Want to know how to spend one day in Colmar?
Colmar is one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. It’s famous for it’s half-timbered houses, canals and delicious Alsatian food and wine.
We didn’t know much about Colmar before we visited, but it kept popping up as somewhere we should visit. So, while we were visiting Germany’s Black Forest, we took a quick trip over the border to spend a day in Colmar.
What we found was a compact town, easy enough to walk around and explore in one day. What we didn’t expect is how we would fall in love with this pretty town. It really is just like walking into a fairytale.
In this post we’ll take you on a walking tour through Colmar. We’ll share practical tips on the best things to do in Colmar, where to stay and eat, and where to park, especially if you’re visiting Colmar by campervan like we did.
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Things to see Colmar in one day
The centre of Colmar is compact and perfect for walking. Follow our one-day Colmar itinerary to see all the highlights.
Place des Unterlinden
Begin your day in Colmar at the Place des Unterlinden. This spacious square is on the north side of the town, and is dominated by the Unterlinden Museum.
This museum is housed in a 13th century Dominican convent, and features a collection of medieval, renaissance, and modern art. The most famous piece here is the Isenheim Altarpiece, a 16th century masterpiece.
If you’re not really into museums, skip this, but don’t skip the Little Red Riding Hood house, complete with the Big Bad Wolf. This was one of the first sights we saw in the town, really making us feel like we were in a fairytale! This provides a fun photo opportunity – especially if you have kids (or if you’re a big kid!)
If you’d like to get your bearings before wandering through the town, the small tourist train leaves from nearby. The train ride takes around 40 minutes and passes most of the best things to see in Colmar. There is recorded commentary in many languages. When we visited in June 2026 the train cost €8.
You could also do a guided walking tour and get a lot of background information on what you’re seeing.
House of Heads (Maison des Têtes)
The House of Heads was built in the 17th century for a wealthy merchant. It’s famous for the 106 face and mask sculptures that adorn the façade.
At the top of the house you’ll see a statue of The Colmar Barrel Maker. The statue was created in 1902 by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who was born in Colmar. Bartholdi is best known for designing the Statue of Liberty that sits in New York harbour.
There’s a restaurant inside the house now, but the most spectacular part is the façade anyway. Definitely worth a photo.
There’s a Bartholdi Museum dedicated to his life and works on Rue des Marchands. The museum is in the house where he was born. The highlight for many visitors is seeing the small-scale models and designs for the Statue of Liberty. You’ll get a great insight into how one of the world’s most famous monuments was conceived.
As you walk through the streets of the old town, you’ll notice little arrows with a statue of Liberty face, more homage to Bartholdi. AND, if you’re driving, you can see a replica of the Statue of Liberty in the middle of the roundabout on Avenue Gilbert Meyer and Rue Curie (near the Aerodrome).
Pfister House (Maison Pfister)
The Pfister House is considered Colmar’s best example of Renaissance architecture. The house was build in 1537 for a wealthy hatter, Ludwig Scherer. The name “Pfister” relates to the Pfister family who restored the house in the 19th century.
The house is privately owned and not open to the public. The attraction again, is the outside, with it’s turret, wooden gallery and frescoes featuring religious scenes. It’s one of the most popular and most photographed sites in Colmar.
I’m not sure I’d be so happy about people taking photos of my house if I lived there though!
St Martin’s Church (Église Saint-Martin)
St Martin’s Church is often called the Cathedral of Colmar, however there hasn’t been a bishop here since shortly after the French Revolution. The Church was built in the 13th and 14th centuries in the Gothic Style.
It’s worthwhile stepping inside (particularly if it’s a hot day) to see the stained glass windows and the impressive pipe organ. While St Martin’s Church isn’t as ornate as some European cathedrals, it’s still worth a quick visit.
Colmar Old Town
Wander the streets of the old town, and check out some of the many artisan shops. You’ll find shopkeepers outside offering cheese, charcuterie and other foods to try.
You might be surprised to hear German spoken almost as much as French here. In fact, Colmar feels as much German (especially the architecture) as French. This is because the Alsace region has swapped hands between the French and Germans so many times throughout the centuries.
Alsace was annexed by France in 1648 after the Thirty Years’ War, became part of Germany after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, returned to France after World War I in 1918, was annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II, and finally became French again in 1945. This turbulent history has left the region with a fascinating identity, even though the two countries haven’t always gotten along.
Grab lunch in one of the pavement cafes in the Old Town. One of the most famous dishes is tarte flambée (flammekueche), which is like a thin, crispy pizza. It’s usually topped with crème fraîche, onions and bacon. We had a vegetarian version which skipped the bacon and had peppers and mushrooms instead. Delicious!
