Colmar, France Fairytale: 2 night itinerary (including Christmas Markets!)

Colmar, one of the most beautiful and fairytale-like destinations in the Alsace region in France, is on every “Best Christmas Markets in Europe” list. Having only been to German & Austrian Christmas Markets, I was curious to see the difference, since Colmar isn’t too far from Germany. So how do they compare in their food, gluhwein, decor, stalls, and overall feelings? German markets are, in my opinion, top tier and my personal preference. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if the undeniable allure of the French market would inspire a shift in my perspective on Christmas Markets.

Our Perfect Colmar Itinerary including Christmas Markets!:

The best part about the Colmar markets was how convenient it was to stroll between the 6 different Christmas Markets. The Vieux Colmar (Old Town) was flooded with markets, almost making it difficult to know which one you were at. But, it was so easy to stumble upon a new market and to find them all! The city even has markers on the ground which take you along top routes to hit all the best destinations. They look like a gold triangle with the Statue of Liberty.

Pamphlet given at Colmar’s tourist center. It shows Christmas Markets and events.

For all information regarding Colmar’s Christmas Markets, such as exact locations, dates, and events, click here for the Alsace’s official website.

There are 6 Christmas Markets in Colmar, as shown above. They include Place des Dominicains, Place Jeanne d’Arc, Place de I’Ancienne Douane, Koifhus, Petite Venise, & Gourmet Market.

Based on my experience, here are my top recommendations for Colmar & its Christmas Markets:

Drinks: Red & White Glühwein (mulled wine), wine from local wine tasting

Food: mini-saucissons, flammkuchen (also called tarte flambée), galettes

Length of stay: 2 nights. I wouldn’t spend more than 2-3 nights in Colmar. There are many other towns in the Alsace region, like Strasbourg, are close and exciting to visit.

Where to stay: Vieux Colmar, close to St Martin’s Church

Can I keep the glühwein cups?: Yes! You pay a few euros extra for the cup when you order your drink. If you want to keep the cup, you don’t get your money back. If you return your cup, you will get your money back.

Day 1: Grand Rue de Colmar, Glühwein, Dinner

Getting there: We rode the train from Zermatt to Basel to Colmar. Very easy and quick train rides.

Arrive at Colmar’s train station. To walk to the center of Old Town, we followed the signs for Marché de noel (Christmas markets)!

This iconic square is located along the Grand Rue de Colmar, the Main Street in Colmar’s Old Town.

this sign is located in this main square

Colmar is queen when it comes to Christmas decorations. It felt like I was at Disney!

Find hidden gems for drinks. I believe this spot was hosted by a brewery, but I couldn’t find the name of it. It was just off of Grand Rue de Colmar on the way to Petite Venise. We returned a few other times!

Dinner at Le Petit Schlossberg. Salad, flammkuchen, and local wine.

Day 2: Coffee & Breakfast; Christmas Markets; Wine Tasting; La Petite Venise; Ferris Wheel; Boat ride in La Petite Venise

Coffee at Ma Dam Coffee for unique flavors and organic ingredients. We ordered a Chai Latte and a Long Black coffee.

Breakfast at Bistrot Gourmand. We had an excellent experience here. It was next to our airbnb, so it was also convenient. I ordered a breakfast galette (pictured below). They freshly squeezed orange juice and brought a whole tea pot for tea.

Walk around the Christmas Markets. Like I mentioned previously, it was so easy to walk to each market. Some of these pictures are from the Place des Dominicains Market, located next to Eglise des Dominicains.

Wine tasting at Domaine Karcher. We tasted 4 wines, with the only requirement that we buy a bottle. The wine was 7 euros and delicious!

Walk around La Petite Venise and the Fishmonger District (Quai de la Poissonnerie). These picturesque areas of Colmar along the La Lauch River make for a perfect leisurely stroll, spot for coffee, or shopping destination. Nearby the iconic street shown below, is the Covered Market full of produce, wine, and other food.

Revisiting our hidden gem and the cutest spot for drinks, next to Hotel Le Colombier in Petite Venise:

Ferris wheel ride at the Gourmet Market:

Night time boat ride along la Lauch river in Petite Venise:

Dinner at Le Palais Gourmand. Finding a spot to eat was a challenge without reservations. There was a surprising amount of Michelin star restaurants in Colmar, and they all required reservations. Make sure to have a reservation in Colmar if you like to plan your entire day to the minute!

Day 3: Breakfast; Train to Strasbourg

We ate at Bistrot Gourmand again for our last morning in Colmar. Since we had such an exceptional experience the first time, we figured it would be the same. The food was different than the previous day, some omelettes were undercooked, and the whole tea pot that made me so excited the day prior was not given. I found the staff rude this day, too. I want to recommend them, but they were very inconsistent. Their mousse, however, was delicious.

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Overall, Colmar is such a unique and beautiful destination that I would absolutely recommend visiting. Especially during Christmas Market time! It will be crowded, but if you plan it right, it will be so worth it. If I planned this trip differently, I would have spent a day on a wine tour in the Alsace region. They were unfortunately all sold out for my dates, so I will have to take the tour next time!

Happy travels to your fairytale in Colmar, France!

Now, off to Strasbourg for another Christmas Market.

December 19-21, 2023

GRAB GELATO & GO