The Colmar Christmas Market has spent years near the top of every list of the most beautiful Christmas markets in France, and it is one of the easiest festive city breaks to reach from the UK. Six separate markets spread across the old town, roughly 180 stallholders between them, and not a penny to get in. Here are the confirmed 2026 dates, opening times, parking and travel details you need to plan the trip.
When is the Colmar Christmas Market in 2026? Colmar's six Christmas markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026. The gourmet market and the Ferris wheel stay open past that, until 3 January 2027.
Our complete guide to visiting the Colmar Christmas Market in 2026:
- 2026 dates and opening times
- How to get to Colmar from the UK
- The 6 Christmas markets in Colmar
- Events not to miss at the Colmar Christmas Market
- Parking and getting around Colmar
- Christmas markets around Colmar worth seeing
- The Christmas shuttle buses from Colmar
- Colmar Christmas Market FAQs
Colmar Christmas Market 2026: Dates And Opening Times At A Glance
All six of Colmar's Christmas markets keep the same hours. Only the gourmet market and the Ferris wheel carry on after Christmas.
| Colmar Christmas Market 2026 | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 23 November to 29 December 2026 |
| Monday to Thursday | 11am to 7pm |
| Friday to Sunday | 10am to 8pm |
| 24 December | 11am to 5pm |
| 25 December | 10am to 8pm |
| 26 December | 10am to 8pm |
| Admission | Free |
| Where | Colmar old town, Alsace, France |
Good to know: the markets close bang on time for security reasons, so don't count on a last-minute mulled wine at five to eight. The gourmet market at the Montagne Verte, the Ferris wheel and the Christmas fair on Place Rapp all run until 3 January 2027, daily from 11am to 10pm, closing at 5pm on 31 December. Check the exact dates shortly before you travel on the official site, noel-colmar.com.
How To Get To Colmar From The UK
Colmar sits in Alsace, close to the German and Swiss borders, and it is a genuine long-weekend destination from the UK rather than a fortnight's undertaking. There is no airport at Colmar itself, so you either take the train the whole way or fly into a neighbouring city and finish the journey on the ground.
By Train From London
The rail route is the one most UK visitors take, and it drops you closest to the markets. Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord; you then transfer across Paris to Gare de l'Est, where TGV INOUI services run direct to Colmar station. From Colmar station it is about a 15-minute walk into the old town, which means you can arrive and be at a market without ever getting into a car. Book the TGV leg as early as you can — Advent weekends fill up, and Alsace is a popular festive run.
By Air
The nearest airports are EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and Strasbourg, with Zurich a further option. EuroAirport is the most useful for UK travellers, since it is served from several British airports and has direct coaches on to Colmar. From Strasbourg, regional trains run down to Colmar in well under an hour and the journey is straightforward.
By Car, Ferry Or Eurotunnel
If you're driving, Colmar is reachable via Calais and the French motorway network, coming in on the A4 and A35 from the Paris and Strasbourg direction or the A36 and A35 from the south. Two things catch UK drivers out. French motorways are tolled, so carry a card that works at the barriers. And Colmar is inside a low-emission zone, so you need a Crit'Air sticker displayed on the windscreen — order it in advance from the official French government scheme, because you cannot buy one at the roadside.
Bear in mind that the old town is closed to traffic during market hours, so wherever you drive from, the last stretch is on foot. See parking and getting around below.
The 6 Colmar Christmas Markets In 2026
Colmar's atmosphere is intimate and unusually authentic, which is exactly what you want in the run-up to Christmas. The Christmas market is really six markets scattered across the town, with around 180 stallholders between them. Once it goes dark you can walk the lit-up old town at your own pace — the markets are all only a few minutes apart on foot.
1. The Colmar Christmas Market On Place des Dominicains
This market at the foot of the Dominican church takes on a completely different character after dark, when the church is lit by a thousand lights. More than 60 small chalets sell mulled wine with Alsatian spices, Christmas specialities, gift ideas and handsome Christmas decorations.
- What we love: the medieval atmosphere
- Where: Place des Dominicains
The gift to take home: a glass bauble from the famous Meisenthal glassworks, the workshop that made the very first glass Christmas baubles anywhere in the world. Only a limited number are produced each year.
