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Colmar looks like it was built for Christmas: half-timbered houses in pastel colours, flower-box balconies strung with lights and a canal quarter known as Little Venice. The town is small enough to cover on foot in a day, yet it has six separate Christmas markets, each with its own character, from a historic square at the foot of a Gothic church to a children’s market beside the river and a gourmet market under a Ferris wheel. Here’s a practical guide to where to go in 2026, with confirmed dates, opening hours, what to eat and how to avoid the crowds.
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At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2026 dates | 23 November – 29 December 2026; the Gourmet Market and Place Rapp run until 3 January 2027 |
| Hours | Monday–Thursday 11:00–19:00, Friday–Sunday 10:00–20:00, 24 December 11:00–17:00; the Gourmet Market is daily 11:00–22:00 |
| Size | Six markets, all within walking distance of each other |
| Best for first-timers | Place des Dominicains and Place de l’Ancienne Douane |
| Best for crafts | The indoor Artisans’ Market at the Koïfhus |
| Best for families | Petite Venise, the children’s market beside the river |
| Best for food | The Gourmet Market on Rue de la Montagne Verte |
| Entry | Free to enter; you pay only for food, drink and shopping |
Place des Dominicains
This is the historic heart of the Colmar Christmas markets. About 60 chalets stand in front of the 13th-century Dominican church, selling a wide range of gifts, decorations and festive food. The church’s medieval stained-glass windows light up at nightfall, which makes this square especially atmospheric after dark.
It’s the largest of the markets and one of the busiest, so it’s best visited on a weekday or early in the day.
Place de l’Ancienne Douane
The second of the two main markets sits around the Schwendi Fountain and extends along the river, with about 50 chalets selling traditional crafts, handmade gifts and local food. The former customs house (the Koïfhus) is lit up in the evening, so the square is pretty at night as well as in daylight.
It’s a short walk from Place des Dominicains, so most visitors do the two together.
Colmar: Christmas Village Quest with Book & Surprise — a self-guided, 2.5-hour quest through the town with a quest book and a festive surprise, a fun option if you like a trail to follow between the markets.
Koïfhus Artisans’ Market
The Koïfhus, the old customs house, hosts an indoor artisans’ market with around 20 local makers, including ceramists, glassblowers and woodcarvers. Being indoors makes it a good place to warm up, and it’s the best market for something handmade rather than mass-produced. The building’s Renaissance staircase is illuminated after dark.
Place Jeanne d’Arc
Set out like a traditional Alsatian village, this market is the one for local products: foie gras, charcuterie, cheeses, jams, gingerbread and Alsatian wines. It’s a good stop if you’re shopping for edible gifts to take home.
Petite Venise
The children’s market is set beside the River Lauch in the Little Venice quarter, with about 43 colourful cottages, a nativity scene, a traditional merry-go-round and a giant letterbox for Christmas wishes. It’s the most family-friendly of the six, and the canal setting makes it one of the prettiest.
Floating children’s choirs perform on illuminated boats on some evenings, mostly Wednesdays and Saturdays around 17:00, weather permitting. The side streets between Little Venice and the old tanners’ quarter are quieter than the main squares.
Colmar: Unusual Walking Tour with a Local Guide — a 2-hour walk with a local guide through the old town, taking in Petite Venise and the quieter corners beyond the markets.
Gourmet Market & Place Rapp
The Gourmet Market on Rue de la Montagne Verte has nine chalets, each run by a chef, with local dishes and Alsatian wines. It runs later in the evening than the other markets, daily until 22:00, and stays open until 3 January, so it’s the best choice if you’re visiting after Christmas. On 31 December it closes at 17:00.
Next to it, Place Rapp has an open-air ice rink, a Ferris wheel overlooking the illuminated rooftops and a carousel bar, and it runs to the same date.
What to Eat & Drink
Colmar’s food is Alsatian, so the menu at the stalls overlaps with Strasbourg’s. Look out for these:
- Vin chaud: mulled wine, served in reusable cups at the stalls.
- Tarte flambée: the thin, crisp Alsatian “pizza” topped with cream, onions and bacon.
- Bredele: small Alsatian Christmas biscuits, sold at many stalls and an easy souvenir.
- Gingerbread and local foie gras, cheese and charcuterie: especially at Place Jeanne d’Arc.
- Chef-cooked dishes and Alsatian wines: at the Gourmet Market.
Good to know: Stall prices aren’t published in advance, so check the boards before you order, and ask what a portion costs before you commit to the more expensive dishes.
Colmar tour with GetYourGuide — check dates, prices and availability for this Colmar tour.
Getting There & Planning Your Visit
Colmar is easy to reach by train: Strasbourg is about 30 to 35 minutes away and Mulhouse about 20 minutes, with direct regional trains also from Basel and Sélestat. If you’re staying in Strasbourg, Colmar makes a good day trip, and our Strasbourg Christmas market guide covers the other end of the route.
Some practical tips:
- Go on a weekday. Monday to Thursday is much quieter than Friday to Sunday, and early in the season (23–26 November) is calmer than December weekends.
- Start early or stay late. Mornings and the evenings after the markets close are the quietest times.
- Leave the car behind. The centre is reported to be closed to cars during market hours, and parking is very limited at weekends. Use the train, or the park-and-ride with a shuttle (one guide quotes €3 a day, so check the current price).
- Try the village shuttles. A Christmas shuttle to nearby villages such as Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr runs from late November to 20 December, and tickets are sold online. Check the official schedule before you plan, since most lines run only at weekends.
- Dress for damp cold. December in Alsace is cold, so wear layers and shoes you can walk in on cobbles.
Where to Stay
The old town is the best base: the markets are all within a few minutes’ walk, and you avoid the trip back at night. Colmar is small and popular, so hotels in the centre fill early for the Christmas season. Book as far ahead as you can. If the centre is full, look at Strasbourg or Mulhouse and use the train. The map below shows stays near the markets.
Colmar
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Colmar Christmas market open in 2026?
The Colmar Christmas markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026. The Gourmet Market and Place Rapp stay open until 3 January 2027.
Is the Colmar Christmas market free to enter?
Yes. All of the markets are free to enter. You only pay for food, drink and anything you buy.
How many Christmas markets are there in Colmar?
There are six: Place des Dominicains, Place de l’Ancienne Douane, the indoor Artisans’ Market at the Koïfhus, Place Jeanne d’Arc, the children’s market at Petite Venise and the Gourmet Market on Rue de la Montagne Verte.
What are the opening hours?
The markets are open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 19:00 and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00, with shorter hours on 24 December (11:00 to 17:00). The Gourmet Market is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00.
When is the best time to visit to avoid crowds?
Weekdays are much quieter than weekends, and early in the season (23 to 26 November) is calmer than December weekends. Mornings and evenings after the markets close are the quietest times of day.
How far is Colmar from Strasbourg?
Colmar is about 30 to 35 minutes from Strasbourg by train, so it works well as a day trip or as a second stop on an Alsace Christmas market trip.
Route & Stay is reader-supported. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Dates and prices are as published at the time of writing — always check the official Colmar Christmas market site before planning travel. This guide is part of our larger Christmas Market Dates in Europe series.