Today, we’re diving into the fairytale charm of Colmar, a gem nestled in the heart of the Alsace region of France. If you’ve never heard of this town or this region before, these photos are going to blow your mind!
After we dive into the photos, be sure to keep reading til the end if you’ve been inspired to plan a visit for yourself! I’ve provided some extra insight on what you can expect when you visit Colmar and the rest of the Alsace region.
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Table of Contents
Where Is Colmar, France?
Colmar is a whimsical wonder situated in the northeastern part of France, in the Alsace region.
Alsace is a region that’s probably best known for its seasonal holiday markets and Christmas decorations. But during other times of the year, it’s loved for its timeless charm and fairytale landscapes. Think rolling vineyards, half-timbered houses adorned with flowers, and a gastronomic scene that’ll leave your taste buds dancing.
Tucked away near the borders of Germany and Switzerland, the storybook town of Colmar beckons travelers with its cobblestone streets, pastel-hued houses, and a magical atmosphere that seems straight out of a dream.
Seriously, I could not stop snapping up ALL the pictures on my camera while strolling through the many little towns of this region! They were my storybook fantasies come true!
Photos That Will Inspire You To Visit Colmar, France
France is already cute when you consider larger towns/cities like Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Chamonix. But in Alsace, the cuteness is on another level.
Colmar’s architecture is like a medieval fairy tale brought to life! The houses of Colmar paint the town in a palette of pastel hues. Flowers cascade from window boxes, adding a touch of romance and charm to every street.
Why can’t all towns look like this? It’s been months since my trip ended, and I’m still so obsessed with the photos from this trip!
Once you manage to tear yourself away from the city center of Colmar, head straight for Le Petite Venise. This charming neighborhood, aptly named, is a picturesque extension of Colmar, with narrow canals winding their way through the streets.
During our time in this area, we crossed over the quaint bridges filled with love locks, stopped by a riverside café (sadly the afternoon tea spot we wanted to visit was fully booked for the day), and soaked in the cutesy ambiance.
After getting a little snack (sandwich and pretzel) at Marche Couvert Colmar (a historic covered market selling produce, fresh meats/cheese, and other hot foods), we stopped by a random restaurant in the area to eat a smoked salmon flambée!
In terms of food, you better be ready for hearty classics! During our four nights in Colmar, we got to know Alsatian cuisine quite well. In a nutshell, expect French sophistication with hearty German flavors!
Here are a few specialties we tried during our time in Alsace:
1. Tarte Flambée (Flammkuchen)
Imagine a thin, crispy crust topped with a delightful combination of crème fraîche, onions, and meat (like bacon or salmon). Tarte flambée, known as Flammkuchen in German, is a signature Alsace dish that perfectly exemplifies the region’s culinary fusion.
2. Choucroute Garnie
A hearty and comforting dish, Choucroute Garnie features sauerkraut, slow-cooked to perfection, and served with an array of flavorful meats such as sausages, smoked pork, and sometimes even fish. It’s a celebration of Alsace’s Germanic roots with a French twist.
We tried this dish at Chez Hansi, which I’d highly recommend you dine at if you get the chance! Their menu showcases traditional Alsatian food, so it’s a great place to try some of the region’s most popular dishes.
3. Baeckeoffe
Translated as “baker’s oven,” Baeckeoffe is a slow-cooked casserole featuring a delightful medley of marinated meats, potatoes, and vegetables. The dish is traditionally cooked in a sealed ceramic dish, resulting in tender and flavorful goodness.
4. Kugelhopf
For those with a sweet tooth, Kugelhopf is a must-try. This almond and raisin-studded cake is a popular traditional dessert in Alsace, often enjoyed with a dusting of powdered sugar and a cup of coffee.
5. Nougat
Nougat, with its sweet and nutty goodness, is an Alsace specialty too! Perfect as a souvenir or a sweet snack, Alsace’s nougat showcases the region’s dedication to light yet delectable treats.
7. Macarons
Macarons, those delicate and colorful almond meringue delights, have also found a home in Alsace. The region adds its own twist to these French classics, making them a delightful addition to Alsace’s culinary repertoire.
While walking around town, you’ll come across various storefronts/bakeries that offer free samples. Try the pistachio-flavored ones — those were the ones that swayed me to buy a couple of bags to bring home. So good!
After sampling lots of these around town, we found our favorite ones to be from Maison Alsacienne de Biscuiterie!
8. Alsace Wine
The vineyards of Alsace produce some of the finest white wines in the world. Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris are just a few of the varieties that thrive in the region.
A glass of Alsace wine is the perfect companion to your culinary adventures. You can find really cheap and delicious wine at restaurants, bars, or even at the local supermarkets.
9. Bretzels (Pretzels)
Influenced by German baking traditions, Alsace is home to delicious pretzels.
But they are not your average basic pretzel or cinnamon sugar pretzel… I’m talking about flavors upon flavors of pretzels!
Whenever we were hungry from walking around town, or if it happened to be one of those awkward hours between lunch and dinner, we’d stop by any storefront selling pretzels. They seemed to always taste so good! The emmental pretzels were our fave.
10. Alsace Gingerbread (Lebkuchen)
Alsace Gingerbread, locally known as Lebkuchen, was EVERYWHERE. You’ll definitely smell it before you see it too! This aromatic and spiced delight is usually infused with a blend of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
You’ll find them in nearly all the gift shops, packaged up all nice and cute and ready to be purchased as souvenirs to bring home!
