Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- Late Nov–Dec, May–Sep
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- French (Alsatian heard locally)
- Getting around
- Walkable centre, TER trains, Trace buses
Colmar is the small, very pretty half of the Alsace pair: canals lined with painted half-timbered houses, a merchants’ quarter that looks unchanged since the Renaissance, and a Christmas season that runs later than most in Europe. The trip comes down to three choices: which dates, where to sleep in a town that fills up fast in December, and which villages to add. Dates, fares and fees below were checked on 9 October 2026.
When is the best time to visit Colmar?
Late November to Christmas is the famous Colmar: markets, lights and the most crowds. May to September is the easy one: long days, boats on the canals and room to breathe.
| Month | Average high / low (Météo-France) | Rain | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 9.8°C / 2.7°C | 43.6 mm | Markets open on 23 November; damp, grey days |
| December | 6.3°C / 0.2°C | 43.2 mm | Peak market season; about 15 frosty nights on average |
| January | 5.6°C / -0.8°C | 33.1 mm | The coldest month; markets gone, quiet and cheaper |
| February | 7.6°C / -0.7°C | 30.6 mm | Still cold, still quiet |
| May to June | 21 to 24.7°C / 9.4 to 12.9°C | 66.2 to 69.8 mm | Long days, the wettest months |
| July to August | about 26.5°C / 14°C | 60.8 to 62.8 mm | Warmest and busiest outside Advent |
| September | 22°C / 10.2°C | 51.3 mm | Warm, calmer, a strong pick |
Figures are 1991-2020 normals for Colmar-Meyenheim, which records only about 595 mm of rain a year. The December cold is dry more often than wet, but evenings at the stalls get raw: pack layers from our thermal base layers guide, a packable down jacket, warm winter boots and maybe heated gloves, or start from the Christmas market packing list.
What do you need to know about the Colmar Christmas markets?
The Colmar Tourist Office runs “Colmar, the Magic of Christmas”: six markets, each with its own character, all within walking distance in the old town.
| Market | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Place des Dominicains | Beside the Dominican church | Around 60 chalets of Christmas decorations |
| Place de l’Ancienne Douane | Around the Schwendi fountain, across the Lauch to the Koïfhus | Around 50 chalets, traditional and modern gifts |
| Place Jeanne d’Arc | Old town | An “Alsatian village” of local food specialities |
| Petite Venise | Place des Six Montagnes Noires | The children’s market: farm animals, pony rides, Santa’s giant letterbox, hot apple juice |
| Koïfhus | Inside the old customs house | Indoor craft market, around 20 artisans: ceramics, glass, jewellery |
| Rue de la Montagne Verte | Old town | The gourmet market: nine stands run by chefs, plates to eat standing up |
- Dates: 23 November to 29 December 2026.
- Hours: 11:00 to 19:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 20:00 Friday to Sunday. On 24 December the stalls close at 17:00; 25 and 26 December keep normal hours. The gourmet market and the Ferris wheel run daily from 11:00 to 22:00 until 3 January, closing at 17:00 on 31 December.
- The lights: Colmar was the first town in France to run a citywide lighting plan, with 1,150 computer-driven light sources across Petite Venise, Rue des Marchands and Place de l’Ancienne Douane. They glow every night of the Christmas season and on Friday and Saturday nights the rest of the year.
- Driving in? The tourist office runs a weekend park and ride for 3 euros from the exhibition centre, with a free shuttle into town.
- Food, not drink: look for bredele (Alsatian Christmas biscuits), gingerbread, pretzels and hot chocolate, and a sit-down lunch of tarte flambée or choucroute in the old town.
For how Colmar’s dates compare with Strasbourg, Cologne, Vienna and the rest, see our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 table, and for a rail-only route between them, Christmas markets by train.
Where should you stay in Colmar?
Colmar has far fewer rooms than Strasbourg, so in December the base decides the trip. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Old town (Koïfhus, Rue des Marchands) | Walking to all six markets and the museum | The priciest area, crowded on market weekends |
| Petite Venise and the Krutenau quarter | Canal views, quieter late evenings | Small hotels and guesthouses that sell out first |
| Station area | Arriving by train, the Christmas shuttles, lower prices | Less charm; a walk into the old town |
| Strasbourg as a base | A much bigger choice of hotels | A 26 to 33 minute train each way |
First visit at market time? Stay in the old town if the budget allows, otherwise by the station, which is also where the village shuttles leave. Compare Colmar hotel prices for your dates before the old town books out.
How do you get to Colmar and around it?
Colmar has no commercial airport of its own: almost everyone arrives by train.
Colmar is in the Schengen area. Check the Schengen 90/180-day rule and the EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS before you go, or our France visa guide. Coming via Basel? You land at an airport with a French and a Swiss side; take the French exit for bus 11. For data, see the France eSIM guide.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
What should you not miss in Colmar?
| Sight | Cost (October 2026) | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Petite Venise | Free | The canal quarter of the old market gardeners; go early, before the tour groups |
| Musée Unterlinden | 14 euros (12 reduced, 9 for ages 12-17) | Home of the Isenheim Altarpiece; closed on Tuesdays and on 25 December |
| Rue des Marchands and the Koïfhus | Free | The merchants’ street and the old customs house, lit up at night |
| Petite Venise boat trip | 10 euros, 25 minutes | Runs from 1 April to the end of November only, so not in December |
| Musée Bartholdi | Check the museum | Birthplace of the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty |
- Under-12s are free at the Unterlinden, and a family ticket costs 36 euros for two adults and up to five children aged 12 to 17.
