When we first started planning this trip, we knew we wanted to visit the Alsace region of France. This area is made up of so many beautiful small towns, many of them just a short distance from Colmar, making it easy to set out for a day—or even a couple of days—of wandering, exploring, and a little bit of daydreaming along the way.
During our visit, we spent a few days traveling between neighboring towns, taking in their Christmas markets and admiring the charm of their streets. This time of year, the region is especially busy with holiday visitors, so patience and a willingness to move with the crowds is part of the experience.
Even with the crowds, we found ourselves constantly pausing to take in the beauty around us. Each town felt like it had its own personality, and we often talked about how much we would love to return during a quieter season. We could have easily spent a full week exploring all of the towns in the region, but with the time we had, we were able to visit several—and each one left its own impression.
To make visiting multiple towns in a short amount of time easier, we relied on the Christmas market shuttle system.
- Christmas Market Shuttle
- Our Route Through the Alsace
- Tips for Visiting the Alsace Christmas Markets
Christmas Market Shuttle
During the Christmas season, a shuttle bus runs between many of the towns throughout the Alsace region, offering an easy way to visit multiple markets in a single day. This Christmas Market Shuttle is one of the most convenient ways to explore, especially if you prefer not to deal with driving and parking in small towns that were not designed for heavy traffic.
The shuttle begins and ends at the train station in Colmar, making it a natural starting point for visitors staying in or near the city. From there, you can hop on and off as you make your way between towns at your own pace.
Tickets are reasonably priced at €15 for a weekend day and €8 for a weekday. Once you have a ticket, it allows unlimited rides throughout the day, so you can visit as many towns as you like without needing to purchase additional transportation.
Our Route Through the Alsace
During our time using the Christmas Market Shuttle, we visited several towns throughout the Alsace region, each with its own personality and charm.
Starting from Colmar, we made our way out to smaller villages like Lapoutroie before continuing on to some of the more well-known Christmas market towns. Along the way, we visited Eguisheim, Turckheim, Munster, Kaysersberg, and Riquewihr.
Rather than trying to follow a strict schedule, we allowed ourselves to move at a slower pace—spending as much or as little time in each place as we felt like before catching the next shuttle. Some towns invited us to linger a bit longer, while others felt like a brief stop before continuing on to the next.
Each town had its own atmosphere, from quiet and traditional to lively and bustling, and together they created a full and varied picture of the Alsace region during the Christmas season.
Lapoutroie
While we were visiting the Alsace region, we stayed in the lovely town of Lapoutroie at the charming Hotel aux Vieux Moulin. The hotel is located about 20 minutes from Colmar, and with bus access into town, it made for a convenient and peaceful home base for exploring the surrounding area.
Lapoutroie itself is quiet and not heavily visited, which made it feel like a welcome place to return to after busy days of sightseeing. It has the feeling of a small, restful hamlet—somewhere to slow down, reset, and take a breath between outings.
The hotel is truly a labor of love, and that care shows in every detail. We were greeted each morning by the owners as they served a breakfast of locally made bread, jams, cheeses, and meats. There was a genuine sense of hospitality that made our stay feel personal and thoughtful rather than transactional.
They were always willing to help with anything we needed, whether it was arranging a taxi on a day when the bus wasn’t running or offering suggestions on which towns to prioritize during our visit. Staying here gave us both a comfortable place to rest and a helpful starting point for our time exploring the Alsace Christmas markets.
Eguisheim
In the early Middle Ages, the Dukes of Alsace built a castle here, and the town developed outward from that center of power. Today, the castle still sits near the church, and together they overlook the village, giving a sense of the town’s layered history as you walk through it.
Eguisheim is incredibly charming, with narrow winding streets lined by half-timbered buildings painted in soft, warm colors. As you wander through the village, it almost feels like stepping into a storybook setting. In fact, the town is said to have inspired the provincial village in Beauty and the Beast, and it’s easy to see why.
During the Christmas season, Eguisheim takes on an especially festive atmosphere, with decorations adding to the already picturesque streets. Even with visitors moving through the town, it still manages to feel intimate and inviting, as if you’ve stepped briefly into another time.
It’s a place that encourages slow wandering—turning corners, noticing details, and simply enjoying the beauty of the surroundings without needing a specific plan.
Turckheim
Turckheim is a small town with a rich and layered history. First established in the High Middle Ages, it later became one of the ten Free Imperial Cities of the Holy Roman Empire between 1354 and 1679. After years of resisting allegiance to the French crown, Turckheim was ultimately taken by French forces in 1675. Over time, it shifted between French and German control, becoming part of the German Empire in 1871 before returning to France in 1918.
Remnants of its history are still visible today. The city gates remain standing, quietly marking the entrances to the town, and helping preserve that sense of a place once built for protection and passage.
One of Turckheim’s most unique traditions is its municipal night watchman, who still makes rounds on select evenings during November and December—a rare tradition that continues to this day.
Near the medieval church, a small Christmas market comes to life during the season. One of its highlights is a life-sized Advent calendar, where the windows of surrounding buildings are opened each day leading up to Christmas. It adds a sense of anticipation and community to the square.
Turckheim itself feels warm and inviting, with the sound of church bells drifting through the air and the smell of food from nearby stalls filling the streets. We especially enjoyed the simplicity of this market and the charm of the main street that runs along the old city wall. It’s the kind of place that feels easy to linger in, and one we would happily return to explore more slowly.