2. The Christmas Market On Place de l'Ancienne Douane
The market on Place de l'Ancienne Douane — the old customs house square — has a charm all of its own. With a little over 50 chalets arranged around the Schwendi Fountain, framed by the medieval architecture of the Koïfhus, it feels a world away from a big-city market.
- What we love: the Renaissance staircase of the Koïfhus, which suits the festive lighting perfectly
- Where: Place de l'Ancienne Douane
3. The Artisans' Christmas Market Inside The Koïfhus
A few steps from Place de l'Ancienne Douane you'll find Colmar's only indoor Christmas market — very welcome if the weather turns, which in Alsace in December it often does. Housed in the heart of the Koïfhus building, it brings together local designers and craftspeople who will happily show you how the work is done as well as sell you the results.
- What we love: the handmade pieces you'll only find here
- Don't miss: the Décapole hall
- Where: the Koïfhus
4. The Children's Christmas Market In Little Venice
Colmar's Little Venice market, on Place des Six Montagnes Noires, is given over to children. Small chalets sit alongside attractions including the famous wooden horse carousel, and it's also where boat trips through this quarter of Colmar set off. Saint Nicholas has a house here for the season, too.
Between the mechanical nativity, the carousels, the sweets and the activities, this is one Colmar Christmas market that works just as well for the adults as for the children.
- What we love: it's ideal for families
- Don't miss: a photo inside Saint Nicholas's house
- Where: Place des Six Montagnes Noires
Send your letter to Father Christmas: if you haven't posted it yet, there's a giant letterbox here waiting for your Christmas list.
5. The Christmas Market On Place Jeanne d'Arc
On a square ringed by traditional half-timbered houses, the Place Jeanne d'Arc market feels like a small Alsatian village rather than part of a town. This is where to come for the food: Christmas bredele biscuits, a bowl of spätzle and several varieties of choucroute, all eaten standing up in the cold with everyone else.
- What we love: the food
- Don't miss: the stalls selling biscuit cutters, so you can make your own bredele at home
- Where: Place Jeanne d'Arc
6. The Gourmet Christmas Market
This Christmas village is devoted to eating properly. Chefs from across the region cook in the chalets here, and you can either eat on the spot or take a plate away to enjoy back at your hotel. Everything from Christmas oysters and foie gras to the classic Alsatian dishes turns up somewhere along the row.
- What we love: the Ferris wheel, for looking down on the town and the lit-up markets
- Don't miss: the cooking demonstrations, where well-known chefs cook in the middle of the market
- Where: Plateau sportif de la Montagne Verte, Rue de la Montagne Verte
- Opening times: different from the rest — daily 11am to 10pm, and open until 3 January 2027
Events Not To Miss At The Colmar Christmas Market
Colmar puts real effort into keeping the town centre alive through the festive season. If you haven't settled on dates yet, it's worth looking at what's on when — the events calendar for December is published on the official Christmas site.
The Ice Rink On Place Rapp
Colmar's ice rink on Place Rapp is part of the Place Rapp Christmas fair and is ringed with fir trees, so it feels rather like skating in a forest. With over 800m² of ice and a programme of carols and visits from Saint Nicholas, it's an easy way to spend a couple of hours between markets.
- Where: Place Rapp
- When: the same dates as the gourmet market, so past 29 December and on until 3 January 2027
- Admission and skate hire: set fresh each season — current prices are on noel-colmar.com
The Ferris Wheel At The Gourmet Market
If you want to see Colmar from above, the Ferris wheel at the Montagne Verte is the place to do it — the lit old town spread out below you. Because it stays open longer than the markets themselves, it's still an option in the days between Christmas and New Year.
Children Singing Carols From The Boats
In the Little Venice quarter, on a handful of evenings, children from Colmar's schools sing traditional carols from illuminated boats on the water. It is a genuinely lovely thing to stumble across and one of the memories people bring home from Colmar.
- Where: from the Pont Turenne to the Quai de la Poissonnerie
- Price: free
- When: dates are published at short notice each year, usually on two evenings early in Advent
Parking And Getting Around Colmar
Colmar's old town is closed to cars during market hours, from 25 November to 29 December. So you park on the edge of the centre and walk the last few minutes — or leave the car behind altogether.
