2025 Colmar Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

#100WaysOfTravel #historicallandmarks #localguides Getting There Easily accessible by train from Strasbourg or Basel (just 30-45 minutes), Colmar is a picturesque town that feels worlds away. If driving, it’s around 1.5 hours from Zurich and has plenty of parking. Attractions Stroll through La Petite Venise with its canal-side houses or visit the Unterlinden Museum for art treasures. The medieval architecture, colorful facades, and charming streets make every corner Instagram-worthy. Hotels Stay at the elegant Hotel Le Maréchal in Petite Venise or opt for cozy, boutique options like James Boutique Hotel for modern comfort. Food & Restaurants Savor Alsatian flavors at Wistub de la Petite Venise for local specialties like tarte flambée and choucroute, or indulge in Michelin-starred dining at L’Atelier du Peintre. Shopping Wander the quaint streets for unique finds like Alsatian wines, local crafts, and gourmet goodies at shops like Maison Alsacienne de Biscuiterie. Colmar is the perfect blend of history, charm, and Alsatian warmth!

#myhiddengems There often tends to be that question among travellers headed to the Alsatian region. Should they do Strasbourg or Colmar? I think i might be able to answer that because i visited both those places and explored them for two nights each. Straight up, if you have the time I would recommend both the towns. And if you were to pick, you see that should depend on what you seek from the destination. Strasbourg is a more lively city with a rich history and dynamic culture. While my personal favourite would be Colmer for its slow paced life, serene landscapes, charming architecture and excellent wine. Mostly, i recommend the Alsace region because it is way more value for money like in the case of Colmar. I spent a lot less and did equally or more things compared to other regions. The friendly locals are a relief too. In terms of sightseeing, broadly what you'd be looking at is the Old Town & Place de la Cathédrale, Little Venice, boat trip and the krutenau street and Quai de la Poissonnerie. #myhiddengems #alsace #colmar #summerdestinations #europe #france #100waysoftravel #solotrip #cherryblossom2024 #singapore

✨A French fairy tale town, it's like stepping into Howl's Moving Castle✨ 🪄When you see the town in this picture, do you feel a sense of déjà vu? If you are familiar with Hayao Miyazaki's work 'Howl's Moving Castle', then this scene will not be unfamiliar to you😉. Remember when Sophie was walking alone on the path, being teased by two soldiers, and Howl descended from the sky like a hero🕺, with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a cloak, appearing beside Sophie. He took Sophie dancing in the air above the town, lightly stepping over the rooftops, overlooking the entire town, everything was dreamily beautiful💕. 👧The most impressive to me was the scene where they danced in the air🎈, those rows of pointed timber-framed houses, scattered in an orderly fashion, looking down from above, both romantic and spectacular🎆. And this scene is not a figment of Grandpa Miyazaki's imagination, its prototype is the town of Colmar on the Alsace Wine Route in France! Compare the pictures, isn't it almost identical😲! Those timber-framed houses are just like two peas in a pod! Here, it seems that you can see Howl carrying Sophie flying over the rooftops🕊️! 🏡Over the past millennium, the Alsace region has changed hands between France and Germany several times, its history is an epic of German-French contradictions and integration📚. Speaking of Alsace, does it feel familiar to you🤔? Let's read the text below together and see if it can evoke fragments of your memory📃: 'After the grammar lesson, we started the handwriting class📝. That day, Mr. Hamel gave us new copybooks, all with beautiful round script: 'France' 'Alsace' 'France' 'Alsace'. These copybooks hung on the iron rods of our desks, like many small national flags fluttering in the classroom🚩. Everyone was so focused, the classroom was unbelievably quiet🎵!' 'The Last Lesson' cast a melancholic and solemn hue over Alsace😢. But in fact, before the 17th century, the Alsace region belonged to the Holy Roman Empire (the predecessor of Germany), and people mainly spoke German📄. After the famous Thirty Years' War in Europe, Alsace came under French rule. And in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, France was defeated, and Alsace belonged to Prussia, until Germany was defeated in World War II, Alsace returned to the arms of France💪, and formed the current border between the two countries along the Rhine River🗺️. 📖If cities can also be mixed-race, then Colmar is undoubtedly a beautiful town with German-French mixed blood🌸. Carefully calculated, this place belonged to Germany for a longer time than it belonged to France. This also explains why Colmar's architectural style is full of Germanic charm🏰, those timber-framed houses and the magnificent Gothic churches with pointed spires all bear strong Germanic marks🎨, as well as many street names with German suffixes and the dialect mixed with German and French, all have a reasonable explanation🤝. ✨Colmar also has many attractions worth visiting🎡, such as the Little Venice area, where the waterways crisscross, and the colorful timber-framed houses are reflected in the water, picturesque🖼️; there is also the Unterlinden Museum, which displays the rich history and culture of the Alsace region📜; and the Saint Martin Church, whose towering spires and exquisite carvings are awe-inspiring👏. Come to Colmar and experience the unique charm of this fairy tale town💖!

