Explore Colmar: France’s Fairytale Town in the Heart of Alsace

Glide along the Lauch River through La Petite Venise, Colmar's most photographed district, where pastel half-timbered houses lean over flower-decked canals. Take a traditional flat-bottomed boat ride, cross the storybook bridges, and pause at the Fishmonger's Quay (Quai de la Poissonnerie) for the city's most iconic views.

Wander the Old Town's cobbled lanes to discover Colmar's extraordinary architecture, from the Renaissance Maison Pfister and the medieval Koïfhus (Old Customs House) to the colourful Tanners' District and the soaring Collegiate Church of Saint Martin. Every corner reveals a postcard-perfect Alsatian façade.

Colmar punches well above its size for art and culture. The Unterlinden Museum, set in a 13th-century Dominican convent, is home to the world-famous Isenheim Altarpiece, while the Bartholdi Museum celebrates the local sculptor behind the Statue of Liberty with models, sketches, and personal belongings.

Taste your way through Alsace at Colmar's covered market and traditional winstubs. Try choucroute garnie, tarte flambée, and sweet kougelhopf, then sample crisp Riesling and aromatic Gewürztraminer from the surrounding vineyards. The Marché Couvert is the perfect place to graze on local cheeses, charcuterie, and pastries.

From late November to December, Colmar transforms into one of Europe's most magical Christmas destinations, with several themed markets spread across the illuminated Old Town. Browse handcrafted gifts and Alsatian decorations, warm up with mulled wine and bredele cookies, and soak up the fairytale festive atmosphere.

Colmar's most picturesque quarter follows the Lauch River, where half-timbered houses in soft pastel shades line the water. Take a boat ride, cross the flower-laden bridges, and photograph the famous Fishmonger's Quay. This is the postcard image of Colmar and the heart of any visit.

Just a short stroll from Little Venice, the Tanners' District is one of Colmar's most charming corners. Its tall, narrow timber-framed houses, restored in the 1970s, once belonged to leather tanners who used the airy top floors to dry their hides. Today it's a tranquil, beautifully preserved photo spot.

The historic core around the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin is a maze of cobbled streets, Renaissance mansions, and flower-filled squares. Home to landmarks like Maison Pfister and the Maison des Têtes, the Old Town is endlessly walkable and packed with cafés, boutiques, and Alsatian charm.

One of Colmar's loveliest squares, the Place de l'Ancienne Douane is anchored by the 15th-century Koïfhus (Old Customs House), once the commercial heart of the city. Surrounded by colourful façades and the Bartholdi-designed Schwendi Fountain, it hosts lively markets and is a natural place to pause.

Colmar's former market-gardeners' quarter sits alongside the canals near Little Venice. Once home to the families who grew produce and ferried it to market by boat, Krutenau retains a quiet, authentic feel with characterful houses, small bridges, and easy access to the waterside walks.

The 19th-century covered market by the Lauch is a foodie favourite. Its red-brick hall is packed with stalls selling fresh produce, Alsatian cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, and local wines. Grab a bite, sample regional specialities, and watch Colmar's daily life unfold around the canal-side terrace.

We recommend: Old Town Highlights

We recommend: City + Wine Route

We recommend: Wine Villages Tour

We recommend: Festive Markets Itinerary

We recommend: Alsatian Food & Wine Trail

Just a few kilometres from Colmar, Eguisheim is regularly voted one of the most beautiful villages in France. Wander its concentric circular streets lined with vibrantly painted half-timbered houses, surrounded by rolling vineyards perfect for a wine tasting.

Encircled by 16th-century ramparts and surrounded by vineyards, Riquewihr looks frozen in time. Its remarkably preserved medieval streets, fortified gates, and colourful houses make it one of the highlights of the Alsace Wine Route.

Once named France's favourite village, Kaysersberg charms visitors with its fortified bridge, ruined hilltop castle, and flower-decked lanes. Set among vineyards, it's a relaxed, scenic stop with excellent wineries and a lovely Christmas market in winter.

Nestled beneath three medieval castles, Ribeauvillé is a picturesque wine town famous for its Riesling and its lively festivals. Stroll the main street past timbered houses and old fountains, then taste at one of the village's renowned domaines.

Perched dramatically on a hilltop above the Alsace plain, this restored medieval fortress offers ramparts, towers, and sweeping views over the vineyards toward the Black Forest and Alps. One of France's most visited castles and an easy half-day trip from Colmar.

Just 30 minutes by train, the Alsatian capital pairs grand boulevards with a fairytale old town. Visit the soaring Gothic cathedral, wander the canals of La Petite France, and explore the European institutions in a city that blends French and German heritage.