Town hall with lit windows like an advent calendar above a Christmas market in the Black Forest at dusk

Christmas markets in Alsace and Germany: a private day across the Rhine

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.

BookTailor-made
  • 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

Book

This day covers Christmas markets in Alsace and Germany for travelers based in Strasbourg who want to compare both sides of the Rhine without renting a car. You start in Obernai, a walled Alsace town, then cross into Germany for Baden-Baden and its market by the Kurhaus. You end in Gengenbach after dark, when the town hall facade becomes a giant advent calendar. Your private driver handles the border, the parking and the dark roads home. You keep the pace.

Itinerary, hour by hour

  1. 10:00

    Pick-up at your hotel in Strasbourg

    Your FJ13 driver meets you in the lobby. The drive southwest to Obernai takes about 30 minutes.

    No free time, driving

  2. Around 10:30

    Obernai, Alsace

    A compact market town with a market square, ramparts and half-timbered houses. The market opens daily at 10:00 and is usually quieter before lunch, which leaves space for photos.

    About 1 h 15 of free time

  3. Around 11:45

    Crossing the Rhine into Germany

    Your driver heads back north and crosses the Rhine toward Baden-Baden, about 1 hour of driving. Keep your passport or national ID card at hand.

    No free time, driving

  4. Around 12:45

    Baden-Baden, Germany

    The Christkindelsmarkt sits in front of the Kurhaus and is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Have lunch at the market or in town, at your own cost.

    About 2 h of free time, lunch included in this time

  5. Around 15:30

    Gengenbach, Germany

    About 45 minutes south. Gengenbach's town hall turns its 24 windows into an advent calendar, with one window revealed each evening at 18:00 from November 30 to December 23. You walk the market as darkness falls and stay for the 18:00 reveal.

    About 2 h 45 of free time

  6. Around 18:15

    Drive back to Strasbourg

    Your driver meets you at an agreed point near the old town, right after the window reveal. The drive back across the Rhine takes about 40 minutes, 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

  • Travelers based in Strasbourg who want to see a German Christmas market as well as an Alsace one, in the same day.
  • Visitors who want Gengenbach after dark without worrying about the last train back to Strasbourg.
  • Families and small groups of up to 7 people who prefer one private vehicle to changing trains in the dark.
  • Repeat visitors to Alsace who have already seen Colmar and the wine villages.

Who this is not for

  • Travelers without a valid passport or national ID card: you cross an international border and may be checked.
  • Visitors who only want Baden-Baden: the fastest direct trains from Strasbourg take about 35 minutes and cost less for a couple (check SNCF Connect for the current fare).
  • Anyone who wants Colmar and the Alsace wine villages: book the Alsace Christmas markets tour instead.
  • Groups of 8 or more: you need two vans, so ask for a quote through the quote configurator.
  • Travelers who dislike long days: this tour is a full day with about 3 h of driving in total.

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, in France and in Germany
  • Bottled water in the vehicle
  • A flexible itinerary: swap Baden-Baden for Freiburg, or reorder stops on the day
  • Storage of your purchases in the locked vehicle between stops

Not included

  • Meals, mulled wine and market purchases
  • Site entries, including the thermal baths in Baden-Baden
  • Tips for your driver
  • A certified guide-conferencier (optional, extra cost), for the Alsace part of the day
  • 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 Obernai market runs from November 27 to December 31 (closed December 25), the Baden-Baden market from November 26 to January 6, 2027, and the Gengenbach market from November 27 to December 23. Check your date against all three before booking.
  • Border: France and Germany are both in the Schengen area, but Germany runs temporary checks at all its land borders, including the border with France, until at least March 15, 2027. Every traveler, children included, needs a passport or national ID card.
  • Money: both countries use the euro. Bring some cash anyway, since small market stalls do not always take cards.
  • Darkness: in December the sun sets around 16:35 and it is fully dark by about 17:15, which is why Gengenbach comes last.
  • Crowds: Gengenbach is busiest at the evening window reveal and on weekends. Pick your spot in the square early.
  • Clothing: warm layers, a hat and waterproof shoes. Evenings in the Kinzig valley feel colder than Strasbourg.
  • Cobblestones and slopes: Gengenbach and Obernai have cobbled streets. Baden-Baden's market area is mostly flat, with paved park paths.

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Frequently asked questions

Do we need our passports to cross into Germany?

Yes, bring them. Germany runs temporary checks at its border with France until at least March 15, 2027. Not every car is stopped, but the German Federal Police can check vehicles on the Rhine crossings. EU citizens can use a national ID card. Everyone else needs a passport. A passenger without valid ID risks being turned back at a check.

Can we see Freiburg instead of Baden-Baden?

Yes. Freiburg is farther south, so the day becomes Obernai, Freiburg, then Gengenbach, with more driving: about 1 h 10 from Obernai to Freiburg, then about 55 minutes from Freiburg to Gengenbach. Your time in Obernai gets shorter to keep Gengenbach after dark. Ask at booking so FJ13 confirms the timing.

Is the price lower if we skip Obernai and only do the German side?

No. The price depends on the duration of the service, from pick-up to drop-off, not on the number of stops. Dropping Obernai does not lower it. You can use the extra time in Baden-Baden, or start later from Strasbourg.

Which evening is best to see the Gengenbach advent calendar?

Any evening of Advent works, since a new window is revealed each night at 18:00 from November 30 to December 23, and the lit windows stay on view until January 6. Weeknights are less crowded than Friday and Saturday. Late in December more windows are lit, so the facade looks fuller.

If we stay for dinner in Gengenbach, what does the late return cost?

The price covers a full day of about 10 hours. Staying for dinner pushes the drop-off later, and the extra time is added to your quote. Any driving between 21:00 and 06:00 also carries a 20% surcharge. Plan dinner at the market to stay within the day.

Can we bring a baby or toddler on a day this long?

Yes. Ask for a baby seat or a booster seat at booking, and your driver can build in extra breaks. Strollers fit in the van, but Gengenbach's cobbles make a carrier easier.

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Passengers

Up to 7 passengers per van. For 8 or more, you get a group quote.