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Grand Est• Travel Inspiration
Colmar Christmas Market 2023 – Dates, Locations & Things to Do
11/12/2023Colmar at Christmas Time
If you are visiting Paris in December and have an extra day or two, why not jump on a train to explore the Christmas Market in Colmar? Sure, there are lovely Christmas Markets in all of France, but Colmar is the place to go for the quintessential fairytale Christmas market.
Colmar boasts one of the best Christmas Markets in Alsace, and it is a small and walkable city very easy to visit on a day trip or weekend getaway.
Imagine a Medieval fairytale town with cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, Christmas lights and decorations, wooden chalets selling everything from handicrafts to local delicacies, and the smell of hot chocolate or mulled wine. It is no wonder why the Colmar Christmas Market is consistently named one of the best Christmas markets in Europe!
If you decide to visit Colmar at Christmas time this year, here’s a quick guide to the Colmar Christmas Market 2023 – dates, locations, things to do, plus insider tips. I visited the Colmar Christmas Market when it opened in November, so all the information here is first-hand!
Strasbourg or Colmar Christmas Market? Both Christmas Markets are lovely, but Strasbourg is nicknamed the Christmas Capital for a reason! The Christmas Market in Strasbourg is more extensive, with more sites, chalets, and activities for all ages. Also, Strasbourg is better connected with other cities in Europe than Colmar. If you only have one day available, the Christmas Market Colmar is smaller and easier to visit on a day trip.
Table of Contents
- Colmar Christmas Market Dates 2023 and Opening Hours
- Christmas Market Colmar 2023 – Stay Overnight if You Can
- How to Get to the Christmas Market in Colmar, France
- Colmar Christmas Market 2023 – Map & Locations
- Colmar France Christmas Market 2023 – Things to Do
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Colmar Christmas Market Dates 2023 and Opening Hours
The Colmar Christmas Market 2023 dates are from 24 November to 29 December 2023. If possible, try to visit in November, ideally during the week, as it is quite calm until Thursday. There are always a lot of people during the weekends, especially in December!
TIP: A day trip to Colmar to see the Colmar Christmas Market is especially popular, so book your train tickets and accommodation well in advance!
Colmar Christmas Market Opening Hours 2023
Here are the Colmar Christmas Market hours for 2023:
- From Monday to Thursday, chalets and animations are open from 11 am to 7 pm
- On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, chalets, and animations are open from 10 am to 8 pm
- On 24 December, the market opens from 10 am to 5 pm
- On 25 December, the market opens from 11 am to 8 pm
- On 26 December, the market opens from 11 am to 7 pm
The Gourmet Christmas Market is open from Monday to Sunday, from 11 am to 10 pm (no public holiday exceptions).
Christmas Market Colmar 2023 – Stay Overnight if You Can
A day trip from Paris, Lyon, or Dijon to Colmar to see the Christmas Market is feasible but tiring, especially if you get up early to take one of the first trains. If possible, stay one night on-site so you can visit everything at a slower pace and enjoy the rest of the city as well.
Colmar is an excellent destination for a 2-day trip or a weekend getaway. The advantage of staying overnight is enjoying the city when the day crowds are gone. Early in the morning or at dusk, you can almost have the Petite Venice to yourself! When it’s the blue hour, with soft street lighting and perfect reflections in the still waters of the canals, the fairytale is real.
Finding accommodation in Colmar will not be difficult as there’s a wide choice of places to stay for all travel styles. But if you want to visit the Colmar Christmas Market, booking in advance is essential. Hotel Saint-Martin and Hotel Le Colombier are our favorite options to stay in Colmar.
We also recommend having a look at this article on where to stay in Colmar, with a description of the best neighborhoods to stay in Colmar for tourists and more hotel recommendations.
How to Get to the Christmas Market in Colmar
Colmar Christmas Market 2023 by Train
A trip to Colmar by train is very easy to plan. The central station is named Gare de Colmar. From the train station in Colmar, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to Old Colmar.
Trains to Colmar leave from Paris Gare de l’Est train station. The distance from Paris to Colmar is 500 km but thanks to the fast trains it only takes 2 hours and a half to reach Colmar! Most proposals include a change of trains in Strasbourg, except the very first train, which is direct – Click here to book your train from Paris to Colmar
There are five trains a day connecting Lyon Part Dieu train station to Colmar. Some train connections include a change of trains in Dijon. Count on it taking 3 hrs 15 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the train connection – Click here to book your train from Lyon to Colmar
Once you arrive at Colmar train station, it’s an easy 10-minute walk to the Old Town, through the Parc du Champ de Mars. Also, there’s a free shuttle bus to the Old Town (navette de Noël). Cross the street and walk a few meters direction the parking Bleyle.
