After dropping your bags, head to Île de la Cité for an easy first hour beside the Seine. Walk past the exterior of Notre-Dame Cathedral and take in the riverside views; keep this gentle if you’re tired from the flight. If you’re coming from central Paris, the island is easy to reach by Métro to Cité or Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame. From either airport, allow extra time for the trip into town and luggage drop-off.
Continue to Sainte-Chapelle, a short walk away, to see its famous stained-glass windows. It generally closes in the late afternoon, so check the official holiday opening hours and book a timed ticket ahead; allow about an hour, including security. Then cross into the Latin Quarter and browse Shakespeare and Company for 30–45 minutes. Its hours can vary, so check before setting off rather than counting on it being open late.
Finish at Bouillon Racine, where the Art Nouveau dining room is part of the pleasure and classic French dishes are typically around €25–€40 per person. It’s an easy walk from the bookshop. Reserve in advance and confirm service for your arrival date; if your flight runs late, call the restaurant rather than trying to squeeze in the whole plan.
Book a timed entry for the Musée du Louvre and arrive near opening; on Saturdays it is generally open 9 a.m.–6 p.m., but check the 2026 holiday schedule before you go. Three hours is enough for a satisfying highlights route without trying to cover everything—choose a few galleries in advance, and expect security and popular rooms to take time. From Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre métro, follow the signs to the museum entrance; reserve tickets ahead, as entry prices and booking rules can change.
Step out into the Jardin des Tuileries for a 45-minute winter stroll between the museum and the river; paths can be damp, so comfortable shoes help. Then warm up at Angelina Paris on Rue de Rivoli for its famously rich hot chocolate and a pastry—allow about €15–€25 per person, and be prepared for a queue. Continue west to Place de la Concorde to see the obelisk and grand square; half an hour is plenty, and take care crossing the busy surrounding roads.
Head to Bouillon Pigalle for a lively, good-value French brasserie dinner, budgeting roughly €20–€35 per person; check festive-period service and consider arriving early or reserving if bookings are available. From Place de la Concorde, take métro line 12 toward Pigalle (about 10 minutes, plus station time), or walk roughly 2 km if you’d like to see more of the city on the way.
Start at Musée d’Orsay when it opens at 9:30 a.m.; book a timed ticket in advance (allow roughly €16–€18, subject to 2026 pricing) and give yourself about 2½ hours for the Impressionists and the grand former railway-station interiors. Sunday is usually an open day, but check the museum’s holiday schedule before setting out. From there, walk about 15 minutes across the Seine to Le Bon Marché; it generally opens later on Sundays, around 11 a.m., so check the exact hours and browse its seasonal displays at an easy pace.
Next door, La Grande Épicerie de Paris is ideal for a casual lunch: pick up a tartine, pastry, or other French specialties, budgeting about €10–€25 per person. Then walk roughly 15 minutes to Jardin du Luxembourg for a winter circuit among the formal paths and statues. In late December, daylight fades early and the garden closes around dusk, so check the posted gate hours and aim to arrive by mid-afternoon rather than leaving the stroll until late.
Finish in Odéon at Le Comptoir du Relais for a classic bistro dinner; allow about €35–€60 per person and reserve ahead, especially on a December Sunday. It’s an easy walk from the garden, and a relaxed meal here makes a good end to a day spent mostly on foot.
Start at Palais Garnier when visitor access begins—often around 10 a.m., though rehearsals or performances can change tour access, so check the official schedule and book ahead. Allow about 1½ hours to admire the grand staircase, painted ceilings and gilded foyers; self-guided entry is typically around €15–€20. Afterwards, it’s a short walk along Boulevard Haussmann to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. Give yourself an hour or so for the spectacular glass dome and seasonal window displays. The department store usually opens at 10 a.m. on Mondays; its rooftop terrace is free when open, but winter weather or maintenance can affect access.
