Picturesque French town full of attractions, Colmar is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in the world. Thanks to its ideal location on the Alsace Wine Route, it is also the self-proclaimed “capital of Alsace wines“. Not only can you visit various vineyards nearby, but the town itself has an incredibly well-preserved old town, fantastic museums, and breathtaking medieval architecture.
- 1. La Petite Venise
- 2. Boat Ride on the Lauch River
- 3. Quartier des Tanneurs
- 4. Place de l’Ancienne Douane & Koifhus
- 5. Colmar Old Town
- 6. Unterlinden Museum
- 7. Bartholdi Museum
- 8. Saint Martin’s Church
- 9. Toy Museum
- 10. Parc du Champ de Mars
- 11. Colmar Covered Market
- 12. Shop at the Christmas Market
- 13. Alsace Wine Route
- 14. Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle
- 15. Hohlandsbourg Castle
- 16. Taste the Local Cuisine
La Petite Venise (the little Venice) is one of the most picturesque spots in Colmar. This neighborhood, located along the Lauch River, is famous for its colorful half-timbered houses dating back 400 years. During your visit, be sure to stroll along Quai de la Poissonnerie and Rue de la Poissonnerie. These streets offer some of the most photographed views of the town. But don’t stop there, the whole area is truly charming, so explore the entire length along the river.
Besides exploring La Petite Venise on foot, you can also choose to take a boat ride on the river. This is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Colmar! Traditional flat-bottomed boats, known as barques, take you on a short cruise along the Lauch, offering a slightly different perspective of the Little Venice neighborhood.
The trip also takes you through the quieter part of the city center, with plenty of greenery and some large mansions. If you have time, it’s a nice experience to do in Colmar, but you won’t feel like you’ve missed much if you decide to skip it.
The Quartier des Tanneurs is another place you absolutely must see in Colmar. Located just a short walk from Little Venice, this neighborhood is equally picturesque. The tanners’ quarter is a small area in the heart of Colmar’s old town.
Its colorful half-timbered houses date from the 17th-18th centuries and were beautifully restored in the 1970s. These were the homes of the leather tanning families who lived and worked here. The upper floors of the buildings were usually used to dry the hides.
You can admire the local architecture and visit the famous Schwendi Fountain, designed by none other than sculptor Lady Liberty Bartholdi in 1898. It features the famous war chief Lazare de Schwendi, who fought for Emperor Maximilian II against the Hungarians in the 16th century. The fountain was destroyed in 1940 but has since been restored to its former glory.
Adjacent to the Quartier des Tanneurs is one of Colmar’s most beautiful squares, the Place de l’Ancienne Douane. This is Colmar’s old commercial hub, home to the 15th-century Customs House, called the Koifhus (or Ancienne Douane in French).
This lively square with the Schwendi Fountain at its center is lined with beautiful buildings, many cafes and restaurants. The atmosphere here is usually welcoming and vibrant. Place de l’Ancienne Douane hosts various events all year round and is also the site of one of Colmar’s six Christmas markets.
As mentioned earlier, one of the best things to do in Colmar is simply to wander through the Old Town admiring the extraordinary architecture around you. The popular districts mentioned above cover only a small part of the city center; the rest is definitely worth seeing!
Here’s a quick overview of some of the most beautiful places to see in Colmar’s old town, beyond those already mentioned:
- Maison Pfister. Built in 1537, this is an impressive Renaissance house with a corner window, wooden gallery, octagonal turret, and murals depicting biblical scenes. It is considered one of Colmar’s symbols.
- Maison Adolph. Built in 1350, this is one of Colmar’s oldest houses. Its name comes from the Adolph family who renovated and lived in the house at the end of the 19th century. Today, the ground floor houses a wine shop.
A fun thing to do in Colmar is to take a 35-minute tour of the old town. You can wear a headset that shares interesting facts and stories about the places you visit. Each train has 60 seats, including spaces for wheelchairs. Tickets can be bought from the driver, and the train runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily from April 1st to mid-November.
The Unterlinden Museum is one spot you must not miss in Colmar. If you have time to visit only one museum in town, choose this one! Located within a 13th-century Dominican convent, the Unterlinden Museum covers thousands of years of history, from prehistoric times to contemporary art. A new museum wing is housed in a building of old public baths right opposite the square. Both parts of the Unterlinden Museum are connected by an underground gallery.
Probably the most interesting rooms are those around the cloister. Here, you can see artworks from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A must-see is the 16th-century Isenheim Altarpiece by Grunewald and Niclaus of Haguenau.
The Bartholdi Museum is located in Bartholdi‘s birthplace. It highlights several statues the sculptor created for Colmar, personal family artifacts, and a section dedicated to Alsace’s Jewish community. You can also see the early works of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty and the Belfort Lion sculptures. This is a must-see in Colmar for anyone interested in sculpture or art!
