The Christmas market in Colmar is my favorite Christmas market in Alsace. It has already won the title of best Christmas market in Europe!
I was dazzled by the beauty of the city in its Christmas clothes the first time I went there and continue to be amazed every year. It must be said that Colmar is a beautiful city in any season: colorful half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, small canals crossing the city … a real postcard that the magical Christmas lights embellish even more, especially at nightfall!
As the end of November approaches, it is also adorned with beautiful decorations and illuminations. The whole city center is in celebration during the Advent period and the atmosphere becomes simply magical when the chalets housing the Christmas market stores open their doors and the smell of gingerbread, Christmas bredalas and mulled wine fills the city… In addition, there are generally quality products.
The Christmas market in Colmar is very successful. If you can, I advise you to come during the week. Friday to Sunday are very busy, but the week is much quieter and you will enjoy it much more.
When does the Colmar 2023 Christmas Market start and what are the opening dates?
The Colmar Christmas Market opens on November 23, 2023 and runs until December 29, 2023.
The market runs Monday to Thursday, 11am to 7pm, and Friday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm. On December 24, it runs from 10am to 5pm, and on December 25 and 26 from 11am to 7pm.
The gourmet market on rue de la montagne verte is open from 11am to 10pm every day.
What is the most beautiful Christmas market in Alsace?
It’s hard to answer this question because we are lucky enough to have beautiful markets, but to tell you the truth, my favorite Christmas market in Alsace is the one in Colmar!
Which Christmas market to do in Colmar ?
Colmar has six different Christmas markets. I reassure you, you can easily walk from one market to another and you can do them all in one day! Here are the different places of the markets and their specificities:
- Market of the Place des Dominicains
- Christmas market at the Old Customs House Square, around the Schwendi fountain
- Indoor market of the KoĂŻfhus (Place de l’Ancienne Douane but inside the building), dedicated to the art crafts of the region (master glassmakers, painters, woodcarvers…)
- Christmas market in Little Venice (place des Six Montagnes Noires), especially dedicated to children (but not only!). For example, there are rides, some animals (sheep, rabbits and chickens) and Santa’s mailbox.
- Christmas market on Place Jeanne d’Arc, rather dedicated to gastronomy.
- Gourmet market, place de la Cathédrale, at the foot of the beautiful collegiate church of Colmar, to fill up on Alsatian specialties
In addition to these six markets, the Rapp square hosts several animations such as an ice rink, a merry-go-round for children (a caterpillar) or a carousel-bar (for those who want to have a drink in a carousel!).
Christmas decorations and illuminations
Beyond the Christmas markets, it is the whole warm atmosphere of the city that you can enjoy during a visit to Colmar during the end of year celebrations. The illuminations and decorations of the city are incredible: look up and admire every detail of the decorations on the facades and windows of the houses, observe the richly decorated Christmas trees, the decorative elements of the different Christmas villages and the famous rue des Tanneurs… It’s magical!
My guide to Colmar
Plan an unforgettable stay in Colmar without wasting time looking for information with my guidebook : the most beautiful places, the activities not to be missed and the best addresses!
Weekend at the Colmar Christmas market – Not to be missed
For adults
- The carousel-bar, to have a drink in an unusual place
- The exhibition of about twenty works of art by craftsmen from Alsace at the Dominican Church (entrance fee 1€, it is worth it especially since the church itself is already superb)
For children and adults
- The skating rink, where you can have fun at a very low price.
- Children sing Christmas carols on the boats: a children’s choir sings on the famous flat-bottomed boats of Little Venice. Magical!
Christmas magic for children
- The caterpillar of the place Rapp
- The small exhibition of the Toy Museum on the 1st floor of the Koifhus
- The Little Venice Christmas market with its rides and its giant Santa Claus mailbox. All the children who have posted a letter will receive a reply and those drawn will even receive a gift!
My good addresses for Christmas in Colmar
The best mulled wines of the Colmar Christmas market
I might as well tell you right now, I haven’t tested them all. But after a poll among my friends in Colmar and a proper test on my part, the winners are
- White wine: Alex’s, at the children’s Christmas market (the gingerbread and hot apple juice is excellent too!)
- Red wine: Domaine Martin Jund, place Jeanne d’Arc (organic and from Colmar!)
Want a kugel for breakfast the next day?
Meet us at the L’EnfarinĂ© stand at Colmar’s covered market.
Need a warm break?
The Christmas market in Colmar is big and you might need some warm breaks to avoid getting cold or having to cut your visit short. I propose you here my good addresses of tea rooms in Colmar, perfect to drink a good tea or a hot chocolate and start again on the right foot!
Looking for a hotel in Colmar in December?
You will find here the list of my favorite hotels in Colmar. Be careful, think to book your accommodation early, Colmar is very popular during the Christmas period!
Looking for a restaurant?
Many restaurants do not take reservations during the Christmas markets. It is better to try to shift your meal times a little if you want to be sure to eat at the address you have found, which is not always easy on weekends… During the week, it’s much easier. Find here the list of my favorite restaurants in Colmar.
Parking: where to park?
Ideally, it is better to use public transport to come to Colmar. If you come by car, it is best to park in one of the Park & Ride lots located at the Exhibition Center or at the train station: shuttles will take you to the city center for free. There are also other paid parking lots, but these are not necessarily easy to access during the Christmas market period. You will find all the practical information here.
I liked
- Colmar, already beautiful in normal times, is sublimated by the lights and decorations of the Christmas market
- Nice size: lots to see but not too big either!
- Lots of nice objects and specialties to look at, taste or buy!
I liked less
- Lots of people on weekends (too many)
Practical information
Dates and plan
You will find here all the practical information about the Christmas market of Colmar (schedules, map, parking, agenda…)
Access
By car
The Christmas market is located in the city center of Colmar. Colmar is located in:
- 45 km from Mulhouse (about 40 minutes)
- 75 km from Strasbourg (about 1 hour)
By public transport
The center of Colmar can be reached in 10/15 minutes on foot from the station. You can look at your itinerary on Fluo but also consult the Navettes de Noël website, shuttles set up between several towns around Colmar (Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé and Eguisheim).
Hungry?
If you are hungry, you will find a lot of things to taste at the different Christmas markets. Otherwise, here are my good addresses of restaurants in Colmar.
Want to discover other Christmas markets? Here is the list of my favorite Christmas markets in Alsace!
hi! i am thinking of a visit to Colmar around December 26-29, 2019. Would the shops be open then or would it be a “dead” town? would 2 nights be sufficient or 3 nights be better to explore everything in Colmar?
Hi! Christmas markets are until the 29th so the town won’t be dead at all 🙂 There might be less shops opened on th e26th because it’s a public holiday here in Alsace but the Christmas market will be open. 2 nights is sufficient but you also have very nice villages around Colmar that I would recommend you to explore, so can be nice to have at least two fulls days (one for Colmar and one for the villages). Enjoy! 🙂
Do the Christmas Market shops take Apple Pay?
It depends on the shops, so better have some cash with you 🙂