5 Fun Things To Do In Colmar France - The Fairytale Town
With its colorful buildings, quaint canals, and charming timbered houses, Colmar is the live version of your childhood’s fairytales town. The picturesque village - located near the border with Germany - is one of the best-preserved historical places in eastern France. For wine lovers, Colmar is also known as the capital of Alsace wine. You may feel tempted to spend all day contemplating its architecture when you visit, but make sure not to miss these 5 fun things to do in Colmar France.
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5 Fun Things To Do in Colmar
1. Explore Colmar Old Town
Colmar old town is not only lovely but also rich in history. Buildings dating back to the 1400’s still stand in this small town. Some of the buildings to look forward to if you are a history buff: the Maison des Têtes, Dominican Church, Saint Martin Collegiate Church, the Pfister House - also known as Maison Pfister, - and the Old Customs House. Even if you don’t visit the inside of the building, strolling Colmar Old Town will transport you to another era.
2. Get Enchanted by Little Venice
Although not as grandiose as Venice, Little Venice is truly charming in its own right. You can explore it either by foot, by strolling the Quai de la Poissonnerie, or by boat on the canal on a 30 min tour. Either way, you won't’ be able to get enough of half-timbered pastel-color houses and cobblestone roads.
3. Experience Colmar's Food
Part of the cultural experience is to try the local food! Colmar's gastronomy, like the rest of the region, is highly influenced by French and German cuisine; so don’t be surprised if you spot pretzels and sauerkraut.
- 5 Food you must try in Colmar
The Tarte flambée - a thinly rolled bread dough covered with fromage blanc or crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions and lardons. Yum!
Choucroûte garnie – A dish of sauerkraut accompanied with smoked ham, sausages, and boiled potatoes. This is one of the most traditional dishes in the region and as you can see, highly influenced by German’s cuisine.
Tarte aux poires – Alsace is also known for its pastries. So you don’t need an excuse to try them – it’s a cultural experience! The Tarte aux poires is a pear tart with a delicious egg custard filling.
Bretzels – Don’t think because you have tried German’s pretzel you can skip bretzels! The soft pretzel is also a must when visiting Colmar. You will usually find it with salt but, If you want to try something different, get the one with cheese and ham on top.
Bäckeoffe – Craving something hearty? Enters Bäckeoffe. A casserole dish made with layers of potatoes and three kinds of meat – beef, pork, and lamb. During the wintertime, this dish is heaven sent.
Visit the Covered Market or Marche Couvert
It’s a nice place for a light breakfast or a coffee break. It’s located in Quartier de la Petite Venise or Little Venice, and you will find many of the mentioned food in the hall.
Try the local Michelin stars restaurants
There are several restaurants in and around Colmar awarded with 1-3 stars. Make sure you check them out and book in advance.
L'Atelier du Peintre * - Offers modern French cuisine located in the center of Colmar. The lunch set menu is 33€, and a la carte ranges 47-85€. Make sure to make a reservation before popping up for lunch.
Girardin * - A la carte menu ranges from 80-35€
4. Taste locally produced wine
Sipping the local wine is definitely a must when you visit the famous Alsace wine region. Like the cuisine, wine production is also influenced by the neighbor country Germany. Alsace is the only region to produce mostly varietal wines, typically from similar grape varieties to those used in German wine. Some of the Alsace wine varieties include Pinot Noir, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer. After a long day, wind down at a local restaurant with an outside patio and enjoy a glass or two of Alsace famous wine. Don’t forget to grab a flûtes d'Alsace as a souvenir.
5. Hop on a bike and visit Vieille Ville d'Eguisheim
One of the best things to do in Alsace is to explore the small villages in the region. If you are visiting Colmar with no plans to rent a car but, still want to check out other places, visit the nearby town Vieille Ville d'Eguisheim - no car required. Just rent a bike and ride to the village.
Bonus: Visit the Christmas Market in December
Visit in December, and you will get to see the Christmas Markets – an experience you can’t miss. Colmar, like the rest of the region, goes all out during the holiday season. The decoration, the smell of Christmas treats, and the lively crowd will get you in the jolliest mood. In addition, you will find an array of things to do that are only available during the holiday season.
Things to do in Colmar in December
Explore the different (6 to be exact) Christmas markets - each with different treats!
Go Ice skating - In December, they build an ice skating ring in the heart of the town
Wine tasting - Christmas Pairing edition
Taste all the sweets that you will only find in December
Cozy up with mulled wine
Colmar Christmas Markets
Gourmet market - Place de la cathédrale: This market, like the name indicates, is a gourmet market. Renowned chefs prepare 3 course meals, which includes Alsatian specialties, to delight your palate. Location: Gourmet market - Place de la cathédrale
Place des Dominicains: This market specializes in Christmas decor, if you want to pick up a souvenir, this is the place! What better reminder of Colmar than a tree ornament that you could re-use every year? Location: Place des Dominicains
Place de l’Ancienne Douane: This market is located in the heart of the city. You will find here a mix of products. Location: Place de l'Ancienne Douane
Place Jeanne d’Arc: This market is dedicated to local products like foie gras, cold meats, wine, liqueurs etc. It recreates the feel and atmosphere of a traditional Alsace village, so don’t miss it! Location: Place Jeanne D'arc
The Petite Venise: This market is Christmas wonderland for the little ones. It includes Santa letter box, mechanical nativity, and other fun things for kids. Location: Place des 6 Montagnes Noires
The Koïfhus: This is an indoor craft market where you will find ceramicists, potters, master glass-makers, cabinetmakers, wood sculptors, hat-makers, jewellery, etc. Is not as festive as the other outdoor markets, but still worth checking it out. Location: 29 Grand'Rue
To find more information about Colmar’s Christmas Market, check out their official website.
Best time to visit Colmar
Spring is a great time to visit Colmar. The town beams with bright, colorful flowers and endless rays of sunshine. As an added bonus, in April Colmar hosts their annual spring festival: Fête le Printemps.
But the best time to visit Colmar if you ask me, it's definitely Christmas time! There is something magical about this town that makes Christmas feels extra festive. The old-town gets decorated with thousands of lights and ornaments while the Christmas markets fill the atmosphere with the intoxicating smell of delicious bites and chaud vin.
How to get to Colmar
By Train & Bus
If you are not touring the Alsace region by car like we did, Colmar is also accessible by train and bus. From Strasbourg, Colmar is only an hour away by train, which means you can easily hop on and go on a day-trip. You can also arrive from Paris by train on a four-hour ride. Colmar train station, Gare de Colmar, is located outside of the Old Town. But luckily, it’s only a short-walk away from the old town.
By car
If you are up for a road-trip, Colmar is located on the Alsace wine route - one of France's world-renowned and beautiful wine regions. Which means, lots of picturesque towns nearby that you would not want to miss. Check out my Alsace Wine Route road-trip itinerary here to help you plan it.
Colmar parking
If you are driving to Colmar, keep in mind that there’s no parking in Colmar Old Town. But, there are a couple of parking lots nearby - at walking distance. We parked at the nearby lot Parking Lacarre and walked to the center. Here’s a full list of the parking lots in the area and additional information.
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