Start gently at Place des Vosges in Le Marais. A loop beneath the arcades and across the garden takes about 45 minutes; it’s free and lovely in the crisp morning light. If you’ve just arrived, keep the pace easy and leave time to drop your bags or warm up with a coffee nearby.
Head to Musée Carnavalet, a short walk away, for a beautifully housed introduction to Paris’s history. Allow around 1½ hours; the permanent collection is free, while some temporary exhibitions charge admission. It’s generally open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., with last entry around 5:15 p.m.; check the museum’s holiday-season hours before setting out. From the museum, make your way to Saint-Germain-des-Prés—allow roughly 25–35 minutes on foot, or take the Métro from the Marais if you’d rather save your legs. Spend about an hour browsing the neighborhood’s bookshops and cafés.
Settle in at Les Deux Magots for a classic café meal; budget about €25–45 per person, and expect to pay a premium for the famous address. It’s a good place to linger rather than rush, especially on a chilly December evening. If you’re arriving in Paris late or feeling the travel day, shorten the museum visit or save the neighborhood wander for another time—this first day is best enjoyed without a tight schedule.
Book a timed entry for Musée du Louvre around opening and give yourself roughly three hours; on Saturdays it’s generally open 9:00–18:00, but check holiday-season hours and ticket rules before you go. Choose a few wings or must-sees in advance—the museum is vast, and a focused visit is more rewarding than trying to cover it all. Afterward, walk a few minutes to Jardin du Palais-Royal for a quieter reset beneath the arcades; allow about 45 minutes, and bring a warm layer for the garden.
Continue on foot to Galerie Vivienne—around 10 minutes from the garden—for half an hour among its mosaic floor, glass roof and little shopfronts. It’s a lovely place to duck out of the December chill, though individual shops may keep shorter hours or close on weekends. From there, Bouillon Chartier in the Grands Boulevards area is roughly a 15-minute walk, or a short Métro ride if it’s cold or wet.
Have an early dinner at Bouillon Chartier, a lively, old-school brasserie where classic French dishes are good value; plan on about €20–35 per person. They typically don’t take reservations, so arriving before the main dinner rush can save you a wait. Check the day’s opening hours before setting out, especially around the Christmas period.
Since it’s Sunday, start around 8:45 at Trocadéro Gardens: December sunrise is late, so you’ll arrive in the soft morning light, with fewer people around for the Eiffel Tower view. Allow about 45 minutes, then walk across the Pont d’Iéna to the Eiffel Tower (roughly 20–25 minutes door to door). Set aside around two hours to go up; book a timed ticket in advance, ideally for late morning, and check which levels are open. Tickets typically start around €15 for the stairs and cost more for the lifts and summit.
From the tower, head to the Musée Rodin in Invalides by taxi or on foot (about 30 minutes); a taxi is handy if the winter weather turns wet. Give the collection and sculpture garden around 1½ hours. The museum is usually open Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:30, with last entry at 17:45; check its holiday-season notices before setting out. Finish at Café de l’Esplanade, a short walk away, for a leisurely French meal—budget roughly €35–60 per person. Reserve if you can, and leave a little flexibility: Sunday service and December hours can vary.
Head to Montmartre early, ideally around 9:00, before the lanes fill up. Visit Sacré-Cœur first: the basilica is generally open daily from 6:30 a.m. and entry is free; allow about an hour, longer if you climb the dome (ticketed). From Anvers Métro station, walk uphill or take the funicular with a standard Métro ticket. The steps are a lovely approach, but the funicular is welcome on a cold December morning.
Wander over to Place du Tertre for the artists’ square and its surrounding lanes—about 45 minutes is enough for a look, though portraits and café stops can stretch it. Then walk a few minutes to Musée de Montmartre, a quieter, atmospheric place to spend around 90 minutes among the neighborhood’s art and history. It’s generally open daily, including Mondays, roughly 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; check the current schedule and book ahead if you can. Allow time to warm up over lunch nearby before the museum, and keep the afternoon unhurried.
For dinner, Le Coq Rico is the planned rotisserie stop; budget around €45–70 per person and reserve. Check the current listing before you go: the restaurant may appear under the name Le Coq & Fils at the same Montmartre address, so confirm the booking details. After dinner, enjoy a short stroll through the neighborhood, but bring a warm layer—the hill can feel especially chilly once the sun is down.
Take a morning TGV from Paris Gare de l’Est and aim to arrive in Strasbourg around midday, leaving time to check in or drop your bags before exploring. From Strasbourg station, Petite France is about a 15-minute walk through the Grande Île; allow an easy hour to wander its canalside lanes and half-timbered streets. December can be busy around the festive season, so take your time and keep an eye out for slippery cobbles.
Continue on foot through the historic center to Strasbourg Cathedral—roughly 10 minutes from Petite France. Give yourself about an hour to admire the Gothic façade and interior. Entry to the cathedral is generally free, though access and visiting hours can change for services or holiday arrangements; check locally before setting out, and dress warmly as the stone interior can feel chilly.
For dinner, head to Maison Kammerzell, right beside the cathedral. This landmark timbered house is a fitting place to try Alsatian dishes such as choucroute or tarte flambée; budget around €35–60 per person and reserve ahead, especially in December. After dinner, take a short stroll through the illuminated central streets before heading back to your accommodation.
Start at Place de la République in the Neustadt, where broad avenues and formal squares give Strasbourg a distinctly different feel from the medieval centre. Allow about 45 minutes to take in the surrounding German-era architecture, then walk a few minutes to the Palais du Rhin. The former imperial palace is best appreciated from outside; spend around half an hour looking over its monumental façade and the surrounding square. Both stops are outdoors and free, so wrap up warm—December can be damp and chilly.
