What to Do in Colmar, France Beyond Chrismas Markets
If you want to visit a place that feels like you’re in a fairytale, look no further than Colmar, France. Colmar is a quaint, adorable town in northeastern France’s Alsace region.
Known for its colorful half-timbered houses and fantastic Christmas Markets, Colmar has captured the hearts of visitors for years.
Colmar is a great option for everyone. I visited first as a child and couldn’t wait to revisit with our small kids and rest assured – it can be a very family-friendly destination.
Essential Tips For Visiting Colmar
Plan to spend at least one night in Colmar. It’s very quiet here during the early morning hours, with locals getting ready for the day. This makes it the best time to stroll the city streets crowd-free and take amazing photos.
Make your dinner reservations in advance during the day, especially if you will be in town during the high season. You can’t just show up after restaurants reopen and expect to be seated – it’s at least an hour’s wait.
Eat breakfast at your accommodation. We thought we could just wander and find breakfast, but it proved to be immensely difficult. Most spots weren’t open in the morning and very few that opened had only French croissants and nothing else and we received strange looks if we dared to ask about absolutely anything else for the kids.
If you’re road-tripping around, check out the parking situation beforehand. If you’re staying downtown, most apartments or hotels don’t offer parking, and parking in Colmar is hard to get. Some days the entire covered parking closes down, or cars are being towed away – it’s very confusing. Make sure to be patient when finding a spot and READ when you must leave this parking spot to avoid a disaster.
Where to Stay in Colmar
The reason I want to talk about where to stay in Colmar first is that so many people don’t actually stay in town, which I think is a big mistake! You can totally visit Colmar in one day, but the town is way more charming after all the day visitors leave.
Plus, it’s right on the Alsatian Wine Route with many gorgeous villages around which makes it a perfect base for a few days!
Hotel Saint Martin – You cannot beat its location right in the middle of everything and lots of places to eat right on your doorstep. Yet, the rooms are quiet.
Le Colombier – Good location right above Little Venice canals and great modern rooms.
At home in the center of Colmar – Gorgeous self-catered apartment in the city center.
Best Time to Visit Colmar
Colmar can be visited year-round. It will be partially decorated at all times, regardless of the season.
The busiest times to be in Colmar are from late November through January when it’s the famous Christmas market season. The whole area with neighboring towns turns into a winter wonderland.
Christmas markets in Colmar are fantastic, but, I think there are better times to visit Colmar – like right before Easter.
From late March through early April, the town is decorated for Easter and you can go shopping at the Easter markets. It’s warm, crowds aren’t as bad as during Christmas and it also opens many opportunities for biking around.
Late spring and early fall are shoulder seasons so crowds and hotel prices are lower.
Best Things to Do in Colmar (points of interest)
Colmar was conquered by the French in 1673, but Germany claimed the entire Alsace region in 1871. It stayed German until after WWI when it was given back to the French, then was temporarily occupied by the Germans during the Second World War before being liberated by the French again. As a result, you can see French and German influences on architecture, food, and culture.
The best thing you can do in Colmar is simply to wander the cobblestone streets. You’ll feel like taking photos, it’s so pretty! As you walk around this charming city, you’ll begin to fall in love with the unique, colorful style of architecture.
Old Town
You’ll want to make sure you hit the most famous parts of town. Colmar doesn’t have a huge list of must-see attractions, but what it does have is scenic spots by the bucketload.
Explore the cobblestoned streets and take a break in one of the many cafes lining the streets. Some buildings are decorated year-round with hanging lamps, clocks, and watering cans. Then for spring and winter, they go all-in on seasonal decor.
Stop by St. Martin’s Church. It’s a Roman Catholic church that has a colorful tiled roof and 13th-century stained glass dating back to the 13th century. The interior of the church has carvings in the dome and intricate altar decorations. You can either take in the amazing building from the outside or head inside to visit or go to a service on Sundays.
