A complete guide to the Christmas Markets in Colmar, France

Colmar Christmas Market – Monday, November 23 to Tuesday, December 30 2026

If you have ever dreamed of visiting a Christmas market in Europe, chances are you have seen photos of Colmar, France. With its colorful half-timbered buildings, canals lined with lights, and Christmas decorations around every corner, Colmar looks like it was made for the holiday season.

Unlike the smaller villages throughout Alsace, Colmar offers a bigger and more diverse Christmas market experience. Instead of one central market, the historic center is filled with several different markets.

One thing to keep in mind, Colmar gets very busy for the Christmas markets. I would try to go on a weekday.

How to Get to Colmar and around the Alsace Region

One of the things I loved about visiting the Alsace Christmas markets was how easy it was to explore the region without renting a car. While having a car can give you more flexibility, it is absolutely possible to visit Alsace using trains, buses, and the special Christmas market shuttles.

Colmar is actually one of the easiest places to use as a base for exploring the region. The city is well connected by train, making it easy to reach from larger cities like Strasbourg and Paris. Once you arrive in Colmar, the historic center is very walkable, and many of the Christmas markets, restaurants, and shops are all within walking distance.

If you do choose to rent a car, keep in mind that parking can be limited during the Christmas market season. The smaller villages are incredibly popular, and many people end up parking along the side of roads or outside the historic centers and walking into town. Traffic can also be heavy, especially on weekends, so having a car does not always mean you will save time.

The easiest way to visit several of the smaller Christmas market villages is by using the Christmas market shuttle. During the holiday season, special shuttles connect popular villages throughout Alsace, including Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, and other nearby towns. These shuttles are a great option because they allow you to enjoy the markets without worrying about navigating narrow village streets or finding parking.

The shuttle schedules typically run on select dates during the Christmas market season, and tickets can be purchased in advance online. For the 2026 season, the Christmas shuttles will operate from November 27 through December 20, with tickets going on sale November 12, 2026. These routes are popular and tickets do sell out, so if you are planning a Christmas market trip, this is something you will want to arrange ahead of time.

What to eat in Colmar

If you’re a foodie, you are going to love Colmar. Of course you will find all the tradional Christmas markets foods throughout the city, but one of my favorite things about Colmar is the Gourmet Christmas Market with 9 different stalls featuring chefs serving a variety of French and Alsatian dishes.

At the Gourmet Christmas Market, you can expect to find dishes inspired by Alsatian and French cuisine, including specialties like tarte flambée, raclette, regional meats and cheeses.

Of course, the Gourmet Christmas Market is not the only place to find amazing food in Colmar. Throughout the other Christmas markets, you will find plenty of traditional Alsatian specialties and your typical Christmas market food finds – tarte flambee, pretzels, raclette, choucroute garnie, and of course tons of Glühwein.

What to Buy in Colmar

One of my favorite parts about visiting the Christmas markets in Alsace is the shopping. While many of the items you find in Colmar will be similar to what you see throughout the region, the experience of shopping through the decorated streets and browsing the wooden stalls is what makes it so special.

You will find plenty of traditional Christmas market souvenirs, including handmade ornaments, Christmas decorations, candles, soaps, jewelry, and scarves. I also came across a brocante or French antique market. I love antiques so this was really fun to walk through.

Whether you are looking for Christmas gifts, something special for yourself, or just want to browse the stalls while enjoying the holiday atmosphere, Colmar is a great place to do a little shopping.