Dates: December 14th – December 21st, 2025
Zurich – Colmar – Strasbourg – Frankfurt – Heidelberg – Cologne
Let’s go to Europe for the holidays! Picture cobblestone streets lined with twinkling lights, festive music, cozy cafés, and the most iconic Christmas markets in Switzerland, France, and Germany. We’ll explore fairytale towns, ice skate under castle views, and enjoy winter treats along the way. This is the ultimate festive girls’ trip!
– The first 8 spots that are booked save $100 –
- 8 Days/7 Nights
- 8-20 Spots
- Double occupancy in 3 and 4-star Hotels
- 7 breakfasts,1 lunch & 2 dinners included
- Fly into Zurich Airport (ZRH),Train from Zurich airport to city center.
- Fly out of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) – you can book any flight time on Dec 21st.
Only a 25% deposit is required to book your spot on this trip. You can make payments as you like until 60 days prior to the trip. All payments are due 60 days prior to December 14th.
Read the FAQ! Have any other questions? Contact Rachel via Email or Instagram (@RachelLIkesTraveling or [email protected]). Instagram is the quickest place to get a response.
Overview
Join us for an unforgettable 8-day winter adventure through the best Christmas markets in Europe! We’ll visit six iconic cities across Switzerland, France, and Germany – from sparkling lakeside villages to medieval town squares glowing with lights. This trip is made for women who want a cozy and festive escape during the holidays, without the hassle of planning.
Expect beautiful train rides, adorable market mugs, snowy photo ops, and lots of holiday magic. It’s the perfect mix of cultural charm, relaxed travel, and festive vibes with a group of new friends.
If you’d like to book roundtrip flights in and out of Zurich, the train ride from Frankfurt to Zurich takes approximately 4.5 hours.
Itinerary
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Touch down in Zurich and get ready to start your holiday adventure!
After settling in, we’ll jump right into the festive spirit with a visit to the indoor Christmas market at the main station. There’s a massive Swarovski Christmas tree and cozy mulled wine stalls. Then we’ll stroll down the beautifully lit Bahnhofstrasse and catch the famous Singing Christmas Tree, a local tradition filled with lights and carols.
To kick off the trip, we’ll enjoy a festive welcome dinner together.
Included: Welcome Dinner, Train from Zurich airport to city center
Overnight in Zurich
Today we’re off on a day trip to Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most charming lakeside cities. After breakfast, we’ll take a scenic train ride through snow-dusted landscapes and arrive in time to explore the city’s festive Christmas market set around Franziskanerplatz. With the mountains in the background and warm lights all around, it’s pure magic.
Enjoy skating, sipping Swiss hot chocolate, and browsing stalls filled with holiday treats and handmade gifts. We’ll return to Zurich in the evening, with time to relax or revisit a favorite market spot.
Included: Breakfast, Roundtrip train to Lucerne
Overnight in Zurich
After breakfast, we’ll check out and take a scenic train ride from Zurich to Colmar, passing through snowy countryside as we enter France’s storybook Alsace region. Once we arrive, we’ll drop our bags and head out for a short guided walking tour to get our bearings before setting off to explore.
Colmar is one of the most magical towns in Europe during the holidays, with cobblestone streets, colorful half-timbered houses, and six themed Christmas markets spread across the historic old town. We’ll wander the glowing lanes, visit the iconic Petite Venise market, and taste local specialties like flammkuchen and bredele cookies.
The rest of the day is yours to soak in the fairytale atmosphere, shop for handmade gifts, and sip warm drinks as the town sparkles around you.
Included: Breakfast, train ticket from Zurich to Colmar, short guided walking tour
Overnight in Colmar
In the early afternoon, we’ll take a short train ride to Strasbourg, famously known as the Capital of Christmas. With over ten different themed markets scattered across its UNESCO-listed city center, Strasbourg becomes an enchanting holiday dream each December. We’ll start near the Strasbourg Cathedral, where colorful stalls sit beneath the stunning gothic façade, then make our way through Place Broglie’s Christkindelsmärik for classic Alsatian treats and beautiful handmade gifts.
Next, we’ll visit Place Kléber to see Strasbourg’s massive Christmas tree and the heartwarming “Village of Sharing.” You’ll have free time to explore on your own, whether that’s grabbing a bretzel and vin chaud, admiring the light displays around every corner, or finding your favorite mug to bring home.
Strasbourg’s markets officially open around 2 PM, so our timing ensures you catch everything at its festive best.
Included: Breakfast, round-trip train ticket to Strasbourg
Overnight in Colmar
After breakfast, we’ll take a direct train from Colmar to Frankfurt and settle into our final hotel stay for the trip. Once we arrive, we’ll kick things off with a short guided walk through the historic Old Town to get our bearings before diving into the markets.
