Colmar, what to see? Here's why it is definitely worth a visit.
Colmar looks like something out of a fairy tale set in the Middle Ages. It is one of the places that cannot be missed on your trip to Alsace in eastern France.
Colmar
It is a colourful village characterised by colourful half-timbered houses, stone streets and canals. It is undoubtedly one of the destinations to visit at least once in a lifetime.
When? At Christmas, for example, when it is particularly beautiful and hosts the historical markets in the old town, or in spring or autumn.
Nestled between forests and vineyards, at the foot of the Vosges massif, Colmar is a constant surprise and one of the perfect destinations for a weekend, the city can be visited in a couple of days without any problems.
Colmar, what to see?
Old Town
Place de la Cathedrale
Musée Unterlinden
Quartier des Tanneurs
Eglise des Dominicains
Koïfhus Petit
Venise
Collegiate Church of St Martin
Rue Merciere
If you plan to visit, we have put together a comprehensive guide to what to see in Colmar: the sights, tourist information, places to eat, tips on what to see in a day in Colmar, and which neighbouring towns to visit.
What to see in Colmar
Colmar, in Alsace, is one of the most beautiful villages in Europe. The town of 65,000 inhabitants will surprise you with its colourful wooden houses known as colombages, narrow streets, flowers and canals.
Wander through the historic centre, the old town, and lose yourself in the narrow streets discovering the peculiar houses with sloping roofs. Two buildings deserve a mention: the Maison Pfister built with inlaid wood panels and the Maison des Tetes, a bizarre dwelling on whose façade 106 animals and caricatures are depicted.
Stroll slowly through the city until you reach'the little Venice', the name given to Cours de la Lauch, an area that starts behind the Koïffhus, continues along Quai de la Poissonnerie until you reach the Saint-Pierre bridge from where you can admire the Petit Venise d'Alsace. It is located in the old quarter of Krutenau, which was once a fortified suburb inhabited by farmers.
Also worth a visit is the old customs house, the Koïfhus, an old building dating back to 1480, which you will find at no. 29 Grand'Rue and which today houses the artisans' market. At the official website of tourism in Alsace you will find all information and timetables.
The Collegiate Church of St Martin, the most famous Gothic church in the entire Alsace region, is one of the buildings to see while strolling through the city.
Before stopping at a few wine cellars and tasting some good Alsatian wine (remember that Colmar is on the Alsace wine route), take a stroll through Tanner's district where you will find half-timbered houses dating back to the 17th century where tanners lived and kept their skins to dry on the upper floors of the houses.
Visit Musée Unterlinden located in an old medieval convent north of the city where you will find works by Grunewald, Picasso, Renoir and Holbein.
What to see in a day 
Colmar is not a very big city, the essentials can be enjoyed in one day even if you leave from Strasbourg or Basel. The advice is to visit the city by bicycle.
Start your tour in the historic centre to admire the beautiful buildings and see the Little Venice. Stop for lunch in a typical winstubs and visit the house-museum of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the author of the Statue of Liberty in New York was originally from Colmar.
Collegiate Church of St Martin
Petit Venice
Maison Pfister
Maison des Tetes
Unterlinden Museum
Koïfhus
Rue Merciere
Statue of Liberty
What to see with Children
Colmar is a fairy tale come true, which is why it is one of the most popular destinations for families. The town is small and easy to get around on foot. Stroll along the cobbled streets to Little Venice, the city's most charming corner and don't miss a visit to the Collegiate Church of St Martin.
Definitely worth a stop is the Musée du Jouet, the toy museum where you will find a collection of over a thousand toys from the 19th century to the present day.
Where to eat
In the city, you can find many taverns hidden among the cobbled streets called winstubs where you can sample the best of Alsatian cuisine (and wines) such as Alsace sauerkraut, juniper berry sauerkraut, meat stew (baeckeoffe), fois gras and tarte flambée.
What to Buy
Being on the Route des Vins d'Alsace, in Colmar you cannot escape from buying good wine. You can buy sweets in the shops and boutiques and many gift ideas await you at the artisans' market in the old customs house.
Colmar is also the perfect destination for Christmas presents, which you can buy around the chalets of the famous Christmas markets.
Surroundings
Colmar can be the starting point to admire all the most beautiful villages and towns of Alsace. In about half an hour, you can reach the little village that seems to be the setting for a Disney fairy tale, Riquewihr, a village on the list of the most beautiful villages in France.
Also worth a stop is the medieval village of Eguisheim, surrounded by vineyards and the place where one of Alsace's finest wines, the Grand Cru Vorbourg, is produced.
Kaysersberg is also considered one of the most charming towns in Alsace, with its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. Kaysersberg is located along the Route of Santiago de Compostela.
On the official website of the Wine Route of Alsace you can find ideas and suggestions for visiting the villages in the Colmar wine region.
How to get there
To get to Colmar by plane, you have to land either at Basel-Mulhouse airport or Strasbourg airport. Another option is to land at Karlsruhe-Baden airport, which is also served by low-cost airlines and is about an hour away from Strasbourg.
By car, on the other hand, you can take the route from Milan to Mulhouse, the first city in Alsace. The route takes about four and a half hours.
Christmas markets
One of the most beautiful times to visit Colmar is during the Christmas market season. Throughout the month of December, five Christmas markets are set up in the city and along the canals you can find attractions for children, antiques, arts and crafts. Don't miss Alsatian gingerbread, spiced biscuits, and cakes among the stalls.
Hotels & B&Bs
In Colmar, you can choose to sleep in very old and charming establishments. Among the areas with the best offer of hotels and B&Bs is Petite Venice, but if you want to save money and stay in less touristy areas, we recommend looking for accommodation in the Tanner's District.
Weather
What's the best time to go to Colmar? Although winter is magical, you should know that temperatures are very cold and the risk of snowfall is very high. The best time is from April to September when temperatures are generous.
Winters are cold and snowy and frosts are usual even in lowland areas. Spring is characterised by more generous temperatures but the occurrence of rain is not difficult. The summer season is warm and sunny, with temperatures reaching 30 °C.
Tourist information
On the Colmar Tourism website you will find all the detailed information you need to organise your trip to the city. The Colmar Tourist Office is located in Place Unterlinden Tél. : +33 (0)3 89 20 68 92.
Pictures 
Video Map
What is there to see in Colmar?
Where is Colmar?
Colmar is located in the Alsace region of France. Find out more
Can it be reached in a day trip from Strasbourg?
Yes, Colmar is about an hour's drive from Strasbourg
How big is Colmar?
Colmar is 66.57 km² in size
France
