Alsace Christmas markets tour: four villages and Colmar after dark
Full day, private van for 1 to 7 passengers
From 990 €
per van, all taxes included, tips not included. About 495 € per person for 2 travelers, 198 € for 5.
Option
+400 € per full day
A certified guide-conferencier joins your day, subject to availability.
- 15 km included per hour of service, price adjusted to your itinerary
- Your hotel in Strasbourg or Colmar, same price
- Up to 7 passengers per van
From 990 € per van, TTCFull day, up to 7 passengers
BookThis Alsace Christmas markets tour is for couples, families and small groups staying in Strasbourg who want the village markets without trains, buses or parking. Your private driver picks you up at your hotel at 10:00 and drives you to Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, with self-guided time in each village. You end in Colmar after dark, when the lights are on and the markets are at their best. The route adapts on the day if you want to stay longer somewhere.
Itinerary, hour by hour
10:00
Pick-up at your hotel in Strasbourg
Your FJ13 driver meets you in the lobby. The drive south to Riquewihr takes about 55 minutes to 1 hour, and your driver shares local tips along the way.
No free time, driving
Around 11:00
Riquewihr
You arrive in the late morning. The main street climbs gently between half-timbered houses to the Dolder tower, with market stalls along the way.
About 1 h 30 of free time
Around 12:45
Kaysersberg
A short drive takes you to Kaysersberg for lunch and the market along the river and around the church. Lunch is at your own pace and your own cost. FJ13 usually suggests La Winstub du Chambard, 13 rue du Général de Gaulle, a traditional Alsace winstub that serves lunch from 12:00 to 14:00: book a table ahead in December.
About 1 h 45 of free time, lunch included in this time
Around 14:45
Eguisheim
Eguisheim is built in circles around its castle and church. It is flat and compact, a good stop for the early afternoon when legs are getting tired.
About 1 h of free time
Around 16:00
Colmar
Your driver drops you close to the old town as darkness falls. Colmar runs six Christmas markets across the old town, one of them in Little Venice, and the lights make the walk between them the highlight of the day.
About 1 h 45 of free time
Around 18:00
Drive back to Strasbourg
Your driver meets you at an agreed point in Colmar. The drive back takes about 1 hour, for a drop-off at your hotel around 19:00, within the 10 hours of a full day.
No free time, driving
Who this is for
- Couples and families staying in Strasbourg who want to see several village markets in one day without a car.
- Travelers with limited mobility who prefer a door-to-door vehicle to train connections and long walks from parking lots.
- Groups of up to 7 people who want one vehicle, one driver and one shared plan.
- Visitors who want Colmar at night but do not want to deal with the last train back to Strasbourg.
- Shoppers who plan to buy ornaments, wine or gingerbread and would rather not carry bags all day.
Who this is not for
- Travelers who want to spend a full evening in one market: the Strasbourg market alone is easier on foot from your hotel.
- Visitors who only want Colmar: the TER Grand Est regional train from Strasbourg to Colmar takes about 32 minutes, with up to 3 trains an hour, and costs much less for a couple (check SNCF Connect for the current fare).
- Groups of 8 or more: you need two vans, so ask for a quote through the quote configurator.
- Budget travelers: a shared coach day trip from Strasbourg costs less per person, with a fixed schedule and a larger group.
- Anyone who wants detailed history at each stop: your driver shares local tips but gives no site commentary, so add a certified guide-conferencier (optional, extra cost).
Included
- A private driver for the whole day, only for your group
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Strasbourg
- A heated, air-conditioned private van for 1 to 7 passengers
- Tolls and parking fees
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- A flexible itinerary: swap, shorten or extend stops on the day
- Storage of your purchases in the locked vehicle between stops
Not included
- Meals, mulled wine and market purchases
- Wine tastings and site entries
- Tips for your driver
- A certified guide-conferencier (optional, extra cost)
- Child or baby seats, available on request at booking for a small fee
- Waiting time beyond 15 minutes after the agreed meeting time, which is billed
Practical notes
- Season: in 2026, the Colmar markets run from November 23 to December 29, Riquewihr from November 27 to December 20, and Eguisheim from November 27 to December 30 (closed December 24 to 26).