Covered Market (Marché Couvert)
The Covered Market is a food hall that was built in 1865 for local market gardeners to sell their produce. It had an extensive renovation in 2010 and re-opened for independent traders to sell a range of foods, from artisan cheeses to breads, spices, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Even if you don’t eat or buy food here, it’s worth a walk through to see all the delicious food. If you didn’t stop at a café for lunch, maybe grab some provisions here and have a picnic.
Little Venice (La Petite Venise)
Little Venice is one of the top Colmar attractions, and deservedly so. With it’s colourful half-timbered houses, small bridges, and abundance of flowers, it’s easy to see why this area is the most photographed in Colmar.
But why the name Little Venice? Having visited Venice many times, we were confused why this area is called Little Venice. Throughout Colmar there are information boards explaining the story behind the buildings or places you are seeing. The boards are in French, German and English.
Little Venice was so named because many of the houses along the canals here were built to only be accessible from the water. You can even take a boat trip along the river to see more of these colourful houses.
We really loved just wandering through the little streets in this area. Little Venice is especially beautiful at sunset.
Spend the afternoon wandering through the Tanner’s district or the Fisherman’s district. Or, just relax at a pavement café and enjoy a local beer or an Alsatian wine. We saw loads of street performers in Colmar, so pick the right area and you’ll even have entertainment.
Essential Information for your trip to Colmar
How to get to Colmar
By Air
The closest airport is in Strasbourg, which receives flights from many other European cities. If you’re coming from further afield, the closest major airports are Paris or Frankfurt Germany, and you could take a high speed train from there.
By Public Transport
You can take a train or public (Flix) bus to Colmar from Strasbourg for under €20. You can check pricing and timetables on Omio.
By Car
Colmar is in Alsace, along the Rhine valley about half way between Strasboug and Basel, Switzerland. France has an extensive motorway system, and Colmar is just off the A35 motorway.
Parking in Colmar
There are several large carparks just outside the city centre. We parked our campervan in a dedicated motorhome parking spot at 16 Rue Henry Wilhelm. You can pay at the machine just on the side of the road.
Where to stay in Colmar
If you’re travelling by campervan or motorhome, there is a large Aire to the east of the old town, right on the canal. You can find it at “Onlypark Colmar” on Park4Night. The price is around €20 per night.
If you’ve arrived by car or public transport, there are plenty of hotels and guesthouses around the old town. You can check pricing and availability of accommodation in Colmar here.
Best time to visit Colmar
Colmar is worth visiting any time – we visited in late Spring so we had an abundance of flowers everywhere – gardens, in the windows, along the bridges. This explosion of colour made the town really beautiful.
I imagine it would be just as beautiful in Autumn with all the changing colours of the leaves. Summer is like much of Europe, and very crowded, particularly with package tourists arriving on coaches.
Perhaps the best time to visit Colmar is in the lead up to Christmas. From late November to the end of December Colmar is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. There are decorations all throughout the town, and several market areas set up. Christmas in Colmar is the busiest time for the town, so do make sure you book your accommodation in advance.
FAQ
Is Colmar worth visiting?
Yes. Colmar is one of the most beautiful towns in France. Its colourful medieval architecture, picturesque canals, rich history and compact size make it an excellent destination for a day trip or a stop on a road trip through the area.
Is one day in Colmar enough?
Yes. Colmar’s historic centre is compact and easy to explore on foot, making it an ideal day-trip destination. With one day, you can easily visit the Old Town, Little Venice, St Martin’s Church, the Covered Market and the town’s most famous historic buildings, with time to enjoy a leisurely lunch or a canal boat ride.
Is Colmar walkable?
Absolutely. Almost all of Colmar’s main attractions are located within the pedestrian-friendly historic centre, and you can easily walk between them in just a few minutes. Most visitors won’t need public transport once they arrive, however some may choose to ride the little train.
Can you visit Colmar in a campervan or motorhome?
Yes. Colmar is a great destination to visit in a campervan or motorhome, The Old Town is a pedestrian only zone, so the easiest option is to park at a designated motorhome area or a suitable car park and explore on foot or by bike.
We parked just outside the centre on Rue Henry Wilhelm at a small carpark with dedicated spaces for “camping cars” as they call campervans and motorhomes in France. There is a ticket machine and you can pay by the hour.
Once you’re in the centre, all of Colmar’s main attractions are within easy walking distance, making it an ideal stop on a campervan road trip through Europe.
Can you visit Colmar on a daytrip?
If you’re visiting Strasbourg, Colmar is a very easy daytrip, with plenty of train and bus connections. We visited Colmar on a day trip from the Black Forest in Germany. The drive from Freiburg was only about an hour.
Watch our Colmar Film
We visited Colmar on a Day Trip from the Black Forest, and just before we headed back to the UK to get out of Schengen Zone for 90 days. You can see our visit to Colmar in this video.
Final thoughts
If you love fairytale villages, and like the idea of exploring somewhere that’s not completely over-run with tourists, Colmar is a great place to spend a day. It definitely lived up to the hype!
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