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Colmar spreads its Christmas market across several separate squares in the old town rather than concentrating it in one place, which changes how you plan the visit. This guide covers the individual market sites, when to arrive to avoid the worst crowds, how to get there with or without a car, and what to do with the daylight hours before the lights come on.
In short
- Colmar hosts several distinct Christmas markets within walking distance of each other in the historic centre, each with its own character.
- The season generally runs from late November to just after Christmas, with a handful of sites staying open into early January. Confirm dates on the official Colmar tourist office site before booking.
- Weekday visits, especially Monday to Thursday, are noticeably calmer than Saturdays.
- The old town is compact and pedestrian-friendly: you can walk the whole circuit in a couple of hours, longer if you stop to eat.
- Colmar works well as a base for visiting nearby village markets, or as a day trip from Strasbourg.
- Accommodation in the centre is the single thing most likely to sell out. Book it first, then plan everything else.
What makes the Colmar market different from Strasbourg’s
Scale and layout. Strasbourg runs a very large, very busy market across a bigger city centre and draws enormous crowds. Colmar is smaller, the old town is more concentrated, and the market splits into separate themed squares connected by short walks through half-timbered streets and along the canals of Petite Venise.
That structure has a practical consequence: you are not fighting one giant crowd, you are moving between several medium-sized ones. It also means you can skip the sites that don’t interest you. A visitor travelling with children will spend most of their time at the children’s market; someone shopping for crafts will linger elsewhere.
If you are still deciding between the two cities, or trying to fit both in, the comparison in our guide to the best Christmas markets in Alsace sets out the trade-offs, and Strasbourg to Colmar covers the connection in detail.
The market sites, and which ones are worth your time
Colmar’s markets are traditionally spread across the following squares and areas of the old town. Layouts and stall counts vary from year to year, so treat this as a guide to the geography rather than a fixed inventory.
| Site | Broad character | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Place des Dominicains | Chalets set around the Gothic Dominican church | Classic market atmosphere, evening photos |
| Place Jeanne d’Arc | Food and regional produce focus | Eating, wine, edible gifts |
| Place de l’Ancienne Douane | Larger site by the historic Koïfhus building | Crafts, decorations, general browsing |
| Petite Venise / Place des Six Montagnes Noires | Children’s Christmas market in the Petite Venise area | Families, children’s activities and the prettiest walk |
| Koïfhus interior | Indoor artisan section | Wet weather, quality handmade goods |
| Place de la Cathédrale area | Illuminations and events rather than one of the main chalet markets | A central location close to several market sites and landmarks |
A sensible circuit: start at Place de l’Ancienne Douane, work north towards the cathedral and Place des Dominicains, then loop back south through Petite Venise as the light fades. That way you finish in the most photogenic part of town after dark.
Allow around two hours for a first pass with no stops, three to four if you plan to eat, drink and shop properly.
When to go: days, times and weeks
The single biggest variable in your experience is not the weather, it is the crowd. Saturdays in December are the busiest by a wide margin, followed by Sundays. Weekday afternoons are considerably more comfortable.
| Timing | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Weekday mornings | Quietest. Some stalls still setting up; the atmosphere is subdued but shopping is easy |
| Weekday late afternoon | The sweet spot. Lights on, stalls fully open, manageable crowds |
| Friday and Saturday evening | Peak density. Slow movement, long queues at food stalls |
| Sunday | Busy but slightly easier than Saturday |
| The final days before Christmas | Very busy, though some sites begin to wind down |
Darkness falls early in Alsace in December, typically well before 5pm, which means you get the illuminated market experience without staying out late. That is genuinely useful if you are travelling with children or driving on afterwards.
For the wider picture of season length across the region, see our page on Christmas market dates and opening times, and check the official Colmar tourist office for the confirmed calendar before you commit to travel dates.
How to get to Colmar in December
By train
Colmar has a mainline station roughly a ten-minute walk from the old town, with frequent regional services from Strasbourg and connections south towards Mulhouse and Basel. Trains are the least stressful option in December: no parking, no icy roads, no worrying about a glass of wine at the market.
From Strasbourg, direct regional trains run regularly through the day and the journey is short. Services from Paris involve a TGV to Strasbourg or a direct connection, depending on the timetable. Full detail on routes and ticketing sits in our guide to travelling around Alsace by train.
December weekend trains between Strasbourg and Colmar can be very crowded, particularly on late-afternoon returns after the markets. TER Grand Est trains generally do not offer guaranteed seat reservations, so buying a ticket in advance does not guarantee a seat. Travelling earlier or later can make the journey more comfortable.
