Is Colmar Worth Visiting? [2024]
/Famous for its quaint canals, cotton-candy coloured houses and romantic atmosphere, this Alsace gem is well-loved by thousands of travellers. But is Colmar worth visiting? Let’s find out.
La Petite Venise, Colmar. Colmar is one of France’s most picturesque small towns.
Where to Stay in Colmar
I stayed at the aptly-named Colmar Hotel, and it was perfect for all my needs. Literally just a 2-minute walk from Colmar Train Station, Colmar Hotel is also only about a 15-minute walk away to the heart of Colmar, where all the famous sights are.
The rooms at Colmar Hotel were spacious, intricately designed and comfortable. The staff here were extremely friendly, going the extra mile to treat me well and answer all my questions. I would definitely recommend booking a stay here.
How to get to Colmar?
Colmar is easily reachable by train and car.
Colmar is well-served by France’s train system. From anywhere in France, you’ll be able to take the train to Colmar Station. You can also get to Colmar from other countries. For example, we arrived from Luxembourg, and you can also arrive from Switzerland.
From Colmar Train station, the center of Colmar Old Town is about a 10-15-minute walk away.
Of course, you can drive to Colmar easily as well if you have access to a car.
What’s there to see in Colmar?
In all honesty, there’s not that much to do in Colmar, but walking around its Old Town will still occupy about half a day’s worth of your time.
Colmar, France
Colmar, France
Old Town, France
Old Town, France
Here are some of the highlights to look out for.
La Petite Venise
La Petite Venise, Colmar
La Petite Venise, Colmar
Translated as ‘Little Venice’, La Petite Venise borrows its name from Italy’s Venice because of its charming canals (although we have to say, apart from that, it doesn’t really look like Venice at all)!
Asher at La Petite Venise, Colmar
Still, it’s one of Colmar’s prettiest areas, and is definitely worth a stroll through. If you have more time, there are boat tours that will take you through to the canal as well.
La Petite Venise, Colmar
St Martin’s Church
St Martin’s Church, Colmar
Stuck in the middle of Colmar’s old town, St Martin’s Church is a massive structure that will impress you as you get closer and closer to it.
St Martin’s Church, Col-mar
Designed in the Gothic architectural style, this church was completed hundreds of years ago in 1365. It’s a massive church that easily stands out among Colmar’s quaint houses.
Dominican Church
Dominican Church, Colmar
Another impressive church, the Dominican Church is only a short walk away from St Martin’s Church. Works for this church commenced all the way back in 1283, and it’s gone through several reconstructions to look like what it does today.
Marché couvert Colmar
Marché couvert Colmar
Marché couvert Colmar
If you’re a fan of food markets, then visiting the Marché couvert Colmar is a must. The market has been around since 1865, and it’s here that you can find the freshest produce, meats, cheese and more.
Schwendi Fountain
Schwendi Fountain, Colmar
The Schwendi Fountain is a tribute to Lazarus Schwendi, a Lord of Hohlandsburg. Destroyed in 1940, the historic fountain was rebuilt shortly after World War II.
Adolph House
Adolph House, Colmar
Adolph House was built around 1350, and is one of the oldest houses in all of Colmar. Belonging to the Adolph family, it is now a well-loved historical attraction in Colmar.
Kofihus (Old Custom House)
Kofihus (Old Custom House), Colmar
Kofihus (Old Custom House), Colmar
The Kofihus (otherwise known as Ancienne Douane) is another historic building in Colmar.
The building previously served as a Customs house, and in its lifetime, has been a theatre, a Catholic boys school and an Israelite school. Today, it’s known as the venue for a few important public events.
Unterlinden Museum
Unterlinden Museum, Colmar
The Unterlinden Museum is one of the best-rated and most visited museums in all of Alsace. The museum is renowned for being the home to the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald, a Germain Renaissance artist. Apart from this, it also features an extensive collection of art from local and international artists. Examples include works from Hans Holbein, Claude Monet, Martin Schongauer and Jost Haller.
If you’re a big art lover, then the Unterlinden Museum is a must visit.
Maison Pfister
Maison Pfister, Colmar
Built in 1537, the Maison Pfister is quite a unique-looking building that features a blend of architectural styles. Notably, the house was used as inspiration for the setting of the famous animated movie, Howl’s Moving Castle.
House of Heads
House of Heads, Colmar
The House of Heads is a special building in Colmar because it features 106 heads that decorate the ornate structure of the house. Definitely worth a quick photo if you happen to pass by.
So, is Colmar Worth Visiting?
Old Town, Colmar
Old Town, Colmar
Yes, Colmar is definitely worth visiting, if you adjust your expectations.
Colmar isn’t necessarily one of those places with a long list of ‘must see’ attractions, but the town as a whole is a must-do. Life in Colmar feels very whimsical. There’s a special romantic atmosphere here that’s difficult to capture in pictures, so you should come visit and feel it for yourself.
La Petite Venise, Colmar
The best way to plan your day is to pick out a few attractions to visit, and spend the rest of your time just casually strolling through Colmar’s many cute shops, café’s and houses.
If you’re coming from a long way away (from Paris, for example), then I would save a visit to Colmar up until you get closer to the Alsace area, so you can combine it with a visit to other cities, towns and villages – Strasbourg, Egusheim, Turckheim, Obernai are just a few destinations worth visiting as well. Although Colmar is wonderful, I don’t think it’s worth to drive 5+ hours here for a day trip, as it would be too rushed.
Old Town, Colmar
Old Town, Colmar
But yes, overall, I would still recommend visiting Colmar.
How long should I stay in Colmar?
How long should you stay in Colmar?
Old Town, Colmar
Colmar is a compact area where you can explore everything easily on foot. To do Colmar justice, you would need at least half a day (3-4 hours is perfect). Of course, if you want to go at a slower pace, staying a whole day in Colmar is also perfectly warranted.
If you find yourself falling in love with Colmar, I wouldn’t hesitate to extend your stay to 2-3 nights. With these extra days, you could go on a day trip to one of the other towns I mentioned previously (Egusheim, for example, is said to be the inspiration for where the Disney movie classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was set.)
Would you visit Colmar?
Do you think Colmar is worth visiting? Let me know in the comments below!
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