I went to France for the first time in 15 years 🇫🇷This time, I went to Paris and the Alsace-Lorraine region ✨️The most adorable town was Colmar ❤️ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 𖤣𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣 ┈┈Colmar is said to be the model for Beauty and the Beast and Howl's Moving Castle! It is said that Pfister's house was the model for the old house that appears in Howl's Moving Castle 😌 (See the top of the 7th image) Pl. de l'Ancienne Douane is said to be the model for the town where Belle lived in Beauty and the Beast 🔔 (See the bottom of the 7th image) It's a very cute town with photogenic spots everywhere 📸 The creator of the Statue of Liberty is from Colmar, so there are many Statue of Liberty motifs on the roads 🗽┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 𖤣𖥧𖥣𖡡𖥧𖤣 ┈┈Colmar, a city where French and German cultures have fused together due to historical reasons, is truly as cute as a fairy tale land 💕🥺 On the day we visited, La Petite Venice I was surprised by the ridiculous artificial green colour of the river (see the 5th photo), as if someone had added bath salts to it 😳 I later learned that this is not default, but is the result of an environmental protection group spraying dye 😣And apparently this was done on the day I visited...It's an unrealistic colour, but there were lots of fish swimming in the river this colour 🐟Even just walking around the city is a lot of fun ❤️𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━📍Colmar 🚗Access:🚃About 30 minutes by TER from Strasbourg! 🚄From Paris Gare de l’Est to Colmar station, it takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes by TGV #besttrip2023 #wintertrip #triptoFrance #Colmar #girlstrip #overseastrip

🛍️ ✈️ Colmar is a beautiful town in the north eastern France, near Germany’s border. I love all the well-reserved buildings in the old town. Housing in these buildings are beautiful boutique shops and restaurants where you can get something unique originating from this Alsace area. Even the souvenir shops are so cute with many handcrafted gift representing Colmar. #shopandtrip

When I first read about the fairytale village of Colmar, I knew I had to visit. Located in the Alsace region along the border between France and Germany, Colmar is known for its colorful houses and the cutest Christmas market. Wandering the streets of Colmar is like stepping into a fairytale. It is said that it was the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast, and there is even a fountain that looks like the one in the movie.

Eguisheim, a town right after Colmar, like a 10mins drive is another medieval village in the popular Alsace wine region. You will be able to against see the cobbled streets but the difference here are the really narrow streets with the well mantaoned timber houses at each side of the street reminding me of Italy or like games like counter strike where there are so many narrow allies everywhere. As now in August - September fall period the weather is perfect, dry crisp air, no rain, making every spot a perfect photoshot especially when the sun shines into the town at a angle. And of course if you are a wine lover, so visit one of the many wines located all around Eguisheim as you will notice there are many vineyards located outside of this quiet little town. At night, when the sun sets, the streets light up make this another picture perfect spot where the canels reflects the lights and the medieval buildings making this also one instaworthy romantic scenic photo spot! #fallingforfall #medieval #france #town #oldtown #wineyard #eguisheim

Erected from 1235 on the site of a previous building, this collegiate church is the most imposing Gothic church in Middle Alsace. The south facade of the transept, with the Saint Nicolas portal, is the finest part. The strange roofing of the tower replaces a spire which collapsed following a fire in 1572. As the seat of the constitutional bishopric of the Haut-Rhin district during the French revolution, Saint Martin had cathedral status during that period. The church’s silhouette, with its single bell tower, is particularly recognisable from neighbouring districts. It’s extremely beautiful inside too. Look carefully at the amazing stained glass panels and the 2 large organs at the marvelous altar here. #bucketlistreboot

At the heart of the Alsace Wine Route, Colmar is very well located and while it may not be the capital of Alsace, it remains one of its top tourist destinations. The Colmar Little Venice district in the old town gathers colourful half-timbered houses neatly lining cobblestone streets and walkways, set along a peaceful canal. The name “Little Venice” generally refers to a particular spot in the center. It is an old and picturesque area where the canals that cross the city are concentrated. Here every house has a different color and visitors are immersed in a fairy-tale world. #bucketlistreboot

