Skip to content

Christmas Markets and Medieval Magic

Continental Europe
Rail

From £498

Excluding Flights

3 Nights

Nov-Dec

Overview

Step into a winter fairy tale this festive season with a magical train journey to Europe’s most enchanting Christmas markets. Choose between two breathtaking destinations, Bruges or Strasbourg, each offering its own unique charm and unforgettable festive spirit.

In Bruges, the air is filled with the scent of spiced chocolate and mulled wine, as cobbled streets wind past medieval gables adorned with shimmering lights. The city’s picturesque squares transform into a winter wonderland of twinkling stalls, where you’ll find handcrafted gifts, Belgian delicacies, and seasonal treats. Stroll along peaceful canals, admire the storybook architecture, and lose yourself in the warmth and wonder of this magical setting.

Throughout December, Bruges’ canals, narrow streets, and squares are illuminated with Christmas displays, and many cafés and restaurants feature seasonal menus and warm winter terraces. The compact size of the city makes it easy to explore on foot, allowing visitors to combine shopping at the markets with sightseeing at landmarks like the Belfry, Burg Square, and the canals.

In Strasbourg, the birthplace of Europe’s oldest Christmas market, half-timbered houses sparkle beneath cascades of lights, while the aroma of roasted chestnuts fills the crisp winter air. Explore the magnificent market set around the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, indulge in traditional Alsatian specialties, and experience the spirit of Noël at its most authentic and enchanting.

With its blend of medieval beauty, festive atmosphere, and the romance of train travel, this tour offers a truly unforgettable Christmas experience, a celebration of European tradition and timeless charm.

If you’d prefer a completely personalised itinerary designed around train trips to Christmas Markets, let us know those you’d most love to explore, as well as your preferred dates and length of stay, and we’ll handle the rest.

  • Highlights

    Savour the mulled wine, spiced with with cinnamon and orange.

  • Highlights

    Step back in time and explore the medieval cities, rich in colour, charm, and history

  • Highlights

    Enjoy the festive warmth and magical atmosphere of the Christmas markets in Bruges or Strasbourg

  • chef-preparing-dinner-dish-istk

    Highlights

    Indulge in the rich flavours of from hearty Alsatian dishes to sweet festive treats that capture the spirit of Christmas

  • Highlights

    Savour the world-famous taste of Belgian chocolates, the perfect indulgence for your festive escape.

Bruges

Each year from late November to early January, Bruges hosts one of Belgium’s most picturesque Christmas markets, filling the city’s medieval centre with festive lights, seasonal music, and the scent of spiced treats. The main market takes place on Markt Square, framed by the historic Belfry and traditional gabled houses. Wooden chalets sell handcrafted gifts, Christmas decorations, Belgian chocolate, lace, and winter clothing, alongside food stalls offering waffles, fries, glühwein, and local beers.
A short walk away, Simon Stevinplein hosts a smaller market focused on artisan crafts and gourmet products, offering a quieter, more local experience. Between the two markets, visitors can enjoy an ice-skating rink, set beneath strings of festive lights, creating a postcard-perfect winter scene.
Open from 21 November 2025 to 04 January 2026

Strasbourg

The Christmas Market here, known as Christkindelsmärik, dates back to 1570 and is one of the oldest and most iconic Christmas markets in Europe. Over 300 beautifully decorated wooden chalets fill the cobbled squares around Place Broglie and Place de la Cathédrale, selling handcrafted gifts, Alsatian treats like bredele biscuits, and steaming cups of vin chaud. The Strasbourg Cathedral, illuminated against the winter sky, creates a breathtaking backdrop, its Gothic spire rising dramatically above the festive bustle.

Open from 26 November to 24 December 2025

Itinerary

Depart London on the Eurostar to Brussels or Paris depending on your chosen city. Then continue by train to Bruges or Strasbourg, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening. Settle in and enjoy an evening stroll through the enchanting medieval city, where half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and scenic canals create a fairytale-like atmosphere. For dinner, explore the local cuisine at a local brasserie and sample regional specialties.

Bruges in winter is a storybook come to life. As soft light glimmers on the canals and fairy lights trace the outlines of medieval gables, the city exudes a timeless, festive charm. Wander through cobbled streets lined with chocolate shops and cosy cafés, or take a romantic canal cruise to see Bruges’ historic bridges and elegant architecture from the water.

Strasbourg in winter is the very essence of Christmas magic. Located along the Rhine, this enchanting Alsatian city glows with warmth and charm as fairy lights sparkle across its half-timbered houses and cobbled lanes. The scent of roasted chestnuts, spiced biscuits, and mulled wine fills the air, leading you through a labyrinth of festive markets that have delighted visitors for centuries.

In Bruge, climb the iconic Belfry for sweeping views of the city dusted with winter frost, visit the tranquil Begijnhof, and admire masterpieces by Flemish painters in the Groeningemuseum. The Market Square and Burg Square sparkle with Christmas lights and stalls selling handcrafted gifts, Belgian delicacies, and warm mulled wine.

Explore Strasbourg and the magnificent Cathédrale Notre-Dame, its Gothic spire rising high above a city alive with carols and celebration. Stroll through Petite France, where flower-decked wooden houses reflect in the calm waters of the canals, and discover quaint boutiques, patisseries, and cosy winstubs, a traditional Alsatian wine tavern,  serving hearty Alsatian fare.

Travel back to London via Brussels or Paris or perhaps extend your stay in one of these magnificent cities.

Prices

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private facilities

  • Breakfast throughout

  • All rail travel from/to London

  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday

  • No surcharge guarantee

  • Full financial protection

From £498 Excluding Flights

3 Nights

Nov-Dec

Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.

Make this trip yours

Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.

Kieran
27

US states visited

1

Kangaroo punched by

Request Quote

Departure & price guide

4.8/5

Average Customer Score
Based On 1347 Reviews

You may also like…

View Our Trips