Once you’ve dropped your bags, head to Île de la Cité for an easy first look at central Paris. If you’re coming from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the RER B to Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame takes roughly 35–45 minutes; from Orly, take Metro line 14 toward central Paris, then walk or connect to the island. Allow about an hour to stroll past Notre-Dame Cathedral and along the riverfront—keep this flexible if your flight or check-in runs late.
If you still have some energy, visit Sainte-Chapelle, a short walk from Notre-Dame. Its soaring stained-glass windows are especially lovely on a bright winter afternoon; allow about an hour, and book a timed ticket ahead (typically around €13, with security checks at the entrance). December hours can vary, so check the official schedule before setting out.
For a romantic first-night view, take the covered Vedettes du Pont Neuf cruise from Square du Vert-Galant; the trip lasts about an hour, but confirm seasonal departure times and arrive early, as winter sailings may be limited. Then walk or take Metro line 4 from Pont Neuf toward Saint-Germain-des-Prés for dinner at Le Procope. This historic restaurant serves classic French dishes, usually around €35–60 per person; reserve ahead, especially in the Christmas period, and check its holiday hours.
Start at Musée du Louvre when it opens at 9am; book a timed ticket in advance, especially for a Saturday. Give yourself about three hours and choose a few wings or highlights rather than trying to cover the whole museum. Entry is roughly €22–€32 depending on the current tariff, so check the official booking page before you go. Afterward, step out into the Jardin des Tuileries for a 45-minute winter stroll and a breather among the statues and paths.
Continue to Musée de l’Orangerie, at the garden’s western end, for Monet’s Water Lilies and its smaller collection. Allow 1–1½ hours; it’s usually open 9am–6pm and closed Tuesdays, but confirm holiday hours and reserve ahead. From there, walk north toward Café Verlet near Palais-Royal—about 10–15 minutes—for coffee and a pastry. Budget around €10–€20 per person, and check its Saturday hours before setting out. You’ll have a relaxed finish to a museum-heavy day, with time to linger rather than rush between stops.
Start at Trocadéro Gardens for that postcard view of the Eiffel Tower; give yourself about 45 minutes, especially if you want to linger for photos. Then cross the Pont d’Iéna to the Eiffel Tower. Allow 2–3 hours for security, lifts and the visit, and book a timed ticket ahead—adult prices vary by level and lift or stairs, so check the official site before you go. Aim for an early slot to keep the afternoon relaxed; it’s a Sunday, so expect crowds.
Walk about 15 minutes to Rue Cler, a lively market street in the 7th arrondissement. Browse the food shops, then settle in for a casual lunch nearby; budget around €15–30 per person. Sunday opening is mixed, with some shops closed or on shorter hours, though cafés and restaurants are usually a safer bet—check a specific place before setting out.
From Rue Cler, it’s roughly a 15–20-minute walk to the Musée Rodin. Take your time with the sculpture galleries, then enjoy the garden if it’s open; winter access can depend on conditions, so confirm when you book. The museum is generally open Sundays from 10am to 6:30pm, with last admission around 5:45pm; admission is typically about €14, with garden access included in the museum ticket. If you’d rather save your legs, Metro line 8 from École Militaire toward La Tour-Maubourg is a handy alternative.
Head up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica for the hilltop views over Paris. The basilica is generally open daily from early morning until evening, and entry is free; allow about an hour, including time to take in the panorama. From central Paris, take Metro line 12 to Abbesses and walk uphill, or use the funicular from the foot of the hill if you’d rather save your legs. The steps can be slippery in December, so wear shoes with good grip.
Wander over to Place du Tertre, about a 5–10-minute walk away, and spend around 45 minutes browsing the artists’ square and the surrounding lanes. It gets busy, but winter crowds can thin out between lunch and late afternoon. Then continue to Musée de Montmartre; allow about 1½ hours for its studios and exhibits on the neighborhood’s artistic past. Check the museum’s holiday-season hours and book ahead if timed entry is offered; tickets are typically around €15–€20. Its gardens make a peaceful pause if the weather is kind.
