10 Things to Do in Strasbourg in December

Fortunately, the best things to see and do in Strasbourg are constantly changing throughout the year for the simple fact that the weather and cultural traditions readjust the type of experience tourists can have when they arrive in this beautiful city. In the case of December, you have to know that you are in one of the months with the highest number of visitors and this implies that certain plans are more favorable than others from a logistical point of view.

I recommend that you continue reading this publication, as it includes different activities that fit perfectly into a fun visit during this time of the year, which will help you to better organize your time, as well as the use of your money throughout your trip.

The Notre Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral is the city's main tourist attraction and is definitely a must-see no matter what time of year you visit.

At the same time there is the issue that specifically the month of December is a very special time of the year to tour it knowing that the whole city will be decorated with Christmas lights because there will be about 10 markets throughout the month.

That means you will find a totally unique panorama in which you will see the roofs of the medieval buildings of the Great Island of Strasbourg stand out on a sea of Christmas lights, which make this city look like a real fairy tale.

My recommendation is that you opt for a guided tour, so you can learn several important details about the past of this structure that at some point became the tallest building in the world. In addition, you will learn important details about the importance of the church for France and Western Europe as you climb the 330 steps to the observation deck.

The cities of northeastern France and, especially, those closest to the German border have a gastronomic space that you can not miss during a Christmas visit to Strasbourg. I am talking about the winstub and they are a kind of restaurants that have a very popular character that were created by wine producers to sell at affordable prices the surplus of their harvest.

For that reason, it became a warm and rustic environment ideal for the working population during the winter months. Over the centuries they have become a very typical tourist experience during the winter months because the food and drink offered is intended to warm the bodies of the diners.

So it is a type of restaurant that you should definitely visit during the month of December. That is if you take into account that for centuries it was the star type of establishment during this month of the year. In addition, it is a culinary experience that you can perfectly complement with a gastronomic tour that takes you to know the cheeses and wines of the region. So that you return home with a true insight into the gastronomic traditions of Alsace.

The Barrage Vauban is a very important point in the historic center of Strasbourg. It is a bridge that at the same time functions as a small dam and was created as a work of defensive engineering during the seventeenth century on the River III, just at the southern end of the Great Island of Strasbourg. It is notable for its roofed structure and for the statues and gargoyles inside that are a direct replica of some of those found in the cathedral and on the exterior of the Rohan Palace.

At the same time, it is an excellent plan to enjoy during the month of December for the simple fact that it offers excellent views of the Petite France neighborhood, which usually has excellent Christmas decorations because it is a very important reference point of the Franco-German architecture, which defines the buildings found throughout the historic center of the city.

It is also a major tourist attraction that tends to go a little unnoticed by most visitors, which means you can enjoy it in comfort at a time of year when many buildings and monuments have long waiting times due to the large number of visitors arriving in Strasbourg.

For many people the month of December in Strasbourg is an undisputed synonym of Christmas markets. And the fact is that this city has one of the oldest in Europe, located annually right next to the cathedral. Today along the entire length of Strasbourg are developed about 10 different Christmas markets that try to meet different needs, which range from handicrafts and gastronomic products to second-hand clothing and decorative items for the home.

Definitely go through these places of sale is one of the best things you can do in Strasbourg during the Christmas season. Although the truth is that during the whole month they will be available for you. So, you don't need your visit to coincide with Christmas Eve to enjoy this important cultural event.

Also, keep in mind that throughout the month and especially during the weekends it is possible that these markets become a kind of festival in which there is live music and people dressed up as Christmas characters. All with the intention of turning the atmosphere into a real festive experience.

In fact, this kind of Christmas markets are a reality in different villages of Alsace and an excursion to visit the best ones is something you should do if you have enough time.

Christmas carols are one of the most distinctive aspects of the month of December. And this type of Christmas music has had a significant success in all parts of the world and specifically in Western Europe are a cultural element that for centuries has captivated locals and tourists who have the opportunity to listen to them.

If you are interested in knowing a little about the carols of the Alsace region then I recommend you to visit the church of St. Thomas.

This site is a Protestant temple very important for the musical history of this city. Knowing that Amadeus Mozart played on the organ that is still on display today. For that reason, year after year this church is usually a meeting point for different children's choirs to practice the carols that will sing both in the masses of this church and in other religious events throughout the city.

