Colmar was one of my favorite stops on one of my favorite trips ever. We stayed in nearby Riquewihr with our entire extended family and went into Colmar on several days. The kids were happily occupied with Christmas markets and bretzels, while I couldn’t get enough of the architecture and history.

We visited at Christmas, but the buildings and streets were what made me want to keep exploring. Here are the things we enjoyed most in Colmar, along with what I’d recommend making time for on your own visit.

 

Best Things to Do in Colmar

1. Walk Around Colmar’s Old Town

Walking around the old town was my favorite thing to do in Colmar. We spent hours exploring, and I never got tired of looking at the buildings. If you love architecture and history, give yourself time to wander instead of rushing from one attraction to the next.

We also went into whichever churches were open. You don’t need to plan every stop beforehand; some of the fun is seeing something interesting and deciding to take a closer look.

2. Walk Along the Canals in Little Venice

Little Venice was one of the most beautiful parts of Colmar. We loved walking along the canals and looking at the buildings beside the water. This is somewhere to slow down, take pictures, and enjoy being there.

One street to look for is **Quai de la Poissonnerie**, the former fishmongers’ district. Its colorful half-timbered houses beside the water make it a beautiful place to stop for pictures. Work it into your walk between Little Venice and the old town, leaving time to enjoy the buildings along the way.

Even if you only have a short time in Colmar, I would make time for this walk.

3. Take a Boat Ride Through Little Venice

For another view of Colmar, take a short guided boat ride through Little Venice and the fishmongers’ district. Sweet Narcisse operates electric boats, with trips lasting approximately 25 minutes.

Departure: Pont Saint-Pierre, at 10 Rue de la Herse.

Booking: You can check availability and book directly with Sweet Narcisse. Departures depend on weather and operating conditions, so check your date before planning around a ride.

It’s an optional addition to your day if you’d like to see the canals from the water as well as on foot.

4. Walk Through the Tanners’ Quarter

The Tanners’ Quarter is another area to look for while wandering through Colmar. Its tall half-timbered houses, many with white fronts, give you more architectural details to enjoy.

Include it in your walk through the old town rather than treating it as a separate excursion. Colmar’s appeal is often in the streets themselves, so leave time to look around between the landmarks.

5. Look for the Pfister House and the Old Customs House

Two buildings to look for while exploring Colmar are the Pfister House and the Koïfhus, also called the Old Customs House.

The Pfister House dates to 1537, with painted walls, a corner window, and a long wooden gallery. It’s worth pausing to look at the details rather than walking straight past.

The Koïfhus is Colmar’s oldest public building. It once served as a place where goods were stored and taxed. These are easy exterior stops to work into your walk, especially if the architecture is what brought you to Colmar.

6. Look for the House of Heads

We had a guidebook with us while exploring Colmar, and the House of Heads was one of the buildings we stopped to look at. The carved faces on the outside make it a fun stop when you’re already wandering through the old town.

We didn’t go inside; we simply stopped to look at the faces before continuing our walk. Add it to your list if, like me, you love noticing the details on old buildings.

7. Step Inside Saint-Martin and the Dominican Church

We spent hours walking around Colmar, stopping to go inside churches that were open. Two we visited were Saint-Martin and the Dominican Church. If you enjoy architecture and history as much as I do, they are worth making time for while exploring the old town.

Saint-Martin is the large Gothic church often called Colmar’s cathedral. The Dominican Church is known for Martin Schongauer’s *Madonna of the Rose Bush*. They give you a reason to step beyond the pretty streets and see another side of Colmar.

8. Browse Colmar’s Covered Market

If you love exploring local food markets, add the Marché Couvert to your walk through Colmar. Near Little Venice, this indoor market has stalls selling cheeses, meats, produce, baked goods, and other regional foods.

It’s a useful stop for picking up picnic supplies or browsing Alsatian specialties. Pair it with your walk along the canals rather than making a separate trip across town.

9. Enjoy the Food in Colmar

We ate plenty of schnitzel and tarte flambée during our trip. Tarte flambée is almost like a very thin pizza, and it was something we kept coming back to. Between that and the kids eating their fair share of bretzels, food was a big part of the fun.

Give yourself time to stop for a meal while exploring Colmar. We spent hours walking around, and sitting down to eat was a welcome break for our whole group.

10. Visit a Museum in Colmar

If you want to add a museum to your day, two options are Unterlinden and the Hansi Museum.

Unterlinden is the choice for art lovers, particularly those interested in seeing the celebrated Isenheim Altarpiece.

