Arrive in France and make your way to Obernai, your medieval Alsatian base for the next four nights. After checking into your hotel, you’ll have time to settle in and wander down to the central Place du Marché, where the Christmas market glows with lights, wooden chalets, and the scent of cinnamon, gingerbread, and vin chaud. There is no fixed program tonight: stroll at your own pace, warm your hands around a mug of mulled wine, and take in the decorations before enjoying a relaxed welcome dinner at a traditional winstub, where regional dishes like choucroute garnie and tarte flambée set the tone for the week.

Today is deliberately unhurried. After a leisurely breakfast, spend the morning getting to know Obernai properly, exploring the Kapellturm belfry, the six-bucket well, and streets lined with half-timbered houses wrapped in festive garlands and lights. In the afternoon, you can take a short taxi or local transfer along the northern stretch of the Alsace Wine Route to nearby villages such as Barr, Mittelbergheim, and Andlau, where vineyards frame tiny squares and smaller, lesser-known markets feel wonderfully local. Return to Obernai in the evening for dinner on your own at one of the town’s inviting restaurants or winstubs.

A 30-minute train ride brings you into Strasbourg, home to one of Europe’s oldest and most iconic Christmas markets. You’ll spend the day exploring the Grande Île, the UNESCO-listed historic center, where the Christkindelsmärik sprawls across squares like Place Broglie and Place de la Cathédrale. Wander past the Gothic cathedral, meander through the canals and timber-framed lanes of Petite France, and browse stalls selling ornaments, crafts, and Alsatian treats at your own pace. After a cozy lunch in a winstub, you can stay into the evening to experience Strasbourg fully illuminated, when streets shimmer with light and the whole city feels like a living snow globe, before returning by train to Obernai.

This morning you travel by train, around 40 minutes, to Colmar, often described as one of Europe’s most photogenic towns in December. Here, colorful half-timbered houses reflect in quiet canals, especially in the Petite Venise neighborhood, which looks straight out of a storybook under Christmas lights. Colmar hosts six themed markets spread across different squares, each with its own charm, from local produce and wines to crafts and ornaments. Spend the day drifting between them, sampling bredele biscuits, hot chocolate, and a glass of Gewurztraminer. Stay into the evening to see the town transformed by light before returning to Obernai for your final night in France.

Enjoy a gentle final morning in Obernai with time for a last coffee and stroll through the market before checking out. You then travel by train via Strasbourg to Stuttgart, a smooth journey of around an hour and a half that carries you from France into Germany. After settling into your centrally located hotel, head straight out to discover the Stuttgart Weihnachtsmarkt, one of Germany’s largest and oldest Christmas markets. Stalls fill several main squares with crafts, decorations, and seasonal food, while elaborately decorated rooftops compete for attention with animated figures and lights. Ride the Ferris wheel on Schlossplatz for sweeping views over the illuminated city and toast the start of your German chapter with a glass of Glühwein and a plate of Schupfnudeln.

This afternoon you’ll hop on the S-Bahn for the short ride to Esslingen am Neckar, a beautifully preserved medieval town that hosts one of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas experiences. Two markets run side by side: a traditional Christmas market in the main square and the extraordinary Mittelaltermarkt, a medieval fair with costumed merchants, blacksmiths, jugglers, fire-eaters, and minstrels performing among half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. Arrive mid-afternoon to explore before dusk, then stay into the evening as torches are lit and the ambiance becomes even more magical. Try specialties such as Dampfnudeln and rustic breads or smoked fish from open fires, before returning to Stuttgart for the night.

Your final full day invites you to look beyond the markets and discover Stuttgart’s cultural side. You might visit the striking Mercedes-Benz Museum, which traces the history of the automobile through an impressive collection and innovative design, or the Staatsgalerie art museum, renowned for its holdings from the Middle Ages to modern masters. In the late afternoon and evening, return to the Christmas markets for one last unhurried wander, perhaps exploring areas you missed, such as the Finnish village or Karlsplatz flea and artisan market. Celebrate your last night with classic Swabian dishes like Maultaschen paired with a glass of local Trollinger wine.

Depending on your flight time, enjoy a final relaxed morning in Stuttgart with time for coffee, a last look around the market stalls, and any final gift buying for friends and family back home. The S-Bahn runs directly from the city center to Stuttgart Airport in about 20 minutes, making departure easy. As you head home, you’ll carry with you not only bags filled with treats and decorations, but also the glow of a week spent in some of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas settings.