Visiting the Colmar Christmas Markets had been on my festive bucket list for years, especially because it’s in Alsace — the French region that inspired Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
The moment you arrive, you understand why: timber-framed houses, colourful shutters, cobbled lanes, and town squares that look like they’ve been lifted directly out of the film.
It’s fairytale-level pretty, even without the Christmas decorations. Add twinkling lights, garlands, music and markets, and it becomes one of the most magical winter destinations you can visit in Europe.
This blog is half personal diary, half practical guide - everything I experienced, plus everything I wish I’d known before going.
Whether you’re trying to compare Strasbourg vs Colmar Christmas Markets, searching for Colmar Christmas Market dates, or planning shuttle trips to the smaller Alsace villages, this covers it all.
Dcroll to see the full guide
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You know those places that are exactly what you imagined and then somehow even cuter? That was Colmar. And the best part? It’s only a 10-minute walk from the station to the markets - flat pavements, easy to navigate, and everything is signposted. Even if you’re directionally challenged (hi, it’s me), you can’t get lost.
The first area you reach is Parc du Champ-de-Mars / Place Rapp, which isn’t technically a “market” — no stalls selling crafts — but it’s full of rides, lights, food stands and photo spots. I’m talking:
This spot became one of my favourite surprises — quieter than the main markets, and the perfect warm-up for the night.
Colmar does food extremely well, especially the comforting, warming kind you need after walking around in the cold.
At Place Rapp I followed my nose to a stand selling Bretzels which are soft, warm pretzels that were so good and very reasonably priced -€4.50
They also had Tarte Flambée, which is like a thin crispy pizza smothered in crème fraîche, onions and bacon. If you’ve never had one, it might become your new favourite winter snack.
And then there was the Carrousel Bar, where I got a white wine served in a collectible Colmar boot-shaped mug.
As far as I know, this is the place to buy the boot mugs, so if you collect market souvenirs, don’t leave without one.
Six. All within a short walk of each other.
Here’s a quick overview of each market, plus my impressions:
Traditional regional produce, Alsatian gifts, food, and the coziest vibe. Great for browsing local specialties.
One of the prettiest squares in town - think river, bridges, lights, and charming stalls wrapped around the fountain.
Inside a historic building, perfect if you’re frozen and need warmth. Mostly handmade crafts and artisanal pieces.
This is THE Instagram spot.
It’s the area you’ve probably seen online — storybook houses, canals, glowing decorations. Very busy, very beautiful.
Large square, beautiful church views, plenty of stalls.
Nine cabins serving food and drink, plus the Giant Ferris Wheel and extended evening hours. Lots happening here including more rides for children.
Everything felt walkable, manageable and beautifully linked, which is a huge part of Colmar’s charm.
Here’s the key info for planning:
Super useful if you’re trying to squeeze the markets into a multi-city Alsace trip.
I travelled in from both Strasbourg, but the same applies from coming from Basel too, and here’s the honest truth:
👉 Don’t waste your money on first class.
Neither 1st nor 2nd class guarantees a seat on these regional trains, and both my journeys were standing-room-only.
What I would recommend is that you get there super early if departing from Basel or Strasbourg. The trains arrive around 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time, so to give yourself a fighting chance of a seat, get there around 30 mins before. On the trains I took, I paid for 1st class from Basel to Strasbourg and did get a seat, although there were people who didn’t. For context there was only one 1st class carriage as opposed to around six 2nd class ones.
Another tip is to purchase your ticket at least an hour before. Whilst there many people were unable to get a ticket from Basel to Colmar/Strasbourg as the machines had stopped selling them, as well as the online app. The only way they could be purchased was from the SBB ticket office and the queue was huge.
If you’re planning multiple trips within Alsace, trains are simple, frequent and reliable (just busy!). Tickets can be bought online via the SBB app/Trainline, at a machine in the station or at the SBB Ticket counter.
Short answer: YES - but only if you book early.
Why stay in Colmar:
Why you might reconsider:
If you’re deciding between Strasbourg, Basel or Colmar as a base, Strasbourg and Basel win on practicality and hotel options — but Colmar wins on pure charm. Personally, I choose to stay in Basel as the airport was only 10 minutes from the city centre and the flights to Basel were half the price of Strasbourg.
If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit the Colmar Christmas Markets, the honest answer is: as early in the day as possible and ideally mid-week.
The markets open at 11am Monday–Thursday and 10am Friday–Sunday, and if you can be there right at opening, you’ll experience the most relaxed version of Colmar you’ll get all day. Stalls are fully stocked, you can snap those picture-perfect shots without crowds in the background, and you won’t feel like you’re swimming upriver through people.
From opening until around 3pm, it’s still pleasant, especially mid-week. You can browse at your own pace, grab a hot drink without queueing, and wander the old town in peace. This window is also when many travellers say they got their best photos, because there’s still daylight but the surrounding streets feel calm.
Come dusk, the crowds increase rapid as everyone wants those photos with all the beautiful lights. For me by around 5.30pm it became unbearable even though it was only a Monday night. For reference it went dark around 4pm.
If you want to enjoy the evening lights, aim to wander just after sunset, then retreat to a cosy restaurant before the crush builds.
Weekends in Colmar are exceptionally busy all day long. Some travellers report they couldn’t even get close enough to the stalls to see what was being sold. If your schedule allows it, avoid Friday to Sundays entirely.
For the best experience with minimal crowds:
This time slot gives you the best balance of festive atmosphere, manageable crowds, and room to actually enjoy the stalls instead of shuffling past them.
Yes, Colmar is gorgeous - but the surrounding villages are equally magical, less crowded, and often more traditional.
You can visit them via the Colmar Christmas Shuttle, which runs to:
Some travellers even claim Kaysersberg and Riquewihr are better than Colmar; they’re just a little harder to reach unless you use the shuttle. If I’d had more time, this is where I would’ve spent an extra day.
Basel (BSL) is the closest and usually the easiest airport for reaching Colmar quickly.
Strasbourg Airport (SXB) is another good option, especially if you're combining the two cities.
100% yes!
It’s busy, it’s popular, and it’s absolutely beautiful.
It feels like stepping into a Christmas card - especially when the lights reflect off the canals in Petite Venise or when you catch a quiet moment on a small side street.
If you want charm, cobbles, lights, and more festive decorations per square metre than almost anywhere else in Europe - Colmar is for you.
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