By car
Driving gives you access to the village markets that trains don’t reach well, but Colmar’s centre is largely pedestrianised during the market season and street parking near the old town is difficult. Use the signposted car parks on the ring of the centre and walk in. Expect to pay for parking and expect the nearest car parks to fill on weekend afternoons.
If your plan involves combining Colmar with Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, a car is close to essential. Winter tyres or all-season tyres are the norm on hire cars in the region during the cold months, but confirm what is fitted when you collect the vehicle. Demand for cars around the December weekends and the Christmas period is high across Alsace and at the nearby airports.
Driving in December: check your winter equipment
In France, winter tyres or snow chains are mandatory from 1 November to 31 March in communes designated under loi Montagne II, which covers parts of the Vosges and other French massifs. Rental vehicles are not equipped as standard — verify what your booking includes.
Christmas market season is also the tightest period of the year for rental stock. Prices rise steadily through December and airport pick-up points run out first.
Without a car
It is entirely possible to visit Colmar and several village markets using public transport and organised transfers. Regional trains reach Colmar, Sélestat and Mulhouse; buses and seasonal shuttles cover parts of the Wine Route. The practicalities are set out in visiting the Christmas markets without a car.
By air
The closest airport is EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, with Strasbourg and Frankfurt-Hahn or Frankfurt Main serving as alternatives depending on where you’re flying from. Our page on airports serving Alsace compares transfer times and onward connections.
What to eat and drink at the market
Colmar’s food stalls lean heavily on Alsatian winter cooking, which is exactly what you want at four degrees.
- Vin chaud — mulled wine, usually white as well as red in Alsace, sometimes with a non-alcoholic version for children. Many stalls charge a refundable deposit on the mug.
- Tarte flambée — thin, crisp, topped with cream, onion and bacon, cooked to order. Learn more in our guide to tarte flambée.
- Bretzels — soft, salted, and everywhere.
- Choucroute — served hot in a bowl at some stalls, the full plated version in restaurants. See choucroute explained.
- Bredele — the small spiced Christmas biscuits sold by the bag, in dozens of varieties. Covered alongside other sweets in Alsatian pastries and desserts.
- Mannele — small brioche figures, traditionally eaten around St Nicholas in early December.
For a fuller breakdown of what to order and what to bring home, see Christmas market food and drink and our page on edible souvenirs from Alsace.
A tip on eating properly: market food is good but limited. Book a table at a traditional winstub for at least one evening. December is one of the few times of year when Colmar’s better restaurants genuinely require reservations several days ahead.
What else to do in Colmar during the market season
The market runs into the evening, which leaves your daylight hours free. Colmar has enough to fill them.
- The Musée Unterlinden, home to the Isenheim Altarpiece, is a serious museum and an obvious wet-weather option. More on this and others in museums in Alsace.
- The old town’s half-timbered houses are the reason Colmar photographs the way it does. Walk the streets around Petite Venise in daylight as well as after dark.
- Wine tasting continues through the winter, though many small growers keep reduced hours. See wine cellars and tastings for how cellar visits work.
- The Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg is a reasonable drive north and dramatic in winter light. Practical detail is on our Haut-Kœnigsbourg page.
For a broader list, things to do in Colmar covers the city year-round.
Where to stay for the Colmar Christmas market
Staying inside or immediately around Colmar’s old town is the difference between a relaxed trip and a logistical one. You can drop shopping at the hotel, go back out after dinner, and avoid driving in the dark.
Three broad options:
- Colmar old town — walk everywhere, best atmosphere, highest prices and first to sell out.
- Colmar outskirts or near the station — cheaper, still walkable or a short bus ride, useful if you have a car and need parking.
- A Wine Route village such as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé or Eguisheim — quieter evenings, very atmospheric, but you need a car and you will drive back at night.
December accommodation in Colmar is among the most heavily booked of the year, and the centre has a limited number of rooms because the old town is small and protected. If your dates fall on a December weekend, book well ahead rather than close to travel.
📍 BOOKING TIP
December is Colmar’s busiest month. Rooms in the old town — especially near Petite Venise and Place de l’Ancienne Douane — are limited and book up months in advance.
✓ Walk to every market site
✓ Skip the parking search
✓ Return easily after evening markets
Our detailed comparison sits in where to stay in Colmar, with the regional view in where to stay for the Christmas markets and choosing your base in Alsace.
Combining Colmar with the village markets
Colmar’s real advantage is its position. Several of the best village Christmas markets in Alsace sit within a short drive, and they are quite different in feel: smaller, more intimate, and in the case of Riquewihr and Eguisheim, set inside intact medieval walls.
