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Festivals & Events• Grand Est
Colmar Christmas Market 2026 – Map, Dates, and Tips by a French Local
05/10/2026Colmar at Christmas Time
Colmar at Christmas is one of those rare places that actually lives up to its reputation. Six separate markets spread across a UNESCO-listed Medieval city – a setting which, unlike many famous Christmas markets, does most of the work. The half-timbered houses, the canals of Little Venice, the cobbled streets.
I visit almost every year, and what keeps me coming back is the quality of what you find here – the craftsmanship at the individual market stalls, the Alsatian food and wine that genuinely reflects where you are, and the moments worth lingering over: a glass of vin chaud at the right stall, a winstub dinner that turns into a long evening, the children’s choir drifting across the water in Little Venice.
This local’s guide to the 2026 Colmar Christmas Market, map included, gives you an honest take on what’s worth your time, where to find the best gifts, where to linger over a good meal, and the insider tips that come from visiting year after year.
Last update: October 2026
Table of Contents
- Quick Answers – Colmar Christmas Market 2026
- Colmar Christmas Market Dates 2026 and Opening Hours
- Colmar Christmas Market Map 2026 & Locations
- Colmar France Christmas Market 2026 – Things to Do
- Colmar Christmas Market – Where to Eat and Drink
- Visit Other Christmas Markets Near Colmar
- Christmas Market Colmar 2026 – Stay Overnight if You Can
- How to Get to the Christmas Market in Colmar, France
Read More
Quick Answers – Colmar Christmas Market 2026
Colmar Christmas Market Dates 2026: 23 November – 29 December
Best time to visit: November for quiet; weekdays for less crowded, blue hour for magic
Day trip or overnight? Spend at least one night on site for the full experience.
Colmar or Strasbourg Christmas Market? The Christmas Market in Strasbourg is more extensive, with more sites, chalets, and activities for all ages. Strasbourg is also better connected to other cities across Europe. Colmar, however, is more compact, and I find it more charming.
How many days do you need? 1 day covers the markets; 2 days to explore the city and do a village day trip
Book in advance: hotels (months ahead), Navettes de Noël tickets (12 November), winstub reservations
Bring cash – many stalls don’t accept cards
Stay after dark – the illuminations transform the city
Colmar Christmas Market Dates 2026 and Opening Hours
The Colmar Christmas Market 2026 dates are from 23 November to 29 December. If possible, visit in November, ideally during the week, as it is quite calm until Friday. There are always many people during the weekends, especially in December!
Elisa’s Tip: The stalls and crowds will be gone by 30 December, but you can still enjoy Colmar’s festive atmosphere, with a few events, such as Masses and the light and sound show, continuing until 3 January 2027.
Colmar Christmas Market Opening Hours 2026
Here are the Colmar Christmas Market hours for 2026:
- From Monday to Thursday, chalets and animations are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, chalets and animations are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- On 24 December, the market opens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- On 25 December, the market opens from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Gourmet Christmas Market is open from Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (no public holiday exceptions).
Elisa’s Tip: Not all stalls close at the same time on December 24. Arrive early and prioritise Petite Venise and Place de l’Ancienne Douane – these tend to have the most stalls still operating in the late morning.
Are you planning your Colmar trip last minute?
Below are some of the best Comar tours, hotels, and more!
- Book your train tickets to Comar.
Looking to travel around Colmar independently? Click here for the best rental car rates in Colmar.
Top Experiences and Tours in Colmar:
- Unusual Walking Tour with a Local Guide
- The 4 Wonders of Alsace Full-day Tour from Colmar
- Half-day Wine Tour from Colmar
- From Colmar: 3 Villages in France, Germany, and Switzerland!
Top Places to Stay in Colmar:
- Hotel Le Colombier (stay in a traditional Alsace building in the Little Venice neighborhood)
- Hotel Restaurant Le Maréchal (the cutest place to stay during the Christmas Market!)
- Colmar Hotel (next to the train station, it’s ideal for day trips from Colmar)
- Villa Elyane (an elegant villa with a garden in the center of Colmar)
Don’t leave for Colmar without travel insurance!
SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
Colmar Christmas Market Map 2026 & Locations
There are six different Christmas Markets in Colmar. They are all located in the Old Town, and you can easily walk from one Christmas Market to another. Check out my Colmar Christmas Market 2026 Map, where I have pinpointed the six locations.
