For the 2026 Christmas markets, Colmar announces seasonal park and ride at the Parc des Expositions on eight dates: 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. The daily fee is €5 including the return shuttle to Rue Saint-Eloi. On all other days, including 26 and 27 December, you need regular parking or another way to arrive. The Colmar Christmas markets guide lists the full shuttle timetable.
The park and ride dates
The eight dates are all Saturdays and Sundays between late November and 20 December. Check your date first before you make the car park a fixed part of the trip.
November: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29
December: 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20
Not running: 26 and 27 December 2026, explicitly
Price: €5 per day, return shuttle included
Where the shuttle stops
The shuttle connects the Parc des Expositions with Rue Saint-Eloi in town. The exhibition-ground stop is outside the site, along the RD83, which is also called Avenue Gilbert Meyer. Note the return stop when you get off in town, so you are not searching for it in the dark with bags in your hands.
Shuttle times
Saturday: 09:00 to 23:30
Sunday: 09:00 to 21:10
Frequency: after the first departure at 09:00, buses run every ten minutes from 09:30
Saturday evening: every twenty minutes from 21:30
The last announced departures back to the Parc des Expositions are 23:30 on Saturday and 21:10 on Sunday. Allow for schedule changes and enough time to reach the stop.
Planning your evening around the car
The main markets close at 20:00 at weekends, and the Marché gourmand stays open until 22:00. On a Saturday, dinner at the food market fits comfortably before the last shuttle. On a Sunday, the last bus at 21:10 leaves less room, so plan dinner earlier or keep it short.
The Unterlinden light show also falls in the evening, with projections between 17:00 and 18:30 on show days. Combining the show, a meal and the shuttle is possible, but check the show date, the admission window and the last departure together.
On other days
Outside the eight dates you need regular parking or a different way to arrive. Vehicle access to the centre is restricted during market hours. If you are staying overnight, ask your accommodation whether parking is included, how to reach it and when you can leave. For any car park, price and distance are only part of the decision: check that you can leave after your last activity.
If you prefer to leave the car at home, the station lies southwest of the old town, and the tourism office announces free public transport within the agglomeration on 5/6, 12/13 and 19/20 December. Check with the operator Trace whether your journey is covered.
Before you set off
Save three details: the date you are travelling, the shuttle stop on the RD83 for the way back, and your last activity of the day. Check the official park and ride information again shortly before departure, since schedules can change. If you plan a meal at the Marché gourmand on a Sunday, eat early enough to reach the 21:10 shuttle without hurrying.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Colmar park and ride run after Christmas?
No. It is explicitly not planned for 26 or 27 December 2026. The published schedule covers only the eight Advent dates in November and December.
Is the shuttle included in the €5?
Yes. The daily fee includes the return shuttle journey between the Parc des Expositions and Rue Saint-Eloi.
Can I drive into the old town?
Vehicle access to the centre is restricted during market hours. Ask your accommodation for current arrival directions before you set off.