Walk downhill toward Pigalle for dinner at Bouillon Pigalle. It’s a lively, good-value spot for classic French dishes, with a meal usually around €15–€30 per person. Expect a queue at popular dinner times, so arrive early or check whether you can reserve. After a full day on the hill, take Metro line 2 from Pigalle back toward your accommodation.
After your train arrival and hotel check-in or bag drop, head to Place Kléber, the heart of the Grande Île. From Strasbourg station, it’s about a 15-minute walk, or take tram A or D to Homme de Fer and walk a few minutes. Give the square 30–45 minutes to take in its seasonal decorations; Christmas-market arrangements and opening times can vary, so check the local schedule that day.
From Place Kléber, stroll through the pedestrian streets of the Grande Île to Strasbourg Cathedral—around 10 minutes on foot. Allow about an hour to admire the Gothic interior; if you’d like to climb the tower for rooftops-and-spires views, check the day’s access and closing time first, as winter hours can be limited. Entry to the cathedral is generally free, while the tower has a separate fee.
Stay nearby for dinner at Maison Kammerzell, beside the cathedral, and settle into its carved, half-timbered rooms for Alsatian specialties such as choucroute or tarte flambée. Plan on roughly 1.5 hours and €30–55 per person; reserve ahead for this busy December week. After dinner, the illuminated streets around the cathedral make an easy, atmospheric wander back toward your hotel.
Head to Parc de l’Orangerie for a relaxed winter walk; allow about 1–1½ hours. Its paths and lake are lovely even in December, though it can be chilly and muddy after rain, so wear warm layers and shoes with grip. The park is free and open daily. From central Strasbourg, take tram E to Droits de l’Homme or a taxi; check the return tram times if you’re staying late.
Walk about 15–20 minutes from the park to the European Parliament. Public visits depend on the schedule, and tours may be limited when Parliament isn’t in session, so check the official visitor calendar and reserve ahead; allow 1½–2 hours if a tour is available. Then take tram E toward République and walk around 10 minutes to Église Saint-Paul, or enjoy the roughly 25-minute walk along the river. Give the church 30–45 minutes, but check access before you go, as visiting hours can vary around services and the holiday period.
Finish at Le Tigre for flammekueche and a casual dinner; budget around €20–35 per person. It’s near Faubourg National rather than in Krutenau, so from Église Saint-Paul allow roughly 20–25 minutes on foot or take a tram toward the centre and walk the final few minutes. Reserve if you can—December evenings are busy—and check the restaurant’s holiday opening hours before setting out.
Start at Barrage Vauban in Petite France and spend about 45 minutes crossing its historic covered gallery for a lovely view over the canals and rooftops. It’s free to visit; the panoramic terrace is reached by stairs, so take care if the stone is wet or icy. From there, continue on foot to Ponts Couverts—the bridges and towers are just next door, so allow around 30 minutes to wander and take photos.
Walk about 15–20 minutes toward the Grande Île for Musée Alsacien, where historic rooms and household objects offer a glimpse of local life. Plan for 1–1½ hours; admission is typically around €7–€8 for adults, but check the museum’s official holiday hours before setting out. Christmas Eve schedules can change, and the museum may close earlier than usual on December 24.
Head to Au Pont Corbeau in Krutenau for a convivial Alsatian dinner—allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly €30–€50 per person. Reserve well ahead and confirm its Christmas Eve service, as restaurants may have limited sittings or a set menu. From the museum, it’s about a 10–15-minute walk; wrap up warmly for the stroll, and leave a little flexibility in case the holiday timetable affects your plans.
After arriving in Colmar, allow time to leave your bags at the hotel or arrange luggage storage near the station before heading into the Old Town. Start with La Petite Venise, where the canals and half-timbered houses make for a lovely, unhurried first wander; give it about an hour and bring a warm layer, as the canal paths can feel chilly. Christmas Day is exceptionally quiet, and some shops and cafés may be closed, so enjoy the scenery rather than counting on places being open.