Car Parks Within Walking Distance
These car parks are all inside walking range of the markets. All are paid, and on Advent weekends they are frequently full by early afternoon, so arrive early or use the park and ride instead.
| Car park | Opening times | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Parking de la Mairie | Mon–Sat 7am–9pm, Sun 10am–9pm | No exit possible after 9pm |
| Parking Rapp | 24 hours, 7 days a week | Right by the Place Rapp fair and the ice rink |
| Parking Saint-Josse | Mon–Sat 7am–9pm, Sun 10am–8pm | Short walk into the old town |
| Parking Lacarre | Mon–Sat 7am–1am, Sun 10am–8pm | The latest weekday closing of the lot |
| Parking de la Montagne Verte | 24 hours, 7 days a week | On the doorstep of the gourmet market |
| Parking Gare / Bleylé | 24 hours, 7 days a week | Paid, but with a free shuttle bus into town |
Hours change over the holidays: on 24 December most car parks shut in the early evening, and on 25 December several don't open until the afternoon.
Free Ways In: The Bleylé Shuttle And The Park And Ride
There are two ways to skip the town-centre traffic completely:
- Parking Bleylé at the station, with a free shuttle bus. From 25 November to 29 December a free bus runs every 13 minutes between Parking Bleylé and the municipal theatre, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 7.30pm. On 24 December it finishes at 6pm, and there is no service on 25 and 26 December. The car park is paid; the bus is not.
- Park and ride at the Parc des Expositions. On market weekends the car park costs €3 per day and a return bus journey into the centre is included. Buses run roughly every 10 minutes through the day. Which weekends are covered in 2026 is confirmed on noel-colmar.com closer to the season.
Arriving By Train Or Bus
Colmar station is about a 15-minute walk from the old town, which makes it comfortably the least stressful way to arrive. From Colmar you can also reach the smaller markets in the surrounding villages on the Christmas shuttle buses without going near a car again.
Which Christmas Markets Can You Visit Around Colmar?
Colmar has one of the largest Christmas markets in France, but it is also surrounded by villages running their own, in settings that are hard to beat. If you're staying more than a night or two, build in a couple of these.
Top Christmas Markets Around Colmar
Alsace has a remarkable concentration of Christmas markets, including some of the loveliest in France. Unlike Colmar, most of these open on selected weekends only, so check the dates before you set off.
| Village | 2026 dates | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Kaysersberg | 27–29 Nov, 4–6 Dec, 11–13 Dec and 18–20 Dec | A beautiful market at the foot of a castle |
| Eguisheim | 27 November to 30 December | One of the most authentic markets near Colmar |
| Riquewihr | 27 November to 20 December | Half-timbered houses that look straight out of a storybook |
| Ribeauvillé | 5–6 and 12–13 December | An unusual medieval Christmas market worth planning around |
| Turckheim | 27 November to 30 December | The elves' Christmas market, excellent with children |
| Munster | Fri–Sun from 20 Nov to 20 Dec, then daily 21–31 Dec | A Christmas market in the middle of the mountains |
| Bergheim | 27–29 Nov and 4–6 Dec | Small, quiet and blessedly free of crowds |
| Neuf-Brisach | 11–13 December | The Marché de Noël d'Antan, a Christmas village set around 1700 |
The Christmas Shuttle Buses Around Colmar
Colmar and the surrounding region want the whole cluster of Christmas markets reachable without a car. Christmas shuttle buses run out to the villages from Colmar train station — in 2026 from 27 November to 20 December. Tickets go on sale on 12 November 2026 at midday CET, they are sold online only, and weekend services sell out quickly in peak season, so book ahead rather than turning up at the stop.
| Line | Route | Mon–Thu | Fri–Sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 & 2 | Colmar – Kaysersberg – Ribeauvillé – Riquewihr – Colmar | Not running | €17 |
| 3 | Colmar – Eguisheim | €8 | €17 |
| 4 | Colmar – Turckheim – Munster | Not running | €17 |
| 5 | Colmar – Neuf-Brisach (12 and 13 December only) | Not running | €17 |
Worth knowing: the €10 Explorer ticket gives you unlimited travel on lines 4 and 5 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Children under 12 travel free but still need a free ticket booked in advance. Full timetables and stops are on the official Christmas shuttles page.
Colmar Christmas Market FAQs
When does the Colmar Christmas Market start in 2026?
The Colmar Christmas Market opens on 23 November 2026 and closes on 29 December 2026. The gourmet market at the Montagne Verte and the Ferris wheel stay open beyond that, until 3 January 2027.