Colmar France Christmas Market 2023 by Car
Do you want to visit the Christmas Market in Colmar as part of an Alsace road trip? Having a car in Colmar at Christmas time is always challenging! The city is particularly busy, and the Christmas Markets are in pedestrian areas with no car access.
If you want to visit Colmar with a car, we recommend staying in the lesser central neighborhoods of Colmar or in hotels with private parking for its guests.
If you don’t have a car in France, we recommend booking with DiscoverCars, a leader in online car rental bookings; DiscoverCars compares car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip – Check out our best tips for renting a car in France.
Colmar Christmas Market 2023 Map & Locations
There are six different Christmas Markets in Colmar. They are all located in the Old Town, and you can easily walk from one Christmas Market to another. Check out our Colmar Christmas Market 2023 Map, where we have pinpointed the six locations.
- Marché de Noël – Place des Dominicains (Arts and Crafts)
- Marché de Noël – Place Jeanne d’Arc (reconstitution of a traditional Alsace village)
- Marché de Noël – Place de l’Ancienne Douanne (Arts and Crafts)
- Koïfus – Indoor Market (Arts and Crafts from local artisans)
- Little Venise Christmas Market – Place des Six Montagnes Noires (for kids)
- Marché Gourmand – Square de la Montagne Verte (Gourmet Market)
In addition to these Colmar Christmas Markets in the Old Town, there’s the Marché aux Sapins at Parc du Champs de Mars (7), the place to buy your Christmas Tree. You will also find many attractions for kids, a giant slide, and a couple of food stalls at Place Rapp (8), next to Champs de Mars.
CHRISTMAS MARKET COLMAR – WHAT WE LIKE:
Colmar, already superb all year round, is sublimated by the lights and decorations of the Christmas Markets.
Ideal size: not too big to visit everything on foot, but lots of things to see and do.
Lots of pretty objects to observe and buy and good, local specialties to taste.
CHRISTMAS MARKET COLMAR – WHAT WE DON’T LIKE:
It is too crowded on weekends!
The hotel prices escalate during this period, especially on the weekends.
Colmar France Christmas Market 2023 – Things to Do
What to do at the Colmar Christmas Market 2023? Apart from strolling around the different locations, shopping, and soaking up the city’s unique atmosphere at Christmas time, here are the things you don’t want to miss at the Colmar France Christmas Market 2023. Ask at the ColmarTourism Office (Place Unterlinden) for the full program and times.
TIP: This Colmar Christmas Market walking tour is an excellent introduction to your Colmar Christmas trip.
Adults
- The Carousel Bar at Place Rapp is a quirky place to have a drink and some snacks
- Guided tours “The Soul of Christmas” by the Colmar Tourism Office
- DJ Soirées at the Marché Gourmand (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm)
- Different events at Place Rapp, Municipal Theater (3 Place Unterlinden), St Mathieu Church (Grand’ Rue), and St Martin Church (Place de la Cathédrale). Grab the program at the Colmar Tourism Office
- Unterlinden Museum (a must of Colmar all the year-round)
- New in Colmar: the Musée des Vins d’Alsace (Museum of Alsace Wines) is a great introduction to the Alsace Wine Route or your wine tastings on-site
- Admire the city’s special atmosphere and the Vosges Mountains from the Ferris Wheel at the Marché Gourmand.
Kids and Adults
- The ice-skating rink at Place Rapp (update: this 2023, the ice rink is replaced by a giant slide)
- A canal ride on a flat-bottomed boat at Little Venice
- A children’s choir sings Christmas songs on the famous flat-bottomed boats of Little Venice. It is Magical!
- Toy Museum (a must of Colmar)
- Choco Story Colmar (a must of Colmar)
- Different events at Place Rapp, Municipal Theater (3 Place Unterlinden), St Mathieu Church (Grand’ Rue), and St Martin Church (Place de la Cathédrale). Grab the program at the Colmar Tourism Office
- Mechanical Christmas Crib at Sainte-Marie Church (14 Rue Maimburg, free access from 3 pm to 6 pm)
Kids
- The Little Venice Christmas Market, with its funfair, and Santa’s mailbox
- Christmas Treasure Hunt. Get the booklet and treasure map for free at the Tourist Office
- Different events at Place Rapp, Municipal Theater (3 Place Unterlinden), St Mathieu Church (Grand’ Rue), and St Martin Church (Place de la Cathédrale). Grab the program at the Colmar Tourism Office.
