Christmas markets by train in Europe: five rail itineraries with 2026 dates, journey times, first class, luggage rules and reservation tips from our designers.
Europe's best Christmas markets are all on the rail network, and the train is the easiest way to see them: the stations are in the city centers, the old towns are closed to cars during the markets, and you never drive on winter roads. The routes that work best are Bavaria to Berlin, the Rhine from Cologne to Alsace, Alsace and Switzerland, Munich to Vienna, and Belgium with the Rhineland. Plan two or three nights per city, travel in first class with a seat reservation, and go on weekdays between November 30 and December 18, 2026, when every market is open.
We design Christmas market trips by train every winter, mostly for travelers from North America. Here are the five itineraries we use, with the 2026 market dates we confirmed, the journey times, and what we have learned about first class, luggage and reservations in December.
| Route | Markets | Days | Longest leg, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria to Berlin | Munich, Salzburg, Nuremberg, Dresden, Berlin | 9 | 3 hours 10 minutes (Nuremberg to Dresden) |
| The Rhine | Cologne, Aachen, Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Colmar | 8 to 10 | 1 hour 50 minutes (Frankfurt to Strasbourg) |
| Alsace and Switzerland | Strasbourg, Colmar, Basel, Lucerne or Zurich, Montreux | 7 to 10 | about 2 hours 30 minutes (Basel to Montreux) |
| Munich to Vienna | Munich, Salzburg, Vienna | 6 to 8 | 2 hours 30 minutes (Salzburg to Vienna) |
| Belgium and the Rhineland | Brussels, Bruges, Cologne, Aachen | 6 to 8 | 1 hour 50 minutes (Brussels to Cologne) |
Munich (November 20 to December 24, 2026), with a day in Salzburg, then Nuremberg (November 27 to December 24), Dresden (November 25 to December 24) and Berlin, where the Gendarmenmarkt stays open until December 31. Munich to Nuremberg is about 1 hour 5 minutes by ICE (about 1 hour 40 minutes until December 12, 2026, while works slow the line) and Dresden to Berlin about 1 hour 35 minutes. Nuremberg to Dresden is the long day, about 3 hours 10 minutes at best with a change, so we schedule it mid-morning.
This is our Germany Christmas Markets by Train trip: eight nights in 4-star hotels inside the old towns, first-class trains with seat reservations, guided market tours in Munich and Nuremberg, and a day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, from EUR 2,299 (about $2,670) per person. For every market's dates and hours, see our guide to German Christmas markets.
The train version of a Rhine cruise, with nights in the old towns instead of on a ship. Start in Cologne, whose cathedral market runs from November 16 to December 23, 2026, with a half day in Aachen (November 20 to December 23). Cologne to Frankfurt is about 1 hour 10 minutes by ICE, and Frankfurt's Römerberg market runs from November 23 to December 22. A direct train takes about 1 hour 50 minutes from Frankfurt to Strasbourg (November 27 to December 24), and Colmar (November 23 to December 29) is another 26 minutes by regional train. Heidelberg, with its market from November 23 to December 22, is an easy extra night between Frankfurt and Strasbourg.
Two nights in Strasbourg, two or three in Colmar with a driver for the wine villages, then Basel, about 45 minutes from Colmar. Basel's market, on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, runs from November 26 to December 23, 2026, daily from 11 am to 8:30 pm. From Basel, Lucerne is about an hour and Zurich 53 minutes, and Montreux Noël, on the shore of Lake Geneva, runs from November 20 to December 24 with more than 150 chalets. Swiss trains need no reservation on ordinary routes, and the timetable makes this the most relaxed of the five routes.
Our Belgium, Alsace and Switzerland by Train trip follows this line from Brussels to Strasbourg, Colmar, Basel and Zermatt, and our guide to Christmas markets in Switzerland has the Swiss dates.
Munich to Salzburg takes about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 minutes by direct railjet or EuroCity, and Salzburg to Vienna about 2 hours 30 minutes. Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt, on the cathedral and Residenz squares, runs from November 19, 2026 to January 1, 2027, with a Krampus run on December 5. Vienna opens earliest of all: the Rathausplatz market from November 13 to December 26, and the Schönbrunn Palace market from November 6, 2026 to January 6, 2027. This route works well for travelers who want to spend Christmas itself in Europe, since Vienna and Salzburg keep their markets open after December 24. If you start in Switzerland, the EuroCity from Zurich reaches Munich in about 3 hours 30 minutes. Munich is also the start of the Brenner line to Bolzano, about 4 hours south, whose market runs until January 6; our guide to Christmas markets in Italy has the 2026 dates.
Brussels runs Winter Wonders from November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with 238 chalets around the old town, including Place Sainte-Catherine. Bruges, about an hour away by direct train, has its Winter Glow from November 20, 2026 to January 31, 2027, with a covered ice rink in King Albert I Park. From Brussels, the high-speed train reaches Cologne in about 1 hour 50 minutes, stopping in Aachen. Paris to Brussels takes about 1 hour 22 minutes, so this route also starts well from Paris.