What are the Colmar Christmas Market opening times?
Monday to Thursday from 11am to 7pm, and Friday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm. On 24 December the markets close at 5pm; on 25 and 26 December they run from 10am to 8pm. The markets close precisely on time for security reasons.
Is the Colmar Christmas Market worth visiting?
Yes, and particularly if you'd rather not spend your weekend in a crush. Colmar's six markets sit within a few minutes' walk of one another inside a genuinely beautiful old town, so you can see all of them in an afternoon and evening without rushing. Entry is free, the food is a highlight rather than an afterthought, and Little Venice under Christmas lights is the reason most people come back.
Where is the Colmar Christmas Market located?
In the old town of Colmar, in Alsace in eastern France, close to the German and Swiss borders. The six markets are on Place des Dominicains, Place de l'Ancienne Douane, inside the Koïfhus, Place des Six Montagnes Noires in Little Venice, Place Jeanne d'Arc, and the Plateau sportif de la Montagne Verte.
How much does it cost to get into the Colmar Christmas Market?
Nothing. Entry to all six of Colmar's Christmas markets is free, with no ticket and no need to book anything in advance. You only pay for extras: the ice rink, the Ferris wheel, the boat trip through Little Venice and the shuttle buses out to the neighbouring villages.
Is the Colmar Christmas Market going ahead in 2026?
Yes. Colmar has confirmed the 2026 dates as 23 November to 29 December. If you want to be certain at short notice — individual markets can close for a few hours in high winds — current notices are posted on noel-colmar.com.
How do you get to the Colmar Christmas Market from the UK?
By train, take Eurostar to Paris, cross to Gare de l'Est and pick up a direct TGV to Colmar station, which is a 15-minute walk from the markets. By air, fly into EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and take a direct coach on to Colmar, or into Strasbourg and finish by regional train. Driving, you come in via Calais and the A4 and A35, and you'll need a Crit'Air sticker for the low-emission zone. Full detail is in the getting there section.
Where can you park at the Colmar Christmas Market?
The Mairie, Rapp, Saint-Josse, Lacarre, Montagne Verte and Gare/Bleylé car parks are all within walking distance. A free shuttle bus runs every 13 minutes from Parking Bleylé into the centre on weekdays. At weekends the park and ride at the Parc des Expositions is cheaper at €3 including the bus. The old town itself is pedestrianised while the markets are open.
Is there a map of the Colmar Christmas markets?
Yes. The town publishes a map each year showing all six market sites, the car parks and the pedestrian zone. You can download it free from noel-colmar.com or pick one up at a tourist office. The markets are close enough together that you can walk the lot in a single afternoon.
Colmar or Strasbourg — which Christmas market is better?
Strasbourg is bigger, older and considerably busier. Colmar is more compact, the markets are closer together, and the half-timbered backdrop of Little Venice is hard to beat. If it's your first trip to Alsace and time is short, Colmar is the more relaxed choice — and the two cities are only about an hour apart by train, so you needn't choose at all. We've a separate guide to the Strasbourg Christmas markets if you want to do both.
Which restaurant should you book in Colmar?
If you want a proper sit-down meal after the markets, we'd book a table at one of these:
- Le Fer Rouge — authentic Alsatian cooking, in a setting that does as much travelling as the food on the plate.
- La Brasserie des Tanneurs — traditional dishes reworked, and the essence of Colmar in every mouthful.
- Caveau Restaurant au Raisin d'Or — authentic Alsatian cooking, and recognised by several of the major critics.
Good to know: book several weeks ahead. Covers are limited at all three, and it would be a shame to miss out.
Give Someone A Weekend At The Colmar Christmas Market
A trip to the Colmar Christmas Market is the kind of present people remember long after the season is over. Giving someone the chance to disappear into it for a weekend is a good deal more thoughtful than another jumper. With an Experiencegift gift card you can do exactly that, without having to pin down dates, hotels or train tickets first.
If you'd rather be more specific, a Hotelgift voucher lets the recipient choose their own place to stay in Colmar — or in any of hundreds of thousands of hotels worldwide. It stays valid for two years from purchase, so they decide when to travel.
You can also personalise the gift voucher with a photo and a message of your own. The card version is far and away our favourite if you're after a Christmas present that doesn't look like everything else under the tree.
For more festive travel ideas across Europe, have a look at these guides: