Colmar is a type of charming, chocolate-box French cities that you possibly can think about Belle from Magnificence and the Beast skipping by means of. So, the place is Colmar, Alsace? Resting on the Alsace wine route, Colmar is just a 30-minute practice experience south of Strasbourg near the German border within the western a part of France. In case you’re visiting Strasbourg, you possibly can simply tag a 2-day itinerary for Colmar at the start or finish of your journey!
This picturesque place is understood for its medieval, half-timbered homes and Renaissance buildings. It’s a incredible selection when you’re planning a visit to the European Christmas markets and it has numerous great church buildings, museums, and Riesling wine-tasting experiences.
One other nice time to go to Colmar is throughout the Colmar Worldwide Pageant. It takes place throughout the first two weeks of July and options a number of the most fun live shows and the very best musicians world wide.
While you keep in Colmar, base your self within the central Vieux Colmar because it’s the very best place to remain in Colmar, France for first-time guests and the place you’ll discover the Little Venice Christmas markets. Or you possibly can keep close to the practice station if you’re hopping round a number of cities and cities within the Alsace Area.
This 48 hours in Colmar itinerary will guarantee you understand what to do in Colmar, what to see, what to eat, and all the very best excursions to do if you go to Colmar. Learn on to find the definitive itinerary to Colmar, the French city you must learn about and go to ASAP!
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2 Day Itinerary for Colmar
Day 1 in Colmar
Breakfast at Au Croissant Doré
Begin your 2-day itinerary for Colmar off to the suitable begin by having fun with a quintessentially French breakfast at Au Croissant Doré on Rue des Marchands. It is a quirky, unpretentious espresso store with received picket furnishings and tons of cute nick-nacks held on the wall.
You possibly can order a spread of artisanal coffees and pastries like croissants (in case that wasn’t apparent from the identify!), muffins and sizzling meals too.
Stroll Round Colmar Outdated City (Vieille Ville)
Subsequent, spend your morning getting acquainted with Colmar’s Outdated City (named Vieille Ville in French) and admire the half-timbered homes and extraordinary structure. Proceed strolling down Rue des Marchands the place you’ll discover the Auguste Bartholdi Museum, a monument devoted to the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty who was born in Colmar.
You also needs to stroll handed the Pfister Home, in any other case generally known as Maison Pfister, which is a unusual home with a turret relationship again to 1537. It was constructed for a rich man named Ludwig Scherer and its exterior work are impressed by biblical tales.
Proceed strolling south to La Petite Venice, so named as a result of that is the canal district of Colmar with numerous cute and vibrant homes. It’s additionally referred to as The Fishmonger District as that is the place the fish markets had been positioned in years passed by.
Take a Boat Journey on Colmar Canal
When you’re by the canal, why not take a ship experience and luxuriate in exploring Colmar from a unique approach? Colmar’s bridges are extraordinarily low so the vacationer boats that sail up and down the waters right here look extra like punting boats that you simply’d spot in English cities like Cambridge or Oxford.
These lengthy boats are additionally smaller than the typical canal boat that you simply’d discover in different well-known Dutch canal cities like Amsterdam or Bruges. This implies you’ll get a extra intimate expertise!
Lunch at L’Arpège
You’ll have labored up an urge for food in any case that strolling so you must sit right down to lunch at L’Arpège. From the surface, this place may look informal and laid again however the meals is something however relaxed. They serve unbelievable three-course meals (sure, even for lunch! That is France, in any case!) consisting of 100% French delicacies.
Go to St Martin’s Church
Colmar doesn’t have an official cathedral, however a lot of the city’s residents contemplate St Martin’s Church to be their fundamental place of worship. St Martin’s is a large Gothic Catholic church with medieval statues relationship all the best way again to the Thirteenth century.
It’s an extremely spectacular constructing with lovely stained glass home windows. In case you like exploring church buildings and wish to see extra in your 2-day itinerary in Colmar, take a look at the Dominican Church simply up the road which shows numerous native Alsatian artworks.
Discover Musée du Jouet
Why does Colmar have a toy museum? Who is aware of! Regardless, they’ve an infinite assortment of toys from the 1800s all the best way to the fashionable day.
One in all their main points of interest is their mannequin practice community which covers all the second flooring. Additionally they have dolls, automatons, video video games, board video games, stuffed animals, mannequin vehicles, and a lot extra.
Dinner at Jadis et Gourmande
Jadis et Gourmande isn’t only a good French restaurant, it’s truly a pleasant Alsatian restaurant serving meals from the native area. Housed in a standard constructing with picket and stone interiors and purple gingham desk garments, you’ll discover dishes vegetable tarts, braised beef, recent potato salads, and, particularly, numerous native pies and pastries.
Day 2 in Colmar
Brunch at Bistrot Gourmand
Combine issues up on day two of your journey to Colmar by tucking into candy & savoury crêpes for brunch. Bistrot Gourmand is a straightforward but cosy cafe serving breakfast platters with crêpes, fruit, meat, and extra that can fill you up for a busy morning of exploring Colmar.
Within the hotter months, you possibly can sit on their terrace and eat outdoors too!
Discover the Unterlinden Museum
Only a quick stroll northwest of the Bistrot is the Unterlinden Museum, Colmar’s premier artwork museum. Housed in a Thirteenth-century Dominican convent, the Unterlinden Museum shows numerous native historical past and artwork in addition to numerous spiritual artwork which is sensible given the constructing’s origins.
