The Strasbourg to Colmar journey is the single most common transfer in any Alsace itinerary, and it is genuinely easy. Direct trains run frequently and take well under an hour, the motorway drive is around 45 minutes, and both options work year-round. This page tells you which to choose, what it realistically costs, and how to build the trip so you see something along the way rather than just passing through.
In short
- Train: direct TER and TGV services, roughly 30–40 minutes for the fastest, up to about 55 minutes for slower stoppers. Station to station, city centre to city centre.
- Car: about 70 km via the A35 motorway, typically 45–55 minutes with no traffic. The scenic alternative through the vineyards takes 2–4 hours depending on stops.
- Bus: long-distance coaches serve the route but are slower and less frequent than the train. Rarely the better choice.
- Best for most visitors: train if you are staying in both city centres, car if the Wine Route villages are on your list.
- Both stations are central: Strasbourg’s station is a 10-minute walk from the old town; Colmar’s is around 10–15 minutes from Little Venice.
- Book ahead only for TGV — TER regional fares are fixed and do not rise with demand.
Train from Strasbourg to Colmar: the default choice
Direct trains link Strasbourg and Colmar many times a day, from early morning until late evening. Most are TER regional services; a handful of TGV trains passing through also stop at both stations. The line is one of the busiest regional corridors in eastern France, so you rarely wait long.
Journey times vary by service pattern:
| Service type | Typical journey time | Stops |
|---|---|---|
| TGV (passing through) | around 30 minutes | Direct |
| Fast TER | 32–40 minutes | Sélestat only, or non-stop |
| Stopping TER | 45–55 minutes | Sélestat, Colmar area halts |
What it costs. TER fares on this route are modest — expect roughly €13–€20 one way for a standard adult ticket, with reductions for under-26s, seniors and groups. TER prices are set, not dynamic, so buying on the day at the machine costs the same as buying two weeks out. TGV seats on the same stretch are usually priced higher and do rise with demand, so only worth it if the timing suits you perfectly. Verify current fares and timetables before you travel.
Buying tickets. Machines at both stations accept international cards and switch to English. Validate paper tickets in the small yellow or purple posts before boarding — an unvalidated paper ticket counts as no ticket. Mobile and e-tickets do not need validating.
If you are planning several rail legs rather than a single hop, the wider picture is worth reading first: our guide to travelling around Alsace by train covers regional passes, luggage, and which villages are actually reachable on rails.
[AFF-SLOT | rail | Strasbourg to Colmar regional and TGV tickets]
Which station, and what’s at each end
Strasbourg’s Gare Centrale sits just west of the old island centre, under its distinctive glass shell. It is a flat 10-minute walk to Petite France and well served by tram lines A and D. Colmar’s station is south-east of the historic core, around 10–15 minutes on foot to the main square and Little Venice; taxis and local buses wait outside.
Both stations have lifts and step-free access to platforms, though older TER carriages can involve a step up from the platform. If you are travelling with large cases, board from the middle of the platform where the wider doors usually align.
Driving from Strasbourg to Colmar
The fast route is the A35, a toll-free motorway that runs the length of the Alsace plain. It is about 70 km from centre to centre and normally takes 45–55 minutes. Traffic thickens around Strasbourg between roughly 7–9am and 4.30–6.30pm on weekdays, which can add 20 minutes or more.
Two things to plan for. First, Strasbourg’s city centre has a low-emission zone requiring a Crit’Air sticker on the windscreen — arrange this before you arrive if you are driving your own or a foreign-plated car. Second, parking in Colmar’s centre is limited and the historic core is largely pedestrianised. Aim for a signposted underground car park or a hotel with its own parking, and expect to pay for it.
Renting a car makes sense the moment your itinerary includes villages, castles or vineyard visits rather than just the two cities. Pick-up at Strasbourg station or the airport is straightforward, and automatic transmissions are the exception in France rather than the rule — if you cannot drive a manual, reserve well ahead, particularly for September and December travel when demand across Alsace peaks. Our car hire guide for Alsace covers licence requirements, insurance and one-way drop-offs.
