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Trip Report
Basel to Colmar - a weekend away in Alsace France
A classic city break - Colmar is a perfect city if you're looking for something for a weekend away.
+ 18
Highs & Lows
Picture perfect spots everywhere you look!
It can get busy with tourists so consider going in Spring or Autumn for less crowds
Itinerary Overview
Colmar There are so many things to do in Colmar Alsace. We stayed in Little Venice Colmar and took a boat tour in Little Venice.
18+Colmar is an absolute gem in France! We didn't have any particular plan for it, and mostly just wanted to feel the vibe of the city and wander around while getting lost in the little streets. And we did just that on the first day we got there.
On Sunday morning we joined a free walking tour organized by Civitatis and we absolutely loved it. It was a 2hour long tour about the most important spots around the city. Very informative and interesting so if you don't feel like reading about Colmar ahead of time, I highly recommend to join one of those tours. In two hours, you'll get to see the all the highlights and get all the knowledge you need. The walking tour is free but of course it's highly advisable to tip the guide and the end of it.
For Sunday afternoon we booked a boat with Promenades en Barques. It's a 30 minute, guided tour in a flat bottomed boat and it's a lovely way to see Colmar and also listen to some interesting stories about the city. It's advised to book ahead on the website as they can get busy and you might end up queueing, if you don't have a booking. Top tip: payment is before boarding (8EUR) and cash only!
For all the foodies out there, there are plenty of great restaurants and gorgeous cafes if you're looking for somewhere to get some rest in between sightseeing. If you're a wine enthusiast, you should definitely check Colmar France wine tours - as it's a great spot for some wine tasting.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Maybe go a month earlier for even less crowds but weather can be a hit and miss.
Restaurant recommendations?
- Caveau Saint Jean - excellent flatbreads and salads. Very reasonably priced
- Marche Couvert Colmar - it's a big food hall with plenty of stalls offering local produce but also bars and restaurants where you can eat something on the spot. It's not a tourist trap, this is where locals go too. Beware that it's closed on Monday.
Tips you would give a friend?
If you have a few more days, I would definitely recommend doing a wine tasting tour and a Strasbourg to Colmar day trip . It's a stone's throw away from Colmar and a lovely place to visit.
Transportation Tips?
You can get to Colmar by train (journey takes only 40mins) from Basel in Switzerland. We flew to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg with one of the cheap airlines.
Booking details?
Closest airport to Colmar France is in Switzerland. We flew by Wizzair and then took a train from Basel to Colmar France.
Lodging
Airbnb in Little Venice which is in old town Colmar France. I highly recommend this area if you want to be central and close to everything and be able to walk to pretty much every interesting spot in the center of Colmar.