Colmar, France Christmas Markets 2023

Colmar at Christmastime is exactly what you’d imagine a fairytale holiday to be. The town itself already looks like it’s made of gingerbread, so naturally it really comes to life during the Christmas season. This quaint storybook town is the perfect backdrop for an array of festive decorations and Christmas market stalls–it’s truly a dream, and it needs to be on your travel destination list!

There are 6 Christmas market locations in Colmar, and many of them are spread across streets and seem to blend together, making it a pretty seamless transition while walking from one market to the next. You’ll find all the typical Alsatian market goodies here, from local wines and hot foods, to handmade gingerbread, pastries, cookies, candies, and even gourmet food options! Colmar is regularly recognized for having one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, and after my day wandering the streets lined with twinkly lights sipping vin chaud and pretending I was in Beauty and the Beast, I can safely say I agree!

Colmar’s Christmas markets were open from November 22 - December 22, 2023, with some specific markets staying open until December 29th. Read on to discover my favorite markets and some more must-see areas of Colmar around the holidays!

MARKET TIPS

Before you begin your own Christmas market adventures, there are definitely some things you’ll need to know! I scoured the internet before traveling to France because I like to be fully prepared and have a game plan when traveling, especially to countries I’ve never visited before, and these are the best tips that stuck with me and were the most useful during my trip.

• Christmas mugs and pfands: at most Christmas markets in Europe, each stall selling hot drinks will also sell festive Christmas mugs specific to the city you’re in. When you order your drink, the total will likely be higher than what’s written down as the price because there is a “pfand” added, or a small deposit for the mug (usually around 3 euros). You can return your mug to any drink stall and get your pfand back, or keep the mug as a souvenir since you’ve already paid for it!
• Bring cash: when they say cash is king at European Christmas markets, they mean it! Definitely be sure to have a good amount of cash on hand at each different market, especially if you want to take home some mugs or try as much local food as you can.
• Pay attention to currency: this seems obvious, but as a disclaimer, know what currency you’ll need in each country you visit! I had been traveling in Spain, Germany, and France for so long that I was used to always having euros on hand, and I forgot that when I took a day trip to Switzerland, they use francs and not euros. Not a huge deal if you’re able to just grab cash at an ATM upon arrival, but if you’re taking any money out in advance, be sure to have the correct currencies!
• Learn some French phrases: you’re certainly not expected to know the entire language of every country you visit, but if you’re going to France to experience the Christmas markets, it’s a good idea to learn at least the basics. Most people will speak a bit of German and English as well, and I rarely had any issues with the language barrier, but knowing the following words and phrases should help you out:
  • “Bonjour” - “hello”
  • “Merci” or “merci beaucoup” - “thank you/thank you very much”
  • “S’il vous plait” - “please”
  • “Pfand” - “deposit” (German word pronounced “fund”)
  • “Un vin chaud s’il vous plait"” - “one mulled wine, please”
  • “Au revoir” - “goodbye”
  I didn’t need to use all of these as most people could clock that I was American by my accent, and immediately switched over to English – so even just saying “One vin chaud please” was enough to get me by pretty much everywhere!
• Wear proper shoes & pace yourself: this should go without saying, but if you’re going to spend hours and hours walking every day, it takes a toll on your feet! And even if you have good shoes, don’t push yourself too hard. Explore as much as you can, but don’t overdo it!

MARKET LOCATIONS

All the Christmas market locations I visited in Colmar are listed below:

• Place des Dominicains
• Parc du Champ-de-Mars
• Place Jeanne d’Arc
• Place de l’Ancienne Douane
• Marché Gourmand Noël
• Quartier des Tanneurs

As I mentioned, a lot of the markets here were spread out down different streets rather than contained in squares and courtyards, so they were easier to walk through but also easier to lose track of. Colmar is also an incredibly touristy destination (as is Strasbourg), so it can be overwhelming to navigate through the huge crowds in a smaller town. However, I think I preferred Colmar over Strasbourg simply for its picture-perfect appearance and quaint vibes, even with the tourist crowds! I’ve highlighted my favorite markets and some extra must-see areas below.

PL. DES DOMINICAINS

This was the first major market I visited in Colmar, and it was truly like I got dropped into a fairytale. When you think of European Christmas markets, this one is exactly what you’d picture: festive huts selling ornaments and gingerbread, cups of hot mulled wine in gloved hands, spruced-up Christmas trees, and half-timbered buildings lining the streets in the background. This market was particularly cozy despite its size–it felt a little more secluded than the others since it was part street, part square, and I could have walked up and down the stalls for hours just finding new things to look at. I had seen a few people online say that this market was the only one in Colmar selling the souvenir mugs, but I didn’t find any, sadly. Maybe they ran out by the time I got there, or decided to stop selling them altogether, but regardless, I didn’t see any stalls selling mugs anywhere in Colmar!

