Colmar 2026 Travel Guide: Things to Do, Nightlife & Stays

Colmar sits in the Alsace region of France. It lies about halfway between Strasbourg and Basel. This part of France has passed between French and German rule many times. You can still see traces of both in the architecture, the food and the wine.

The town is small. You can walk across it in 20 minutes. But there is more to see than one afternoon allows. There is the canal district, the museums and the regional food. There are wine bars in town. And there are villages along the Alsace Wine Route nearby.

This guide covers the seven main things to see. It also explains where to stay and what to eat and drink in the evening. It tells you the best time to visit. And it shows you how to reach Colmar from Paris and the surrounding wine villages.

​7 Best Things to Do in Colmar

Colmar is a walking town. The main sights sit within a few hundred metres of each other, and the best way to see it is on foot, at whatever pace suits you. These seven cover the range from canals and architecture to museums, markets and churches.

1. Walk Through Colmar's Old Town and Petite Venise

Petite Venise is the canal district of Colmar. It runs along the River Lauch.

Half-timbered houses line the water. They are painted green, blue, yellow and pink. Many lean over the canal. The Fishmonger’s District (Quai de la Poissonnerie) is the most photographed stretch.

You can take a flat-bottomed boat through the canals. The ride takes about 30 minutes. Walking is free. It also takes you into the smaller lanes that the boats pass by.

The Old Town around the canals has cobbled streets and carved doorways. The buildings date from the 13th to the 17th centuries.

• Entry Fee: Free to walk. Boat rides: EUR 10 per adult.
• Operating Hours: Accessible at all times. Boat rides are seasonal (typically March to November, extended in December)

2. Visit the Musée Unterlinden

The museum houses the Isenheim Altarpiece, a 16th-century polyptych by Matthias Grünewald that is the main reason most art visitors come to Colmar. The crucifixion panel is large, vivid and painted with a level of detail that stops most people mid-step. Beyond the altarpiece, the museum covers medieval Alsatian art, archaeological finds and modern art in a newer extension designed by Herzog and de Meuron. Allow two to three hours for the full collection.

• Entry Fee: EUR 14 per adult (2026)
• Operating Hours: Open daily except Tuesday. Typically 9 am to 6 pm. Check the museum website for seasonal variations.

3. Look at Maison Pfister

Maison Pfister dates to 1537. It is one of the most distinctive buildings in the Old Town.

The painted panels on the front show biblical and historical scenes. Look for the small corner turret. Look for the wooden gallery too. Most visitors stop for these two details.

The house is privately owned. You can only see it from the street.

A few minutes is enough. But take a closer look at the details. They are worth it.

• Entry Fee: Exterior only, free
• Operating Hours: Visible at all times

4. See Maison des Tetes

The House of Heads stands on Rue des Tetes. The name makes sense as soon as you look up. The front of the building is covered in carvings. There are 106 heads and grotesque figures. They spread across three storeys.

The building dates to 1609. Today it is a hotel and restaurant, called Hotel & Spa Les Tetes. You can eat or drink inside. Or you can stay on the street and count the faces.

• Entry Fee: Exterior free. Hotel and restaurant open to guests and diners
• Operating Hours: Visible at all times. Restaurant hours vary

5. Visit the Marché couvert (Covered Market)

The covered market sits beside the Lauch River and sells fresh produce, Alsatian cheeses, charcuterie, pastries and regional specialities. It is where locals shop, and the stalls give a practical introduction to Alsatian food that restaurant menus do not quite match. The market is compact and takes about 30 minutes to walk through. Buy a piece of Munster cheese and a pretzel for the walk afterwards.

• Entry Fee: Free
• Operating Hours: Open Tuesday to Thursday, 8 am to 6 pm; Friday, 8 am to 7 pm; Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm. Closed Monday

6. Visit the Musée Bartholdi

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty, was born in Colmar. The museum occupies his birth house and contains models, drawings, photographs and personal objects related to the Statue of Liberty and his other works. The collection is compact and takes about an hour. The building itself, a townhouse courtyard in the centre of the Old Town, is part of the visit.

