-Day Christmas market train itinerary.
Our complete guide to Germany’s Christmas markets by train includes other spellbinding Christmas market train tours. Yet more ideas abound in our Germany rail tour packages, which focuses on pre-crafted travel packages ideal for all seasons.
Budgeting and Travel Tips for Your Christmas Market Train Itinerary
With an itinerary chosen and trains and hotels booked, a few tips are worth remembering on a Christmas market rail trip.
Market spending can quickly add up as the glühwein flows and food stalls tease appetites. Card payments are increasingly accepted at Christmas markets, but cash ensures no stalls are off limits. Euros for France and Germany, Swiss Francs for Switzerland.
Early booking gives you more control when touring Christmas markets by rail. Quality hotels can fill up before train tickets are sold; first-class seats to Europe’s biggest Christmas markets can disappear quickly. Rail Escape travel packages include the rail tickets you need and select hotels in great locations, but early booking adds flexibility.
Hotel locations matter on a tightly planned Christmas market itinerary. Many Christmas markets unfold in walkable old towns, often near the central train station. Our travel specialists choose premium hotels ideally placed for exploring and onward travel as part of Christmas market rail packages.
Crossing borders is a breeze across Europe. 29 countries belong to the border-free Schengen Area, including the countries featured in our 7-day Christmas market itinerary. On cross-border trains, the transition is seamless. Learn more in our complete guide to traveling across borders by train in Europe.
Christmas market schedules vary between countries. The final weekend in November until December 24 applies to much of Europe, but not everywhere. For example, Basel’s Christmas market closes on December 23, while some in Paris reopen after Christmas Day and stay open until the New Year. Rail Escape’s tours take this into account when planning itineraries.
Alternative Christmas Market Train Itineraries Across Europe
There are countless directions to travel on a multi-country Christmas market train itinerary in Europe. Our catalog of pre-crafted European rail tour packages overflow with ideas that work as well in winter as they do in summer. Here are several compelling examples that can be tailored for a 7-day festive getaway:
Munich, Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg: An Alpine Tour of Christmas Markets by Train
Our Alps Christmas market tour through Munich, Salzburg & Zurich brings together diverse cities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland that host acclaimed Christmas markets. Snow-blanketed Alpine scenery provides the backdrop for an exhilarating tour between Munich, Zurich, Innsbruck, and Salzburg.
Munich, Vienna, Zurich: Three Cities, Three Countries Perfect for a Christmas Market Train Tour
Our Alps tour shares destinations with our European Christmas Market Tour, a well-balanced tour that lets you taste the festive magic in three cities in neighboring countries.
This is a ready-made 7-day Christmas market itinerary in cities bursting with year-round travel appeal. Advent brings more cultural gifts with world-class Christmas markets that make each city bubble with energy and seasonal goodwill.
For more ideas to explore these three Alpine countries, see Germany, Austria & Switzerland rail itineraries highlighting some of the best rail itineraries around Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Budapest, Vienna, Prague: Danube Christmas Markets by Rail
Budapest, Vienna & Prague Christmas market tour
are three grand imperial cities considered among Europe’s prettiest capitals. All three host Christmas markets that are up there with Europe’s most atmospheric. They thread together brilliantly for a leisurely Christmas market train itinerary stacked with architectural wonders and vibrant Christmas traditions.
Munich, Augsburg, Nuremberg, Cologne: A Christmas Market Rail Trip Through History and Traditions
Germany holds a special place in the history of Christmas markets as the land where it all began.
Rejoice in this inimitable heritage on our German Christmas Market tour from Munich to Cologne via Augsburg and Nuremberg. Four cities that invite you to tuck into a feast of centuries-old festive traditions.
Plan Your Dream Christmas Market Train Itinerary With Rail Escape
Your dream 7-day Christmas market train itinerary might look a little different. But whether you follow the route in this post or other routes around Europe’s best Christmas markets, our travel specialists can help make it happen.
Our travel packages handle the details that matter. Carefully planned itineraries that match your travel style, with first-class seats reserved on the trains you need. Coupled with exceptional 4* hotels selected for convenient access, giving you the comforts of a luxury vacation, with more time to enjoy the festivities.
Whatever destinations are on your Christmas wishlist, Plan your tailor-made Christmas market itinerary.
