Christmas in the Black Forest

Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a half-board basis.

We journey into the heart of the Black Forest, beginning with a visit to the enchanting town of Gengenbach. With its pastel-painted, half-timbered houses and winding cobbled streets, it feels like something from a storybook – and in December, its market square becomes home to the world’s largest Advent calendar, transforming the town hall into a festive work of art.

From here, we continue to the historic city of Freiburg, one of southern Germany’s most beautiful and atmospheric destinations. Its elegant Old Town is centred on the soaring Gothic Münster cathedral and threaded with tiny medieval water channels known as Bächle. In the weeks before Christmas, the squares glow with stalls selling handcrafted gifts, spiced wine and seasonal treats, creating a wonderfully festive atmosphere.

Later, we travel on through forested hills to the lakeside village of Titisee, set beside a tranquil mountain lake and surrounded by pine-covered slopes – a fittingly peaceful and wintry scene as we settle into the Black Forest for the next stage of our holiday.

We begin Christmas Eve with a gentle guided orientation walk in Titisee, a relaxed introduction to the lakeside village and the peaceful winter setting.

Later, we travel across the French border into Alsace to visit the enchanting town of Colmar, famed for its beautifully decorated Old Town and one of the most atmospheric Christmas markets in the region. With its half-timbered houses, softly lit canals and garland-draped squares, Colmar feels like a living Christmas card. The market stalls brim with handcrafted gifts, twinkling lights and the aromas of festive treats, making it a wonderfully evocative place to wander on Christmas Eve.

As dusk begins to fall, we return to our hotel beside Lake Titisee, where the forested hills and still waters provide a calm and cosy setting for the evening.

Christmas Day is spent at a relaxed and unhurried pace in our beautiful lakeside setting. We enjoy a traditional festive turkey lunch at a local restaurant, a warm and celebratory way to mark the day. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Lake Titisee. Take a gentle walk along the lakeside promenade, where the forested hills are reflected in the still winter water or simply relax at the hotel and soak up the calm atmosphere of the Black Forest on Christmas Day.

On Boxing Day, we enjoy time at leisure to enjoy hotel facilities or explore the local area. Make the the most of the hotel/lake surroundings.

We set out on a scenic drive through the heart of the Black Forest, passing forested hills, traditional villages and wide winter valleys. Our first stop is the historic town of Rottweil, one of the oldest towns in Baden-Württemberg and famous for its beautifully preserved medieval centre. With its colourful façades, elegant towers and cobbled streets, it feels wonderfully unchanged, offering a glimpse into centuries of German history.

We then continue into the forest to the riverside town of Schiltach. Its small Old Town is a picture of half-timbered houses, sloping roofs and narrow lanes, all clustered around the Kinzig River. Our final stop is Triberg, one of the most famous towns in the region. Explore the town at leisure – visit the Black Forest Museum or see the world’s largest cuckoo clock, or enjoying the scenic waterfalls and woodland walks that surround the town. It’s a lovely place to spend the afternoon before we return to our lakeside hotel in Titisee.

We leave Lake Titisee behind and begin our journey west, making a final exploration of the Black Forest along the way. Our first stop is the charming town of Freudenstadt, known for its vast market square, one of the largest in Germany, and its relaxed mountain-town atmosphere. Surrounded by forested hills, it’s a pleasant place to stretch our legs and enjoy the last of the region’s distinctive character.

From here we travel along the famous Black Forest High Road, one of Germany’s most scenic mountain routes. As we wind through high forest and open viewpoints, the landscape opens out into wide valleys and rolling hills, offering beautiful panoramic views across the region.

Later, we arrive in the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden. Set at the edge of the forest and famed for its grand architecture, gardens and thermal springs, it has long attracted visitors in search of culture, wellness and refined surroundings. There is time to explore the town at your leisure before we continue on to our overnight hotel in France with dinner included.

We make our way back to the coast and cross the Channel by ferry from Calais to Dover, bringing our festive journey through the Black Forest, Alsace and southern Germany to a close.