Colmar in France is one of those places that makes you smile as you walk around. You turn a corner and there’s another crooked little house, another window overflowing with flowers, another canal with a row of colourful buildings reflected in the water. And the best part is that you don’t really need a plan.
Just wander. Sit down for a coffee, have lunch in a little square, browse the shops and watch people go about their day. Colmar has a wonderfully easygoing feel to it, and I think that’s why I love it so much. It’s pretty, but it doesn’t feel like a stage set — it feels like a real town that just happens to be exceptionally beautiful.
One of the easiest mistakes to make when planning a visit to Colmar is to imagine a tiny little French village that you can see in an hour or two.
Colmar is actually a city, with around 70,000 people, although its historic centre feels wonderfully small and intimate. The colourful half-timbered houses, canals and cobbled streets that you see in photographs are concentrated in the Old Town, including the famous Little Venice area.
So when you hear Colmar described as one of the most beautiful “villages” in France, it is really the charming historic heart of the city that people are talking about. Give yourself time to enjoy it — there is more to Colmar than the postcard streets.
Colmar is located 42 miles (68 km) south-southwest of Strasbourg. If ever you are near, please do stop here. It is just simply one of the most beautiful “villages” in France.
Picture perfect buildings, amazing architecture and the best time to visit would be….well any time. Because in summer the place is beautiful with pretty flowers everywhere and in winter you have Christmas decorations adorning many buildings.
Travelers from around the world have this destination on their travel bucket list and from the photos, it is easy to see why.
Colmar is worth adding to your France itinerary because it gives you something quite different from the big French cities. It is definitely a unique and quite unusual place to visit.
You can see the main sights comfortably on foot, making it a good choice for a relaxed 1–2 night stay rather than a rushed day trip.
It also works well as a base for exploring the Alsace wine villages and countryside, with places such as Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr nearby. Stay overnight and you get to enjoy Colmar after many day visitors have left, when the streets become quieter and the town is at its most enjoyable. If you are travelling by car, Colmar also makes a practical stopping point between other Alsace destinations.
You can fly to one of the closest airports: EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (EAP) which is a 40 min (59,4 km) car ride via the A35, or Strasbourg (SXB).
Colmar is easy to reach by train, and the station is close enough to the Old Town to make a car unnecessary for a visit focused on the centre.
Schwendi Fountain – A historic fountain (on the Old Customs Square, 68000, Colmar) rebuilt after World War II, featuring a bronze statue of General Lazare Schwendi.
Maison Pfister (Pfister House). A beautiful old wooden house – one of the oldest in Colmar.
Maison des Têtes (House of Heads) – Look up as you walk along Rue des Têtes and you’ll see why this Renaissance-era building has such a memorable name.
Its elaborate façade is covered with 106 carved heads and grotesque masks, each one adding to the wonderfully unusual character of the building. It dates from 1609 and is now a listed Historic Monument. And here’s a lovely Colmar experience: you can actually stay inside this historic building, which is now home to the 5-star La Maison des Têtes hotel.
And that’s really the charm of Colmar. You don’t need to rush from one attraction to the next — much of the pleasure comes from simply being here and seeing what you find around the next corner. But there are a few places and experiences that I would make time for, especially on a first visit. Here are the things to do in Colmar that I think are worth putting on your list.
1. Wander through Colmar’s Old Town: This is the part of Colmar I would simply take your time with. Walk along the little canals, cross the bridges and explore the narrow streets around Little Venice, where colourful half-timbered houses line the water. Keep your camera ready — flower-filled windows, painted shutters and wonderfully decorated façades seem to appear around every corner. You don’t need a sightseeing plan here; some of the best moments come from simply wandering.
2. Take a boat ride through Little Venice: A short boat trip is a lovely way to see Colmar from the water. The boats glide along the canals of Little Venice, giving you a different view of the colourful houses and waterfront streets. It is an easy activity to add between exploring the Old Town and stopping for lunch.
3. Stop for tarte flambée: Leave some time to sit down at a local restaurant and enjoy the atmosphere rather than rushing on to the next sight. This is the place to try tarte flambée (flammekueche), a thin, crisp Alsatian speciality traditionally topped with crème fraîche, onions and bacon. It is simple, filling and perfect with a glass of Alsatian wine.
4. Explore the Alsace wine route: Colmar is surrounded by vineyards, so this is a good place to experience the wines of Alsace. Take a trip along the Alsace Wine Route, stopping in some of the small wine villages and tasting local varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Riesling and Pinot Gris. You can join an organised wine tour from Colmar or explore the area independently by car.
5. Get out into the countryside: The scenery around Colmar deserves some time too. You can rent a bicycle and follow the quieter roads through the vineyards, or join a guided cycling or e-bike tour. Several beautiful villages are close to Colmar, making this an easy way to see more of Alsace without spending the whole day in the town centre.
Start early, wander without rushing, and don’t stick too closely to the main streets. The most photographed parts of Colmar are beautiful, but some of the nicest moments come when you turn into a quieter lane or cross a small bridge away from the crowds.
Give yourself time to stop for coffee, look inside the courtyards and simply enjoy the colourful buildings. Then return to Little Venice later in the day when the light changes.
Colmar has a wide range of fabulous places to stay.
My practical tip: For a first visit, I would allow at least two nights. One night gives you a taste of Colmar; two gives you time to enjoy the town slowly and perhaps visit one or two of the beautiful Alsace villages nearby.