A workable two-day pattern:
- Day one: arrive in Colmar, explore the old town in daylight, visit the market sites from late afternoon into the evening, dinner in a winstub.
- Day two: morning drive or tour to two or three villages, returning to Colmar in the late afternoon for anything you missed.
If you would rather not drive on winter roads, guided half-day and full-day trips run from Colmar to the village markets and back, which also solves the parking problem in villages where space is very limited. These run on fixed dates in December and small-group departures do fill.
See Christmas market tours for the formats available, and day trips from Colmar for the wider range of options.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Coming only on a Saturday. If your schedule has any flexibility, shift to a weekday. The difference in crowd density is substantial.
- Assuming the market is one square. Visitors regularly see one site, decide Colmar’s market is small, and leave. Walk the full circuit.
- Driving into the centre. Much of the old town is closed to traffic during the season. Park on the ring and walk.
- Booking accommodation late. Central rooms in December sell out earlier than almost any other period, and the fallback is a hotel outside town plus a taxi.
- Underdressing. You will be standing outdoors in the cold for hours. Layers, a warm hat and waterproof footwear matter more than a stylish coat. Our Alsace packing list covers winter specifics.
[AFF-SLOT | gear | warm layers and waterproof footwear for December in Alsace]
- Expecting all shops and cellars to keep normal hours. Some businesses close on Christmas Day and around it, and small wine producers often work reduced winter hours.
Practical things worth knowing
- Many mulled wine mugs carry a deposit. Return the mug for your money back, or keep it as a souvenir.
- Cash is still handy at smaller stalls, though card payment is widely accepted.
- Pickpocketing is a risk in any dense market crowd. Keep bags closed and in front of you.
- Public toilets exist around the market area but queues build in the evening.
- Colmar’s old town has cobbles and uneven surfaces, which are slippery when wet. Relevant if you have mobility concerns or a pushchair.
- Christmas Day itself is quiet: most markets are closed and restaurant availability is limited. Plan that day deliberately.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Colmar Christmas market take place?
The season typically opens in the second half of November and runs to just after Christmas, with one or two sites sometimes continuing into early January. Exact opening and closing dates change each year and are announced by the Colmar tourist office, so confirm before booking flights or accommodation. Our page on market dates and opening times explains the usual pattern across Alsace.
How many days do you need in Colmar for the Christmas market?
One full day and one evening is enough to see all the market sites, eat well and walk the old town. Two nights lets you add village markets, Haut-Kœnigsbourg or the Musée Unterlinden without rushing. Three nights suits anyone wanting to combine Colmar with Strasbourg or a proper Wine Route loop.
Is Colmar or Strasbourg better for Christmas markets?
They serve different priorities. Strasbourg is bigger, grander and busier, with a longer-established market and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels. Colmar is more compact, easier to walk and closer to the village markets. Many visitors do both, using the frequent regional train between them.
Can you visit the Colmar Christmas market without a car?
Yes. Colmar’s station is a short walk from the old town and regional trains connect it to Strasbourg, Sélestat, Mulhouse and Basel. Village markets are harder without a car, but seasonal shuttles, buses and organised tours fill most of the gap. See Christmas markets without a car for the detail.
Is the Colmar Christmas market free to enter?
Yes. The markets are open-air and free to walk around. You pay only for what you buy. Some associated events, concerts or attractions may charge separately, and parking near the centre is paid.
What is the weather like in Colmar in December?
Cold, often damp, occasionally frosty, with early darkness. Snow in the town itself is possible but not reliable; the surrounding hills see more. Temperatures commonly sit around or just above freezing. See weather and seasons in Alsace for month-by-month expectations.
Are the Colmar markets suitable for young children?
Yes. The Petite Venise site has traditionally been dedicated to children, and the compact old town means short walking distances between stops. Go in the late afternoon rather than the evening, when crowds are lighter. Our Alsace at Christmas with kids page has more.
Do you need to book restaurants in Colmar in December?
Yes, for evening meals in the old town. December is the busiest restaurant period of the year in Colmar and popular winstubs fill days ahead, particularly at weekends. Lunch is easier to walk into, and market food covers you if plans change.
Keep planning
- Alsace Christmas Markets: the complete guide — the full regional overview and how the markets fit together
- Best Christmas markets in Alsace — which towns and villages to prioritise
- Colmar destination guide — the city year-round, beyond the market season
- Where to stay in Colmar — neighbourhoods, hotel types and how to choose
- Christmas market traditions in Alsace — the customs behind the stalls
- Alsace itineraries — ready-made routes from one day to a week