• Entry Fee: EUR 5 per adult
• Operating Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm. Closed Monday. Check for seasonal variations.

7. See the Collegiale Saint-Martin

The main church in Colmar, built between the 13th and 14th centuries in Alsatian Gothic style. The exterior has a polychrome tile roof that catches the light in the afternoon. Inside, the stained glass windows and the carved wooden choir stalls are the main details worth stopping for. The church sits in the centre of the Old Town and takes about 20 minutes to see.

• Entry Fee: Free
• Operating Hours: Open daily, approximately 8 am to 6 pm

Where to Stay in Colmar

Colmar is small enough that staying anywhere in the Old Town puts you within walking distance of everything. These four cover a range from splurge to practical.

• Hotel Le Marechal: Located beside the Petite Venise canals, this upscale hotel offers rooms with canal views. Rates start at around EUR 180 per night.
• Maison des Tetes (Hotel & Spa Les Tetes): Stay in the historic House of Heads building on Rue des Tetes, right in the Old Town. Rates start at around EUR 200 per night.
• James Boutique Hotel: Located in the Old Town, this hotel offers modern rooms and a convenient location. Rates start at around EUR 140 per night.

December note: Hotels in the Old Town during the Colmar Christmas market season (late November to late December) book out months in advance and prices rise significantly. Book by September for the best availability.

Colmar Nightlife, Wine Bars and Local Food

Colmar is not a late-night city. The evening scene is built around wine bars, Alsatian food and a few craft beer spots that close before midnight. That suits the town well.

Wine Bars

• La Petite Cave de Colmar: A small wine bar in the Old Town serving Alsatian wines by the glass. Good for trying Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris without committing to a full bottle
• Vinstub Koifhus: Traditional Alsatian wine tavern with local wines and regional food

Craft Beer

• La Salle a Manger Colmar: Serves a selection of Alsatian craft beers alongside local food. A more modern evening atmosphere than the wine bars

Alsatian Food to Try

• Tarte flambee (Flammekueche): A thin-crust flatbread with cream, onions and lardons. The Alsatian equivalent of pizza, served at most traditional restaurants.
• Choucroute garnie: Sauerkraut with sausages and pork. Heavier than most French food and built for cold evenings
• Kougelhopf: A ring-shaped Alsatian cake, slightly sweet, often served at breakfast or with coffee
• Munster cheese: A soft, strong cheese from the Alsace region. Usually served with cumin seeds.

Bakeries

• Maison Alsacienne de Biscuiterie: Alsatian biscuits and pastries. The bredele (Christmas biscuits) are the seasonal speciality.
• Helmstetter Boulangerie: A traditional bakery in the Old Town for bread, pretzels and pastries

Wine Tasting Options from Colmar

What is the Best Time to Visit Colmar?

How to Get to Colmar and Travel Around

Paris to Colmar

Take the TGV from Paris Gare de l’Est to Strasbourg. This takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Then change to a TER regional train for Colmar. This leg takes about 30 to 35 minutes.

The whole journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. Book through SNCF Connect. For the best fares, book 60 or more days ahead. Colmar station is about a 15-minute walk from the Old Town centre.

Getting Around Colmar

The Old Town is compact and entirely walkable. You do not need a car, a bus or a taxi to see the main sights. The walk from one end of the centre to the other takes about 20 minutes.

Conclusion

Colmar earns its reputation through the details rather than any single headline attraction. The canals, the carved facades, the Isenheim Altarpiece, the covered market, the wine bars and the nearby vine-covered villages add up to a town that fits more into two or three days than its size suggests. The Christmas markets in late November and December add another layer entirely, though the town works well in any season.

Holiday Tribe builds Colmar and the Alsace Wine Route into structured France holiday packages that combine stays, transport and day outings. Whether you want Colmar as part of a wider France itinerary or as a focused Alsace stay, a holiday advisor can help with the planning.