Although I know there are many beautiful cities in the US during the month of December, I still think that Europe takes the cake when it comes to holiday spirit. Back when I was a student, I first got a taste of Christmas markets when I visited Prague in December, which was one of my most favorite memories during my entire semester abroad. I remember how the Christmas lights illuminated the streets, giant Christmas trees starred in each tucked-away square, and spiced mulled wine perfumed the food stalls throughout the Old Town Square.
It was the perfect city for my first encounter with a European Christmas destination. Although it may not be the most famous destination in all of France, it is one of the most picturesque towns within this corner of the country. I had two main reasons for wanting to visit the Christmas markets in Colmar. First, it looked incredibly charming. Second, this city is one of the most famous for European Christmas markets, which immediately grabbed my attention.
And when I saw cheap flights to Basel, Switzerland the closest airport to this region , I was sold! Okay, so I know this spot might be a bit of a trek to get to, but if you are looking for a festive town with amazing Christmas markets, this is definitely worth a visit! Colmar on its own is a sight to see. Sitting on a maze of canals, the perfectly-put-together town is exactly what you want when looking for that old European charm.
However come December, Colmar completely transforms and looks straight out of a Christmas movie. While you can spend most of your time in Colmar checking out all the Christmas decorations and lights, the best thing to do is to head over to one of the six markets that are scattered throughout the city.
Here you can find handcrafted specialty gifts, Nutella crepes, sizzling German sausages, and a variety of mulled wines to sip and sample. For me, this is the best part of a Christmas market, the food!
