Christmas Markets of the Moselle & Luxembourg

We catch the ferry to Calais, before continuing to our hotel, where our evening meal awaits.

Christmas Markets of the Moselle & Luxembourg

After breakfast, we journey to Nancy Christmas Markets, known locally as the Saint Nicholas villages. There are several dotted throughout the city, with the traditional cabins adorned with twinkling garlands and a range of local products and gift ideas on offer. Don’t miss Place Charles III’s arts and crafts section, which surrounds the nostalgic merry-go-round, as well as the magical atmosphere of Place Stanislas, one of Europe’s most spectacular squares.

We then return to Metz and discover the city’s Christmas markets. With five different locations, take your pick from the many wooden stalls in the historic squares, selling everything from artisan pastries to charming decorations. In the Place de la République, you can also expect the city’s main tree, a nativity scene, ice rink, rides and more, or head to the Place d’Armes JF Blondel to see the iconic Ferris wheel and light projections on the cathedral!

Christmas Markets of the Moselle & Luxembourg

More Christmas markets await on our second day out, beginning with Trier. Boasting an enchanting backdrop of a medieval main square and impressive cathedral, it’s no wonder that this lovely market in Germany’s oldest city was voted the best in 2024, with the colourful buildings, cosy stalls and twinkling lights giving the effect of a little toy town. There is plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere, browse the stalls, collect some unique stocking fillers and sample some of the warming winzergluhwein – with a Mulled Wine Queen residing in Trier, you know it’s going to be good!

We continue to Luxembourg City, where we stay until dark to fully admire the festive decorations and lights. The city transforms into a winter wonderland at this special time of year with traditional rides, an ice-skating rink, workshops and a whole host of stalls across four locations: Place d’Armes, Place de la Constitution, Place Guillaume II and the Puits Rouge area. Selling local delicacies such as gromperekichelcher (potato fritters), handmade toys, clothes, jewellery and more, you’re sure to tick a few people off your Christmas list here.

Christmas Markets of the Moselle & Luxembourg

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and head back to Calais for our return journey home.

Later on day 2, discover Metz as you stroll between five market squares alive with scent and song. At Place de la République, admire the city’s main tree, nativity scene and an ice rink, then wander to Place d’Armes JF Blondel to see the Ferris wheel turn beside the luminous bulk of Saint-Étienne Cathedral. Sip vin chaud and browse stalls for mirabelle-inspired treats and finely crafted ornaments.

Metz bridges eras—from Gallo-Roman roots to Belle Époque avenues—nowhere more impressively than its cathedral famed for stained glass by Chagall. Meander under medieval arcades on Place Saint-Louis, listen to carols rising over the Moselle and enjoy a free hour to soak in the riverside atmosphere. The city’s light projections and fairground sparkle provide a fitting close to a festive day.

On day 3, cross into Germany to enter Germany’s oldest city and its storybook market spread between the Hauptmarkt and the Cathedral. Timbered facades and colourful gables frame cosy chalets where you can sample winzergluhwein poured by local vintners and browse carved nativity figures, beeswax candles and spiced biscuits. The setting feels like a toy-town come to life beneath winter skies.

Trier’s Roman legacy—the Porta Nigra, amphitheatre and imperial baths—adds quiet grandeur to the scene, while the Trier Cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche anchor the market with resonant bells. With time to explore, you may spot the Mulled Wine Queen greeting visitors, then pause for photos and reflection at ancient gates before continuing your festive journey.

As evening falls on day 3, arrive in Luxembourg City and stay until dark to watch the capital glow. The Winterlights festivities unfurl across Place d’Armes, Place de la Constitution—home to the Gëlle Fra—Place Guillaume II and the Puits Rouge area. Browse stalls for handmade toys and jewellery, try gromperekichelcher (crispy potato fritters) and glide past traditional rides and an ice-skating rink amid pine and light.

Luxembourg’s UNESCO-listed Old Quarters and Fortifications frame dramatic views over the Pétrusse valley, while the Grand Ducal Palace sits a few steps from the markets. Follow twinkling streets, soak in the festive atmosphere and capture the city’s layered character—French flair, Germanic order, and a proud Luxembourgish heart—before the coach returns to Metz.

On day 2, travel to Nancy to join the festive Saint-Nicolas villages scattered across the city. Stroll past wooden chalets on Place Charles III, where artisans display handcrafted gifts beside a nostalgic carousel, and sample bergamotes de Nancy or a warming vin chaud as choir music drifts through the air. Pause to browse arts and crafts and pick up tasteful decorations with a distinctly Lorraine accent.

Continue to Place Stanislas—one of Europe’s great urban ensembles and UNESCO-listed—framed by gilded gates and elegant facades conceived under Duke Stanislas. Here, the market glow plays across the square’s harmonious perspective, inviting you to pause for photos and reflection. Nancy’s blend of 18th-century grandeur and Art Nouveau heritage gives the day a cultured sparkle before returning to Metz.

Arriving in Lorraine on day 1, settle into the ibis Metz Nord before you enjoy a relaxed welcome dinner with your fellow travellers. Unwind after the journey, share first impressions of the Moselle region and plan the festive days ahead. Expect simple, hearty dishes and the option to toast the start of your Christmas getaway with a glass from the bar.

Set between France and Germany, Lorraine has long been a crossroads of flavours and traditions. This gentle first evening lets you ease into the pace of the tour, perhaps sampling regional notes like mirabelle plum or classics inspired by Quiche Lorraine. It’s a comfortable start that sets the mood for the market squares, twinkling lights and seasonal aromas to come.