Colmar Christmas Market Illuminations and Decorations
Expect a total of 25 km of light garlands, 90 projectors, 26,000 Christmas balls, and more than a thousand firs, birches, and various shrubs that will create the warm atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations. There’s something to see everywhere, but don’t miss the Colmar Christmas illuminations in these places:
- Musée Unterlinden, place Unterlinden and Quai de la Sinn
- Mairie (Colmar’s Town Hall)
- Archives Municipales
- Façades Rue des Têtes and Rue Kléber
- Maison des Têtes
- Théâtre Municipal
- Cathédrale
- Ancien Corps de garde
- Champ de Mars and Place Rapp
- Koïfhus
- Médiathèque, Place du 2 février
- Tribunal
- Maison du Guetteur
- Petite Venise
- Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et d’Ethnographie
- Fontaine Rapp
- Colmar’s Train Station
- Churches Saint-Joseph and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
Colmar Christmas Market – Where to Eat and Drink
Winstubs (local eateries)
Winstubs (or wistubs) are the place to go to taste the traditional Alsace food. Usually, you can have lunch until 1.30 pm, and they reopen the doors for dinner at 6.45 pm.
My favorite winstubs in Colmar are the Pfeffel (1 Rue du Rempart, book in advance) and Au Koïffus (2 Place de l’Ancienne Douane)
Marché Couvert
The Covered Market at Little Venice is one of my favorite places to have lunch. There are a couple of eateries where you can sit and have lunch for a good price. Also, eating times are larger than winstubs
Marché Gourmand (Gourmet Market)
The Marché Gourmand (Square de la Montagne Verte) is the place to go to eat Christmas food like raclette, tartiflette, and soups. This Market is covered by a roof, and there are high tables where you can eat while standing up.
The Marché Gourmand is the place with larger opening times.
Christmas Markets
All the Christmas Markets in Colmar have food stalls, perfect for a quick eat on the go. You can also find different kinds of drinks like mulled wine, local beers, hot chocolate, and coffee and tea.
Pause Gourmande (Gourmet Break)
Do you need a gourmet break from the cold in the afternoon? Head to Jadis et Gourmande (8 Place du Marché aux Fruits) for its delicious and generous homemade tarts and mulled wine and cozy atmosphere!
Visit Other Christmas Markets Near Colmar
During your stay in Colmar, you can also explore the other Christmas Markets in Alsace on day trips from Colmar.
Out of the Colmar train station, Christmas bus shuttles are set up between several towns (Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Turkkeim, Munster, Neuf-Brisach, and Eguisheim). There are several bus stops in Colmar, but usually, the bus fills up at the train station’s bus stop.
I found it very convenient to buy the tickets for the Christmas bus shuttle online (15€ for the full day). Like this, I could skip the line to buy the tickets on-site, and focus on trying to jump on the first bus. Unfortunately, you cannot book your seat, and the “first arrived, first served” thing does not always work in Colmar.
There are five bus lines (click here for bus times), which cover the following towns:
- line 1 : Colmar • Kaysersberg • Riquewihr • Ribeauvillé (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- line 2 : Colmar • Ribeauvillé • Riquewihr • Kaysersberg (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- line 3 : Colmar • Eguisheim (Monday to Sunday)
- line 4 : Colmar • Turckheim • Munster (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- line 5 : Colmar • Neuf-Brisach (Friday 9/12 and Saturday 10/12)
I don’t recommend traveling to Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé on Fridays. On Fridays, the Ribeauvillé Christmas Market does not work, and the Kaysersberg Christmas Market works at half speed, so it is very disappointing.
Check out our quick guides to the best Christmas Markets in Alsace:
- Colmar Christmas Market
- Riquewihr Christmas Market
- Eguisheim Christmas Market
- Kaysersberg Christmas Market
- Ribeauvillé Christmas Market
If, after visiting the Colmar Christmas Market, you wish to continue with the Strasbourg Christmas Market, you have hourly trains from Colmar to Strasbourg and vice-versa. Count on it taking 30 minutes – Click here to book your train from Colmar to Strasbourg
So there you have it, our quick guide to the Colmar Christmas Market 2023 with everything you need to know for a fun trip to Colmar at Christmas time