From the palace, it’s roughly a 25-minute walk to Parc de l’Orangerie, or a short tram ride followed by a walk; check CTS Strasbourg’s live service updates for the easiest connection. Give yourself about an hour for the park paths and a quiet winter stroll. Daylight fades early, so aim to arrive by mid-afternoon, and don’t count on every park café or facility being open in winter.
Head to Au Pont Corbeau in Krutenau for a traditional winstub supper: expect hearty Alsatian dishes and a warm, cosy room after the cold. Budget around €30–50 per person, and reserve ahead—especially in the busy Christmas season. From Parc de l’Orangerie, allow roughly 20–30 minutes by tram and on foot, or around 35 minutes walking; confirm holiday-period opening hours before setting out.
Start at Barrage Vauban in Petite France and allow about 45 minutes to cross its historic covered bridge and enjoy the canal views. In winter, daylight is short, so getting here in the morning gives you the best chance of seeing the waterways clearly. From the barrage, it’s only a few minutes on foot to Ponts Couverts; spend around 30 minutes admiring the medieval towers and their reflections along the channels.
Walk from Petite France to the Musée Alsacien on the Grande Île—roughly 15 minutes on foot. Set aside about 1½ hours for its traditional interiors and exhibits on Alsatian home life. Christmas Eve hours can be reduced, and the museum may close earlier than usual, so check the official schedule before setting out and visit earlier in the day if possible. Admission is typically around €7–€8 for adults; confirm current prices and any ticket options.
For dinner, head to Le Tire-Bouchon, also on the Grande Île and an easy walk from the museum. Expect classic Alsatian dishes and roughly €30–€50 per person; book ahead, and confirm both Christmas Eve opening hours and whether there’s a set menu. Holiday service can differ from the regular schedule, so don’t rely on normal hours.
After the 30–40-minute TER from Strasbourg, head from Colmar station toward the Old Town on foot (about 15 minutes) or by taxi. Since it’s Christmas Day, check the holiday timetable before setting out and arrange a luggage drop with your hotel; station lockers may have limited availability. Take a gentle hour-long first wander through La Petite Venise, where the canal-side lanes and half-timbered houses make a lovely introduction to Colmar. The morning is best for a quieter stroll and photos.
Continue to Quai de la Poissonnerie, the former fishmongers’ quarter, just a few minutes away along the canals. Allow about 30 minutes to look around, then make your way to Wistub Brenner in the Old Town for a traditional Alsatian lunch. Budget around €30–50 per person; Christmas Day hours and service can be limited, so confirm directly and reserve ahead. Keep the rest of the day flexible—many shops and attractions may close for the holiday, while restaurant availability can be scarce.
Head from Colmar to Eguisheim after breakfast. The simplest option is a taxi or pre-booked transfer, usually around 15 minutes each way; the bus is cheaper, but check the holiday-weekend timetable before relying on it. Give the village about two hours, including the trip: wander its circular lanes at an unhurried pace and look for the painted half-timbered façades and quiet corners just off the main loop. It’s compact, so comfortable shoes matter more than a detailed route.
If it’s open and taking visitors, stop at Domaine Joseph Gruss & Son for a roughly one-hour tasting; contact the winery ahead to confirm its December 26 hours and reserve, as post-Christmas availability can be limited. Then spend about 30 minutes at Place du Château Saint-Léon, the village’s central square, taking in the historic buildings and the well around its center. For lunch, settle in at La Taverne Alsacienne for Alsatian dishes such as choucroute or tarte flambée; budget about €25–45 per person and reserve in advance, especially on a Saturday. Check its holiday-season opening before setting out, and arrange your return ride to Colmar in advance if you’re not driving.
Give Musée Unterlinden a proper two hours: the Isenheim Altarpiece is the standout, but leave time for the museum’s other collections too. It’s in the Old Town and usually open 9:00–18:00 on Sundays; check its holiday-season hours and book ahead if timed tickets are offered. Admission is roughly €13–15. Afterward, walk into the centre for a relaxed lunch nearby.
Continue on foot to the Koïfhus, Colmar’s former customs house. Allow about 30 minutes to admire it from outside, then spend another half-hour at Place de l’Ancienne Douane, taking in the historic façades around the square. The stops are close together, so there’s no need for transport—just dress warmly, as the cobbled lanes can feel chilly once the sun drops.
Browse the Marché de Noël de Colmar for an hour or so; the Christmas markets typically run into late December, but check the 2026 dates and Sunday closing time before heading out. Go around dusk for the lights, and bring cash as a backup for small purchases. Finish with a reserved meal at La Maison des Têtes in its historic setting; allow roughly €60–100 per person as a starting estimate, and confirm the menu and price when booking, since festive-season dining can differ from the usual offering.
Make Collégiale Saint-Martin your final Old Town stop: allow about 45 minutes to admire the Gothic interior and its stained glass, but check access on the day, as services or holiday arrangements can affect visiting hours. Then walk a few minutes to Musée Bartholdi, the former home of Colmar-born sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Set aside about an hour for the studio and exhibits on his work, including the Statue of Liberty; check the museum’s December 28 hours before setting out, since winter schedules can be limited.
Head to JY’S in Little Venice for your farewell meal, allowing plenty of time to enjoy it; budget roughly €60–100 per person and reserve in advance. One important Monday caveat: JY’S may not normally open that day, so confirm its December 28 holiday-season service before building your departure around lunch. Afterwards, collect your bags and walk or take a short taxi ride to Colmar railway station. Check your onward train or transfer timetable, and leave a generous buffer for luggage and any holiday travel delays.
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