Take a proper pause at Café de la Paix, opposite the opera house. It’s a handsome, historic setting for coffee, a pastry or lunch; budget roughly €20–€35 per person, and expect to pay for the grand surroundings as well as the food. If you’d rather keep lunch light, browse the gourmet counters at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann first, then settle in for a café break.
Walk about 15 minutes to Place Vendôme for a leisurely loop among its elegant façades and festive decorations—especially atmospheric as the lights come on in the early winter dusk. Continue west to Place de la Madeleine (around 10 minutes on foot) and browse the specialty food shops around the square; pick up a quick gourmet snack for about €10–€20. Shop hours vary, and some smaller stores may close earlier on a Monday, so go before evening rather than leaving this stop late.
Start in Montmartre around 9 a.m., while the hillside lanes are still relatively quiet. Wander the cobbled Rue de l’Abreuvoir and the artists’ quarter near Place du Tertre for about 90 minutes; December mornings can be chilly and slick, so wear shoes with grip. Then head to Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Entry to the basilica is free, while the dome has a separate fee; check access on the day, as it can be affected by services or seasonal schedules. The steps and terrace offer a sweeping view over Paris.
Walk to La Maison Rose for a coffee or meal—the distinctive pink corner café is a lovely pause after the climb. Budget roughly €20–€35 per person, and check its seasonal opening and service hours before setting out. From there, continue to the Musée de Montmartre for around 90 minutes among the neighborhood’s artistic history and gardens. It is generally open daily, but confirm its current hours and ticket price before visiting, especially in the holiday period.
Finish at the Moulin Rouge in Pigalle, about a 20-minute downhill walk from the museum. The famous façade is easy to see from outside; allow around 30 minutes for photos and a look around. If you want the cabaret show, book well ahead and check the performance time and dress guidance—otherwise, the nearby Blanche Métro station makes it simple to head back into central Paris.
After your morning arrival and hotel drop-off, head to Place Kléber for 30–45 minutes to get your bearings and see the holiday decorations. The center is compact, so it’s an easy walk from the station area; leave a little slack for check-in and the busy holiday streets. Next, walk through the Grande Île to Strasbourg Cathedral. Spend about an hour admiring the Gothic façade and, if it’s open, stepping inside; entry to the cathedral is generally free, though access hours and any special holiday arrangements can change.
Just beside the cathedral, settle in at Maison Kammerzell for Alsatian cooking in its richly decorated timber-framed rooms. Budget roughly €30–€50 per person and reserve ahead—especially on December 23—and confirm its holiday opening hours. Later, take a relaxed walk to Petite France for an hour among the canals and half-timbered streets; the evening lights make this a lovely first look at Strasbourg. Wear warm layers and shoes with good grip, as the cobbles can be slick in winter.
Start at Palais Rohan on Grande Île and allow 1½–2 hours for one of its museums, choosing the collection that appeals most. The museums generally open around 10 a.m., but Christmas Eve can bring special hours or closures, so check the official schedule before setting out and have a backup in mind. From there, walk a few minutes to the Musée Alsacien for its traditional interiors and glimpse of everyday life in Alsace; allow about 1½ hours and confirm its holiday opening too.
Walk to La Cloche à Fromage for a leisurely Alsatian lunch and its famously generous cheese selection. Expect roughly €35–€60 per person; reserve ahead, especially on Christmas Eve, when restaurants may offer limited menus or close early.
Head to Place Broglie for about 45 minutes among the historic façades and seasonal market stalls. Strasbourg’s Christmas market schedule can change on December 24, and stalls may close earlier than usual, so check the day’s hours before lunch rather than counting on a late visit. Finish at Barrage Vauban in Petite France—a pleasant walk from the square—for the covered terrace and canal views; give yourself around 45 minutes, and bring a warm layer for the exposed walk.
Take a relaxed walk through Parc de l’Orangerie, Strasbourg’s oldest park. Allow 1–1½ hours to wander its paths and gardens; entry is free, and the park is an easy stroll from the European Quarter. Continue to the European Parliament in Wacken to see its striking exterior—about 45 minutes is plenty. Christmas Day visitor access and tours may be unavailable, so plan on viewing the building from outside and check current access arrangements before you go.