Nestled among vineyards, its traditional houses, canals, floral displays, amazing cuisine, famous wines and charming accommodation make Colmar an outstanding microcosm of Alsace – showcasing its lifestyle, conviviality and hospitality – the key features of its unique, exceptional welcome. The capital of the Alsacian wines, situated near Germany and Switzerland between the Vosges and the Rhine, Strasbourg and Mulhouse, offers visitors an exciting glimpse of 1000 years of European history. Besides, with its 67,000 inhabitants, Colmar retains a 'country town' atmosphere which contributes so much to its charm. Wonderfully preserved from the ravages of time, its homogenous historical centre is classed as a 'protected area' and has benefited from careful restoration and ongoing improvements for more than 20 years. #eurotrip

Saying goodbye to this beautiful and romantic city. I love to stroll around this place. Colmar, France. Full of historical and architechtural colonial buildings. The people are very nice but beware of pick pocket! Romantic city it is. The still water and houses make my mind at ease. Difficult to part ways, holiday here feels end so fast. You should come and visit this place! Next time I should visit again with my partner. For now, au revoir, Colmar! Good bye, Colmar! See you again soon (I hope!) 🤗 #createwithtrip #france #beautifulcity #romanticcity #urbanexplorer #discovereurope #exploreeurope

Colmar, the small French city where Miyakazi Hayao got inspiration for one of his greatest work Hawl's moving castle from! I personally love Studio Ghibli's animation, especially Hawl's moving castle, also I love French region Alzas for its history and food so this was the perfect destination for me. If you are a big fan of Hawl too, check out Colmar! You will picture Hawl and Sophie walking in the air together at the start of the movie, it's that similar and absolutely stunning! #givethanks #movietravel #givethanks

In fact, before the Chinese restaurant was broadcast, Colmar was very famous in France and won the title of the most beautiful town in France. And because this is the prototype of Hayao Miyazaki's cartoon "Hal's Moving Castle", it attracts tourists from all over the world. The town can take a small train tour, mainly to see the "small canal", "church", "under the Bodhi tree library" and the characteristic "ribs house". The town is not big, but it takes a day to go shopping. The town of Colmar is now dominated by tourism, which is full of shops and restaurants. In Colmar in December, the weather is very cold, but the town full of Christmas atmosphere is very lively. Many merchants will have special promotions, and everyone will decorate their own window like a game. At night, come for a glass of mulled wine and watch the Christmas market under the lights. I really feel happy!

▫️La Petite Venise 📍Quai de la Poissonnerie, 68000 Colmar, France ▫️Maison Pfister 📍11 Rue des Marchands, 68000 Colmar, France ▫️Schwendi Fountain 📍12 Pl. de l'Ancienne Douane, 68000 Colmar, France

#celebrateit Colmar in the Alsace region of France. Although it is France, it is a popular tourist destination with a strong influence from Germany. The old town has a cute atmosphere like a fairyland. The colourful German-style wooden house "Colombage" is lined up. The canal called Petit Venice is also a highlight. Don't forget to enjoy the famous Alsacean cuisine

#CanadaFlightEvent If you want to travel to a beautiful and lovely fairy tale town, I recommend Colmar, a small city in France~! This place is so popular that it was the setting for the Ghibli movie Howl's Moving Castle!! This is a really popular travel destination, so I highly recommend it!!

This place is famous for being the background of Howl's Moving Castle!! Due to the immense popularity of Howl's Moving Castle, many tourists visit this place! Although it's difficult to take pictures because of the crowd, make sure to capture at least one photo!! The buildings are so beautiful that you can't help but fall in love with this place~ It reminds you of the background from Howl's Moving Castle~!! ▫️Maison Pfister

This place was so great during my trip to France!! Colmar is a great place to take a day trip from Paris, France by TGV!! You'll feel the reason it's so popular as soon as you visit~👍 It's a small town with a cartoon-like atmosphere that you can't help but fall in love with!! The buildings are so pretty that they're bound to catch your eye!! It's a popular place to take a leisurely walk and travel~! #Overseas travel #France travel #Near Paris #Colmar

Many people travel to Paris during their trip to France. Colmar is a great place to visit on a day trip from Paris!! Colmar is a really pretty fairy tale town and is very popular~👍 The buildings are all pretty, like they came out of a fairy tale!! It's a great place to travel while walking and it's a great travel destination~👍I highly recommend it~!!! ▫️Colmar #Overseas travel #France travel #Near Paris #Colmar

#CanadaFlightEvent If you travel here, you can almost always enjoy a very satisfying trip!! Colmar, one of the cute little French cities, has a town atmosphere that you can't help but fall in love with because all the buildings are like a fairy tale and the streets are so beautiful! I'm on my Nth visit!