And France: Paris to Strasbourg is about 1 hour 45 minutes by TGV, and a direct train links Strasbourg to Lyon in about 3 hours 45 minutes, in time for the Festival of Lights from December 5 to 8, 2026. Our guide to Christmas markets in France has all the French dates, and French Christmas in 7 Days combines Colmar, Lyon and three nights of skiing in Val d'Isère.
We book first class on every long-distance leg in December, and it is not only about comfort. Trains between market cities are full of day visitors on weekends, and first class gives you a calmer car, a reserved seat and room near your luggage.
| Operator | Rule in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deutsche Bahn | No weight limit; hand luggage plus one larger bag you can lift yourself |
| SNCF (TGV, Intercités) | Two suitcases (up to 70 x 90 x 50 cm) and one small bag, each labeled; fines from EUR 50 for extra bags |
| Eurostar | Two suitcases and one hand item, no weight limit |
| SBB | No set limit; take only what you can carry and keep the aisles clear |
In practice, one medium suitcase per person is the rule we give our travelers. Christmas shopping adds weight as the trip goes on, so we arrange private transfers between hotels and stations, and use luggage services where they exist. Coats and boots take space: pack layers rather than bulk.
A river cruise lets you unpack once; a train trip lets you sleep in the old towns, see the markets lit up every evening and reach the ones no ship reaches, such as Munich, Dresden, Colmar or Montreux. We compare both honestly, including cost, in Christmas markets by train or river cruise.
Every operator on these routes offers free assistance at stations, as long as you book it ahead: Deutsche Bahn through its Mobility Service Center, SNCF through Assist'enGare at least 24 hours before departure, SNCB in Belgium at least 24 hours ahead in most cases (longer for international journeys), and SBB at least an hour ahead within Switzerland and 24 hours for international trips. We book it with your tickets. At the markets, the squares are mostly flat but cobbled and crowded after dark, so we choose hotels a short, step-free walk away and plan visits at opening time on weekdays.
See all our ideas on the Christmas markets trips page, then tell us which markets you want to see and when, and Aurélie will design your route by train, with the seats reserved and the hotels by the squares.
More guides: Christmas marketsItineraries
For a first trip, Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden and Berlin, with a day in Salzburg: the markets are the most famous in Germany and the trains are fast. If you prefer France, combine Strasbourg and Colmar with Basel. Both routes take seven to ten days, with two or three nights in each city.
In December, yes. German trains do not require a reservation, but weekend trains to Nuremberg, Munich and Cologne are full; a first-class Flexpreis ticket includes one, otherwise it costs EUR 5.50 in second class and EUR 6.90 in first. TGV seats in France are always reserved. Swiss trains need no reservation on ordinary routes.
We think so on long legs. First class gives you a calmer car on busy December weekends, room near your luggage and, in Germany, a reserved seat and lounge access with a Flexpreis ticket. On short regional hops, such as Strasbourg to Colmar or Colmar to Basel, second class is fine.
Deutsche Bahn sets no weight limit, but you must lift your bags yourself. SNCF allows two suitcases and one small bag per person on the TGV, each with a name label, and fines extra bags from EUR 50. Eurostar allows two suitcases and a hand item. We recommend one medium suitcase each and private transfers to the hotels.
It depends on how you like to travel. A cruise means unpacking once, with meals included. A train trip means hotels in the old towns, markets lit up every evening, and cities no ship reaches, such as Munich, Dresden, Colmar and Montreux. At a similar level of comfort, the cost is comparable.
Be inspired by our European itineraries, then let our local travel designers tailor your journey to your interests, preferences and pace.
Eight nights by first-class train from Munich to Berlin in December: a day in Salzburg, Rothenburg, Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt and Dresden's Striezelmarkt. Old-town 4-star hotels within walking distance of the stalls.
From €2,299 per person
Nine nights in three bases, Brussels, Strasbourg and Basel, with guided day trips to Ghent, Bruges, Colmar, Zermatt, Mount Pilatus and Bern. First-class trains and 3-star hotels by the station; a lot of ground covered in one trip.
From €2,999 per person
Six nights in December: two in Colmar for the markets and wine villages, one at the Hôtel-Dieu in Lyon with dinner at Paul Bocuse, three in Val d'Isère with two full ski days. First-class train, 4- and 5-star hotels.
From €2,099 per person
D-Day tours from Paris: distances and times to Omaha, Utah and Pointe du Hoc, cemetery hours and rules, a realistic day plan, and why we prefer Bayeux.
Wheelchair accessible Switzerland in practice: SBB assistance and step-free trains, Glacier Express and Jungfraujoch access, city terrain and hotel checks.
Plan Chamonix the way we do: three or four nights, the Aiguille du Midi on the first clear morning, the Mer de Glace, Lac Blanc, winter tips, where to stay.
Two minutes, three steps. Free and without obligation.
