A Christmas markets road trip from Geneva Airport can link four very different festive towns in four or five days: Montreux, 91 km and 1 h 05 away on Lake Geneva, Basel on the Rhine, then Colmar and Strasbourg in Alsace across the French border. With a chauffeur, you can enjoy mulled wine at every stop and never worry about parking in crowded old towns. AirportsTransfers.ch can drive each leg and bring you back to GVA for your flight.
- Season: Advent, when markets in all four towns are open
- Distance from GVA: Montreux 91 km, 1 h 05; Basel, Colmar and Strasbourg further north
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into France for Alsace
- Ideal length: four to five days
- Best for: couples, families and groups of friends seeking a festive break
Day one: Montreux by the lake
Montreux's Christmas market stretches along the lakeside promenade, with wooden chalets selling crafts, local food and gifts, and the snowy mountains of the Chablais rising across the water. It is known for its playful touches, including a Santa who flies over the market in a sleigh, and the Rochers-de-Naye above town, reached by cogwheel train, host a festive Santa's home for children. The Château de Chillon, the medieval castle on a rock in the lake just outside Montreux, often joins in with seasonal events and is worth visiting at any time. Before heading north, nearby Lausanne also has a festive market and lights in its old town.
Day two: Basel on the Rhine
From Montreux, the drive north crosses the Swiss Plateau to Basel. The city's Christmas market is among the largest in Switzerland, spread across the Barfüsserplatz and the Münsterplatz in front of the red sandstone Minster. Stalls offer Basler Läckerli, a spiced honey biscuit that is a city speciality, along with handmade decorations. Basel's streets are hung with festive lights, and a walk down to the Rhine, where the little ferries still cross on the current, adds a quiet moment amid the crowds. The city's museums make an ideal refuge on a cold afternoon.
Day three: Colmar, a fairy-tale setting
Colmar, a short drive north of Basel over the French border, seems made for Christmas. Its half-timbered houses, painted in bright colours and decorated with lights and greenery, frame several small markets, each with its own theme, spread across the old town squares and the Petite Venise district along the canal. In the evening, the illuminated streets are magical. Around Colmar, wine villages such as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim hold their own intimate markets and are a short drive away. Alsatian treats include bredele, small Christmas biscuits, pain d'épices and vin chaud made with local white or red wine.
Between Colmar and Strasbourg, the road follows the foot of the Vosges past more wine villages, many of which decorate their streets with lights, wreaths and figures. Obernai, with its market square and timbered houses, makes a pleasant stop. On the way, the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg looks down on the Rhine plain from its hilltop and sometimes hosts festive events. A chauffeured journey here lets everyone enjoy a glass of vin chaud or a tasting of Crémant d'Alsace, the local sparkling wine, without anyone having to drive afterwards.
Day four: Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas
Strasbourg calls itself the capital of Christmas, and its market, the Christkindelsmärik, is one of the oldest in France. Stalls fill the square in front of the Gothic cathedral, whose single spire rises over the city, and spread across many other squares in the old town, the Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A giant Christmas tree stands on Place Kléber. Petite France, the former tanners' quarter, with timbered houses reflected in the canals, is especially pretty at dusk. Strasbourg is also the seat of the European Parliament, a reminder of its role between France and Germany. From Strasbourg, the chauffeur can drive you back to Geneva, or you can end your trip at Basel's airport.
- Markets are busiest at weekends and in the evenings; visit mid-week or in the morning for space.
- Book hotels well ahead, especially in Colmar and Strasbourg.
- Dress warmly with good shoes; much of the day is spent outdoors on cobbles.
Book your festive chauffeur
Book through AirportsTransfers.ch and see a fixed price per vehicle before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur greets you in Geneva Airport arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits if it is delayed. A Mercedes E-Class suits up to three people, the S-Class adds space for longer legs, and the V-Class van carries up to seven with shopping bags and luggage. Groups can travel by Sprinter minibus, child seats are available on request and companies can request invoices for team outings. Contact +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp.