#CanadaFlightEvent How can all the buildings be so beautiful?! When I think of France, I usually think of Paris, and when I see Parisian architecture, I don't get the feeling that it's like a fairy tale, but this is the same France, but it feels completely different~👍 The buildings really look like scenes from an animation drawn in a picture~

#CanadaFlightEvent I visited several Christmas markets. Among them, the Christmas market in Colmar, which was even more beautiful because the town itself was so pretty and a Christmas market was held there💛 It's so popular that many tourists always visit even when it's not Christmas!

#CanadaFlightEvent Colmar, such a beautiful town!! This place is really popular, a fairy tale town under the blue sky!! It's a great place to enjoy a leisurely trip, looking around, sitting comfortably, and resting! This is a popular place that I want to visit again💛 Such a beautiful place!

#CanadaFlightEvent This is a place where you can travel and be satisfied when you visit!! The beautiful buildings are really like a fairy tale, and you will fall in love with every space~ It is a place where you can travel while walking, so it is a really good place to travel slowly and leisurely~👍👍👍

#CanadaFlightEvent This place is like a fairy tale town that doesn't seem real!! You'll definitely fall in love with it when you visit. The buildings in the town look like they came out of a fairy tale, and this small French town where you can feel the background just like in an animation!! It's also great for a day trip from Paris.

#CanadaFlightEvent The entire town feels like a fairy tale town, and the buildings are so beautiful, it's a small French town!! It's so popular that many people go on day trips, so it's really great to travel around and see the alleys on foot~ I highly recommend it.

The « little Venice » is the name given to the course of the Lauch in Colmar. This name probably came from the original line of the houses on both sides of the river, which serves the southeast of the city. This district starts behind the Koïfhus, goes through the fishmonger's district and to the bridges Turenne and Saint-Pierre. It is therefore at the beginning of the Krutenau, whose etymology refers to places of market gardening on the outskirts of the towns. Originally inhabited by a rural community of wine-producers, market gardeners and boatmen, the Krutenau stretches out around the Turenne Street that the marshal took in 1674 for his triumphant entry in the city. Boat rides are possible there.

Colmar is a town in the Alsace region of northeastern France. It is known for its unique architectural style and water town charm, and is considered one of the "Top 10 Most Beautiful Towns in the World." Here is a travel guide to Colmar to help you plan your trip. Visa and Entry Apply for a French tourist visa in advance and prepare a valid passport and visa application materials (such as photos, itinerary, proof of funds, etc.). For specific requirements, please consult the French Embassy or Visa Center. Time Difference Colmar is in the Central European Time Zone, which is 7 hours behind China (6 hours during daylight saving time). Best Time to Visit Colmar is suitable for travel all year round, but each season has its own unique features. Spring (March to May): The temperature gradually warms up and flowers bloom. Summer (June to August): The sun is shining, making it perfect for outdoor activities. Autumn (September to November): Grape harvest season, a paradise for wine lovers. Winter (December to February): Christmas markets and a festive atmosphere. Transportation Guide External Transportation: Colmar does not have an airport, but you can fly to Basel, Nice, or Paris and then take a train. Trains from Strasbourg run every half hour and take about 30 minutes to reach Colmar. Internal Transportation: You can walk around the old town or take a sightseeing train to visit the main attractions. Popular Attractions Colmar Old Town: Colorful wooden houses and medieval streets. Little Venice: Canals run through the city, with colorful houses on both sides. Rue des Tanneurs and Rue des Clefs: Preserved half-timbered houses. Saint Martin's Church: An outstanding Gothic building. Maison des Têtes and Unterlinden Museum: Display precious cultural relics and artworks. Local Cuisine Alsatian Stew: A rich local specialty. Alsatian White Wine: Full-bodied. French Desserts: Such as crepes, macarons, etc. Accommodation Options It is recommended to choose a hotel in the city center or near Little Venice for easy access and sightseeing. Shopping Recommendations Alsatian Pottery: Local specialty pottery. Handicrafts: Such as wood carvings, glassware, etc. Notes Tipping is customary in France. In restaurants, you can tip about 5%-10% of the bill amount based on the service. Pay attention to personal property safety and respect local customs and religious beliefs. Colmar is a charming town that is perfect for savoring and exploring slowly. We hope this guide will help you plan your trip to Colmar.