If you are planning a trip to Alsace, Colmar is a destination that you can’t miss. It is considered one of the most beautiful towns in France and is undoubtedly a special destination to spend Christmas in Europe. In this post I tell you all the essential things you have to see in Colmar so you don’t miss anything during your visit.
What to see in Colmar
If you are planning a trip to Alsace for Christmas read: Christmas in Alsace
WHAT TO SEE IN COLMAR
1. Petite Venise
The most visited point in Colmar is Petite Venise (“Little Venice”), an area full of colorful houses on the banks of the Launch River. It’s all super picturesque and very photogenic. Of course, being the most visited area there are always a lot of people, but it is still worth it!
2. Colmar free walking tour
Something I like to do when arriving in any new city is take a free tour to learn about its history. So when you arrive to Colmar I recommend taking a free tour of Colmar to have a general overview of the city and learn some curiosities.
3. Rue des Marchands
The most important street in Colmar is Rue des Marchands, where many important buildings of the city such as the Pfister House are located. It is a beautiful area both day and night, when the little lights that decorate the facades of the houses are turned on. 
4. Christmas markets in Colmar
Obviously if you travel to Colmar during Christmas one of the great attractions are its Christmas markets.
Best 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 like vin chaud, Spätlze, Bretzels or Baeckeoffe.
5. Maison des Têtes
One of the buildings that will catch your attention in Colmar is the Maison de las têtes (the house of the heads). And its façade is decorated with more than 100 heads. The house is from 1609 in Renaissance style and today it is a hotel and restaurant.
6. Maison Pfister
Another very important building in Colmar is the Maison Pfister, a medieval construction built in 1537 that is one of the oldest in Colmar.
7. Statue of Liberty
A very curious fact about Colmar is that the creator of the famous Statue of Liberty, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, was originally from Colmar. For this reason, you will see that on one of the roundabouts leading into the city there is a replica of the original statue in New York. This statue was made to commemorate the death of the author. You will notice that throughout the city there are plaques on the floor that indicate the direction towards the statue.
8. Place de la Cathedrale
One of the central points of the city is the Place de la Cathedrale. Here is the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin, one of the most important Gothic churches in Alsace.
The church was built in the 12th century and stands out for its 70-meter-high tower.
9. Bartholdi Museum
As the creator of the Statue of Liberty nation Colmar, he clearly has his own museum in the city, located on the site where Bartholdi was born.
A visit for those who want to know more about the life and work of the famous sculptor.
10. Alsatian Villages
A trip to Alsace is not complete without visiting some of its towns and from Colmar you can take many excursions so don’t miss the opportunity to visit the most picturesque towns in the region.
Where to stay in Colmar
Colmar is a very good option to base yourself and explore Alsace. It is a small city but it has many accommodation and restaurant options and is also well connected to the rest of the cities in Alsace. 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.
Other useful posts:
- Christmas in Alsace
- Christmas in Colmar
- 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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