With just one day in Colmar, you can glide along its canals, wander streets that look lifted from a storybook and feast on Alsace specialities.
This pocket-sized town in eastern France looks so much like a fairy tale village that many believe it inspired Belle’s hometown in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Picture this: cobbled streets, pastel houses with timber frames, window boxes overflowing with geraniums, and canals reflecting it all back at you.
It’s one of my favourite solo destinations in France.
I spent four nights here during a solo trip through Alsace, which gave me time to work out the best way to see Colmar in a day. Whether you’re on a day trip from Strasbourg or staying overnight, this tried and tested itinerary and self-guided walking tour will help you experience the best of this exceptionally pretty town
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What You’ll Find in This Guide:
- A self-guided walking tour (under 1km)
- Where to eat lunch and dinner
- Afternoon activities, including a canal cruise
- Practical tips on getting there and getting around
Morning: Self-Guided Walking Tour
Start early. By 9 am the tour groups arrive, and the magic diminishes slightly when you’re jostling for space.
This walking route covers less than 1km and takes you through Colmar’s most photogenic spots. I’ve created a Google Maps walking tour with step-by-step directions you can follow on your phone.
Look for the Lady Liberty plaques set into the pavement. These mark the walking route and nod to Colmar’s most famous son, sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty.
La Petite Venise (Little Venice or Petite Venice)
La Petite Venise translates to Little Venice, named for the canals of the River Launch that slice through this quarter. This is Colmar at peak prettiness
Start on Rue Turenne, then turn onto Quai de la Poissonnerie. This was the Fishmongers’ Quarter, where fishermen and boatmen lived and worked. Those kaleidoscope colours? They’re thanks to restoration work done between 1979 and 1981.
For the best photos, position yourself on the bridge at Rue des Ecoles. Early morning light is your friend here.
The Tanners’ Quarter & Place de l’Ancienne Douane
Follow the canals to Rue des Tanneurs, where leather tanners lived and worked from the 17th century onwards. The tall, narrow houses with their multiple floors were designed for the tanning trade: hides were dried in the open attics.
Walk back to Place de l’Ancienne Douane, where you’ll find the Old Customs House (Koïfhus) dating from 1480. This square hosts one of Colmar’s Christmas markets in December.
The Pfister House (Maison Pfister)
Turn down Rue des Marchands and cross Grand Rue to the Pfister House. Built in 1537 from soft Vosges sandstone, it’s one of Colmar’s architectural stars.
Look closely at the mural paintings showing biblical and secular scenes. The wooden oriel window features medallions depicting Roman emperors. A local hat merchant named Ludwig Scherer originally built the house, though it takes its name from the Pfister family, who restored it in the 1840s.
Lunch: Marché Couvert
By noon, you’ll have worked up an appetite. Head to the 14th-century Marché Couvert (Covered Market) with entrances on Rue des Vignerons and Rue des Écoles.
My recommendation: Légumez-Moi in the centre of the market does excellent gratins. Pair one with a glass of local Riesling. The service is quick and friendly, and you’ll spend around €15-20 for lunch.
If Légumez-Moi is full, browse the market stalls for regional cheeses, charcuterie and fresh bread to assemble your own picnic.
Afternoon: Canals, Churches & History
Canal Cruise (25 minutes)
After lunch, take a cruise along Colmar’s canals. Boats leave from the bottom of Pont Saint-Pierre, next to Caveau Saint-Pierre restaurant. Access is via Rue de la Herse or Boulevard St Pierre.
The 25-minute cruise costs €9 (2026 price) and takes you through the medieval quarter before heading into a greener, residential area. The commentary covers Colmar’s history and architecture.
Duck your head when going under the stone bridges.
Dominican Church
The Dominican Church dates mainly from the 14th century. Inside, you’ll find sublime stained glass windows, but the star attraction is Martin Schongauer’s masterpiece, Madonna of the Rose Bush (1473). The delicate painting shows Mary holding the infant Jesus, surrounded by a rose bush in full bloom.
The church is on Place des Dominicains. A small entrance fee applies.