We’d recommend staying in, or just outside, the Old Town: This puts you within easy walking distance of Little Venice, the covered market, restaurants and the prettiest streets, and you can leave the car behind while exploring. Staying overnight is also worthwhile because Colmar feels quite different once the day-trippers have gone home.
Little Venice is particularly atmospheric if you want to wake up beside the canals, while the area around Place des Dominicains and Rue des Marchands puts you right in the middle of the Old Town.
If you are arriving by car, look for accommodation with parking just outside the pedestrian centre. You may find it easier than trying to drive into the historic heart of Colmar.
And for something really special, you can stay in the historic Maison des Têtes, the Renaissance building covered with 106 carved heads that we mentioned above.
The hotel above is a good choice if you want to stay close to the heart of Colmar. It is within easy walking distance of the Old Town and its canals, so you can head out on foot and explore without worrying about transport.
The hotel is also a convenient base for sightseeing, with the added benefit of being close enough to return for a rest before heading out again in the evening.
For a short Colmar stay, that combination of location, convenience and an easy-going atmosphere makes it a perfect option.
Want to make your stay part of the Colmar experience? Stay at this beautiful 16th-century half-timbered house right in the heart of Little Venice with its beautiful old world charm.
You get to sleep inside one of those beautiful Alsatian buildings that make Colmar so special, with the canals and colourful houses right outside.
Some rooms have traditional touches such as four-poster beds, while the hotel’s restaurant sits directly beside the water. It is the kind of place that makes staying overnight feel like part of the sightseeing.
For a memorable evening in Colmar, book a table at À l’Échevin, the restaurant at Hotel Le Maréchal.
The setting is a big part of the experience: you are dining in historic Alsatian surroundings, with exposed timberwork and the canal of Little Venice just outside.
Expect French and Alsatian dishes with a modern touch, rather than a quick tourist meal.
On a warm evening, ask for a table on the waterside terrace and take your time over dinner. This is one of those Colmar evenings where the setting is almost as important as what is on your plate.
But this is exactly why you should stay overnight…
Colmar is definitely one of our Top 5 Cutest Towns around the world.
One of the pleasures of Colmar is finding a little restaurant with tables spilling onto the street and taking a break from exploring. This is the perfect time to try tarte flambée (flammekueche), a deliciously thin and crisp Alsatian speciality traditionally topped with crème fraîche, onions and bacon. Order one to share, perhaps with a glass of local Alsatian wine, and enjoy watching Colmar go by. It doesn’t have to be a long lunch — just a chance to sit down, taste something local and enjoy being here.
Location: Alsace, north-eastern France
What you’ll see: Colourful half-timbered houses, canals, bridges, flower-filled balconies and pretty squares
Best for: Walking, photography, cafés, Alsatian food and wine
Best way to explore: On foot — the historic Old Town is compact and easy to explore
How long to allow: One full day for the Old Town; 1–2 nights if you want to enjoy Colmar at a slower pace
Don’t miss: Little Venice, the covered market, tarte flambée and the Alsace Wine Route
Good to know: Colmar is a city, although its historic Old Town has the intimate feel of a beautiful French village.
If you love Christmas, Colmar is something special. The beautiful Old Town becomes even more enchanting with thousands of lights, decorations and little wooden market chalets tucked into the squares and along the canals.
There are several Christmas markets to discover, including a particularly charming one in Petite Venise, where 43 colourful cottages create a little Christmas village beside the water.
You can wander from market to market with a cup of hot mulled wine, stop for Alsatian Christmas treats and browse local crafts and food.
he atmosphere is very different from visiting Colmar in summer — and that is precisely the appeal.
Just plan ahead: Christmas is a popular time to visit, so book your accommodation early and expect the Old Town to be considerably busier than it is at quieter times of year.
Rue des Marchands is one of the streets you should not miss on your walk through Colmar’s Old Town. This pretty pedestrian street is lined with colourful historic buildings and beautiful Renaissance houses, including the famous Pfister House.
Take your time here and look above the shopfronts — the façades are full of details that are easy to miss if you are concentrating only on the street ahead. It is also a lovely street for browsing the small shops and stopping for something to eat or drink. Like the souvenir and gift shop Au Vieux Pignon.
From here, continue along Grand’Rue, then make your way towards Place de l’Ancienne Douane, where the buildings and canal create one of those scenes that makes you reach for your camera.
Then head towards Rue de la Poissonnerie and Quai de la Poissonnerie. This is one of my favourite stretches, with a row of colourful half-timbered houses beside the water. Continue towards Petite Venise, where the canals, bridges and houses come together in one of Colmar’s most recognisable views.
At Christmas, this walk becomes even more special. The squares are filled with market stalls and decorations, and the streets and buildings are beautifully illuminated after dark. Take the same walk again in the evening — you’ll see a completely different Colmar.
Don’t Just Photograph Colmar — Look Up
It is very easy to walk through Colmar with your camera pointed at the canals and colourful houses, but remember to look up.
The upper floors reveal some wonderful details that you can easily miss — carved decorations, painted shutters, old signs, unusual rooflines and little faces or figures tucked into the façades. Some buildings are surprisingly elaborate once you start looking closely.
Especially when you’re visiting out of Christmas time – Take your time as you walk and you will soon find yourself looking above the shop windows and doorways, wondering what else you might have walked straight past.