PL. JEANNE D'ARC

Place Jeanne d’Arc was the first of the true street markets that I came across; like I said, most of the markets here were sprawled down the main streets in town, so this one was an easy wander. You can walk straight down Grand Rue to get to the next market, or take the scenic route down Rue du Chausser and cut through Square de la Montagne Verte. I didn’t buy anything at this market, but it had very similar items to all the others: nutcrackers, wine, pastries, ornaments, clothing, and so much more!

PL. DE L'ANCIENNE DOUANE

If you walk down Rue du Chasseur, you’ll come to Place de l’Ancienne Douane. This might have been my favorite market just because of the setting: it spanned a number of streets surrounding the Fontaine Schwedi, a beautiful fountain (also said to have inspired Beauty and the Beast), and even though the area was crowded, it wasn’t overwhelming, and it felt so festive and bright. There are plenty of restaurants and gift shops here in addition to the numerous market stalls, and it’s not far from Petite Venise or Au Vieux Pignon, two must-see spots in Colmar!

MARCHÉ GOURMAND NOËL

Colmar has a gourmet food market right by Petite Venise, which had some pretty hearty and upscale offerings like full plates of spaetzle, different cuts of meat, fois gras, escargot, and more. It was definitely more of an outdoor food hall vibe rather than your standard Christmas market stalls, and it was also definitely more expensive. I didn’t get anything gourmet, but there was another more traditional Christmas market across the way where I got a potato and ham tarte flambée which was delicious! Both markets are in a square with a huge ferris wheel and a small carousel, so you can take a food break with a view (or go for a spin!).

PARC DU CHAMP-DE-MARS

This Christmas market was a small one just off the edge of Parc du Champ-de-Mars. You’ll walk through this park coming from the train station, so it’s hard to miss even though it’s small! I thought the carousel bar was such a fun feature here, especially since there were only a couple stalls altogether. I only stopped to take a few pictures, but if you’re in the mood to have a drink on a spinning bar, this is the place for you. The drink options looked heavenly!

AU VIEUX PIGNON

This wasn't an actual market, but just steps away from Fontaine Schwedi you’ll find Au Vieux Pignon, one of the most iconic buildings in Colmar. It’s absolutely decked out in Christmas decor, as is the entire street, making it a perfect festive photo–if you can get past the crowds! As you can see from my photos, the area gets pretty packed, so it might take a couple walkthroughs to get a clear shot, but it’s so worth it. The arched walkway you pass through to get here sells fresh food, too, and the scents that fill the air as you walk through to this scene really add to the magic!

FOOD AND DRINK OVERVIEW

Colmar is very similar to Strasbourg in terms of festive food and drink offerings at the Christmas markets! Here are some staple items that you’ll find at pretty much every single market:

• Vin chaud: hot mulled wine (red and white options)
• Chocolat chaud: hot chocolate (you can add shots of alcohol!)
• Bretzel: pretzels (with cheese, meat, etc.)
• Crepes: so many different topping options!
• Tarte Flambée: Alsace “pizza” made from dough, cheese, and toppings
• Beignets: fried donuts with powdered sugar

I usually go for savory foods, but there were plenty of sweet treats as well, including chocolate covered fruits, gingerbread cookies, candied nuts, churros, and more, plus the gourmet food market mentioned earlier. If I had all day and unlimited money, I would have had a field day in Colmar for sure.

To note (again), you likely won’t find any souvenir mugs here. I was determined to find the red boot that I saw other people buying, but they were nowhere to be found. Maybe I came on an off day, but that was my only disappointment!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN COLMAR

Petite Venise

Very similar to Strasbourg’s Petite-France is Colmar’s Petite Venise, a gorgeous riverfront area filled with picturesque half-timbered buildings and boats lining the canals. When I tell you even the pictures don’t do this place justice, I mean it–and the pictures are already stunning! Colmar is referred to as the “Beauty and the Beast town” because it’s said to have inspired the town Belle is from in the film, and accurate is an understatement; just walking down the streets of Colmar is enough to make you feel like you’re a Disney princess. You can grab a bite to eat at one of the countless riverfront restaurants, or take a boat ride through the canals and enjoy the views from up close. Or, if you’re like me, just wander the streets and soak it all in–you truly can’t go wrong.