It’s effectively price visiting not simply to see the art work however to see the constructing too. You possibly can nonetheless stroll by means of the convent’s cloisters and see the unique statues and carvings that existed lengthy earlier than it was changed into a museum.
Stroll Round Parc du Champ de Mars
Parc du Champ de Mars is on no account an enormous park, but it surely’s gorgeous and a pleasing place to get pleasure from a morning stroll. There are many tree-lined paths, water options, and statues of distinguished French individuals. It is a good spot to go to in Colmar in case you have children and they should blow off some steam!
Lunch at Caveau d’Eguisheim
Eguisheim is a medieval village within the Alsace wine area which is simply 7 km southwest of Colmar. Regardless of its small measurement, it has numerous incredible bars and eating places together with Caveau d’Eguisheim. This restaurant serves regional dishes like tarts and meat dishes on this extraordinarily historic constructing with rustic decor and a wood-beamed ceiling.
Cycle to Native Wineries and Alsace Villages
Within the afternoon of your second day in Colmar, you must rent bikes and cycle to Eguisheim. It’s one of many closest cities to Colmar within the wine area and it could be a disgrace to not go to a vineyard or two when they’re so shut.
Wolfberger – Cave Eguisheim is a highly-rated, trendy vineyard with an enormous collection of wines and a large tasting room. Simply down the street from Wolfberger is Domaine Joseph Gruss & Son vineyard, which is barely extra old skool and what you’ll think about a quintessential Alsace vineyard to seem like. Be a part of considered one of their excursions so you possibly can discover their cellars in addition to style their wine!
Dinner at Restaurant Le Quai 21
Head again to Colmar, return your bikes, and luxuriate in a dinner with a view at Restaurant Le Quai 21. This restaurant is in La Petite Venice and is in a first-rate place with gorgeous views throughout the Outdated City and the canal.
Housed in a vibrant constructing with white window shutters and flowerboxes, it’s a homely and cosy place that serves conventional Alsation meals with an Italian twist. Additionally they have an in depth wine menu and consultants available that will help you select the right bottle too. Hopefully, you didn’t drink an excessive amount of wine within the afternoon and also you’re nonetheless within the temper for a glass or two!
Excursions in Colmar
Alsace Villages Half-Day Tour
Although it has the texture of a provincial village, Colmar remains to be fairly a bustling city. On this half-day tour, you may get out into the countryside and stroll round some actual Alsace villages throughout your 2 days in Colmar.
Discover the close by villages of Kayserberg, Hunawihr, and Riquewihr on this very small group tour. As you drive by means of the wine area and the winery you’ll really feel such as you’re driving again in time!
Colmar Picture Strolling Tour
Colmar’s Outdated City is undeniably fairly from each angle however there are some hidden gems and prime spots which are just a bit extra Instagrammable than others. Be a part of a photograph strolling tour with a educated, native information who will present you all the very best, most lovely locations in Colmar. Don’t fear, they’ve factored in numerous time so that you can cease and take numerous images and selfies! That’s the purpose of the tour!
Alsace Winery Bike Tour
It could be such a disgrace to be so near a stupendous wine area with out visiting. On this bike tour, you possibly can experience out into the countryside from Colmar and take a look at numerous native Alsatian wine from a number of the finest wineries and vineyards. You’ll additionally go to the villages of Eguisheim and Gueberschwihr within the Alsace wine area.
FAQs for two Days in Colmar
How Many Days Is Sufficient for Colmar?
Spending 48 hours in Colmar actually is a perfect period of time! You possibly can spend someday of your Colmar itinerary exploring the highlights of Colmar itself after which the following day exploring different villages and wineries within the Alsace wine area. 48 hrs in Colmar is good when you simply wish to stick with the city and discover the place at a leisurely tempo.
If you wish to take an extended journey, you possibly can simply add on a visit to Strasbourg. You may even jump over the Rhine River to Germany and take a look at a number of the cities and villages there!
Is It Higher To Keep In Colmar or Strasbourg?
Determining whether or not it’s higher to remain in Colmar or Strasbourg is dependent upon what sort of journey you wish to take. Strasbourg is a big metropolis with no scarcity of eating places, museums, bars and different points of interest. It additionally has higher transport connections with the remainder of France and Europe and has an amazing vary of lodging choices.
Whereas Strasbourg is a fairly metropolis, it doesn’t have the quaint attraction of Colmar. So, if you’re constructing a Colmar Strasbourg itinerary on your journey, it is dependent upon whether or not attraction or facilities are extra vital to you. Travellers who’ve late arrivals or early departures in Strasbourg may discover it extra handy to remain within the metropolis and journey by practice to and from Colmar.
Travellers who need the expertise of staying in a quieter and extra picturesque city ought to keep in Colmar. Staying in Colmar over Strasbourg can also be an amazing selection in case you have extra time to spare. Colmar may need fewer lodging choices, however what it does have are lovely.
Is Colmar Value Seeing?
Sure! Colmar is 100% price seeing. It’s a breathtakingly lovely city with unbelievable structure, charming cobblestone streets and a post-card excellent canal. Visiting Colmar is like falling right into a fairytale. Colmar is especially price visiting within the heat summer season months or throughout the festive Christmas interval.
2 Day Itinerary for Colmar Wrap Up
This Colmar 2-day itinerary will hopefully have proven you that not solely is Colmar price visiting, however there are many issues to do in Colmar too. Planning a visit to Colmar for 48 hours is a perfect period of time to see the highlights whereas nonetheless having the ability to make time for leisurely strolls and a glass of wine or two on an out of doors terrace.
Really helpful excursions in Colmar
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