The Musée Unterlinden is the main reason to make Colmar more than a stroll through pretty lanes. It occupies a former convent of Dominican nuns in the heart of the old town, with a Gothic cloister at its centre, and has been extended with a modern wing linked by an underground gallery. The star is the Isenheim Altarpiece, painted by Matthias Grünewald with carvings attributed to Nicolas of Haguenau in the early 16th century for a hospital monastery at Isenheim. Its panels, once opened and closed with the church calendar, are displayed so you can walk around them, and the anguished Crucifixion and radiant Resurrection are among the most powerful images in Western art. Around it, the galleries cover medieval sculpture, Renaissance painting including works by Martin Schongauer, decorative arts and Alsatian traditions, and the modern wing holds 20th-century art, including a large Picasso tapestry after Guernica. In total the collection spans around 7,000 years. The temporary exhibition Conversations runs until 7 December 2026. This page links to the Tiqets entry ticket.
How to visit: the museum is on the Place Unterlinden, at the northern edge of Colmar’s old town, about fifteen minutes on foot from Colmar station, which is around half an hour from Strasbourg by regional train. It opens from 09:00 to 18:00 every day except Tuesday, when it is closed, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The Tiqets ticket includes the permanent collection and the temporary exhibition, and can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before. An audio guide is available on site for an extra fee in eight languages.
What to expect: give the Isenheim Altarpiece real time, ideally first thing before the groups arrive; it sits in the former convent chapel, where the scale and colour are overwhelming. The cloister is lovely in any season, and the modern wing is quieter.
Making the most of it: on a day trip from Strasbourg, start here in the morning, then walk through the old town to Little Venice for lunch. During the Christmas markets Colmar is very busy, so a weekday is far more pleasant.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a former convent and modern wing, centred on the Isenheim Altarpiece, with medieval, Renaissance and modern collections.
Best time
Opening time on a weekday for quiet time with the altarpiece; avoid Tuesdays, when the museum is closed.
How long
Two to three hours for the highlights and the cloister.
Tips
Rent the on-site audio guide for the altarpiece, and remember that last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and anyone making a day trip to Colmar who wants more than pretty streets.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the archaeology and the cloister; the altarpiece’s imagery can be intense for little ones.
- Couples
- A morning with the altarpiece, then lunch by the canals of Little Venice.
- Pair with
- Colmar’s Little Venice, the Museum of Alsatian Wines or a drive on the Wine Route.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
What is the Isenheim Altarpiece?+
It is a monumental early 16th-century altarpiece painted by Matthias Grünewald for a hospital monastery at Isenheim. It is the centrepiece of the Unterlinden Museum.
When is the Unterlinden Museum open?+
It opens from 09:00 to 18:00 every day except Tuesday, when it is closed. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Does the Tiqets ticket include the exhibition?+
Yes, it includes the permanent collection and the current temporary exhibition. Conversations runs until 7 December 2026.
Is there an audio guide?+
Yes, an audio guide can be rented on site for an extra fee in eight languages. It is not included in the ticket.
How do I get to Colmar from Strasbourg?+
Regional trains take around half an hour. The museum is about fifteen minutes on foot from Colmar station.