The 10 things to do in Colmar

Older Alsatian city, Colmar, picturesque country town, is both endearing and striking! Come and visit Colmar and its unique heritage!

Nestled in the heart of the Alsatian vineyard, Colmar shines with its traditional houses, canals, paved alleys and flowering. Regardless of the season, Colmar is the ideal destination for both history lovers, gourmet ends, art lovers and strollers in the air. Visiting Colmar in autumn promises beautiful walks in the vineyards with warm colours, while in winter the appointment is given on the typical regional Christmas markets. In spring and summer, the city invites to stroll and to discover folklore and local crafts. In short, whether it’s a weekend in love or a holiday with friends, Colmar is only waiting for you!

1. The neighborhoods

Both medieval and Renaissance style, Colmar has an impressive architectural, historical and cultural heritage starting with its various neighbourhoods:

• The Little Venice: The Lauch, bordered by splendid colourful houses with doves, crosses this neighborhood, which is worth the nickname of "Little Venice". From the Koïffhus to the Turenne and Saint-Pierre bridges, to the merchant hall and the picturesque Krutenau district, this area is discovered through the water.
• The Tanneurs' Quarter: This authentic district is a must-see in Colmar, home to tall and narrow houses with wooden and doved bread.
• The Fishery Pier: Visit Colmar without going there is unthinkable! Pittoresque and authentic, it is lined with houses of fishermen with colourful doves. The walks along its shore are charming and intoxicating.

2. Religious buildings

Visiting Colmar is travelling through more than 500 years of history thanks to a remarkablely preserved heritage dating to some medieval buildings. The ancient city is full of splendid residences, ancient monuments and a plethora of religious buildings, like:

• La Collégiale Saint-Martin
• The Church of the Dominicans
• La Chapelle Saint Pierre

3. Remarkable houses

Colmar is discovered by the walks and various stops. Simply observe its environment and lift your head to admire a surprising and typical architecture of this Alsatian city.

• Maison Adolph : visiting Colmar is making a leap in the past! The Adolph House, as the oldest house in the city, bears witness to the influence of religious art on urban architecture.
• Maison des Têtes : Beautiful example of Renaissance architecture, it holds its name hundreds of grimacing faces carved on its façade.
• House Pfister : built in 1537 and restored in 2012, this building is a real jewel of Alsatian architecture. Despite medieval features, it is a symbol of the Renaissance. In her womb, you will discover a two-storey angle oriel, a wooden gallery, an octagonal turret and mural paintings representing biblical and profane scenes.

4. Museums

Visiting Colmar is also learning a little more about Alsatian heritage, European history, Fine Arts and local cuisine. Both playful and enriching, the Colmar museums allow you to discover the emblems of the city under a new day. Among the plethora of museums to be made in Colmar, Wanderlix recommends:

• Bartholdi Museum (creator of the Statue of LibertyNothing!
• M’Espace d’art contemporain André Malraux
• The Toy Museum

5. Parks and squares

After cultural visits, why don’t you lighten your mind and get your legs in the many parks and gardens of the city. A veritable havens of blossoming and green peace, they contain numerous botanical pepits such as remarkable trees (weeping beech, bald cypress, giant sequoia...) but also some monuments such as statues or museums.

So what are you waiting for to walk to the Parc du Château d’eau, stroll through the Champ de Mars and picnic at Square Adolph Hin? Visiting Colmar is also taking time to take a break and relax in the middle of nature.

6. Guided tours

The capital of the Alsace Centre, Colmar is one of the most attractive and touristic cities in the region. Indeed, its cultural, historical, artistic and architectural heritage attracts, but not that! Visiting Colmar is also discovering a modern, vibrant and festive city attracting the noctambules. In short, no matter what you're interested in, you'll necessarily find guided tours in Colmar!

With its paved alleys, its symbolic monuments filled with history, its extraordinary museums, Colmar stands out from other Alsatian cities. Accompanied by a French-speaking, English-speaking or German-speaking guide, you get out of the beaten paths and experience singular experiences on foot, by bicycle, by train, by carriage or even by boat.

