New Year on the Wild Rhine — Self-Launched Strasbourg & Breisach
3 days · Strasbourg & Breisach (Rhine Valley, France & Germany)
CroisiEurope River Cruises charges £710
No-markup version: ~£245 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 3-day New Year escape through the Alsatian stretch of the Rhine, following the same port-to-port shape as the CroisiEurope cruise but on land: Strasbourg's Christmas-market-that-won't-quite-end glow, then a short hop across the river to Breisach in Germany for Alsatian wine and Black Forest vibes, and back to Strasbourg for New Year's Eve and a final lazy morning. You'll travel by regional TER train and cross-border bus (the Breisach—Colmar—Strasbourg line), sleep in central hostels/guesthouses in Strasbourg and a small Breisach inn, and build your own NYE dinner rather than a gala onboard. Costs are estimates for one person in a shared dorm or basic double, using advance train/bus fares.
Day-by-day
Arrive Strasbourg: Old Town, Petite France and market glow
Strasbourg, France
Arrive in Strasbourg (EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or direct TGV from Paris/Frankfurt, then tram into the centre). Check into a central hostel or guesthouse near Grande Île. Spend the afternoon walking the UNESCO Old Town: Place de la Cathédrale, the pink sandstone cathedral (free entry to the nave; €5-8 to climb the platform), Petite France's canals and covered bridges, and the ponts couverts. In winter the Christmas market huts on Place Broglie/Place Kléber hang on through New Year, so grab a vin chaud and tarte flambée there. Evening: a simple Alsatian dinner in a winstub (choucroute or baeckeoffe, £15-20) — the DIY version of the captain's welcome cocktail is a rooftop or canal-side drink with your hostelmates.
🚌Tram from Strasbourg airport/station to centre (~£1.70 single) or TGV from Paris (~£35-60 booked ahead)
🛏Central hostel dorm or small budget guesthouse near Grande Île (~£30-40/night)
- →Self-guided walk: Strasbourg Cathedral & Place de la Cathédrale
- →Petite France and Ponts Couverts
- →Winter/New Year market huts on Place Broglie
- →Alsatian winstub dinner
Cross to Breisach: Rhine ferry, wine town and New Year's Eve
Breisach am Rhein, Germany & Strasbourg
Morning: regional TER train Strasbourg → Colmar (35-45 mins, ~£7) then the cross-border bus/train line via Volgelsheim to Breisach am Rhein (30-40 mins, ~£3), or a direct bus for ~£6 — the land equivalent of the boat's river leg. Breisach is a hilltop wine town with St. Stephan's Minster, a Baden wine museum, and vineyard walks along the Kaiserstuhl with views over the Rhine to France. Sample Badischer Wein in a Weinstube, and if the weather bites, dip into the museum (~£5). Return to Strasbourg late afternoon. New Year's Eve: book a table early at a winstub or bistro for a fixed NYE menu (expect £40-60) or self-cater a cheese-and-wine picnic from the market. Head to Place de la Cathédrale / Place Kléber for midnight fireworks and the crowd — the free version of the onboard gala.
🚌TER Strasbourg–Colmar (~£7) + cross-border bus/train via Volgelsheim to Breisach (~£3-6 each way)
🛏Same central Strasbourg hostel/budget guesthouse (~£35-45/night, higher on 31 Dec)
- →Breisach Minster & hilltop old town
- →Kaiserstuhl vineyard walk with Rhine views
- →Baden wine museum (optional)
- →Weinstube wine tasting
- →Strasbourg NYE fireworks & Old Town celebration
Slow Strasbourg morning and depart
Strasbourg, France
Buffet breakfast at a bakery or hostel (£5-7) instead of the onboard buffet, then a final wander: the Neustadt's imperial German-era architecture, Parc de l'Orangerie, or the Musée Alsacien (€7) if you want the culture hit. Pick up bretzels and wine for the road, then head out by tram or train. If you have extra time, the Alsace Wine Route villages (Obernai, ~30 mins by train, ~£6) make a lovely half-day add-on before your flight or train.
🚌Tram to station/airport (~£1.70) or TER to Colmar/Basel for onward travel
🛏Check out (no night included)
- →Bakery breakfast in Old Town
- →Neustadt & Parc de l'Orangerie walk
- →Musée Alsacien (optional)
Self-launched vs. CroisiEurope River Cruises
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CroisiEurope River Cruises | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£245 | £710 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £465 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CroisiEurope River Cruises-style trips? Check them out here.~£245
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does New Year on the Wild Rhine — Self-Launched Strasbourg & Breisach cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £245 per person for 3 days in Strasbourg & Breisach (Rhine Valley, France & Germany). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with CroisiEurope River Cruises?+
Yes — CroisiEurope River Cruises charges around £710 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £245 — a saving of roughly £465 (65%) per person.
How long is the Strasbourg & Breisach (Rhine Valley, France & Germany) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Strasbourg & Breisach (Rhine Valley, France & Germany).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, city-breaks trip through Strasbourg & Breisach (Rhine Valley, France & Germany), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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