Best of all, if you take a stroll through this site during the evenings of December you will probably come across these practice sessions that blend the musical traditions of French and German carols, which means that in the evenings the interior of the church is flooded with this practically angelic music that is definitely one of the most important cultural heritages of Strasbourg and the entire Alsace region.

Mulled wine is a favorite beverage throughout France during cold weather. That is interesting, since the month of December represents the change from autumn to winter and, therefore, I recommend you to enjoy this unique gastronomic tradition in any of the restaurants or street stalls that offer this drink.

You should know that in this case we are talking about red wine, since the taste of mulled white wine is not as pleasant as you would imagine. At the same time, you will realize that it is such a common drink this month that you can start trying it in different places until you discover which is your favorite establishment. Although the truth is that drinking mulled wine during the month of December is something so essential that you could also do it in a two-day visit to Strasbourg.

Christmas and New Year means that both school and university students have a short vacation. Many workers also take advantage of this time to rest and, as a result, the second half of December is often a favorite time to party in the city of Strasbourg.

My advice is to join these experiences especially if you are looking for nightlife plans that will help you experience a much more diverse and entertaining trip. There are different areas throughout the city to party in style and La Salamandre, Le Studio Saglio and La Kulture are just some of the establishments you could visit within the historic district of the city to have fun.

Indeed, partying is a recommended plan for a single day visit to Strasbourg, but one thing I do make it quite clear is to bring coats, as most establishments have checkrooms. This knowing that as soon as you set foot out of the place the cold is quite strong. Especially in a month like December.

December can also be an ideal time to take a trip to any of the cities closest to Strasbourg. And this month with its tourist focus and Christmas festivities becomes an ideal opportunity for you to explore other parts of the Grand Est region in the north, right where the town of Metz is located. This city is distinguished by its old town as well as its beautiful Gothic cathedral.

The city is also known for being home to the Pompidou-Metz center, which is a museum with several locations throughout France that focuses on showcasing the best of contemporary art. So this tour is one of the best day trips from Strasbourg.

So, if your trip to Strasbourg is long enough for you to spend a couple of hours in another location, then you have to take advantage of this opportunity. Especially because on the way between the two cities you will also be able to enjoy the landscapes that characterize this region that has some of the best preserved virgin forests in France.

December has been a peculiar month for many centuries in Western cultures. The fact is that the existence of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve make this time of the year a time of change for people regardless of their role in society. For this reason, visiting a museum focused on the history of Strasbourg is one of the best things to do during a December visit to the city.

And in this site you will find models, paintings and objects that show what daily life was like in this place both in medieval times and in later periods. This while you also learn about the urban, social and political planning that Strasbourg has gone through throughout its different centuries of history.

At the same time the museum becomes even more recommendable during the month of December knowing that it is common to organize temporary exhibitions related to the Christmas customs of Strasbourg, which have made it a favorite city to spend Christmas in the northeast of France.

Strasbourg is one of the seats of the European Parliament and throughout the year this building remains open for tourists to visit to learn about the history of the European Union and the importance of its legislative body.

In turn, the month of December is an appropriate time to learn how to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg by the fact that there are usually conferences and special activities with very diverse topics because it is such a touristy time

Of this site you have to know that it is located within the European Quarter, which is an area that is located next to the Parc de l'Orangerie and is distinguished by having quite innovative and modern buildings, which contrast very well with a city in which most of the buildings follow medieval or neoclassical architectural patterns.

Of this type of exhibitions you have to know that they are always free and are usually available during most of the month. Especially in the second half of the month due to the fact that the influx of tourists increases a lot for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The themes almost always have to do with European culture and its traditions.

The month of December represents an increase in the cold in the city of Strasbourg and, as a result, the maximum temperatures are usually around 5 °C while the minimum temperatures will easily be in degrees below zero.

December is one of the most touristy times for the city of Strasbourg outside the summer because of the Christmas markets that make it a favorite destination in Western Europe.

As the tourist demand is so high during the month of December, then you have to know that a trip at this time of the year is significantly more expensive than in other winter or autumn months. However, the prices are quite similar to what a trip to Strasbourg costs during the summer.

In your suitcase to visit Strasbourg during the month of December you can not miss quality coats that are waterproof and it is also essential that you take a favorable footwear for walking in the snow. For the truth is that there is a high probability that there will be some snowfall at some point during the trip.