Cidade Turismo
France

Before you go

Your trip to Colmar.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Colmar – Grande Leste Destination Alsácia about 75 km from Estrasburgo

How to get there

  • EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) Saint-Louis · 60 km
  • Aéroport de Strasbourg-Entzheim (SXB) Entzheim · 65 km
  • Gare de Colmar 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Estrasburgo, the regional train reaches Gare de Colmar in about 30 minutes. From Paris there are direct TGVs or ones with a change in Estrasburgo. The nearest airport is the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL), about 60 km away. Check before buying.

How many days

One day is enough for the historic center, the Petite Venise and the Musée Unterlinden. With 2 days there's time for the villages on the Rota dos Vinhos and, with a car, for the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg.

When to go

From May to October the windows are usually full of flowers and the days are long; the grape harvest typically runs from September to October. The Christmas markets usually operate from late November to late December and pack the town. Winter (December to February) is cold and with little daylight.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

For Colmar, no: the station is a 15-minute walk from the centre, which is almost entirely pedestrian. For visiting several villages of the Rota dos Vinhos in one day and for the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, a car makes things much easier; without one, use regional buses or organized tours.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Colmar
  1. Morning
    Musée Unterlinden

    Arrive at opening time of the Musée Unterlinden to see the Retábulo de Issenheim at a leisurely pace. On the way out, follow Rue des Têtes to the mask façade of the Maison des Têtes.

  2. Afternoon
    Historic centre and Bartholdi

    Have lunch around 12:00–14:00 and walk to the Collégiale Saint-Martin, the Maison Pfister and the Musée Bartholdi, all in the same area on Rue des Marchands.

  3. Late afternoon
    Tanneurs and Petite Venise

    Walk down through the Quartier des Tanneurs and the Koïfhus to Petite Venise. See the houses reflected in the canal from the bridge on Rue Saint-Pierre.

  4. Evening
    Alsatian dinner

    Dine from 19:30 in a winstub, with choucroute or baeckeoffe and a glass of regional white wine.

2 days in Colmar

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Musée Unterlinden

    Start with the Musée Unterlinden and the Retábulo de Issenheim, and stop by the Maison des Têtes.

  2. Afternoon
    Collégiale and Musée Bartholdi

    After lunch, see the Collégiale Saint-Martin, the Maison Pfister and the Musée Bartholdi.

  3. Late afternoon
    Petite Venise

    Finish at Petite Venise, passing through the Quartier des Tanneurs and the covered market.

  4. Evening
    Dinner in Petite Venise

    Dine by the canal; on weekends, make a reservation.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg

    Leave early by car for the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, about 35 minutes away, and visit before the queues grow.

  2. Afternoon
    Riquewihr

    Go down to Riquewihr for lunch, walk up the main street to the Dolder tower and do a tasting at a winery.

  3. Late afternoon
    Kaysersberg

    Head to Kaysersberg, about 5 km away, for the fortified bridge and castle ruins.

  4. Evening
    Eguisheim

    On the way back, stop in Eguisheim to stroll the circular streets and have dinner in the village before returning to Colmar.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Strasbourg to Colmar?

By regional train, about 30 minutes, with frequent departures from the Gare de Strasbourg. By car, it's about 75 km via the highway.

Can you do a day trip from Strasbourg to Colmar?

Yes, by the short train. But staying overnight in Colmar lets you see Petite Venise empty in the morning and at night and makes it easier to visit the villages on the Rota dos Vinhos.

Which villages of the Rota dos Vinhos should you visit near Colmar?

Eguisheim (5 km), Kaysersberg (12 km) and Riquewihr (13 km) are the most sought-after and can fit into the same day by car.

Do I need a car for the Rota dos Vinhos?

It makes things much easier. Without a car, there are regional buses from Colmar with limited schedules, and organized tours with a driver.

When does Colmar's Christmas market take place?

Colmar's Christmas markets usually run from late November to late December, spread across several squares in the centre and Petite Venise. Book accommodation in advance.

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