What Is the Colmar Christmas Market?
In the heart of Alsace, France, the Colmar Christmas Market is a picture-perfect destination for anyone seeking a holiday getaway. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already heard of the Christmas markets in Strasbourg. So how do they differ? Strasbourg is known for being the “Capital of Christmas” with its grandeur. In fact, it’s nearly triple in size compared to Colmar. Colmar on the other hand, is smaller and more intimate, characterized by its picturesque half-timbered houses. It’s often considered more romantic and idyllic.
Visitors can explore a myriad of stalls offering exquisite handmade crafts, regional delicacies, and delightful ornaments. We actually thought there was more variety in the products compared to Strasbourg. Whichever market you pick — or if you’re like us and decide to pick both — a visit here promises an unforgettable and truly magical Christmas experience.
When Does the Colmar Christmas Market Officially Start?
For 2023, the Christmas market starts on November 23rd and ends on December 29th. You can find more information on their official site.
How to Get to the Colmar Christmas Market
Getting from Paris to Colmar is easy. The most popular choice is taking the high-speed TGV train. Booking your TGV tickets in advance is advisable, especially as tickets become expensive as the Christmas holiday approaches. We’d recommend booking tickets as early as September. The journey typically takes around 2 1/2 hours.
While there is an option to take a bus to travel to Strasbourg, the buses to Colmar take a few extra hours, turning a 7 hour ride into 10 or sometimes even 11 hours depending how many stops the bus makes. To make the most of your time, we don’t recommend taking a bus.
If you are doing both Strasbourg and Colmar, you can use the local TER trains to go between both cities. The entire ride takes about 30 minutes. Additionally, if you are trying to reach the other Christmas markets scattered in the area, there is a shuttle bus that costs 15e a day Fri-Sun. The shuttle is available from November 24 – Dec 17th.
What to See
There are 6 different Christmas markets spread out across Colmar. To be honest, the whole town basically feels like one huge Christmas market, so it’s hard to differentiate between them. All the markets are very close together so it is easy to see them all within a day. Below are our highlights of the markets:
Place Jeanne d’Arc
The Christmas market at Place Jean d’Arc in Colmar is extremely charming and festive, and in my opinion, has the most decorated stalls out of all the markets we visited. It’s one of the smaller markets in Colmar, but that doesn’t make it any less memorable. Nestled in the heart of the town, it offers a delightful array of stalls adorned with seasonal decorations and lights. Visitors can savor local treats, shop for unique gifts, and enjoy the enchanting atmosphere in this picturesque corner of Colmar.
Koifhus Indoor Market
When seeking warmth and unique gifts, explore Colmar’s indoor Koifhus Market. This market out of all the markets in the 4 towns we visited (Strasbourg, Colmar, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé) was by far our favorite. Local artisans offer handmade jewelry, ornaments, and more. This market exudes a local, artisanal charm, making it a fantastic choice for distinctive, non-touristy finds. Our favorite stall was a woman who specialized in gingerbread houses. You can see from the photos above just how intricate her craft was!
Petite Venise
Petite Venise is a charming district known as “Little Venice.” This picturesque quarter features canals and colorful half-timbered houses which make the perfect seasonal backdrop for the Colmar Christmas market. Ideal for photographers and romantics, it offers boat rides and a range of quaint cafes and shops, embodying the romantic and historic allure of Alsace.
What to Eat
I sadly did not take photos of everything I ate, so a few items are missing here. With how busy it is, it can be hard to snag a photo – let alone actually eat your food.
Below is a list with descriptions of our favorite eats in our Alsace Christmas market tour. You can get any of these in pretty much any Christmas market in the region.
- Flammekueche/Tarte Flambée (pizza of the Alsace region, it’s a thin dough base cooked with fresh cream, white cheese, onions, and little pieces of bacon)
- Bretzel (sweet or salty pretzels, you will see many variations of them as you explore the markets)
- Choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with sausage)
- Spätzle ( Alsacien pasta, the difference between this and other pastas is that spaetzle is created with a more liquid dough. The texture is crunchy on the outside and a little soft on the inside. They can be served with cheese, butter, bacon,
- Munster cheese (soft cheese with a subtle taste, made mainly from milk first produced in the Vosges, between the Alsace-Lorraine and Franche-Comté regions in France. You can find this topped on just about anything in the markets – we had a munster spätzle that was delicious)
- Vin chaud (mulled wine)
- Gingerbread (pain d’épices – literally, spice bread. Not the same gingerbread as the US, the gingerbread in France is soft and darker in color, while American gingerbread is lighter and crunchier)
- Mannele (brioche bread baked in the form of a human man with chocolate chips)