7. Caves and viticulture

In the heart of the Alsatian vineyard, in the Alsace wine capital, you can enjoy and enjoy excellent dry and aromatic wines. It's hard to miss out on this know-how so the Alsatians are proud of their bottles. In this region, there are no less than 119 wine-growing municipalities that produce more than 150 million bottles per year. Just that!

If you really want to oriented your trip around Alsace Wines, we advise you to follow the road of the same name. Indeed, it invites you to approach a region where life is an art and wine a pleasure. The Route des vins d’Alsace (170 km, from Marlenheim to Thann), through vineyards, villages, castles, cellars, chapels, good tables, wine festivals and abbeys, makes you discover the rich palette of Alsace wines through their grape varieties and their appellations.

8. Local gastronomy

As a pair with the Alsace Wines, Alsatian gastronomy will delight gourmet ends like big eaters. Rich, greedy and traditional, it is highly impregnated with the German one, which is why you find many dishes in sauce, made of charcuterie or potato. Among the most famous dishes, taste the suri nierle (roars) ziwelkueche (onion rate) or the Kinggabrageldi (married potatoes).

And since we don’t do things halfway at Wanderlix, here are the good addresses of the city (visiting Colmar is also feasting!) :

• The Cercle of aromas
• The restaurant La Soï
• La Stub
• L’Atelier du Peintre

Enjoy!

9. Festivals and evenings

Throughout the year, Colmar vibrates at the rhythm of festivals, evenings and festivals. If you have the opportunity, visit Colmar during one of them! The most famous events are undoubtedly the International Festival of Classical Music, the Regional Alsace Wine Fair, the Christmas market and folklore evenings.

In a warm, festive, friendly and authentic atmosphere, enjoy breathtaking shows! In addition, some are free, so no excuse!

10. Colmar region

Ultimate point of the 10 things to do in Colmar, but not least! The Colmar region, which stretches from the Ried plain to the first Vosges foothills, houses picturesque villages and an incredible landscape diversity.

Do not pass next to Horbourg-Wihr and its Gallo-Roman heritage, Walbach and its 14th century castle or Wickerschwihr and its Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur Church!

How to get to Colmar?

Access to Colmar is quite simple because, as the capital of the Alsace Centre, it is located close to the Germany (24 km) and Switzerland (64 km), between the Vosges and the Rhine, not far from Strasbourg (70 km) and Mulhouse (49 km). To get to Colmar, here are the three solutions to:

• Car: it remains the best solution to get there because you are free to travel and have no time constraints. Colmar is connected to the entire European network via the motorway A35. From Paris, you'll be 5:30 a.m. while from Reims or Lyon, your journey takes just 4 hours.
• Train: synonymous with rest and quiet, the train is the ideal solution to get to Colmar. You arrive at Colmar train station in 2h30 from Paris Gare de l’Est and 1h40 from Dijon. In addition, TER regularly travels between Strasbourg and Colmar in just 30 minutes.
• Aeroplane: Colmar does not have an airport but an aerodrome. If you would like to fly to Strasbourg, we recommend that you take a flight to Strasbourg at the same distance from the airport of Strasbourg Entzheim and the Euroairport of Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Colmar is easy to access. If you choose to fly to Colmar, help you with a comparison of flights like Skyscanner to find the best offer. The platform will tell you the best solution, according to your criteria. To perform 70 km remaining, opt for car rental or take the TGV (48min for about 15€).

Where to stay in Colmar?

Choosing your accommodation in Colmar is essential to enjoy your stay in this beautiful city of Alsace. So where to sleep in Colmar? To help you in preparing your trip, Wanderlix provides you with some leads! We recommend you stay in the centre or the old town of Colmar if you want to visit Colmar and look for the animation. However, if you prefer to enjoy a quieter atmosphere, we suggest the Saint-Léon district. You will have no trouble finding accommodation, whether it is a hotel, a lodging or a lodging Airbnb . However, helping one Compare hotels will help you target the right offer.

So, what are you waiting for to visit Colmar?