Saint Martin’s Church
A two-minute walk along Rue des Serruriers brings you to Saint Martin’s Church. Built between 1234 and 1365 from local pink limestone, locals sometimes call it a cathedral (it held that status briefly during the French Revolution).
The 71-metre tower has a distinctive lantern shape. Inside, note the extravagant Baroque organ. Outside, two troubling features remain: anti-Semitic images called Judensäue, a testament to the difficult history of Jews in Alsace.
Admission is free.
House of Heads (optional)
If you have energy left, detour to the House of Heads. This 17th-century German Renaissance building takes its name from the 106 carved heads adorning its façade. Built for shopkeeper Anton Burger, it’s on Rue des Têtes.
Evening: Tarte Flambée & Alsace Wine
My favourite Colmar meal was at Le Soi (17 Rue des Marchands).
They only serve one dish – Tarte Flambée – but, boy oh boy, they do it well! This is essentially Alsace pizza, wafer-thin flatbread topped with cream, ham and cheese, crisped in a wood oven.
I sat at the counter chatting to other diners, and the owners let me polish off a bottle of excellent Alsace Pinot Noir.
Alsace wines deserve more attention than they get. This region produces mainly whites: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. All pair beautifully with the local food.
Reserve ahead. Even in September, when I visited, Colmar’s restaurants were busy. In peak season, getting a table without a reservation is difficult.
Other Alsace Dishes to Try
Alsatian Food is a perfect marriage of French and German cuisine. Here are a few other dishes that you can expect to find on the menus of Colmar’s restaurants:
- Choucroute Garnie: Wine-braised sauerkraut with cured pork and sausages, flavoured with juniper berries
- Bæckeoffe: Slow-cooked casserole of potato, onions, mutton, beef and pork
Practical Information
When to visit
Best months: Spring (April-May) or Autumn (September-October). I visited in September and found it busy but manageable. The weather was warm and sunny.
Quietest months: January-February and early to mid-November.
Peak season: Christmas markets (late November-December), Colmar International Festival (early July), and the Alsace Wine Fair (late July/early August).
Getting there
Colmar is in eastern France, 40 miles southwest of Strasbourg and 235 miles from Paris. The train station is a 15-minute walk from the old town.
- Paris, France: 2 hours 17 minutes
- Strasbourg, France: 32 minutes
- Basel, Switzerland: 45 minutes
- Zurich, Switzerland: 2 hours
- Luxembourg, Luxembourg: 2 hours 30 minutes
The nearest international airports are Strasbourg and Basel (equidistant).
Getting around
As Colmar’s historic centre is compact and pedestrianised, walking is your best option. You don’t need transport once you’re here.
Where to stay
Mid-range apartment: I enjoyed my stay at My Sweet Homes Appartements avec SPA. It was comfortable, well-equipped and centrally located.
Boutique hotel: James Boutique Hotel gets superb reviews.
Budget option: Ibis Budget Colmar Centre Gare is a 15-minute walk from both the station and centre.
My tip: Stay at least one night. The streets empty after the day-trippers leave, and you can enjoy dinner at leisure. Colmar takes on a different character in the evening
Day Trip from Strasbourg?
Colmar works well as a day trip from Strasbourg (32 minutes by train). If you’re day-tripping:
- Start as early as possible (aim to arrive by 9 am)
- Focus on wandering the streets
- Book your return train before you go (trains can get busy)
However, I recommend staying overnight if you can. The town transforms once the crowds leave.
Final Thoughts
Colmar delivers on the fairy tale promise. Around every corner, there’s another impossibly pretty street, another perfectly positioned window box, another canal reflecting the pastel houses.
The town sits on the Alsace Wine Route, making it an excellent base for exploring the region. You could combine it with visiting Strasbourg, just 32 minutes away, or include it in a broader trip through Germany and Switzerland.
Better still, include it in a broader trip to Germany and Switzerland. Colmar was the final stop of my Interrail train itinerary from London. This started in the lovely Swiss capital of Bern and the Bernese Oberland, before taking the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt and exploring the Locarno region.
However you choose to visit, Colmar won’t disappoint.
Happy travels!
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.
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