What to expect

From the market opening until early January, Basel lights up Freie Strasse, Spalenvorstadt, St. Alban-Tal, and Clarastrasse each afternoon and evening. Kids usually head for the snow globes on Münsterplatz and the Christmas tree there, plus the Käppelijoch on the Mittlere Brücke, decorated like a Samichlaus hat. Going around 16:30 gets you darkness without a late bedtime.