Mulled Wine, Markets By Night

Mulled Wine, Markets by Night, 1.5 hours, rated 5 across 23 traveller reviews.

Overview

This walk starts once darkness has settled and the Christmas lights are on. A local guide gathers a group of no more than six people at the Meiselocker statue and sets off through the illuminations, taking in the famous tree on Place Kleber before continuing to the less obvious squares and lanes where residents go to escape the crush. Along the way the guide explains how the December display comes together, with shopkeepers, restaurants and residents all contributing to the decorations.

The market here is not one single site. It is a set of smaller markets scattered across the city, which is why the tour keeps moving between them and why visitors on their own so easily lose their bearings. The route links the headline sights to the quieter corners, and the night ends with a cup of Alsatian mulled wine, or a hot juice for anyone who prefers it. The whole walk runs 1.5 hours.

It suits a first look at the December markets: one reviewer suggested taking the tour early in a visit for the overview it gives, and two mentioned follow-up recommendations from the guide. Tours run in English and French, whatever the weather. Luggage and large bags are not allowed, so come with what you can carry comfortably on foot.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the Meiselocker statueThe guide waits in front of the statue. No pickup is included; the walk starts from this meeting point.
2. Set off as night fallsThe walk begins once darkness has settled, with the city's Christmas illuminations lit around the group. The guide introduces the market and how the December decorations come together.
3. Place Kleber and the treeThe route takes in the market's headline sights, including Place Kleber and its famous Christmas tree. Photo stops are part of the plan.
4. Quieter local cornersFrom there the guide leads the group to tucked-away and unusual spots that locals use to escape the crowds, away from the busiest squares.
5. Move between scattered marketsThe market is split into several smaller markets spread around the city, and the walk links them so the group covers more than a single site.
6. Mulled wine to finishThe tour ends with a stop for a local Alsatian mulled wine, or a hot juice, both included with the booking.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details shape the night: winter weather, a small group on foot, and one included drink at the end. These are the points the listing and past travellers bring up most.

• Wrap up warm. The packing list names warm clothing, comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes. The tour lasts 1.5 hours, takes place rain or shine, and involves plenty of walking and standing between markets, so layers and solid footwear matter.
• Take it early. One reviewer suggested taking the tour early in a visit, since it provides a helpful overview of how the scattered markets fit together. Several travellers also mentioned the guide's recommendations for things to do and explore, and two noted follow-up suggestions arriving after the tour.
• Small group rhythm. The listing caps the group at six people and describes a pace that takes the time each group needs. Reviewers repeatedly praised the guide's knowledge of the city and its market history, and the small format leaves room to ask questions as you go.
• The included drink. Each person gets one local Alsatian mulled wine or a hot juice at the final stop. Several reviewers singled the mulled wine out as a highlight of the evening.
• Bring a camera. Photo opportunities are part of what is included, and the route passes the illuminated tree on Place Kleber after dark. A phone or camera that copes with low light will get the most from the stops.
• Travel light. Luggage and large bags are not allowed, which matters for anyone heading straight from a train. The meeting point is the Meiselocker statue, and since the listing warns it is easy to get lost among the scattered markets, it helps to know exactly where that statue is before setting out.

Common issues. The reviews carry few complaints, so the real limits are practical. There is no pickup, the tour runs rain or shine, and everything happens outside on foot, so a cold or wet night means dressing for it rather than waiting for better weather. Only one drink is included; anything else bought at the stalls, along with any shopping, falls under personal expenses, which the listing excludes. Luggage and large bags are not permitted, and the busiest squares around the tree draw heavy crowds in December, which the tour partly avoids by routing through spots locals favour.

Common Questions