[AFF-SLOT | car-rental | pick-up in Strasbourg for a Colmar and Wine Route drive]
The scenic alternative: go via the Wine Route
If you have a car and a free morning, do not take the motorway. The parallel route through the foothills turns a 50-minute transfer into the best day of many Alsace trips. Leave Strasbourg on the D35 towards Obernai, then follow the Wine Route signs south.
A workable sequence, with rough driving times between each:
- Strasbourg to Obernai — about 35 minutes. Market square, old ramparts, coffee stop.
- Obernai to Sélestat — about 30 minutes, with a detour to Barr if you want a quieter wine town.
- Sélestat to Haut-Kœnigsbourg — about 25 minutes of climbing road. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the castle itself.
- Haut-Kœnigsbourg to Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr — about 25 minutes down the other side.
- Riquewihr to Colmar — about 20 minutes.
That is a full day, not a transfer. Compress it by choosing two stops rather than five. The central section of the Wine Route covers this corridor in detail, and if you want a full driving plan, see our Wine Route itineraries.
| Option | Time | Cost profile | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct train | 30–55 min | Low, fixed on TER | City-to-city, no car needed |
| A35 motorway | 45–55 min | Fuel + Colmar parking | Arriving with luggage, tight schedule |
| Wine Route drive | 2–6 hrs | Fuel + stops + parking | Turning the transfer into sightseeing |
| Coach | 1.5–2 hrs+ | Lowest | Very tight budgets, flexible timing |
Bus and coach options
Long-distance coach operators serve the Strasbourg–Colmar corridor, usually as part of longer routes rather than as a dedicated shuttle. Journeys take noticeably longer than the train, departures are far less frequent, and pick-up points are often on the edge of the city rather than in the centre. Fares can be very low.
Our advice: unless you are travelling on the tightest of budgets or the timing happens to align, take the train. The time and convenience difference does not justify the saving for most visitors. Regional buses also link the two cities via the plain, but they are designed for local commuters and stop constantly.
Getting to the Wine Route villages without a car
This is the question behind most Strasbourg to Colmar searches. The honest answer: the two cities are easy by rail, the villages between them are a mixed picture.
Some are genuinely reachable. Sélestat sits directly on the main line and makes a good halfway stop. Obernai has its own station on a branch line from Strasbourg. Turckheim is a short local train from Colmar. Others — Riquewihr and Kaysersberg among them — have no railway station at all and depend on seasonal buses or organised transport.
If you are car-free, the practical structure is to base yourself in Colmar and use it as a springboard, combining local trains with a guided day out for the villages that trains cannot reach. Small-group tours from Colmar typically run a half or full day, cover three or four villages, and include a cellar visit — a sensible use of one day if you would otherwise miss the vineyards entirely. Demand is heaviest during the harvest weeks in September and throughout the Christmas market season, when places fill early.
[AFF-SLOT | tours | small-group village and vineyard day trip from Colmar]
For the full car-free picture, read exploring the Wine Route without a car and our no-car Alsace itineraries.
Which city should you base yourself in?
Many visitors treat Strasbourg to Colmar as a one-way move and split their nights between the two. That works well on trips of four days or more. On shorter visits, a single base saves you a hotel change.
- Choose Strasbourg for the cathedral, the museums, more restaurant range, better long-distance rail connections and easier arrival from Paris or by air.
- Choose Colmar if the Wine Route is your priority. It sits at the centre of the vineyard belt, and the classic villages are within a 20-minute drive.
- Choose a village base if you want quiet evenings and vineyard views, and you have a car.
The trade-offs are set out fully in our guide to where to base yourself in Alsace, with area-by-area detail in Strasbourg accommodation and where to stay in Colmar. Rooms in both cities tighten sharply from late November through December, and Colmar in particular has limited central stock.
[AFF-SLOT | accommodation | central Strasbourg and Colmar bases]
Day trip or overnight?
Colmar works as a day trip from Strasbourg, and vice versa. A rough shape for a Strasbourg-based day:
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 08.30–09.00 | Train from Strasbourg |
| 09.30 | Arrive, walk to the old town |
| 10.00–12.30 | Old town, Little Venice, Unterlinden Museum |
| 12.30–14.00 | Lunch in a winstub |
| 14.00–17.00 | Covered market, Tanners’ Quarter, optional Turckheim by local train |
| 17.30–18.30 | Train back |
That is enough for Colmar’s centre but not for the villages. If the vineyards matter to you, stay a night. Our pages on day trips from Strasbourg and day trips from Colmar set out what each city reaches comfortably in a day.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming you need a car for the two cities. You do not. The train is faster than driving once you factor in Colmar’s parking.
