This list of the essential places to visit in Colmar will help you not to miss anything in the most beautiful city in the world to celebrate Christmas.
Located in the Alsace region of north-eastern France, this city falls in love with its colorful façade and half-timbered houses in the old town. Besides, at Christmas, Colmar is full of markets and all the streets are decorated with lights and Christmas motifs that will make you feel like in a fairy tale.
The disadvantage of traveling on very specific dates such as the December long weekend or during the weekends is the large number of people who are concentrated throughout the historic center, something that somewhat makes it difficult to walk through its streets at certain times of the day.
It is for this reason that we recommend, whenever possible, to travel at the end of November, when all the Christmas markets are already set up or during the week.
1. La Petite Venise
La Petite Venise or Little Venice is a neighborhood of colorful houses on the banks of the Launch River, which has become one of the most essential places to visit in Colmar.
In this picturesque area, you will find beautiful traditional Alsatian half-timbered houses and flowers on the balconies, which belonged to the bourgeoisie of artisans and merchants who had made their fortunes with their businesses and we are sure, you will fall in love at first sight.
On the bridges of Rue des Tanneurs and Rue des Écoles, you can take photos of Quai de la Poissonnerie street that will fill your Instagram account with likes and also take a little boat ride through the canals.
2. Rue des Marchands
Another of the best things to do in Colmar is a stroll down Rue des Marchands, the most famous and photogenic street in the city.
This street is surrounded by traditional Alsatian houses, including the Pfister House, the Schongauer House, the Weinhof House, and the Bartholdi Museum, where the creator of the New York Statue of Liberty was born.
After going all the way down the street and entering some of the most charming shops, you will come to a junction with Gran Rue where you can take a fantastic postcard photo.
Another of the prettiest streets to see in Colmar at Christmas is the Petite Rue des Tanneurs, a narrow street surrounded by traditional three-story half-timbered houses from the 17th and 18th centuries.
3. Christmas Markets
Colmar is one of the best cities to travel to at Christmas as it has several Christmas markets located among the most beautiful in Europe.
Another of the best things to do in Colmar is to stroll through these markets that are usually held from November 22 to the end of December and enjoy the spectacular Christmas atmosphere that is formed. In the wooden stalls, you will find all kinds of items, perfect for decorating the house during these dates, food stalls, and others that serve mulled wine, which will make your walk much more pleasant and less cold.
Among the places in the city where markets are set up are: Place des Dominicains, Place l’Ancienne Douane, Petite Venise, around the Koïfhus building and Place de la Cathédrale.
If you want to take refuge from the cold, you have the Marché Couver, a covered market (open all year round) where you can have tapas accompanied by a glass of Alsace wine or buy some typical food product of the region.
4. Pfister House
The Pfister House, built-in 1537, is another of the best examples of Renaissance architecture to see in Colmar.
Located at 11 Rue des Marchands, it is one of the most beautiful houses in the city, having a two-story facade with wooden galleries and several religious murals.
You can enter the interior by taking a guided tour every day from 10 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon.
5. Unterlinden Museum
The Unterlinden Museum, located in a former 13th-century Dominican nunnery, is the most important museum to visit in Colmar.
This museum, among the best in France, has as its great jewel the 16th-century Isenheim Altarpiece, the work of Matthias Grünewald. In addition to other masterpieces by this German Renaissance painter, the museum has important pieces from the 15th and 16th centuries by German, Alsatian and Swiss painters.