Frankfurt’s Römerberg square transforms into a festive wonderland with over 200 beautifully decorated stalls, a towering Christmas tree, and charming half-timbered buildings lining the cobblestone square. We’ll stroll the main market trail through Römerberg, Paulsplatz, and Mainkai, with plenty of time to try festive bites like hot apple wine, cinnamon-roasted almonds, and the famous Bethmännchen marzipan cookies. There are lots of great options available for purchase throughout the market.
Included: Breakfast, train ticket from Colmar to Frankfurt, short guided walking tour of Frankfurt
Overnight in Frankfurt
After breakfast, we’ll take a short train ride to Heidelberg, one of Germany’s most romantic towns. During the holidays, its entire Old Town transforms into a trail of six festive markets stretching along the cobblestoned Hauptstrasse. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the charming stalls at Universitätsplatz, sip mulled wine from the massive barrel bar in Marktplatz, and wander through the magical tree-lined Winter Forest at Kornmarkt.
We’ll also go ice skating at Karlsplatz, set beneath the glowing silhouette of Heidelberg Castle. Whether you lace up your skates or just enjoy the view with a warm drink, it’s one of the most magical scenes of the trip.
If you’re eager to explore even more, you might consider visiting the markets in nearby Stuttgart, home to one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets and just a short train ride away.
Included: Breakfast, Roundtrip train to Heidelberg, Ice skating at Karlsplatz
Overnight in Frankfurt
After breakfast, we’ll take a morning train to Cologne where the festive energy hits you the moment you arrive at the central station. The iconic Cathedral market is right outside. We will have a guided tour with a local around the city to see cologne in the day time & get our bearings, then were off to see the markets! With ten uniquely themed markets spread throughout the city, today is all about exploring Cologne’s best. From the fairytale Heinzelmännchen Gnome Market in the Old Town to the elegant Angel’s Market lit by twinkling stars.
Each market has its own collectible Glühwein mug and specialty snacks like crispy potato pancakes, roasted nuts, and local Kölsch beer. You’ll also get a pass for the Christmas Market Express mini train to help you hop between the city’s highlights with ease.
In the evening, we’ll return to Frankfurt and head out together for a cozy farewell dinner to celebrate an unforgettable holiday week.
Included: Breakfast, Guided Tour of Cologne, Roundtrip train to Cologne, Christmas Market Express mini train, Farewell Dinner
Optional: Visit the Harbor Market near the Chocolate Museum
Overnight in Frankfurt
Wake up with your heart and suitcase full. If you have time before your flight, enjoy a quiet morning walk or grab a final coffee and croissant in Frankfurt’s city center. You’ll have a train ticket to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and can head out whenever works best for your flight.
Included: Breakfast, Train ticket to Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Inclusions
Everything Included on the trip!
- Double Occupancy Hotel Accommodations for 7 Nights
- 7 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners, 1 Lunch
- Welcome Dinner in Zurich
- Ice Skating Experience in Heidelberg
- Guided Market Walk in Colmar
- Guided Market Walk in Frankfurt
- Roundtrip Train to Lucerne
- Roundtrip Train to Strasbourg
- Roundtrip Train to Heidelberg
- Train from Zurich to Colmar
- Train from Colmar to Frankfurt
- Train to Cologne
- Train Ticket to Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Train from Zurich airport to city center
Exclusions
- International Flights
- Travel Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Transportation outside listed times & days
- Food & Alcohol outside listed inclusions
- Train / Bus tickets outside itinerary
- Optional Extras
FAQs
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No, all international flights are not included.
Yes! if you’re signing up with a friend just let me know and you will be put together. If you end up connecting with one of the girls before the trip and decide to room together we can put you together too.
Otherwise I place girls together based on a small roommate survey I send out before the trip. The goal is to put you with a like minded roommate that’s going to make your trip even better. Surprisingly enough, some of my roommate matches have ended up traveling with each other outside these trips, which we think is pretty cool.
Yes Travel Insurance is required for this trip.
$150,000 is the minimum medical coverage we recommend.
Travel Insurance quotes can be gotten anywhere online, from past experience of dealing with claims we love these two companies:
Travel Guard by AIG
World Nomads
The minimum number of girls for this trip is 8. Once we reach 8, the 25% deposit is no longer refundable as we book our hotels, activities, etc. at that point. If we don’t reach the minimum number of people, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel your trip more than 60 days prior to the trip your 25% deposit is non-refundable but can be used for future Adventuring for Life trips minus a $100 cancellation fee. Anything over the 25% will be refunded automatically.
The trip credit must be used within 12 months of cancellation.
The trip is 100% non-refundable 60 days prior to the trip.
The average age on most trips is 25-45 but don’t let that discourage you from signing up. “46” doesn’t mean you’re too old to enjoy a trip. What I like to tell everyone before signing up is to make sure they’re ok with possibly traveling with people that are 21, that they may be the only “person their age” but also if you’re down to have fun and you do believe that age is just a number. You’re the perfect time of person for these trips. My trips are pretty high energy, pretty fast paced and fun – lots of fun. I just tell everyone to have an open mind and come to have a blast. We aren’t sitting down and relaxing by the pool for 7 days, we’re seeing the world!