Noël à Strasbourg

Overview

Strasbourg calls itself The Capital of Christmas, and justifiably so. The city celebrates Christmas with big markets since 1570, so for nearly 450 years. It is the oldest Christmas market in France, and even the oldest in the world. Due to the fact that Strasbourg used to be German several times throughout history, you may believe you’re walking around at a German Christmas market. Expat Club will travel this year in one day up and down to Eastern France to visit this amazing event. It will be a long day, but we guarantee it’s totally worth it and that you will enough time to visit the most parts of this fully UNESCO-protected historic city.

Pictures

Welcome to Strasbourg!

All main access roads to the inner city centre of Strasbourg welcome visitors to the Capital de Noël. | © Leonid Andronov - Shutterstock

Noël à Strasbourg in 60 seconds

Christmas in Strasbourg is definitely one of the best season experiences you can get. The city is full dressed up for the event. Streets are nicely decorated, houses are illuminated, and Christmas stalls can be found all around town.

Place Kleber

Strasbourg has one of Europe's tallest and most beautifully decorated Christmas trees, proudly standing tall on Place | © Leonid Andronov - Shutterstock

Downtown decoration

Virtually all corners of the inner city center are decorated for the occasion. | © Leonid Andronov - Shutterstock

Picture opportunities everywhere

Everywhere you walk, every hotel, bar, restaurant or shop joins in on the celebration. | © Leonid Andronov - Shutterstock

Every corner?

Yes, almost close to every corner is dressed up for Christmas. | © tianalima - Shutterstock

Dressed up shopping streets

The city of Strasbourg is a true shopper's paradise with ornate Christmas streets. | © Leonid Andronov shutterstock

Spot the Gingerbread man

There are so many lovely things to photograph in this city, we are sure your SD card will be full at the end of the day! | Anthea1408 - Shutterstock

Kammerzell House

The Kammerzell House is one of the cities most beautiful buildings, a superb example of medieval architecture in the gothic style - © Fulcanelli shutterstock

Strasbourg Cathedral

Amidst the Christmas markets looking up towards the majestic gothic Cathedral you understand why this is one of the world's most beautiful churches.

Strasbourg By Pierre-Olivier shutterstock_1064869352

The Cathedral of Strasbourg is one of the world's largest and most beautiful churches. | © Pierre-Olivier - Shutterstock

Strasbourg by boat

Join us for a lovely boat tour around the city center. | © Elena Dijour - Shutterstock

Strasbourg By cge2010 shutterstock_789799141

The boat will take us through the most scenic part of Strasbourg, La Petite France. | cge2010 - Shutterstock

Along the boat route

The two towers of the Pont Couvert | © kavalenkau - Shutterstock

The European district

The boat tour leads along the European district, with the much talked about European Parliament building | © Pakula Piotr - Shutterstock

Another gem along the boat tour

The Barrage Vauban can be perfectly photographed during the boat tour | © ikmerc - Shutterstock

Strasbourg By Stefano_Valeri shutterstock_771025702

Program

As with all Expat Club trips, our schedule is carefully designed to ensure you can enjoy this day optimally. Please note that the schedule may still change for various circumstances such as weather or traffic conditions. Your host, the bus driver, guide and receiving destinations will always do their best to give the best experience. Thank you for your understanding.

• • 07h00 Departure Brussels
  • 10h00 Departure Luxembourg
  • 12h45 Arrival Strasbourg
  • 13h00 Guided tour Strasbourg (by foot)
  • 15h00 Free time
  • 17h15 Boat tour (optional)
  • 20h30 Departure to Brussels
  • 01h30 Arrival Brussels

Transportation

We depart from Place Schuman at 07h00 by 4* luxury coach and we also make a short stop at La Chasse, Metro Delta, Metro Hermann-Debroux and finally in Luxembourg City. We travel with a 4* luxury coach with an on-board toilet, AC, DVC and TV. Our return departure time to Brussels is around 21h00 and the arrival time around 01h30 on Sunday early morning.

Due to late arrival time the bus will after Place Schuman also stop at Merode, Montgomery, Diamant, Meiser and Evere. For other parts of Brussels we will ask participants during the trip to share a cab / ride upon return in Brussels. This way everybody should be able to arrive home safely.

About our visit to Strasbourg

Christmas in Strasbourg is something unique. Hundreds of lovely Christmas stalls can be found all over the city. Shop windows are nicely decorated, special Christmas drinks and treats can be found on every street corner, a huge spectacular Christmas tree lights up the Place Kleber, and an ice skating rink can be found at the foot of the Cathedral.

But even without this happy seasonal display, Strasbourg is an extraordinarily beautiful city. Home to 250.000 inhabitants (and about 750.000 in the metropolitan area) it was the world’s first city of which the entire centre was declared a UNESCO world heritage site. No wonder, because it is simply a stunning historical place with countless exquisite buildings, streets, parks and squares. On top of that it is home to various international institutions, such as the Council of Europe, and hosts the European Parliament one week every month.

The main purpose of this trip is to see the wonderful Christmas markets and to enjoy the magical Christmas atmosphere of Strasbourg. Expat Club trips are also a way to socialise and meet new friends, as well as to get to know new places. That is why we have a fixed program for everyone (guided tour) and an optional program part (boat tour). Directly after arrival we will discover the city during a 2 hours professionally guided tour. We will see the old pedestrian areas around the majestic Cathedral, the Maison Kammerzell, Place Gutenberg, the Tanners’ House, the Covered Bridges, the Vauban Dam, the former customs-house and former town-butchery, as well as the Palais Rohan.

After the guided tour you have some free time for shopping, strolling along the Christmas stalls or to get some delicious food in one of the many excellent restaurants in town. At 17h15 you can optionally join us for a 1h15 guided boat tour around the city center, through la Petite France and the European district. It’s a perfect way to see the city from a different perspective.