guide
With its illuminated half-timbered houses, the canals of the Petite Venise and the chalets scattered through the old town, Colmar is often named among the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe. More intimate than Strasbourg, it can be explored on foot in a day, and it pairs easily with the villages along the Alsace wine route, such as Kaysersberg or Riquewihr.
2026 dates, the markets not to miss, tips to avoid the crowds and options for staying nearby in winter: here is our guide to the Colmar Christmas market.
| Information | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Dates 2026 | From 23 November to 29 December 2026, six markets |
| Where? | Throughout the old town, from place des Dominicains to the Petite Venise |
| For children | The Petite Venise market, on the Lauch |
| Crafts | The craft market, in the Koïfhus |
| Nearby | Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Eguisheim and the wine route |
| Getting there | The centre is closed to traffic during market hours, car parks on the outskirts |
In Colmar the Christmas market is not concentrated in a single square: six markets, each with its own atmosphere, are spread across the historic centre. You can walk from one to the next in a few minutes. Among the most emblematic:
Between the markets, the illuminations show off the half-timbered façades, the Maison Pfister, the Maison des Têtes and the quays of the Krutenau: the evening stroll is as lovely as the visit to the chalets.
As across all of Alsace, mulled wine, white or red, goes with the visit. Try also the bredele, small Christmas biscuits, the gingerbread, the kougelhopf and, for a proper meal, a tarte flambée or a choucroute. The wines of the wine route, riesling and gewürztraminer in front, are tasted in the cellars of the town and the neighbouring villages.
Colmar is the ideal base for discovering the Christmas markets of the Alsatian villages. Kaysersberg, about fifteen minutes away, has a smaller but well-known craft market, open Friday to Sunday from 27 November to 20 December 2026, in a medieval setting at the foot of its castle. Riquewihr (27 November to 20 December), Eguisheim and Turckheim (27 November to 30 December) complete the tour. The villages get very busy at weekends: come on a weekday or early in the morning.
Campsites open in December are rare in Alsace, and our selection does not yet include any in the Haut-Rhin. The closest are in the Vosges, on the other side of the ridges: around Gérardmer, the Domaine de Longemer, at Xonrupt-Longemer, is about an hour from Colmar when the Col de la Schlucht is open. A good option for combining Alsatian Christmas markets with snowy Vosges scenery.
Find all the campsites open all year in the Vosges, our guide to the Strasbourg Christmas market and our advice on camping in winter.
Colmar is perhaps the most charming of the major Alsatian Christmas markets: big enough for a full day, small enough to keep the feel of a village. Combine it with Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, come on a weekday, and save the evening for the illuminated Petite Venise.
