Colmar
A half-timbered town in Alsace where canals, Renaissance houses and the Alsatian Wine Route make a compact, walkable trip.
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Colmar is the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department in north-eastern France, about 64 km south-southwest of Strasbourg. It is the third-largest commune in Alsace and calls itself the capital of Alsatian wine. Its old town was largely spared from the French Revolution and the wars of 1870 to 1871 and the two world wars, so pink and yellow Vosges sandstone houses, timber framing and a blend of French and German styles still line the streets.
Little Venice is the first stop, where canals of the River Lauch run past the former butchers', tanners' and fishmongers' quarter. The Unterlinden Museum, in a 13th-century convent, displays the Isenheim Altarpiece. Plan at least two days to cover the old town and museums, plus the wine villages of Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, which the wine trail links to Colmar. The Festival de Colmar takes place each summer, and the Foire aux vins d'Alsace has been held every year since 1947. Strasbourg lies about 64 km away, which makes it a practical day trip.
Colmar in five
- Book Christmas market stays earlyColmar's Christmas markets draw crowds from late November through December. Hotels fill, so book as soon as your dates are set.
- See the old town on footThe center is compact: Petite Venise, the half-timbered houses and the market hall are within a short walk. Early morning is quietest.
- Visit the Unterlinden museumThe museum holds the Isenheim Altarpiece. Check hours and ticketing on the museum's site, especially on busy weekends.
- Use the wine route by bus, bike or tourVillages such as Riquewihr and Eguisheim are close. Don't drink and drive; use a bus, bike or guided tour.Alsace
Things to do in Colmar
See all attractions in Colmar
Need to know
- Airport
- Basel-Mulhouse (BSL/MLH), about 1 hour; Strasbourg (SXB) also close
- Getting there
- Train from Strasbourg about 30–40 min; TGV Paris to Colmar about 3 hours
- Getting around
- Walkable; trains and buses for the wine villages
- Best base
- Near the old town and Petite Venise
- Time needed
- 1–2 days, 3 with the wine route
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Cool, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring, openAprilRain
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, open
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Green, mildMayRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, busyJuneRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low15°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Wine fairAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wine fair
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Harvest, mildSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest, mild
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Autumn, mildOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, mild
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Markets openNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Markets open
- DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Christmas marketsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Colmar, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Colmar
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Colmar
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°3°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue10°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri5°0°0%Friday: Fog. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat9°3°5%Saturday: Fog. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun13°2°25%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 07:04 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Strasbourgabout 30–40 min by trainCathedral, canals and a big Christmas market.Read the guide
- Wine villagesabout 15–30 min by bus or roadRiquewihr, Eguisheim and others along the wine route.Read the guide
- Basel, Switzerlandabout 1 hour by trainA museum city across the border. Bring your passport.
Before you go to Colmar
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Rules for Colmar, checked
- Non-EU visitors need a passport valid for the Schengen area and may need a visa. Check the rules on France-Visas before you fly.Source
- Carry your passport or national ID card at all times.
- Dial 112 for any emergency in France. 15 reaches the ambulance service and 17 reaches the police.
Plan around Colmar
Regional capital 30 min north by train
Read the guideAlsaceVillages, vines and the wine route
Read the guideNancyPlace Stanislas and Lorraine, farther west
Read the guideMetzLorraine's Pompidou and cathedral city
Read the guideGetting around FranceTGV and TER tips
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, cities and train routes
Read the guideColmar FAQ
Is Colmar worth visiting?
Yes, for the compact old town, the museum and the wine villages. It is small, so one or two days are enough.
How many days do you need in Colmar?
One day covers the center. Two or three days add the wine route and a day in Strasbourg.
When is the best time to visit Colmar?
May, June and September for mild weather; late November to December for Christmas markets with crowds and cold.
How do you get from Strasbourg to Colmar?
By regional train in about 30–40 minutes, or by road in a similar time.
Is Colmar or Strasbourg better to stay in?
Strasbourg for a bigger city with more sights; Colmar for a quieter old town and easier access to the wine villages.