- On 24 and 31 December the museum closes at 16:00, last entry 15:30.
Which Alsace villages can you visit from Colmar?
The villages around Colmar hold their own Christmas markets, and you do not need a car: the tourist office runs Christmas shuttles from Colmar station from 27 November to 20 December 2026, with unlimited rides on your line for the day. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 12:00 CET.
| Village | 2026 market dates | Shuttle |
|---|---|---|
| Eguisheim | 27 November to 30 December, closed 24 to 26 December | Line 3: 8 euros weekdays, 17 euros weekends |
| Riquewihr | 27 November to 20 December | Lines 1 and 2: 17 euros, Friday to Sunday; also regular bus line 16 |
| Kaysersberg | Weekends only: 27-29 November, 4-6, 11-13 and 18-20 December | Lines 1 and 2: 17 euros, Friday to Sunday |
| Turckheim | 27 November to 30 December | Line 4: 17 euros Friday to Sunday, or a 10 euro explorer fare |
| Ribeauvillé (medieval market) | 5-6 and 12-13 December | Lines 1 and 2 |
Children under 12 ride the shuttles free. Eguisheim, a ring of medieval lanes around a castle, carries the “Christmas Towns and Villages” label; Kaysersberg’s market of around 30 chalets fills the Cour de l’Arsenal; Riquewihr is the one most visitors picture, with lit façades along its main street. Strasbourg, with eight markets of its own from 27 November, is the other obvious day trip.
What can go wrong in Colmar?
- Saturday afternoons are the crush. The tourist office’s attendance forecast rates them the busiest slot of the season; put the market you care about on a weekday morning.
- Rooms sell out early. Colmar is small. If the old town is full, stay by the station or in Strasbourg.
- Kaysersberg is weekends only, and Eguisheim closes from 24 to 26 December. Check before you plan a village day.
- No canal boats in December. The Petite Venise boats stop at the end of November.
- Shuttles end on 20 December. After that, use regular buses or drive to the villages.
How many days do you need in Colmar?
Two days is the sweet spot: one for Petite Venise, the Unterlinden and the old town, one for the six markets after dark. Add a third for a village or two, or for Strasbourg. Colmar also pairs with Paris by TGV. For the wider picture, see the best time to visit France, France on a budget, and our where to go in November and where to go in December guides.
Sources
Market dates, hours, shuttle fares and village dates come from the Colmar Tourist Office’s Christmas site; climate from Météo-France’s 1991-2020 normals for Colmar-Meyenheim; train times and fares from SNCF Connect; airport transfers from EuroAirport; museum fees from the Musée Unterlinden; boat trips from the Colmar Tourist Office. All were read on 9 October 2026; the full list is in the sources box on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Colmar Christmas markets in 2026?
The Colmar Tourist Office lists the six Colmar markets from 23 November to 29 December 2026. Stalls open 11:00 to 19:00 Monday to Thursday and 10:00 to 20:00 Friday to Sunday, close at 17:00 on 24 December and keep normal hours on 25 and 26 December. The gourmet market and the Ferris wheel carry on until 3 January.
How do I get from Strasbourg to Colmar?
Take a TER regional train. SNCF Connect lists 36 trains a day between Strasbourg and Colmar, the fastest in 26 minutes and about 33 minutes on average, with fares from around 6 euros. The first leaves Strasbourg at 5:51 and the last at 23:20, so an evening at the markets is easy from either city.
What is the nearest airport to Colmar?
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and Strasbourg-Entzheim are each about 70 km away, according to the Colmar Tourist Office. From EuroAirport, Distribus bus 11 runs to Saint-Louis station in about 10 to 15 minutes for 3 euros, and TER trains continue to Colmar, the fastest in 34 minutes. From Strasbourg airport, take the shuttle train to Strasbourg station and change for Colmar.
Where should I stay in Colmar for the Christmas markets?
The old town between the Koïfhus and Petite Venise puts all six markets within a short walk, but it is the first area to sell out in December. The station area is cheaper and is where the Christmas shuttles to the villages leave from. Strasbourg is a workable base too, 26 minutes away by the fastest train.
Can I visit Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr from Colmar without a car?
Yes. The Colmar Tourist Office runs Christmas shuttles from Colmar station from 27 November to 20 December 2026, with tickets on sale from 12 November. A day ticket costs 17 euros on Friday to Sunday lines, and the Eguisheim line costs 8 euros on weekdays; children under 12 ride free. Kaysersberg’s market opens on weekends only.
How many days do you need in Colmar?
Two days covers Petite Venise, the old town, the Unterlinden Museum and the six Christmas markets. A third day lets you add one or two Alsace villages by Christmas shuttle, such as Eguisheim, Riquewihr or Kaysersberg, or a day in Strasbourg, 26 minutes away by the fastest train.
Start planning your Colmar trip
Coming from Paris or Strasbourg? The train beats flying, so book the rail ticket and skip the flight search. From further away, compare flights into Basel-Mulhouse or Strasbourg, then lock in a room for your market dates.
Find cheap flights to Basel-Mulhouse | Compare Colmar hotel prices
Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit France guide and the hotels hub.
