The Toy Museum of Colmar, the Musée du Jouet, is the kind of small museum that ends up being a highlight of a family trip. Opened in 1993 in the centre of Colmar, it gathers toys and games from the 19th century to the present, arranged to show how play has always reflected its era. Rocking horses, porcelain and fabric dolls, dolls’ houses, puzzles, board games and construction sets sit alongside the figures, vehicles and popular toys of more recent decades, so grandparents, parents and children each find something from their own childhood. Displays are colourful and easy to follow, and the scale is manageable for younger children. It is a natural fit for Christmas in Alsace, when Colmar fills with markets and lights, and a welcome indoor hour on a cold or rainy day. The museum is in the old town at 40 Rue Vauban, within walking distance of the Unterlinden Museum and Choco Story, so it combines easily with the rest of a Colmar day. Entry is one of the most affordable in town. This page links to the Tiqets entry ticket.
How to visit: the museum is at 40 Rue Vauban, in Colmar’s old town, about fifteen minutes on foot from the station. Tiqets lists it as open from 10:00 to 17:00 every day except Tuesday, when it is closed; holiday hours may differ, so check before visiting around Christmas and New Year. Show your smartphone ticket at the entrance. Tiqets also sells combined tickets with Choco Story and with the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle if you want to bundle a family day.
What to expect: a compact museum on several floors, best for an hour. It is especially popular with families in the school holidays and on December weekends, when Colmar is at its busiest.
Making the most of it: build a family day in Colmar around it: the Toy Museum in the morning, lunch in the old town, Choco Story in the afternoon and the children’s Christmas market in Little Venice as the lights come on.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk through floors of toys and games from the 19th century to today.
Best time
A weekday morning outside school holidays; avoid Tuesdays, when it is closed.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Bundle it with Choco Story using a Tiqets combination ticket, and check holiday hours around Christmas.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families with young children and nostalgic adults.
- Families
- Made for families, with colourful displays at a child-friendly scale and an affordable ticket.
- Couples
- A fun, nostalgic hour between museums and Christmas markets.
- Pair with
- Choco Story or the children’s Christmas market in Little Venice.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Where is the Toy Museum in Colmar?+
It is at 40 Rue Vauban in the old town. It is about fifteen minutes on foot from Colmar station.
When is the Toy Museum open?+
It opens from 10:00 to 17:00 every day except Tuesday. Check holiday hours around Christmas and New Year.
What can you see at the Toy Museum?+
The collection runs from 19th-century rocking horses and dolls to board games, puzzles and modern toys. It shows how play has changed over time.
Is there a combined ticket?+
Yes, Tiqets sells combinations with Choco Story and with Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle. They suit a family day in Alsace.
How long does the visit take?+
Most visitors spend about an hour. It fits easily into a day trip to Colmar from Strasbourg.