Colmar Christmas Markets, France

I have a favourite Christmas market so won’t say Colmar Christmas Markets are my best, however it is up there, and I like these very much. I try to not give an in-blog comparison between the markets, on this one I feel I should. Knowing the Strasbourg Markets, for me Colmar is much better/nicer. Strasbourg often gets the rating as ‘best’, comparing the two, for me it is Colmar every time.

Colmar is a city in Alsace. I would say, and currently correctly call it, a French city, however, if you know a bit about the history, Alsace has changed countries, being French and German multiple times over the years, not out of choice of course, rather politics and brute force. The mix between French and German can still sort of be seen, with the street names, even the town and city names sounding more Germanic than French.

You could fly to Strasbourg; this would be the closest airport to Colmar. Basel will be better served I should think. Then it is an easy train ride from either city to get to Colmar. It may sound crazy and a bit premature, but consider booking hotels for your trip already in May or June. Accommodation sells out fast and well in advance for the Christmas period and for the markets. I have no concrete reason or justification for this, but have a feeling it maybe these coach companies and tour operators that make the bookings, knowing that they will sell out the trips, which they will offer and promote later in the year, I don’t believe individuals are so well organised to book this early (unless my blog is more popular than I thought and you are all following my advice). If you do leave it and everything is booked up. Do not write-off the trip so quickly, check accommodation websites frequently and perhaps you get lucky with a cancelation allowing you to snap up the newly available room. Alternatives for accommodation, which could be more available, would be staying in Mulhouse or Basel for example, it’s not ideal but would only be a short easy train ride in to Colmar.

Colmar is a very beautiful city, chocolate tin stuff with interesting and colourful buildings, water ways and canals. The designer of the Statue of Liberty was from Colmar and there is a museum dedicated to him in the city, Musee Bartholdi.

The markets are spread over the city with 6 main ones. The website is really good and descriptive helping guide you.

They are big and popular; it will be packed. They sell everything here, gifts and souvenirs and plenty of food and drinks. Eating at the markets is ideal, there will be many options and local delicacies, you must try a Flammkuchen, a typically Alsatian staple, but, if you do plan a sit-down meal in a restaurant, and have not made a reservation well in advance, you may be disappointed. If you don’t reserve, and perhaps reservations are not possible, with it being really first come first serve during this period, you will struggle to get in, the queues waiting for a table will go down the road and around the corner.

If you are feeling a bit flush and can get in, there is a Michelin starred restaurant. There is in fact at least a couple, almost opposite each other. Having only been to one, that’s the one I will mention, we had a voucher as a gift. Now it is expensive, but it’s not too crazy, depending what your reference point is, I guess. We ate at JY’s or Jean Yves. It is great food and service, that’s why he has the star. It is fancy. We had the tasting menu so had various dishes paired with different wines. One comment I will say, it’s very formal and clinical, it is an experience of the highest quality and standard from the food, service and wine selections, which is nice to have once in a while, for us, we do quite like less formal, in fact very informal ‘Mama’s kitchen’ style. If you have time and the reservations to do both, combined with eating at the markets, its perfect, the Yin and Yang of dinning. There is no need for fast food I hope.

Colmar in the better weather months is relatively famous for the route du vin, the wine road. You are among the wine producing villages and towns, the vineyards and farms. In the period of advent, these wine towns have Christmas markets which are linked to the Colmar one. The website is very good and details them all so you can have a look. From Colmar train station there is a shuttle service ferrying you between the towns for free. It means you will get by on your visit without a car, only needing public transport, you won’t have issues getting lost or finding parking and you can enjoy a drink if you wish.

These wine villages are very pretty. In terms of the markets, I don’t know if you really go with the intension of buying something or finding the perfect gift, my feeling with these small wine towns, people go more for the pictures and the look. And they do look amazing, going there and seeing the villages all decorated puts you fully in the Christmas spirit. Would I rate the markets for their size or what they sell? Probably not. Are they the prettiest and most picturesque, perfectly decorated and very festive towns I have possibly ever seen? Absolutely!

My fave in terms of how festive and chocolate box perfect it looks is Kayserberg. This place looks amazing.

For me I would suggest you try the local regional wine on this trip, and here's an insider tip, I cannot guarantee it will be served this way, however there is traditional local wine glasses, glasses specific for the Alsace region and their wine. They don’t do anything fancy or enhance the wine in anyway, just looks good and I thought I would mention them if you do see them. They are wine glasses, usually not big but on the smaller side, with a clear glass cup and a green stem and base, occasionally thick and ribbed. It is maybe an idea if you are looking for a regional gift or a talking point at any function you have when you get back home with friends and family. Together with the distinctive Alsace wine glasses, the wine from this region comes in the 'Alsace Flute' bottle, a tall elegant and slender bottle, it stands out from the others, you will see. Oh, and the wine, well my preferred wine from this region would be Gewurztraminer, or with bubbles the Alsace Crémant.

Colmar, despite not being my all-time favourite market, it is a very close second. It's not just the various markets in Colmar, but with the ease of access using the laid-on shuttle service, means the wine towns and villages nearby are also amazing markets to visit on this trip. If you were to dream of a Christmas market, or have a stereotypical imagination of what they look like, you would honestly be looking at Colmar and the wine villages around. The area and town are incredibly pretty. However, in some way it is a victim of its own success, you will need to book accommodation very early and be planned, and you may not find a sit-down restaurant there due to how popular it is.

In terms of Christmas markets, you must go to, this is on the list near or at the top. With the size of the markets in Colmar, and combined with the ones in the villages, you are likely to easily fill 3 days or more just by wondering around here, you may struggle to find time to look for alternative entertainment, which is a good thing right. You are there for the markets.

If you did plan a longer stay or covered ground quickly. Strasbourg and Basel are both close by with very cool and popular markets, which would be easy to reach. One for the adventure seekers, Europa-Park is not that far away in Rust over in Germany. An hour or so I suppose. Europa-Park is a large theme park with rollercoasters and rides, likely to have a Christmas theme at this time of year. It is regarded as one of the best as far as I know. Maybe if you have older children who started to get a bit bored at the markets, to mix it up and re-engage their interest, it could be a winner.

Colmar is a top market, highly regarded on any blog or review website you may read, including this one. I hope when you get there, you enjoy it as much as we do.