After we got our fill of Colmar, we decided to opt for a bike ride along the Alsace Wine Route! Here are a few of my favorite photos from that little adventure.
Since it was a gorgeous spring day in May, we were quite sneezy. But the sneeze struggles were SO worth the adventure!
Luckily, it happened to be a rain-free day that day, which made for our most pleasant/memorable day in France (who knew France in May would be so rainy???).
If you’re interested in seeing more photos from our bike riding day and getting the deets on how we planned our Alsace Wine Route bike ride, check out that blog post here:
Alsace Wine Route Biking Itinerary: Colmar, Kaysersberg, and Riquewihr
Here are also a few photos of Strasbourg, where we pit-stopped for a few hours before continuing on to Colmar by train:
What Can You Expect in Colmar and the Alsace Region?
Cuteness overload, colorful houses, pretzels, and LOTS of wine — that’s what! To give you a bit more background info:
Quaint Villages
The Alsace region is a treasure trove of charming villages, each exuding that old-world vibe that you mostly only ever see in movies. Strolling through cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses is all too common here!
Some of the towns we visited during our trip to Alsace include:
- Colmar
- Strasbourg
- Kaysersberg
- Riquewihr
- Turckheim
And we would have visited a lot more had it not decided to rain during our time in the area!
These other towns are also known to be drop-dead gorgeous as well, and though we didn’t have time to stop by, they were technically on our travel itinerary (darn the rain!). Oh well, there’s always next time for us.
- Eguisheim
- Bergheim
- Ribeauville
French/German-Influenced Gastronomy
Prepare your taste buds for a French/German-influenced adventure! Alsace is a haven for food enthusiasts, blending French finesse with hearty German flavors.
Treat your belly with foods that can only be enjoyed locally, such as tarte flambée, sauerkraut, gingerbread, nougat, macaroons, and an array of delightful pastries. And let’s not forget the wines – Alsace is renowned for its exquisite white wines.
Countryside Charm and Vineyard Views
Rolling hills dotted with vineyards, plus a thing called the Alsace Wine Route that you can actually bike through — does that not make your heart scream with excitement???
Wine enthusiasts will find themselves in paradise with the renowned Alsatian wines! Really, if you enjoy wine, you won’t want to miss the chance to explore the region’s wine routes and savor the flavors of the local vineyards.
There are tons of wine-tasting opportunities within the little towns as well as at the countryside wineries.
What Is There To Do In Colmar, France?
1. Explore Old Town: Get lost in the enchanting streets of Colmar’s Old Town. Wander through winding alleyways, discovering charming boutiques, cozy cafes, and hidden corners that beg to be explored.
2. Visit Little Venice (Le Petite Venise): Colmar’s “Little Venice” is a network of canals that wind through the town. Take a boat tour or enjoy a stroll along the water’s edge, admiring the reflection of the storybook houses in the tranquil canal.
3. Unterlinden Museum: Immerse yourself in art and history at the Unterlinden Museum. Housed in a former Dominican convent, this museum showcases an impressive collection, including the Isenheim Altarpiece, a masterpiece of Renaissance art.
4. Sample Local Delights: Indulge your taste buds in the local cuisine. From Alsatian tarte flambée to mouthwatering pastries, Colmar’s culinary scene is a treat for foodies. It wasn’t our favorite cuisine in the world, but it was so fun and enriching getting to try such hard-to-find specialties in this little region of France.
5. Visit The Nearby Towns: There are TOO many cute towns to explore near Colmar! I’d highly recommend making time to either bike, bus, or drive to places like Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauville, Eguisheim, and Strasbourg. Riquewihr was hands-down my personal favorite of the bunch!
6. Visit During Christmas Time: Colmar transforms into a winter wonderland during the festive season, making it a super popular destination for Christmas market chasers. The streets of the Old Town come alive with the warm glow of Christmas lights, and the air is filled with the inviting aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. You can stroll through the charming Christmas markets and enjoy the colorful houses turned even MORE colorful from the twinkling holiday decor!
Where To Stay In Colmar, France
On our most recent trip to France, we opted for a 3-night stay in Colmar, where you’ll find no shortage of amazing hotels to choose from.
Below are my top choices for hotels in Colmar:
PAUL & PIA – Welcome Home Hotel ($): This is the hotel we stayed at! It’s so cute, colorful, and intimate. My favorite thing about this hotel was their free breakfast — we got to ‘feel’ like locals by gorging on a slice of kugelhopf every morning!
They also have a massive locker room for you to leave your suitcases in safely and securely should you want to continue exploring after your check-out time.
Hotel Le Colombier ($$): Located in the Little Venice district of Colmar town center, this warm and woody accommodation is such a cute design hotel!
L’Esquisse Hotel & Spa Colmar – Mgallery ($$ – $$$): For the luxury seekers! This is a 5-star boutique hotel and spa in the heart of the historic center located
At this point, I hope you can see how magical Colmar and the rest of the Alsace region is! They’re truly a haven for travelers seeking a fairytale-like escape. I hope you enjoyed looking at these photos — I know I had a ton of fun snapping them up! Until next time, happy travels!
Looking for more France travel tips? You may also like:
- 20 Photos That Will Inspire You To Visit Riquewihr And Kaysersberg, France
- Alsace Wine Route Biking Itinerary: Colmar, Kaysersberg, and Riquewihr
- 16 Fantastic Day Trips from Paris by Train
- 10 Best Castles in France You Must See For Yourself
- 7 Luxury Hotels In Paris With Views Of The Eiffel Tower
- 24 Best Things To Do In Chamonix In The Summer
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