Colmar's Christmas markets are among the most photogenic in Europe because they are small, scattered and set among real medieval streets rather than a single big square. The markets are spread across the old town: the traditional chalets in Place des Dominicains, Place de l'Ancienne Douane and Place Jeanne d'Arc, a children's market in Petite Venise, indoor craft stalls in the Koïfhus, and a gourmet market with food and drink near the Place de la Cathédrale. Entry to every market is free, and you pay only for what you eat, drink and buy. Expect gingerbread, bredele biscuits, mulled wine, hot chocolate, wooden toys, hand-painted baubles, candles and Alsatian specialities such as tarte flambée and bretzel. Streets are decorated with lights and garlands, shopfronts compete with each other for the best Christmas display, and the canals are lit at night. The mood is relaxed and family-friendly, and the compact size means you can see everything in an afternoon.
Opening hours and timing
The traditional markets open 11:00 to 19:00 on Monday to Thursday and 10:00 to 20:00 from Friday to Sunday, with shorter hours on 24 December, while the gourmet market and the Ferris wheel stay open later each evening. Hours can change, so check the event website before you travel. The most atmospheric time is dusk, when the lights switch on and the day's crowds begin to thin, but the quietest time is weekday morning, when you can browse stalls and take photographs without queuing for every step.
Crowds and how to handle them
Weekends in December, especially the Saturdays before Christmas, are very busy, and the narrow streets become one-way flows of people. Midweek visits are far more pleasant, and mornings are best for families with pushchairs. Because Colmar is small, you can walk it in a few hours, but accommodation in the old town sells out early, so book a hotel as soon as your dates are set.
Day-trippers from Strasbourg and Basel arrive in numbers, so staying overnight gives you the best of the evenings. Pickpockets operate in crowds, so keep valuables close.
What to eat and buy
The gourmet market is the best place for a sit-down snack, while the smaller squares have gifts. Try spiced mulled wine, known locally as vin chaud, a bretzel with butter, a gingerbread heart, and a slice of tarte flambée. For souvenirs, look for hand-painted ornaments, Alsatian linens and local honey. The Ferris wheel gives a fun overview of the lit-up old town for a small charge. In addition to the markets, nearby wine villages hold their own Christmas markets, and many are reached on small-group tours from Colmar.
What to expect
The experience
Wooden chalets in several old-town squares, an indoor craft market in the Koïfhus and a gourmet market, all on foot and free to enter.
Best time
Weekday mornings for space, or dusk for the lights; Saturdays before Christmas are the busiest.
How long
Three to four hours for the markets, longer with food stops.
Tips
Book your hotel early, take a warm layer and cash for small stalls, and treat opening hours as a guide, since they can change.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone visiting between late November and the end of December.
- Families
- A children's market in Petite Venise and a Ferris wheel make it easy; bring a carrier rather than a pushchair on busy days.
- Couples
- Mulled wine at dusk, then a quiet walk along the lit canals.
- Pair with
- Petite Venise, a day trip to Riquewihr or Eguisheim, and the Unterlinden Museum for warmth.
- Time needed
- An afternoon and evening, or two evenings.
Good questions
When are the Colmar Christmas markets in 2026?+
Confirm times on the event website before you go.
Is entry to the markets free?+
Yes, all the markets are free to enter. You pay for food, drinks, gifts and the Ferris wheel.
What time are they open?+
The traditional markets are open from 10:00 or 11:00 until early evening, with later hours at the gourmet market. Hours are shorter on 24 December.
When is the best time to avoid crowds?+
Weekday mornings are calmest. Weekends in December, especially the last few before Christmas, are the busiest.
Should I stay overnight?+
Yes if you can. Staying in or near the old town lets you see the markets in the evening after day-trippers leave, but book early as rooms fill.
