What to do in Colmar, France

Colmar quickly captivated my heart with its colorful architecture, joyful locals and small size. It is located in the Alsace region of France, right by the German border- so you really get both the French and German influence. Colmar really feels like a fairy tale city come to life. Supposedly, the little town in Beauty and the Beast is actually based on Colmar!

The city is small enough that you can really explore it in just a few days, but has enough charm to continually surprise you. From little canals and cobblestone streets to colorful timber houses, the city is literally covered in character. Colmar quickly made it onto my list of favorite small cities. Most of the streets are closed for pedestrians only and there is so much history!

I would love to come back in the spring {our host said it was his favorite time of year there}. But Colmar was so cozy and so well decorated at Christmas time- I would highly recommend you visit during the Christmas season as well! We actually arrived just after Christmas, so a lot of the Christmas markets were already beginning to disappear, but the city was quiet and we had it all to ourselves. And it snowed a few times while we were there which made it even more magical. I mean- can you imagine a colorful, fairy tale city decorated for Christmas covered in a light dust of snow? It was dreamy!

Here are my tips on what to do in Colmar:

Itinerary

We spent 3 nights here and loved it! No itinerary needed. Just explore the charming town!

Airport/Train:

• Colmar Train Station (we took the train)
• Basel Airport (BSL)

Hotel :

• HomeAway
• Airbnb {we stayed here & LOVED it. The location was literally perfect and the hosts are so so sweet! They only speak French, but gave us a walking tour of the city upon arriving. AND we learned upon arriving that Beethoven actually learned to play piano in that apartment- before it was renovated obviously. I would stay there again in 2 seconds}

Restaurants: 

• Brasserie Auberge {classic Alsacian food}
• Le Comptoir de Georges {local food}
• Le Petit Bidon {family run French food}
• Schwendi Bier Und Wiestub {delicious, cheap, local food}

Transportation:

• Walk. You can literally walk everywhere in the area
• Taxi. Only really needed to/from train station- although our host drove us!

Recommendations:

• Walk Old Town. It is charming and colorful. And we loved the shops!
• Visit Marche Couvert. It’s a charming little market with delicious wines, cheese, pretzels, breads, treats and just about everything you could want. Caleb & I went here once a day for a glass of local sparkling wine {for $3 a glass}, a cheese board, meats for Caleb and a couple of German style pretzels.
• Maison Pfister. A landmark building in Colmar with gorgeous architecture. It is located across the street from the airbnb we rented. {there is the most delicious, tiny candy/chocolate shop across the street. you MUST go get some treats there! It’s just a few doors down from the airbnb we rented}
• Visit Little Venice. Notice the pretty canals and timber homes lining the canals.
• Visit the Eglise St-Martin. This church is stunning and was started in 1120!
• Visit the Christmas Markets. If you are there at Christmas, this is a MUST!

Fun Fact:

• Colmar is the birthplace of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the man who designed the Statue of Liberty.

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