I’ve dreamt of visiting France’s idyllic Alsace region for years, so I jumped at the opportunity to finally take a Colmar Christmas market trip.

After all, who could resist the magnetic allure of half-timbered houses, vin chaud, and spiced gingerbread?

While I’d be lying if I said Colmar in winter wasn’t crazy cold and chaotically crowded, it was also delightfully decorated and loaded with delicious delicacies!

So if you’re ready to visit one of Europe’s “Hallmark” Christmas destinations, let’s discover if the Colmar Christmas market experience lives up to the hype!

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There are actually six Christmas markets located throughout Colmar, and all are worth visiting!

While each market has something unique to offer – from crafts, to food, to kiddie rides – you can enjoy gorgeous Christmas decorations and the distinct charm of Alsatian architecture as you stroll through them.

Of course, “better” is a relative term, so it really depends on what you’re after. On one hand, Strasbourg is renowned as the “Capital of Christmas”, so it’s hard to compete with such a title.

That said, Strasbourg is more commercialized overall, whereas Colmar offers a distinct charm and a more intimate village feel.

When it comes to Christmas-market fame, Strasbourg takes the cake. As the capital of the Alsace region of France, Strasbourg is a Christmas powerhouse equipped with 300 chalets and even offers live musical performances.

Whether you’re traveling with a little one (like we were) or you simply want to rekindle your own childhood wonder during the holiday season, you can’t miss the Children’s Christmas Market at Petite Venise.

This family-friendly market features whimsical décor like a mechanical nativity scene and plenty of amusements for the littles.

Kids can ride a mechanical horse around a track, admire a giant teddy bear, and even drop a Christmas wish-list in Santa’s giant letter box.

Just be sure to check out my toddler winter gear packing list if you’re visiting with a little one because Colmar can get quite chilly!

The Petite Venise market is easily one of the prettiest in Colmar, as it features the lovely backdrop of timbered Alsatian homes and even offers views of the river.

This is also the market where Santa makes his occasional appearance (this was on December 6-8 in 2024).

Petite Venise Children’s Christmas Market is located at Place des Six Montagne Noires, 68000 in Colmar.

The Christmas market at Place de l’Ancienne Douane takes place in the public square of the same name. This is also where you’ll find the prettiest Christmas tree in Colmar (in my humble, content-creator opinion).

Centered around Schwendi Fountain, this market is made up of around 50 chalets that line both sides of River Lauch. It’s the perfect place to pick up beautiful Christmas decorations such as ornaments and wreaths.

As a bonus, you’ll be in for a treat if you visit this one at night, as the Place de l’Ancienne Douane Market casts a light show on the beautiful buildings in the square during the holiday season.

Place de l’Ancienne Douane Christmas Market is located at Pl. de l’Ancienne Douane, 68000 in Colmar.

For a step back in time, head to the Christmas market at Place Jeanne d’Arc. The tiny houses and church that surround this charming little market are decorated to resemble a traditional Alsatian village from the bygone days of Christmases past.

Here, you can sample tasty local produce and gourmet specialties such as foie gras.

Place Jeanne d’Arc Christmas Market is located at Pl. Jeanne d’Arc, 68000 in Colmar.

The Place des Dominicains Christmas Market is the largest of all the Christmas markets in Colmar. It’s located in the picturesque square with the church that shares its name, Église des Dominicains.

This medieval masterpiece is adorned with magnificent stained glass windows, providing a unique backdrop for a lively market of over 60 wooden chalets.

While this market isn’t particularly known for food, it makes up for what it lacks in delicacies in beautiful handcrafted treasures.

Place des Dominicains Christmas Market is located at Pl. des Dominicains, 68000 in Colmar.

When all of those Christmas-market steps have caused you to work up an appetite, it’s time for a visit to the Marché Gourmand Place de la Cathédrale, Colmar’s Gourmet Market.

A newer addition to the Colmar-Christmas-market-line-up, this one features nine covered food cabins, each equipped with a talented chef. This is the market to get a full meal, as opposed to more of a snack or a pick-me-up.

Much to our surprise, this market also featured a ferris wheel and an adjacent ride for the kiddos, a nice little bonus!

Marché Gourmand Place de la Cathédrale is located at Rue de la Montagne Verte in Colmar.

Who said Christmas markets had to be restricted to the outdoors? Fortunately, that’s not the case in Colmar.

Instead, head inside Market Koifhus, Colmar’s singular indoor market, to warm up on a frigid day. A favorite amongst crafty folk, this market focuses on local artisans and their beautiful crafts.

From hand-crafted ornaments to one-of-a-kind art pieces, handmade treasures abound at the Koifhus.

The Koifhus is located at Koïfhus, Grand Rue, 68000 in Colmar.

