Colmar and Strasbourg in France - where else to visit via train?

[99jjb]

A friend and I are going to travel on the Eurostar London to Lille next month, and then want to go to Strasbourg and Colmar. Probably stay in Strasbourg. We'll be there for a week, and will only have access to public transport. We want pretty towns/villages/scenery, and the chance to just mooch around and people watch. We're not very outdoorsy either.

We'd love to lots of day trips during that week - does anyone have any recommendations? We have already done Paris and Disneyland. We'd love to cross the border and perhaps go to Freiberg and somewhere in Switzerland (although Basel doesn't really appeal, and not sure where else is pretty but not too far from our base in Strasbourg?

Does anyone have any recommendations in and around the Strasbourg and Colmar area. Or have any recommendations on where is best to stay?

Thank you

Freiburg is beautiful, I'd definitely go there! I also did a day trip from that part of France and have wanted to go back for a longer visit ever since.

You can easily cross into Switzerland and visit Basel for an afternoon.

I recommend both. I did interrail last year and went to Basel and Germany. A week will give you plenty of time.

Have a wonderful trip!

Thank you everyone.

We haven't booked our Eurostar yet as this is a bit of a last minute trip, and have seen that we could fly London to Basel which would be a lot quicker than the Eurostar - has anyone done that and would recommend?

Yes it's quicker and easier.

I was half planning a similar trip this year but flying into Basel with my DS! Unfortunately we won’t be going this year now. I seen a lovely photo of Ribeauville on instagram with Christmas markets and that was what led me down the path to exploring the places around that area. It looks really pretty but I’m not sure if there is much to do there.

The Christmas Market in Colmar is small but breathtakingly cute. The one in Basel is huge and takes over different parts of the city.

I stayed in a great AirBnB type place in Strasbourg last month - on Place Kleber, right next to the Apple store so really in the heart of the city:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/life-renaissance-new-concept.en-gb.html

Baden-Baden isn't terribly far by train. Going in the other direction, there's Schaffhausen - the Rhine Falls are incredibly picturesque. You could make it a day trip and go as far as Constance. And the countryside around both Strasbiurg and Colmar is lovely but you'd most likely need a hire car.

We also did Triberg by train when we stayed at Strasbourg, some pretty waterfalls where the red squirrels were practically tame. Also lots of cuckoo clocks!

Freiburg and Basel are both lovely. And yes, fly to Basel.

Obernai is a lovely Alsatian town, not too far from Strasbourg, with train service. You could also stop in Molsheim on the way there or back.

Riquewihr is a beautiful fairytale type village about 20 min by bus from Colmar. Or abut €40 to €50 euros by taxi.