Head back to Le Buerehiesel, set within the park, for your special Alsatian Christmas lunch. Budget around €60–€100 per person, and make a reservation well ahead: holiday opening hours and menus can differ, and many Strasbourg restaurants close on 25 December. After lunch, travel toward Neustadt by tram or taxi, then visit Église Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune and its cloister if they’re open. Allow around 45 minutes, but check Christmas Day access before setting out.
Finish with a quiet riverside walk along the Ill near the historic center, allowing about an hour for the winter views and unusually peaceful streets. Wrap up warmly—the river air can feel biting after sunset—and arrange dinner or snacks in advance, since many indoor attractions and restaurants are closed on Christmas Day.
After your mid-morning arrival and a quick bag drop, head into the Old Town and start at Place des Dominicains. Give yourself about 45 minutes to browse the seasonal stalls if they’re still operating; Christmas-market dates can vary, so check the local schedule before setting out. From here, Musée Unterlinden is a short walk away. Allow around two hours for the Isenheim Altarpiece and the rest of the collection, and confirm the museum’s post-Christmas opening hours before you go.
Walk toward Marché Couvert de Colmar for a relaxed lunch among the food counters. It’s a good place to sample Alsatian produce, with a casual meal typically around €12–€25 per person, but holiday opening hours may be reduced on December 26. Then take an easy stroll to Petite Venise and follow the Lauch River for about an hour; the colorful canal-side houses are especially lovely in the winter light. Wear warm layers, and leave a little slack in the afternoon in case holiday schedules affect your plans.
Begin at Collégiale Saint-Martin, Colmar’s principal Gothic church. Allow about 45 minutes; entry is generally free, but access may be limited during Sunday services, so check the notice at the entrance and keep your visit quiet if a service is underway. From there, it’s a short walk through the Old Town to Maison Pfister. Spend about 20 minutes admiring its carved façade and painted galleries from outside—the house is best appreciated from the street.
Walk toward Petite Venise for lunch at Restaurant Le Quai 21, set in a historic building. Expect roughly €30–€50 per person; reserve ahead and confirm its Sunday service, as holiday-season hours can change. Leave time for an unhurried meal before continuing on foot back into the Old Town.
Visit Musée Bartholdi, in the sculptor’s former home, and allow 1–1½ hours for its collection and studio spaces. Admission is typically around €6–€8, but check the museum’s official holiday schedule before setting out. Finish at Koïfhus (Ancienne Douane), a few minutes’ walk away, to see the medieval customs house and its distinctive façade; allow about 30 minutes. The Old Town is compact, so you can make the whole route on foot, with plenty of time to pause in the lanes between stops.
Make Église des Dominicains your first stop, allowing about 45 minutes to see the historic interior and Schongauer’s Madonna of the Rose Bower. It’s a short walk from the center; check the church’s posted hours before setting out, as access can vary around the holidays. Then wander to Place de l’Ancienne Douane for a final half-hour among Colmar’s canal-side lanes and timber-framed houses. Keep the pace unhurried—this is a lovely part of town to enjoy without a checklist.
Continue to La Maison des Têtes to admire its remarkable façade, then settle in for a leisurely meal if the restaurant is operating. Budget roughly €35–€65 per person and reserve ahead; Monday, December 28, is close to Christmas, so confirm both opening hours and the kitchen’s service before you go. Afterwards, walk toward Parc du Champ de Mars—around 10–15 minutes from the center—and spend about 45 minutes unwinding among the paths.
From the park, allow roughly 10 minutes on foot to reach Colmar railway station. If you have luggage, collect it before the park or use a taxi rather than doubling back; leave a comfortable buffer for your train or airport connection, especially during the holiday period. Check your departure details and local transport service in advance, as schedules may differ from a normal weekday.
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