Christmas is a unique time to visit Colmar. All the facades of the city are filled with lights, Christmas markets take over every corner, and you can truly feel the Christmas spirit everywhere. Plan your holiday trip with this guide for spending Christmas in Colmar in 2024.
On this post you will find:
Christmas in Colmar
Colmar is one of the towns that make up the Alsace region in northeastern France. Traveling to Alsace at Christmas is magical, as the towns have a special charm during this time, and Colmar is undoubtedly a great option to use as a base.
There are many towns to explore in the region, and from Colmar, you will have easy access to all of them, whether you travel by car or take tours. It is also quite a large city where you can find services, a variety of accommodations, shops, and restaurants.
Without a doubt, Colmar is a great destination to visit at Christmas and will not disappoint you.
Where to stay in Colmar
If you are going to travel to Colmar at Christmas, make sure to book your accommodation at least 3 months in advance because it fills up quickly. Here are some recommended hotels in Colmar:
- Hôtel Turenne: one of the cheapest hotels you will find during Christmas season, located near the Saint Martin church.
- Colmar Hotel: a little far from the historic center but ideal if you travel by car as it has free parking.
- Le Colombier: a beautiful hotel located in the historic center of Colmar. Very good rating and spacious rooms.
Christmas markets in Colmar
The Christmas Markets in Colmar open from 26th november to 29th december 2024.
And these are the opening times:
- From monday to thursday: 11 am to 7 pm.
- From friday to sunday: 10 am to 8 pm.
- 24/12: 11 am to 5 pm.
- 25/12 & 26/12: 11 am to 7 pm.
These are the 6 Christmas Markets in Colmar:
- Place des Dominicains: the best-known Christmas market in Colmar. They sell decorations and crafts.
- Place de l’Ancienne Douane: a market with lots of stalls selling crafts, decorations and food.
- Koïfhus:a covered market inside the old customs building. It especially sells crafts.
- Place Jeanne d’Arc: small market decorated like a traditional town in the region.
- Petite Venise: a great market to take the children as it has a lot of games to enjoy.
- Place de la Cathédrale: a market exclusively for local foods. There you can try some of the typical dishes of the Alsace region that I will tell you about later in this post.
If you don’t plan on renting a car on your trip, you can book this Enchanting Christmas tour from Colmar that visits villages like Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Eguisheim.
Other places to visit in Colmar in Christmas
Besides the famous Christmas markets, there are plenty of sights to see in Colmar.
- Petit Venise
One of the most picturesque places in Colmar is Petite Venise (“Little Venice”), an area filled with colorful houses along the banks of the Lauch River.
A great way to explore Petite Venise is by taking este free tour de Colmar, which covers the most iconic spots in the city, including Little Venice.
- Rue des Marchands
The most important street in Colmar is Rue des Marchands, where some of the city’s most historic buildings are located. I recommend visiting this area at night when all the facade lights are on, and it looks beautiful!
- Place de la Cathedrale
One of the central points of the city is Place de la Cathédrale. Here, in addition to the local gastronomy market, you will find the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin, one of the most important Gothic churches in Alsace.
- Koifhus
Inside this building, one of Colmar’s Christmas markets is held, where you will find crafts and ornaments by local artists. The building dates back to 1480 and is considered one of the most beautiful in the city.
Tips for visiting Colmar in Christmas
- Plan your trip in advance. I especially recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible since prices increase significantly as Christmas approaches.
- Start your day early. In winter, it gets dark early (around 5 PM), so I recommend waking up early to make the most of the daylight.
- Bring cash. Not all the stalls at the Christmas markets accept cards, so it’s a good idea to always have some cash on hand.
- Avoid currency exchange fees on your credit card. Make sure you bring a card that doesn’t charge international transaction fees like N26 or Revolut.
- Buy an eSIM in advance. Staying connected to the internet is super useful for checking Google Maps or resolving any doubts while exploring the city. Airalo is the company I usually use on my trips, they offer really cheap eSIM packages.
- Wear warm clothing! Winter in northern France can be quite cold, so bring warm clothes.
- Try the typical food of this region. Some examples are vin chaud (hot wine), Tarte Flambée or flammenkueche (a type of very thin-crust pizza), pretzels, Munster cheese, and Kougelhopf (a traditional dessert).
With all this information, you can now plan your trip to Colmar at Christmas! If you need more details, be sure to read my other articles about this beautiful region of France.
Other useful posts:
- Christmas in Alsace
- What to see in Colmar
- Best Europe destinations for Christmas
- 4 days in Paris itinerary
- Where to stay in Paris: best areas and hotels
- Visiting Villa Savoye from Paris
- The best museums in Paris
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