- Marché de Noël – Place des Dominicains (Arts and Crafts)
- Marché de Noël – Place Jeanne d’Arc (reconstitution of a traditional Alsace village)
- Marché de Noël – Place de l’Ancienne Douanne (Arts and Crafts)
- Koïfus – Indoor Market (Arts and Crafts from local artisans)
- Little Venice Christmas Market – Place des Six Montagnes Noires (Arts and Crafts, for kids)
- Marché Gourmand – Square de la Montagne Verte (Gourmet Market)
In addition to these Colmar Christmas Markets in the Old Town, there’s the Marché aux Sapins at Parc du Champ de Mars (7), the place to buy your Christmas Tree. You will also find many attractions for kids, a giant slide, and a couple of food stalls at Place Rapp (8), next to Champ de Mars.
Elisa’s Honest Pick: If I had to choose one market for the atmosphere, I’d choose Place de l’Ancienne Douane at dusk – the reflection of the lights in the fountain and the oh-so-pretty half-timbered facades is the image I come back for every year.
CHRISTMAS MARKET COLMAR – WHAT I LIKE:
Colmar, already superb all year round, is sublimated by the lights and decorations of the Christmas Markets.
Ideal size: not too big to visit everything on foot, but lots of things to see and do.
Lots of pretty objects to observe and buy and good, local specialties to taste.
CHRISTMAS MARKET COLMAR – WHAT I DON’T LIKE:
It is too crowded on weekends!
The hotel prices escalate during this period, especially on the weekends. For good prices and availability, I usually book in January for a stay in late November.
Colmar France Christmas Market 2026 – Things to Do
What to do at the Colmar Christmas Market 2026? Apart from strolling around the different locations, shopping, and soaking up the city’s unique atmosphere at Christmas time, here are the things you don’t want to miss at the Colmar France Christmas Market 2026. Ask at the ColmarTourism Office (Place Unterlinden) for the full program and times.
Elisa’s Tip: This Colmar’s Christmas Market walking tour is an excellent introduction to your Colmar Christmas trip. DON’T book this tour on Saturday, you’ll thank me later 😉
Events and Performances
–DJ Soirées at the Marché Gourmand (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm)
–Christmas Concert at Église Saint Léon. Dates & times: 13 December at 4.30 p.m. Grab the program at the Colmar Tourism Office
–Candlelight Concert at Salle des Catherinettes (8 Rue Kléber). Dates & times: 18 December at 7 p.m.
–Concert at Musée Unterlinden. Dates & times: 19 December at 6.30 p.m.
-A children’s choir sings Christmas songs on the famous flat-bottomed boats of Little Venice. It is Magical! Dates & times: 25 and 28 November; 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19 December at 6 p.m.
–Christmas Eve Mass at Collégiale Saint Martin. Dates & Times: 24 December at 5 p.m. and midnight
–Christmas Day Mass at Collégiale Saint Martin. Dates & Times: 25 December at 11 a.m.
–Sound and Light Sound – Once Upon a Night at Musée Unterlinden: Dates & Times: every day, from 23 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Not available on 24, 25, and 31 December.
–Cook Show at the Gourmet Christmas Market (Montagne Verte): Dates & Times: Wednesdays, from 25 November to 16 December at 6 p.m
Museums Worth Visiting
–Unterlinden Museum: once a monastery, today filled with artworks from Middle Ages to Modern Art. One of the best museums in Alsace and a must of Colmar all the year-round
–Musée des Vins d’Alsace: the Museum of Alsace Wines is a great introduction to the Alsace Wine Route or your wine tastings on-site.
–Musée Bartholdi: learn about Auguste Bartholdi, the Colmar-born artist who designed the Statue of Liberty and the history of one of the world’s most iconic statues. He lived in this house which today hosts a museum dedicated to his life and work.
–Toy Museum: a must in Colmar.
–Choco Story Colmar: an interactive chocolad-themed museum. Enjoy chocolate-making demonstrations and tastings.
Family Activities
-Enjoy a canal ride on a flat-bottomed boat at Little Venice
–Toy Museum: a must in Colmar.
–Choco Story Colmar: an interactive chocolad-themed museum. Enjoy chocolate-making demonstrations and tastings.
–Meet Saint Nicholas at Place de la Cathédrale (south side, next to the Nativity scene). Dates & times: 6 December, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
–Santa Claus Giant Letterbox at La Petite Venise Christmas Market
–Mechanical Christmas Crib at Sainte-Marie Church (14 Rue Maimburg, free access from 3 pm to 6 pm)
–Christmas Treasure Hunt. Get the booklet and treasure map for free at the Tourist Office (only in French)
Colmar Christmas Market Illuminations and Decorations
Expect a total of 25 km of light garlands, 90 projectors, 26,000 Christmas balls, and more than a thousand firs, birches, and various shrubs that will create the warm atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations. There’s something to see everywhere, but don’t miss the Colmar Christmas illuminations in these places:
- Musée Unterlinden, place Unterlinden and Quai de la Sinn
- Mairie (Colmar’s Town Hall)
- Archives Municipales
- Façades Rue des Têtes and Rue Kléber
- Maison des Têtes
- Théâtre Municipal
- Cathédrale
- Ancien Corps de garde
- Champ de Mars and Place Rapp
- Koïfhus
- Médiathèque, Place du 2 février
- Tribunal
- Maison du Guetteur
- Petite Venise
- Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et d’Ethnographie
- Fontaine Rapp
- Colmar’s Train Station
- Churches Saint-Joseph and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul
Where to Shop – The Chalets Worth Your Time
Over the past few years, I’ve found some small, thoughtful gifts in the chalets around La Petite Venise Christmas Market.
