Article written by Elisa
This article may contain compensated links. Please read disclaimer for more info.
Beautiful Places to Visit Near Colmar, France
This Colmar day trips guide describes the best places to visit near Colmar, France, and how to reach them. If you are in a hurry, jump directly to the Colmar day trip list here.
Colmar is a gorgeous, fairytale city in the region of Alsace and close to the German border. Its historic Old Town, medieval architecture and fascinating museums draw in tourists from all over the world. And once you’ve explored Colmar, it might be time to see the beautiful landscapes, interesting history, and fascinating cultures in other towns in the area.
If you don’t make the effort to plan some day trips from Colmar, then you’ll really miss out on some of the best sites in Alsace, as well as great food and wine! So, if you’re ready to see and do more, then here are the best day trips from Colmar by train, car, or guided tour.
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.
Table of Contents:
If you are in a hurry, here’s the list of the best day trips from Colmar, France
Best Day Tours from Colmar
For a day trip from Colmar, nothing beats having an experienced guide at your side. A guided tour is the easiest, most comfortable, and most interesting way to see the best places to visit near Colmar even when you don’t want to hire your own car.
Here’s a summary of the best guided day tours from Colmar:
COLMAR DAY TOURS | DURATION | TOPIC | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
10 hours | Sightseeing, wine tasting | ||
9.5 hours | Sightseeing, wine tasting | ||
8 hours | Sightseeing, Christmas Markets (seasonal) | ||
3.5 hours | Wine tasting | ||
full day | Nature, hiking | ||
8 hours | Sightseeing | ||
2 hours | Beer tasting |
Easy Day Trips from Colmar, France
Here’s a list of the best day trips from Colmar, France, so that you can experience for yourself all that this area has to offer.
1. Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est region and is just 70km from Colmar. It’s a city that’s filled with history and heritage and holds one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in all of Alsace.
Although I recommend a minimum of 2 days in Strasbourg, you can cover the main things to do in Strasbourg on a day trip from Colmar. The city is home to a charming and well-preserved Old Town filled with interesting museums, unique shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s also dotted with Gothic architecture, like the famous Strasbourg Cathedral.
Best way to visit Strasbourg from Colmar: Strasbourg is one of the easiest day trips from Colmar by train. Regional trains leave Colmar to Strasbourg every 30 minutes and it is not necessary to buy train tickets in advance.
2. Riquewihr
Riquewihr is just under 15km from Colmar, making it the ideal location for a Colmar day trip. This town is nestled in between the Vosges Mountains and the Plain of Alsace and is basically an open-air museum, filled with rows of half-timbered houses, attractive little courtyards with joyfully bubbling fountains. and surrounded by fortified walls that are surprisingly complete.
This town is tiny, but it’s also a must-stop on the Alsace Wine Route and one of the biggest producers of Riesling wine in the area. This is why wine-tasting is a must-do while you’re in Riquewihr and it’s also why the town has been called “The Gem of the Alsace Vineyards.”
How to get to Riquewihr from Colmar: by car or with this top-rated guided tour that includes other sites and wine tastings.
3.Ballons des Vosges Regional Park
If you prefer to explore the outdoors during your day trip from Colmar, then you should spend some time in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Park. This protected area is located in the Grand Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions in eastern France and is one of the largest Nature Parks in France.
The Park contains a range of habitats from wetlands to woodland and high-altitude pastures. It’s also home to lots of flora and fauna, ranging from lynxes to mountain pansies. This makes it a great area to get out of the towns and do some wildlife spotting and birdwatching.
The Vosges is also one of the best places in the region to stretch your legs on a hike to some amazing and secluded spots.
Best Way to Visit the Ballons des Vosges from Colmar: by car + self-guided guide or with this top-rated hiking tour (departure from Col de la Schlucht).
4. Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
This 12th-century castle is under 30km from Colmar and is one of the most beautiful French castles in the area. Château du Haut-Koeingsbourg is also a must on any Alsace road trip, so if you have a car during your stay in Colmar, don’t hesitate to use your Colmar day trip to visit this château – Click here to book your tickets online and skip the line
Although the castle was originally built in the 12th century, it was destroyed in the Thirty Years War and stood abandoned until it was rebuilt in the early 20th century by the Emperor of Germany Wilhelm II (when Alsace was a German possession). The renovation stayed true to the original design of the castle, and today it’s a medieval masterpiece of walls, armor, and artwork. It also offers some of the most stunning views imaginable over the French landscape.
Best way to visit Château du Haut-Koeingsbourg from Colmar: take this guided tour from Colmar and you’ll enjoy the added benefit of seeing all the best local spots and learning bits of history that aren’t found in the books.
5. Eguisheim
Eguisheim is just under 7 km from Colmar, so it’s the perfect location for a quick and easy Colmar day trip. You can take public transport there or hire a bike and get there under your own power, enjoying the landscape along the way.
Eguisheim is filled with half-timbered houses and flowers, making it one of the most beautiful villages in Alsace. It boasts a pleasingly medieval atmosphere and is surrounded by vineyards, just in case you need more to do during your visit!
Inside the town, you’ll find medieval buildings like the famous Château Saint-Léon, which has been turned into a church. And if you have time, you should head out of the town to look for Château du Hohlandsbourg, a ruined castle site with views over Alsace and the Black Forest.
How to get to Eguisheim from Colmar: by bike (you can rent one here) or with this Colmar day tour that includes other Alsace villages and wine tastings.
And there you have it, the list of best Colmar day trips to see more of the Alsace. Which day trips from Colmar inspire you most?