The Hansi Museum focuses on local artist Jean-Jacques Waltz, whose illustrations offer a glimpse of Alsatian life and identity.

We spent our time walking around Colmar rather than visiting museums, but either could give your day a different focus—or provide an indoor stop when you want a break from exploring the streets.

11. Visit Nearby Riquewihr

If you have time to explore beyond Colmar, I highly recommend Riquewihr. We rented a house here with my parents, siblings, and all our kids, and it was a place we loved coming back to after sightseeing.

Riquewihr is small and easily walkable, and the main street looks unreal. We loved walking around the village and along its walls, where you can look out over the surrounding vineyards. Give yourself time to wander rather than just taking a picture of the main street and leaving.

You can visit as a side trip from Colmar or stay here as we did. Having a house where our entire family could gather was a big part of what made this one of my favorite trips ever.

12. Visit Colmar’s Christmas Markets

If you visit Colmar at Christmas, the markets give you another reason to spend hours walking around. We went into Colmar on several days during our family trip, and the kids loved exploring the stalls and eating their fair share of bretzels.

For me, it was the combination of Christmas and the architecture that made it so special. I already loved looking at the buildings, and the markets made wandering through town even more fun. With my parents, siblings, and all our kids together, it became part of one of my favorite trips ever.

We also visited the Christmas markets in Strasbourg and spent Christmas Eve shopping and eating Alsatian food in Obernai. If you’re planning a Christmas trip to Colmar, give yourself a few extra days to explore the surrounding towns, too.

How Much Time Do You Need in Colmar?

I think one full day is enough to explore Colmar. You can spend hours walking through the old town, enjoy the canals in Little Venice, step inside the churches, and stop for a good meal.

We went into Colmar on several days during our Christmas trip, but if you have more time in Alsace, I would use it to explore other towns nearby. We loved staying in Riquewihr and also visited Strasbourg and Obernai. Colmar is beautiful, but it’s only part of what makes this region worth visiting.

When to Visit Colmar

The best time to visit depends on what you want from your trip.

Spring and early fall are worth considering if your main goal is walking around Colmar and exploring nearby villages. Summer offers long days for sightseeing, although you should be prepared for heat and busy streets.

Christmas is the time I can personally recommend. We visited with our entire extended family, and it became one of my favorite trips ever. The markets gave the kids plenty to enjoy, while I loved exploring the architecture and history.

If you choose Christmas, check the market dates before booking. Otherwise, build your visit around the old town, canals, food, and surrounding villages—the things that make Colmar worth exploring beyond the holiday season.

How to Get to Colmar

From Strasbourg: Regional trains take around 30 minutes, making Colmar an easy day trip or another stop on an Alsace itinerary.

From Paris: You can travel by train, with direct services and options that require a connection. Compare journeys on SNCF Connect before booking.

From Basel or Mulhouse: Regional trains also connect these cities with Colmar.

By car: Driving is useful if your trip includes smaller villages and countryside stops. Once you reach Colmar, leave the car parked and explore the old town on foot.

You don’t need a rental car just to visit Colmar. Choose your transportation based on the rest of your Alsace plans.

Getting Around Colmar

Walking is the best way to enjoy Colmar’s old town. Take your time exploring the streets, stopping at the churches, and wandering along the canals in Little Venice.

If you arrive by car, park before exploring on foot. Colmar has underground parking garages, so you can leave the car while sightseeing.

A rental car is more useful for exploring the surrounding towns and countryside than for getting around Colmar itself. We stayed in Riquewihr and drove into Colmar, which worked well for a trip that included several towns in Alsace.

Where to Stay: Colmar or a Nearby Village?

Stay in central Colmar if you want to explore on foot It’s the practical choice when your plans focus on the old town, restaurants, and canals. If you’re arriving by train, check the accommodation’s location against both the station and the places you want to visit.

Choose a nearby village if you want a wider Alsace trip. We rented a house in Riquewihr with my parents, siblings, and all our kids. We loved having somewhere to gather, and the village itself was small and easily walkable. We drove into Colmar and visited other towns during our stay.

For a short visit without a car, I would lean toward Colmar. For a larger group exploring the region by car, a village rental like ours is worth considering.

Is Colmar Worth Visiting?

Colmar is worth visiting for the simple pleasure of walking around somewhere beautiful. Give yourself time to look at the buildings, wander along the canals, and sit down for some delicious Alsatian food. You don’t need to fill every hour with an attraction to enjoy your day.

One full day is enough to see the highlights, but leave room in your trip for the surrounding towns. We loved Colmar, and staying in Riquewihr made us love Alsace even more. Together, they were part of one of my favorite trips ever.