I like to go to Koïfus (indoor) for its jewelry stalls, and there’s also a very skilled glassmaker who creates wonderful things, from Christmas ornaments to small decorative objects. And if you like elaborate pain d’épices creations, there’s another artisan who makes some crazy things. Plus, it makes a welcome break from the cold outside.
If I want to buy some sweets, I head to the Place de l’Ancienne Douane Christmas Market.
For me, Alsace is synonymous with great white wines, and I always go back home with a couple of bottles. Sure, there are chalets selling wine scattered around the markets, but I prefer to buy at the wine shop Domaine Viticole de la Ville de Colmar (27 Grande Rue, open Tuesday to Saturday year-round). The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and you can do some tastings before buying. It’s the kind of place where I know when I walk in, but never when I’ll leave.
Colmar Christmas Market – Where to Eat and Drink
1. Winstubs (local eateries)
Winstubs (or wistubs) are the place to go to taste the traditional Alsace food. You can usually have lunch until 1.30 pm, and they reopen the doors for dinner at 6.45 pm.
My favorite winstubs in Colmar are the Pfeffel (1 Rue du Rempart, book in advance) and Au Koïffus (2 Place de l’Ancienne Douane)
2. Marché Couvert
The Covered Market at Little Venice is one of my favorite places to have lunch. There are a couple of eateries where you can sit and have lunch for a good price. Also, eating times are larger than winstubs, so it has saved me a couple of times ;-))
3. Marché Gourmand (Gourmet Market)
The Marché Gourmand (Square de la Montagne Verte) is the place to go for Christmas food like raclette, tartiflette, oysters, and hearty soups. This Market is covered by a roof, and there are high tables where you can eat while standing up.
Elisa’s Tip: Alsace has its particular raclette recipe, the Munstiflette, using with Munster cheese instead of Reblochon cheese. It’s made of Munster cheese, smoked lardons, potatoes, onions, and white wine from Alsace.
The Marché Gourmand has longer opening times. I like to visit this market at night when there’s a DJ show (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm). Dancing helps me compensate for the vin chaud and tartiflette!
4. Christmas Markets
All the Christmas Markets in Colmar have food stalls, perfect for quick meals on the go. You can also find different kinds of drinks, such as vin chaud (mulled wine), local beers, hot chocolate, and coffee and tea.
What to Eat at the Market Stalls: bredele (Alsatian spiced shortbread cookies), pain d’épices (gingerbread), tarte flambée, hot dogs.
5. Pause Gourmande (Gourmet Break)
Do you need a gourmet break from the cold in the afternoon? Head to Jadis et Gourmande (8 Place du Marché aux Fruits) for its delicious and generous homemade tarts and mulled wine and cozy atmosphere!
L’Artémise (10 Rue des Écoles, not far from the covered market) is also a good place for a tea/coffee plus cake, but you need to book in advance. The place is cute but I prefer the cozy (and more typical) atmosphere of Jadis et Gormande and their cake list.
Visit Other Christmas Markets Near Colmar
During your stay in Colmar, you can also explore other Christmas Markets in Alsace on day trips from Colmar. You can easily tour some of the best Christmas Markets in Alsace by train, bus, or with a guided tour with transportation.
Check out my quick guides to the best Christmas Markets in Alsace:
- Colmar Christmas Market
- Riquewihr Christmas Market
- Eguisheim Christmas Market (only on specific weekends)
- Ribeauvillé Christmas Market
1. By Guided Tour
With this top-rated Enchanting Christmas Experience from Colmar, you will have time to explore at your own pace the villages of Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Eguisheim. Forget about looking for a place to park your car or the long lines to hop on the shuttle bus – just have fun!
2. By Train
The Christmas Markets of Strasbourg and Sélestat are very easy to visit by regional train.
If, after visiting the Colmar Christmas Market, you wish to continue with the Strasbourg Christmas Market, you have hourly trains from Colmar to Strasbourg and vice versa. Count on it taking 30 minutes – Click here to book your train from Colmar to Strasbourg
Same, you have hourly trains from Colmar to Sélestat and vice versa. Count on it taking 11 minutes (you don’t need to buy your train tickets in advance). For the Sélestat Christmas Market prioritize weekends as it is very quiet during weekdays.