The Saint Martin’s Church, also known as the Colmar Cathedral, is one of the town’s most important buildings. Built in the 13th or 14th century, this Roman Catholic church features incredible Gothic interiors. The most remarkable display inside is the late Gothic Last Supper sculpture. The church is free to visit and is open daily (except Sunday) from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Another fantastic tourist attraction in Colmar is the Toy Museum (Musée du Jouet). This is a great museum for the young and the young-at-heart who want to discover toys of the past. Explore the exhibits to see various Barbies from all eras, model cars and trains, dolls, board games, and much more! You can also play some of the giant board games and video games. This is a fun place to visit in Colmar for families or anyone who loves childhood nostalgia. The museum is closed on May 1st, November 1st, Christmas Day, and Tuesdays from November to January.
The Parc du Champ de Mars is a lovely tree-shaded green space perfect for a picnic on a sunny day. If you don’t feel like packing lunch, treat yourself to a fresh waffle or churro at Les Dèlices du Carrousel inside the park and stroll past statues of several important French figures. It’s also a great place to bring kids, as the park has a carousel and a playground where they can burn off energy. In winter, the park hosts an ice-skating rink and several stalls as part of the Christmas market.
Strolling through a covered market is a classic activity in Colmar and France in general, and the Marché Couvert (covered market) in Colmar is the perfect place for this experience. Its stalls offer fresh vegetables, cheeses, cured meats, bakery products, and other goods. You can enjoy small snacks and coffee while admiring the cast-iron arches and stone walls of this 19th-century building. The market is open every day except Monday and public holidays. You can check daily hours here.
The Colmar Christmas Market is one of the best in France and perhaps in Europe. The market takes place every year from late November to early January and spans six areas of the city.
If you visit at Christmas, you’ll also see the entire old town wrapped in classic European Christmas lights and decorations. With Colmar’s stunning architecture, this makes for a truly magical experience. Learn more about the Colmar Christmas Market here.
A trip to France would be incomplete without at least one winery tour, and in Colmar you have plenty to choose from! The Alsace Wine Route is a 170-kilometer path that takes you through the region’s best wineries, along with Renaissance churches and picturesque fields. Alsace is known for its crisp and refreshing Riesling, but Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are also quite popular. Be sure to taste the Gewürztraminer and Crémant d’Alsace when visiting wineries, as both white wines are well known in the region.
Although you can explore the Alsace Wine Route on your own, we highly recommend this half-day wine tour. The tour will take you (and no more than eight guests) to two wineries and includes a cellar tour, tastings, and transportation, so you don’t have to worry about drinking and driving or reading French road signs!
Just a 30-minute drive north of Colmar is the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, one of the best castles to visit near Colmar and throughout the Alsace region. This 12th-century fortress was destroyed and abandoned for some time until Kaiser Wilhelm II restored it in 1899 to symbolize Alsace’s return to its Germanic roots. The fully restored castle boasts incredible medieval architecture and Renaissance-style decorations.
You can visit the lord and lady’s bedrooms, the inn, the courtyard, and even the hunting trophy hall. Audio guides are available if you want to learn more about the rooms and the castle’s history. After the tour, you can grab a bite at the onsite restaurant and browse the souvenir shop for a memento. Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle is open daily except New Year’s Day, Labor Day (May 1), and Christmas.
Another incredible castle near Colmar is the Château du Hohlandsbourg. This 13th-century fortress is a 20-minute drive from the old town and offers expansive panoramic views of the Alsace region. This hilltop near Colmar was a strategic regional center as early as 1300 BC. During the tour, you can see Bronze Age artifacts and explore several well-preserved rooms, with various actors sharing information (only in French) about the castle and region. Hohlandsbourg Castle is open on varying days from April to November.
France is known for its fantastic cuisine, like croissants, croque monsieur sandwiches, and coq au vin. Colmar doesn’t disappoint here, with several local dishes you should try during your trip.
Foie gras was invented in the nearby city of Strasbourg and is undoubtedly one of the region’s best dishes, often enjoyed on special occasions. It’s not for the faint of heart, though, as it’s a pâté made from duck or goose liver. Other local dishes to try include baeckeoffe (a casserole of marinated meat and potatoes), spaetzle (egg noodles), pain d’épices (French gingerbread), and coq au riesling (chicken in white wine).
What makes Colmar even more special is its beautiful location in the heart of the Alsace wine region. A visit to Colmar and its surroundings is also a great opportunity to learn about the unique culture and cuisine of Alsace. You’ll notice both French and German influences in almost everything in this part of France. From the language to the food to the architecture, everything is a bit French and a bit German.
Surprisingly, the town’s historic beauty was preserved during World War II, so its tiled roofs, cobbled alleys, and centuries-old buildings are still here for us to appreciate. We spent a lot of time wandering the beautiful streets and discovering all the fun things to do in Colmar, France. Here is what we found about what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in this charming town.