The 2026-27 Colmar Christmas market will run from November 23 through December 29, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Open Hours:

Monday through Thursday: 11AM – 7PM
Friday through Sunday: 10AM – 8PM

Christmas Eve (Dec 24): 11AM – 5PM
Christmas Day (Dec 25) & Dec 26: 10AM – 8PM

The Gourmet Market (and ferris wheel) will continue until January 3, 2027.

Gourmet Market Open Hours:*

Daily: 11AM – 10PM

*The Gourmet Market & ferris wheel will close at 5PM on New Year’s Eve (12/31)

Let’s be honest – the best part of visiting any Christmas market is the food, am I right? Besides, indulging in delicious French delicacies is one of the most enjoyable French Christmas traditions.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of delectable Alsatian cuisine to enjoy during your Colmar Christmas market extravaganza!

Here are popular Alsatian treats to enjoy at the Colmar Christmas markets:

• Spaetzle and mushrooms (pictured above)
• Alsatian sausage (pictured above)
• Sauerkraut
• Smoked pork
• Roasted chestnuts
• Matelote du rhin (freshwater fish stew marinated in white wine)
• Le coq au Riesling (chicken dish with mushrooms)
• Bouchée à la Reine (meat filling in a buttery crust with spaetzle & cream sauce)
• Tartines (open-faced sandwiches)
• Tarte flambée (flatbread with onions, cream fraiche, and toppings)
• Pain d’épices (spiced bread, similar to gingerbread)
• Kugelhopf (Alsatian cake topped with nuts)
• Foie gras (duck or goose liver)
• Vin chaud (French mulled wine) 

Hubby and I couldn’t resist the spaetzle and the Alsatian sausage – both of which were delicious!

• Visit more than one market – Remember, there are a total of six markets to enjoy in Colmar, so why limit yourself to just one? Fortunately, the markets are within short walking distance of each other and they all run along a walking path as you make your way through Colmar. Check out this handy map with market locations to help you get around.
• Prepare for (& try to avoid) crowds – One of the things that’s not emphasized enough – particularly on Instagram – is just how crowded the Colmar markets can get! While crowds are largely unavoidable during this popular season, you can improve your chances of a less chaotic experience by visiting the markets in the morning, particularly on a weekday. We visited the Petite Venise Children’s Market on the last day (which happened to be a Sunday) and were bombarded with people! Another way to potentially avoid large crowds is by visiting in November or early December.
• Visit the markets at different times of day – While mornings see the least crowds, evenings are when the “magic” happens. Sure, evenings are also when the crowds come out, but this is when the Christmas lights are sparkling, lending that magical, Christmassy feel that the season is all about!
• Expect it to feel colder than the forecast says – Although we were greeted with days hovering around a seemingly “reasonable” 30 degrees F, we were absolutely frozen within moments of walking around the markets. (I even lost feeling in my fingers and toes after only a few minutes!) I believe the reasoning for this is that there are different types of cold and the cold in Colmar is a wet kind of cold. You’ll notice a lot of moisture in the air here from the canals. You may also sense that it’s about to rain at any moment, even if it’s not!
• Book a nearby accommodation – I’ll get into more detail on where we stayed in the next section, but if you’re planning to base yourself in Colmar, select an accommodation within close walking distance to the markets. This will allow you to take frequent breaks from the cold (and even bring some delicious food inside with you to enjoy while warming up!)

While Colmar itself doesn’t have an airport, the closest international airport is in Basel, Switzerland (EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg) at just over 55km away. From here, it’s only about a 45-minute train ride to Colmar.

We personally flew into Basel at the start of our trip for easy access to Colmar. We then took a train from Colmar to Bern, Switzerland (via Basel) a few days later to check out the best Christmas markets in Bern, too.

(Our original plan was to travel by train via SNCF Connect, but since our flight was delayed a day, we ended up booking an Uber last minute.)

Alternatively, if you plan on visiting additional markets in the Alsace region, you may prefer to fly into Strasbourg (Aéroport Strasbourg), which is also relatively close.

As far as accommodations go, if the Colmar Christmas market experience is the main reason for your trip, do yourself a favor and book a nearby apartment or hotel.

I actually spent hours researching accommodations to ensure we’d have one within easy walking distance of the markets. Since we were traveling with our 13-month-old, I wanted to be sure we could get from the markets back to our apartment quickly for feedings, naps, breaks from the cold, etc..

We enjoyed our stay at Magic Home – Les Taillandiers, which was only about a 10-15 minute walk to the markets (and we were walking extra slowly with our stroller).

Due to the apartment’s centralized location, we never had to rely on public transportation while we were here, which was super convenient.

You can also use the handy interactive map below to check out and book alternative Colmar accommodations.

I highly recommend booking your room several months in advance, as they tend to book up quickly during the holiday season.

I hope this handy Colmar Christmas market guide has inspired you to visit this idyllic French town during the most magical time of the year.

What questions do you have for me about spending Christmas in Colmar? Let me know in the comments below!