Walk from La Petite Venise through the Old Town to Collégiale Saint-Martin—roughly 10 minutes at an easy pace. Set aside 30–45 minutes to admire the Gothic interior, but check locally before you go: access may be limited around Christmas services. Continue to Wistub Brenner in Petite Venise for a cozy Alsatian meal; budget around €25–45 per person and reserve ahead, confirming specifically that it is serving on Christmas Day. Holiday hours can be very limited, so keep a backup plan through your hotel if the restaurant is full or closed.
Start at Musée Unterlinden when it opens—allow 2–3 hours for the Isenheim Altarpiece and the museum’s wider collection. It’s usually open Wednesday to Monday, but holiday-week hours can change, so check the museum’s official schedule before setting out and buy tickets ahead if available. From the Old Town, it’s an easy walk; dress warmly for the short outdoor stretches between stops.
Walk to Marché Couvert de Colmar for about 45 minutes of browsing and a relaxed lunch: look for Alsatian cheeses, charcuterie, and something warm to eat. Saturday is normally a market day, but confirm the holiday schedule before relying on it. Then continue on foot to Musée Bartholdi, the sculptor’s birthplace and a compact, rewarding visit of about 1–1½ hours. Check its current Saturday hours—often split between morning and afternoon—and leave time for a pause if it closes between sessions.
Make it an anniversary dinner at JY’S. Reserve well ahead and confirm that it’s serving on December 26; expect a refined meal of roughly 2–2½ hours, with a budget around €90–150 per person before drinks. It’s a short walk from the Old Town sights, so you can keep the evening unhurried rather than needing transport.
After your train reaches Lyon Part-Dieu, leave your bags at the hotel or use station lockers if needed. Head to Place Bellecour by taxi or on Metro line B to Saxe-Gambetta, then change to line D for Bellecour; allow about 20–30 minutes door to door. Take an easy half-hour wander around the vast central square and its statue of Louis XIV—an unhurried way to get your bearings after the journey.
From Place Bellecour, walk across the Pont Bonaparte into Vieux Lyon (around 15–20 minutes) and visit Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Allow about 45 minutes to admire the Gothic interior and astronomical clock, but check access and clock-viewing times before you go: Sunday and holiday schedules can affect what’s open. If you arrive later than expected, keep this visit flexible rather than rushing.
Settle in for dinner at Les Lyonnais, a traditional bouchon in Vieux Lyon. Expect Lyonnaise staples and a relaxed meal of about 1½ hours; budget roughly €25–45 per person and reserve ahead, especially during the festive week. Sunday evening openings can vary, so confirm the restaurant’s hours when booking.
Start early at Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière; it’s generally open daily from around 7am, and entry is free. From the Vieux Lyon metro station, take the F2 funicular up the hill rather than tackling the steep climb in winter. Allow about 1½ hours including the ride, the basilica’s ornate interior and the sweeping city view—bring a warm layer, as the terrace can be windy.
Walk a few minutes to the Théâtre antique de Lyon and spend around 45 minutes among the tiers and stage of this remarkably atmospheric Roman site. The archaeological grounds are usually free to enter, but winter access can be limited by daylight or weather, so check the posted hours before you go. From Fourvière, allow roughly 35–45 minutes to reach the next stop: take the funicular back down, then use the metro and tram toward Confluence.
Give Musée des Confluences 2–3 hours for its natural-history and cultural exhibitions, as well as a look at the dramatic glass-and-metal building beside the rivers. One important calendar wrinkle: December 28, 2026 is a Monday, and the museum is normally closed on Mondays. Check its official holiday schedule before building the day around it; if it is closed, this planned visit may not be possible. When open, standard admission is about €12, with reduced rates and free entry for some visitors.
Finish at Café Comptoir Abel in Ainay, a storied bouchon known for traditional Lyonnaise cooking. From the museum, allow about 25–35 minutes by tram and metro or taxi, depending on connections and traffic; reserve ahead and confirm Monday service, since holiday-week hours can change. Budget roughly €30–55 per person for dinner, and leave time to enjoy the meal rather than rushing through it.
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