Colmar is one the gems of the Alsace region of northeastern France and a day trip here is perfect for any lover of European travel. It is an almost fairytale book town, filled with those gorgeous timber buildings which this region is famous for. Within a few moments of being here, you’ll understand why this Alsatian gem is one of the most beautiful towns in France.
If you want to see all that Colmar has to offer on this day trip, then this blog post is for you. Enjoy!
A Day Trip to Colmar | Your Quick Guide
Getting to Colmar
Colmar is really easy to get to. If you are planning a day trip here, the odds are you’ll be staying in Strasbourg. Trains run regularly between these two towns and costs anywhere from €6 one way (this changes based on how early you book your train). You can do this through the SNCF website. The train journey itself takes just over half an hour and is through picturesque French countryside – look out for the storks, the symbol of the Alsace.
Morning: Old Town
When you arrive in Colmar station, you’ll be about a 10-15 minute walk from the old town. To get here, you’ll need to head to the Parc du Champ de Mars. This is a great place to sit down and enjoy a takeaway coffee if you picked one up. It is really open and is filled with lush trees and lots of colourful flowers during the summer months.
Once you reach the other side, you’ll end up in the Old Town. You’ll know when you get here; the timbered houses are all vibrant pastel colours. Walking along the streets here is activity enough, but there are some major sites that you just have to see.
The Place de l’Ancienne Douanes is a good first destination. It is arguably the beating-heart of Colmar and shows off the unique Alsace architecture brilliantly. Depending on the time of year, you’ll be greeted by vibrant flowers or a spectacular Christmas Market – on that note it is easily one of the best Christmas Markets in France! Whatever the season though, you can always find plenty of stork merchandise, typically-Alsace pottery and a copious amount of gingerbread.
From here, I would take a leisurely stroll through the Old Town and head towards Petite Venise. As the name suggests, this is the part of Colmar which has the famous canals. It is also easily the most beautiful part of the Old Town throughout the year – the town decorates the banks and railings very well. Before lunch, I would seriously recommend taking a boat down through these canals. You’ll get a completely new perspective of the colourful houses and, if you do it in the morning, you’ll beat the crowds. Expect to pay around €10 per person for this. You can find these cruises everywhere along the canals.
Lunch
One of the best things about the Alsace region is, of course, the food. The cuisine here is a fusion between French and German culture, and restaurants will serve a mix of dishes from these countries.
Arguably the most famous is the tarte flambée – or in German Flammkuchen. This is the French / German answer to a pizza and is essentially a Bianco pizza on a thin, crispy crust. The toppings are usually a creamy sauce, onions and bacon, although there are different variations around the town.
Most of the restaurants in the Old Town are super touristy and there isn’t much you can do to escape it. I would honestly look around the menus and see which flambée variations take your fancy!
Late Morning: Museums
After a big lunch and a busy morning exploring, take the time in the afternoon to enjoy the different museums that the town has. Colmar has a remarkable history and it is often missed by the crowds of tourists who descend upon it each day.
My two favourite museums are the Bartholdi Museum and the Unterlinden Museum. The former is dedicated to one of the most famous people born in Colmar; the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. In his life he produced plenty of fine pieces, but is most famous for designing the Statue of Liberty.
The Unterlinden Museum however has pieces of art from various artists. The most famous addition here is the Isenheim Altarpiece, which has to be on of the most celebrated pieces of Medieval artwork.
Final Thoughts | A Day Trip to Colmar
A day trip to Colmar is a relaxing one. Whilst this is a really touristy town, I wouldn’t say that there is loads to see and do. It is instead a place to admire and to take a leisurely walk along extremely clear canals. I hope that this quick guide helped you plan your trip and, if you have any questions, please let me know. I always love hearing from you.