Munster
Munster is a town closely tied to its namesake cheese. If the name brings cheese to mind, that’s because this region has long been known for the production of Munster cheese and its surrounding dairy traditions.
The area’s cheese making history dates back to the late 1300s, when cattle herds were commonly driven from the surrounding mountains down into the valleys. Herdsmen were required to pay fees and tithes to the religious or political authorities who controlled the pasturelands. In many cases, those living in the mountains would use the milk from their cattle to make cheese and butter, which were often used as form of payment.
When we arrived in the town center, the Christmas market was already in full swing. We didn’t have to look far to find vendors selling local cheese, including small wheels of the famous Munster. These were vacuum sealed for travel, with assurances that they would keep well as long as they remained unopened until we returned home.
The town itself doesn’t have a large number of sights beyond the central square, but the market made it well worth the visit. There were wooden games set up throughout the space, along with warming fires coming from tree stumps placed around the square. We enjoyed stopping to play the games and spending time by the fires, talking with people from different places who had also come to experience the market.
In the end, one of our favorite parts of visiting Munster was simply the experience of the market itself-and, of course, the anticipation of bringing home our wheels of cheese and finally opening them later, hoping they had survived the journey as promised.
Kaysersburg
Kaysersberg translates to “Emperor’s Mountain,” a name that reflects the town’s origins and historical significance. The town was first mentioned in 1227, when Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II ordered the construction of a castle on the hill overlooking the area, establishing it as an important strategic point.
Over the centuries, Kaysersberg shifted between French and German control, becoming part of France around 1648, though German influence—and language—remained strong among its inhabitants. Today, that blend of cultures is still part of the town’s character.
What we especially loved about Kaysersberg was the experience of simply wandering its streets. Paths wind their way down through the town, revealing colorful half-timbered buildings and glimpses of the landscape beyond. A river runs through the center of town, adding another layer of beauty as it reflects the surrounding houses and hills.
During the Christmas season, small markets are tucked throughout the town wherever the narrow streets allow, creating pockets of activity as you explore. Kaysersberg feels like a place where everything comes together—history, scenery, and atmosphere—making it especially enjoyable to explore at a relaxed pace and follow wherever the streets may lead.
Riquewihr
Riquewihr is known for two main things: its remarkably preserved historic architecture and the Riesling wine produced in the surrounding region. Because the town was largely untouched by wars over the centuries, much of it still resembles what it would have looked like in the 16th century when it was first established.
Originally known as a “wine village,” Riquewihr grew around the trade and production of wine, and that heritage is still an important part of its identity today. It is also recognized as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, a designation that highlights some of the most beautiful villages in the country.
The architecture alone makes Riquewihr worth visiting, but during the Christmas season, the addition of lights and decorations brings an extra layer of charm. One of the most memorable sights was the Dolder Tower, with its distinctive red façade and flower boxes climbing along the side of the building. Nearby, colorful buildings with festive window displays added to the warm and lively atmosphere.
We found Riquewihr to be a wonderful place to end the day. The evening light softened the colors of the buildings, creating a beautiful glow throughout the streets. As with the other towns, Riquewihr is best experienced by wandering—following the narrow paths, tracing the fortifications around the town, and taking in the details along the way. Even with the presence of Christmas market crowds, the charm of the town remained evident at every turn.
Tips for Visiting the Alsace Christmas Markets
Visiting the Christmas markets in the Alsace region is a beautiful experience, but it does come with a few things to keep in mind to make the most of your time.
One of the most helpful things we learned was to give yourself plenty of time. Even though the towns are close together, traveling between them and exploring each one can take longer than expected. It’s easy to feel rushed if you try to see too many in a single day, so allowing space in your schedule makes the experience much more enjoyable.
Using the Christmas market shuttle system is also incredibly helpful. Parking in these small towns can be limited, especially during the busy holiday season, so the shuttle removes the stress of driving and allows you to focus on enjoying each stop rather than worrying about logistics.
Crowds are another part of the experience to be prepared for. These markets are popular, especially on weekends, so it helps to approach the day with patience and flexibility. Some areas may feel busy, but the atmosphere is still festive and lively, and there are often quieter corners to discover if you take your time wandering.
It can also be helpful to dress in layers and be prepared for changing weather. The markets are outdoors, and you’ll likely be walking quite a bit between stalls, streets, and different parts of town.
Finally, don’t feel like you need to see everything. Each town has its own character, and part of the charm of visiting Alsace is simply experiencing the moment you’re in—whether that’s enjoying a warm drink, wandering through a market square, or pausing to take in the beauty of the streets around you.
Visiting the towns of Alsace during the Christmas season was a memorable experience for us. Each place we visited offered something a little different, from quiet village squares to lively market streets, all connected by a shared sense of history and charm. Looking back, it wasn’t just about the markets themselves, but the time spent wandering, discovering, and moving from one beautiful place to the next. It’s an experience we would gladly return to and enjoy all over again.
Catch up on where we’ve been and where we are going on this trip:
Strolling the Streets of Paris
Pavillons de Bercy – Musée des Arts Forains
Thanks for coming along on this tour of some of the beautiful towns in the Alsace region. May you be filled with the awe and wonder of finding yourself in a fairytale setting.
Coming Up Next:
Read More From:
Follow along for more adventures near and far!
Leave a Reply to Little Miss TravellerCancel reply