- Booking a TGV when a TER runs minutes later. Check both. The regional train is often cheaper for a nearly identical journey time.
- Forgetting to validate a paper ticket. Fines are issued on the spot and inspectors are common on this line.
- Driving into central Colmar and hoping for a space. Head straight for a signposted car park; the historic core is closed to through traffic.
- Ignoring the Crit’Air sticker for Strasbourg. The low-emission zone applies to foreign-plated cars too.
- Treating the Wine Route drive as a transfer. Give it a day, or skip it and take the train.
- Travelling on Sunday without checking. Train services thin out and many village shops and cellars close.
When to make the trip
The journey itself is reliable in all seasons; what changes is what you find at each end. September and October bring harvest and vineyard colour, late November to Christmas Eve brings the markets, and the shoulder months of April to June are quieter with long daylight for scenic driving.
Winter travel needs a little more thought. Trains keep running in snow, but the vineyard road over to Haut-Kœnigsbourg can be slow or briefly closed after heavy falls. Check conditions before committing to the scenic route in January or February, and see our overview of Alsace weather and seasons alongside advice on the best time to visit Alsace.
During the Christmas market period, trains between the two cities get very busy in the late afternoon and early evening. Travel earlier or later than the crowd, and read reaching the Christmas markets without a car if December is your window.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train take from Strasbourg to Colmar?
Between roughly 30 and 55 minutes depending on the service. TGV trains passing through the route are quickest at around half an hour; fast TER regional trains take a little over 30 minutes; stopping services take closer to an hour. All are direct, with no change required. Timetables shift seasonally, so check on the day of travel.
Do I need to book Strasbourg to Colmar tickets in advance?
Not for TER regional trains. Their fares are fixed and seats are unreserved, so buying at the station machine costs the same as booking weeks earlier. TGV tickets do use dynamic pricing and are worth booking ahead if a TGV timing suits you. In practice, most visitors simply turn up and take the next regional train.
How far is Colmar from Strasbourg by car?
About 70 km via the A35 motorway, which is toll-free. Allow 45–55 minutes outside peak hours, and longer if you leave Strasbourg during the weekday rush. Taking the scenic Wine Route instead roughly triples the driving time before you add stops.
Can I visit the Wine Route villages between Strasbourg and Colmar without a car?
Partially. Sélestat and Obernai have stations, and Turckheim is a short hop from Colmar. Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim have no rail link and rely on seasonal buses or organised day trips. Basing yourself in Colmar and using one guided day for the car-free villages is the most efficient approach.
Is Colmar worth a day trip from Strasbourg, or should I stay overnight?
A day trip covers Colmar’s old town, Little Venice and the Unterlinden Museum comfortably. Stay overnight if you want to reach the vineyard villages, eat a proper evening meal in a winstub, or see the Christmas markets after the day-trippers leave. Two nights in Colmar is the usual sweet spot for Wine Route access.
Which is better as a base, Strasbourg or Colmar?
Strasbourg for a city-focused trip, better rail links and more choice of restaurants and museums. Colmar for the Wine Route, since the classic villages sit within a 20-minute drive. On trips of four days or more, splitting nights between the two removes the need to choose.
Are there direct buses between Strasbourg and Colmar?
Long-distance coaches do serve the corridor, usually as part of longer routes, and regional buses connect the two cities via the plain. Both are slower and less frequent than the train, and coach stops are often away from the centre. Fares are the lowest available, but for most visitors the train wins on time and convenience.
Keep planning
- How to plan a trip to Alsace — the full planning framework, start to finish
- Getting around Alsace — trains, buses, car and bike compared
- The Alsace Wine Route: complete guide — everything between the two cities
- Alsace itineraries by length — 1 to 7-day plans built around both cities
- Colmar destination guide — what to see, eat and skip
- Strasbourg destination guide — the northern base in detail