3. By Bus (Navettes de Noël)
Out of the Colmar train station, Christmas bus shuttles (Navettes de Noël) are set up between several towns (Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Turckheim, Munster, Neuf-Brisach, and Eguisheim). There are several bus stops in Colmar, but usually, the bus fills up at the train station’s bus stop (terminus).
This year 2026, tickets for the Christmas bus shuttles go on sale on Thursday, 12 November at 12 p.m. (CET) and usually sell out very quickly – you may experience some difficulty accessing the webpage during the first few hours due to high traffic.
Elisa’s Tip: Unfortunately, you cannot reserve a seat (“first-come, first-served”) and you’ll find a long line in front of the bus stop from early in the morning. I always arrive 20-30 minutes before the very first bus with a steaming-hot coffee in hand to keep me warm while I wait.
There are five bus lines (click here for bus times), which cover the following towns:
- line 1 : Colmar • Kaysersberg • Riquewihr • Ribeauvillé (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- line 2 : Colmar • Ribeauvillé • Riquewihr • Kaysersberg (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- line 3 : Colmar • Eguisheim (Monday to Sunday)
- line 4 : Colmar • Turckheim • Munster (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- line 5 : Colmar • Neuf-Brisach (Friday 9/12 and Saturday 10/12)
Elisa’s Tip: I don’t recommend traveling to Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé on Fridays. The Ribeauvillé Christmas Market does not work on Fridays, and the Kaysersberg Christmas Market works at half speed.
Christmas Market Colmar 2026 – Stay Overnight if You Can
A day trip from Paris, Lyon, or Dijon to Colmar to see the Christmas Market is feasible but tiring, especially if you get up early to take one of the first trains. If possible, stay one night on-site so you can visit everything at a slower pace and enjoy the rest of the city as well.
Colmar is an excellent destination for a 2-day trip or a weekend getaway. The advantage of staying overnight is enjoying the city when the day crowds are gone. Early in the morning or at dusk, you can almost have the Petite Venice to yourself! When it’s the blue hour, with soft street lighting and perfect reflections in the still waters of the canals, the fairytale is real.
Elisa’s Picks: Hotel Le Maréchal (Christmas wonderland, central) and Colmar Hotel (a short walk from the train station, excellent breakfast and free mulled wine in the afternoon) are my favorite hotel options. I also recommend reading this article on where to stay in Colmar, which describes the best neighborhoods for tourists and offers more hotel recommendations.
Elisa’s Tip: Book your hotel the moment you decide to go – I’ll book my Christmas 2027 hotels before Christmas 2026 is over.
How to Get to the Christmas Market in Colmar
Colmar From Overseas, Southern Europe, Turkey
The most popular connection is a flight to Basel in Switzerland. From there, regional trains connect Basel with Colmar in less than an hour – Click here for times and booking
If you land in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, take a TGV train to Strasbourg and then a regional train to Colmar
Colmar Christmas Market by Train
A trip to Colmar by train is very easy to plan. The central station is named Gare de Colmar. From the train station in Colmar, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to Old Colmar.
-There are hourly trains from Strasbourg to Colmar and vice versa. A train to Strasbourg is a good option if you are visiting the best Christmas markets in Germany first. Count on it taking 30 minutes from Strasbourg to Colmar.
-Trains to Colmar leave from Paris Gare de l’Est train station. The distance from Paris to Colmar is 500 km, but thanks to the fast trains, it only takes 2 and a half hours to reach Colmar! Most proposals include a change of trains in Strasbourg, except the very first train, which is direct – Click here to book your train from Paris to Colmar
-Five trains a day connect Lyon Part Dieu train station to Colmar. Some train connections include a change of trains in Dijon. Count on it taking 3 hrs 15 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the train connection – Click here to book your train from Lyon to Colmar
Once you arrive at Colmar train station, it’s an easy 10-minute walk to the Old Town through the Parc du Champ de Mars. Also, there’s a free shuttle bus to the Old Town (navette de Noël). The bus stop is a few meters walk to the right (direction parking Bleyle).
Colmar France Christmas Market by Car
Do you want to visit the Christmas Market in Colmar as part of an Alsace road trip? Having a car in Colmar at Christmas time is always challenging! The city is particularly busy, and the Christmas Markets are in pedestrian areas with no car access.
If you want to visit Colmar with a car, I recommend staying in the less central neighborhoods of Colmar or in hotels with private parking for their guests.
If you don’t have a car in France, DiscoverCars usually has good prices. A leader in online car rental bookings, DiscoverCars compares car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip.
Colmar at Christmas is worth planning for properly: the right days to enjoy your favorite activities and events, the places to shop, and the right places to linger. This guide gives you everything you need to make the visit count.