- Opening hours differ by village: in 2026, Eguisheim opens only at 12:00 Monday to Thursday until December 10 and closes at 19:00, and Kaysersberg opens only on Advent weekends (see below), so FJ13 adjusts the order of stops to your date.
- Crowds: weekends in December are very busy, especially Saturdays. A weekday gives you more space in the narrow streets.
- Darkness: in December the sun sets around 16:35 and it is fully dark by about 17:15, which is why Colmar comes last.
- Clothing: wear warm, waterproof shoes with good grip. Streets can be wet or icy, and you will stand outside for hours.
- Kaysersberg: the market opens only Friday to Sunday on the four Advent weekends, from 10:00 to 20:00 (in 2026: November 27 to 29, December 4 to 6, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20). On other days the village is still decorated but has no stalls, and FJ13 can swap it for another market village.
- Cobblestones and slopes: Riquewihr and Kaysersberg have cobbled, sloping streets. Eguisheim and central Colmar are flatter.
- Accessibility: FJ13 has no wheelchair-accessible vehicle, and the vans have no ramp. Travelers who can walk a few steps are welcome, and your driver helps with getting in and out.
Reviews
This tour is new on alsace-tours.com and has no reviews yet. Reviews from real travelers will appear here once they are published.
Frequently asked questions
Can we swap Kaysersberg for Obernai on the day?
Yes. Tell your driver in the morning and the route is adjusted. Obernai is north of the other villages, so it fits best as the first stop, which shifts the timing of the rest of the day. Your driver will tell you what that means for your time in Colmar.
Will it cost less if we skip one of the villages?
No. The price of this tour depends on the duration of the service, from pick-up to drop-off, not on the number of stops. Removing a village does not lower the price. Many clients use the freed time to stay longer in Colmar or at their favorite market instead.
Is the van heated, and can we leave shopping bags in it?
Yes to both. The vehicle is heated and waits for you between stops, so you can leave bags and coats inside. Your driver locks the vehicle when away from it. Keep passports, wallets and phones with you.
What happens if it snows on the day of our tour?
Heavy snow is not common on the plain between Strasbourg and Colmar, but it happens. FJ13 vans run on winter tires in December. Your driver adapts speed and route and may shorten a stop if roads get slow.
We want to stay in Colmar until 21:30. Does that cost more?
The price covers a full day of about 10 hours, with 15 km included per hour of service. Staying in Colmar until 21:30 adds about 2 hours 30. If your day runs longer, the extra time is added to your quote, and any time driven between 21:00 and 06:00 carries a 20% surcharge. Say so at booking and FJ13 includes it in your quote.
Can we start later if we want Colmar even later at night?
Yes. A pick-up around 11:00 still leaves time for three villages, and your drop-off in Strasbourg moves to about 20:00, still within a full day. A later start means more crowded village streets around midday and a shorter stop in Riquewihr.
Related tours and guides
Christmas markets in Alsace and Germany: a private day across the Rhine
Two countries in one December day: Obernai in Alsace, then Baden-Baden and Gengenbach in Germany's Black Forest region, ending under the lit town hall windows.
From 990 € per van
Colmar day trip from Strasbourg: Haut-Koenigsbourg, Riquewihr and Colmar in one day
A full day by private van: Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle in the morning, Riquewihr for lunch, then Colmar old town and Little Venice. Hotel pick-up in Strasbourg.
From 990 € per van
Alsace Christmas markets overview
Which markets to see, how they differ, and how to plan several in one trip.
Village Christmas markets
Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim and Ribeauville, one short profile each.
Colmar Christmas market
Where each Colmar market sits, when to go, and how to avoid the worst crowds.
Get a quote
Ready to plan your day?
Check the price for your date and group size. No payment at this stage: FJ13 confirms availability first.