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 several vineyards nearby, but the town itself has an incredibly well-preserved historic center, fantastic museums, and breathtaking medieval architecture.
- 1. Little Venice
- 2. Boat ride on the Lauch river
- 3. Tanner Quarter
- 4. Place de l’Ancienne Douane & Koifhus
- 5. Old Town of Colmar
- 6. Unterlinden Museum
- 7. Bartholdi Museum
- 8. Church of Saint Martin
- 9. Toy Museum
- 10. Champ de Mars Park
- 11. Covered Market of Colmar
- 12. Shop at the Christmas Market
- 13. Alsace Wine Route
- 14. Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle
- 15. Hohlandsbourg Castle
- 16. Taste the local cuisine
Little Venice (the little Venice) is one of the most picturesque places 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 walk along Quai de la Poissonnerie and Rue de la Poissonnerie. These streets offer some of the most photographed views of the city. But don’t stop here; the entire area is truly charming, so explore the full 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 trip on the Lauch, offering you a slightly different perspective of the Little Venice district.
The trip also takes you to the quieter part of the city center, with plenty of greenery and several large mansions. If you have time, it’s a nice experience to do in Colmar, but you won’t feel like you missed much if you decide to skip it.
The Tanner Quarter is another place you absolutely must see in Colmar. Located just a few steps from Little Venice, this quarter is just as picturesque. The tanners’ quarter is a small area in the heart of Colmar’s old town.
Its colorful half-timbered houses date back to the 17th-18th centuries and were beautifully restored in the 1970s. These were the homes of the leather tanners’ families who lived and worked here. The upper floor of the buildings was usually used to dry the hides.
You can admire the local architecture and visit the famous Schwendi Fountain, designed by none other than the sculptor Lady Liberty Bartholdi in 1898. It depicts the famous warlord Lazare de Schwendi, who fought for Emperor Maximilian II against the Hungarians in the 16th century. The fountain was destroyed in 1940 but has been restored to its former glory.
Adjacent to the Tanners’ district, there is one of the most beautiful squares in Colmar, the Place de l’Ancienne Douane. This is the old commercial center of Colmar, home to the Customs House from the 15th century, called Koifhus (or Ancienne Douane in French).
This lively square with the Schwendi Fountain in the center is lined with beautiful buildings, with many cafés and restaurants. The atmosphere here is usually welcoming and vibrant. The Place de l’Ancienne Douane hosts various events throughout the year and is also the site of one of Colmar’s six Christmas markets.
As already mentioned, one of the best things to do in Colmar is simply to stroll through the Old Town admiring the extraordinary architecture that surrounds you. The most popular districts mentioned above cover only a small part of the city center; the rest is definitely worth seeing!
Here is a brief overview of some of the most beautiful places to see in Colmar’s Old Town, in addition to those already mentioned above:
- Maison Pfister. Built in 1537, this is an impressive Renaissance house with a corner window, a wooden gallery, an octagonal turret, and murals depicting biblical scenes. It is considered one of Colmar’s symbols.
- Maison Adolph. Built in 1350, this is one of the oldest houses in Colmar. Its name comes from the Adolph family who renovated the house and lived there in the late 19th century. Today, on the ground floor you will find a wine shop.
A fun thing to do in Colmar is a 35-minute tour of the Old Town. You can wear a viewer that shares curiosities and interesting stories about the places you visit. Each train has 60 seats, including seats that can accommodate wheelchairs. Tickets can be bought from the driver and the train runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day from April 1 to mid-November.
The Unterlinden Museum is one of the must-see places in Colmar. If you only have time to visit one museum in the city, choose this one! Located inside a 13th-century Dominican convent, the Unterlinden Museum spans thousands of years of history, from the prehistoric era to contemporary art. A new wing of the museum is housed in a former public bathhouse building, right across 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 dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. A must-see is the 16th-century Isenheim Altarpiece by Grunewald and Niclaus of Haguenau.
The Bartholdi Museum is located inside Bartholdi‘s birthplace. It highlights several statues that the sculptor created for the city of Colmar, personal artifacts from his family, and a section dedicated to the Jewish community of Alsace. You can also see the early works of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty and sculptures of the Lion of Belfort. This is a must-see in Colmar for anyone interested in sculptures or art!
The Church of Saint Martin, also known as the Colmar Cathedral, is one of the most important buildings in the city. Built in the 13th or 14th century, this Roman Catholic church features incredible Gothic interiors. The most remarkable sight inside is the sculpture of the Last Supper, made in late Gothic style. The church is free to visit and is open every day (except Sunday) from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
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 from 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 delightful tree-lined green space perfect for a picnic on a sunny day. If you don’t feel like preparing lunch, treat yourself to a fresh waffle or a churro at Les Dèlices du Carrousel inside the park and stroll past the statues of several notable French figures. This is also a great place to bring children, as the park has a carousel and a playground where they can burn off their energy. In winter, the park hosts an ice skating rink and several stalls as part of the Christmas market.
Walking through a covered market is a classic activity in Colmar and France in general, and the Marché Couvert (covered market) of Colmar is the perfect place for this experience. Its stalls offer fresh vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, baked goods, and other products. 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 see the daily opening hours here.
The Christmas market in Colmar is one of the best in France and perhaps also in Europe. The market takes place every year from the end of November to the beginning of January and covers six areas of the city.
If you come at Christmas, you will also see the entire historic center wrapped in lights and classic European Christmas decorations. With Colmar’s extraordinary architecture, this makes for a truly magical experience. You can 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 will take you through the best wineries in the region, along with Renaissance churches and picturesque fields. Alsace is known for its sparkling and refreshing Riesling, but Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are also quite popular. Make sure to taste the Gewürztraminer and Crémant d’Alsace when you visit the 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 navigating roads with French signs!
Just a 30-minute drive north of Colmar is the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, one of the best castles to visit in Colmar and the entire Alsace region. This 12th-century fortress was destroyed and abandoned for a 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’s and lady’s bedrooms, the inn, the courtyard, and even the hunting trophy room. 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 on-site restaurant and browse the souvenir shop for a keepsake. Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle is open every day except New Year’s Day, May 1st (Labor Day in France), and Christmas.
Another incredible castle near Colmar is the Château du Hohlandsbourg. This 13th-century fortress is located a 20-minute drive from the historic center and offers expansive panoramic views of the Alsace region. This high point on the hills near Colmar was a strategic center for the region 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 variable days from April to November.
France is known for its fantastic cuisine, such as croissants, croque monsieur sandwiches, and coq au vin. Colmar does not disappoint here, with several local dishes that you should try during your vacation.
Foie gras was invented in the nearby city of Strasbourg and is undoubtedly one of the best dishes in the region, often consumed on special occasions. It is not for the most delicate palates, however, as it is 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 the surroundings is also a great opportunity to learn about the unique culture and cuisine of Alsace. You will notice both French and German influences in almost everything in this part of France. From language to food to architecture, everything is a bit French and a bit German.
Surprisingly, the historical beauty of the city was preserved during World War II, so its tiled roofs, cobblestone alleys, and centuries-old buildings are still here for us to admire. We spent a lot of time wandering the beautiful streets and discovering all the fun things to do in Colmar, France. Here’s what we found out about what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in this charming city.
